Sorting out my life - Part 2!

copperjar

I'm getting completely fed up with these mood swings! Feeling okay again today, its ridiculous. Hopefully the feeling good periods will get longer and the feeling rubbish ones shorter and that'll be that.

Been to the gym again tonight! Just did a shorter workout but still feeling the afterglow buzz. Definitely having a night off tomorrow though and hopefully a takeaway with my friend. So all that hard work at the gym will be undone in about 10 minutes - but I'll enjoy it.
Been thinking about either a yoga or pilates class. Oh yes! My body is a temple

iwantahome

Putting the little wobble off to one side.... It totally sounds like you are doing great recently. I am envious of the gym and you are shaming me into running before I go out tomorrow night.

At least the mood swings are getting shorter though. 6 months ago this mood swing would have lasted for a week, but now its a matter of a day or two. And you are sorting out your frustrations with the gym rather than smoking, drinking spending. That surely must feel amazing seeing how far you have come.

I am going to email the course leader about the kayak course to find out if I need to be a very strong swimmer or if i'll be given a lovely life vest for all the spills i'd inevitably have. :rotfl: I'm hoping that my fitness level won't be a set back, so want to make sure I get enough gym etc in before doing the course. I just wish there was a place on my doorstep that I could go to, then it wouldn't feel like such a chore if I wanted to join the club properly.

Some of my work colleagues are going to start running together one evening per week as a social/fitness thing that will not involve alcohol. Can you do that with your colleagues or friends? Also I persuaded a couple of them to enter for the run selfishly so there will always be someone to train with. :rotfl:

not long until the end of the month now and you can look back on your progress for the first month of 2011, (the most depressing month of 2011).

startagain_2

Just catching up copperjar - the mutual support continues... Horrid when you have a blip - I ended up phoning my ex last week when things got rocky at work BUT when the chat finished I was happy to put it behind me. I have moved on and that is what you are doing. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it but you will surprise yourself at how the feelings will diminish. Wel done for the gym sessions, I know only too well about catching the headphones wire on stuff. I am so clumsy and rush things and always get strung up on the garden gate or chair legs!
Have a good weekend
Hugs
SA

copperjar

Thanks guys

iwantahome wrote: »

And you are sorting out your frustrations with the gym rather than smoking, drinking spending. That surely must feel amazing seeing how far you have come.

You know, sometimes I forget all this - so thank you. Still smoke free, paid off 40% of my CC debt and I'm trying to get a life. I'm doing okay!

Had a lovely takeaway last night with would-be-business-partner. I've really got to start having a bit more faith in us both, I think my hesitation and constant worrying is giving her doubts as to my committment to this. I seem to pick a small thing to stress and stress about (whether it be concerned with work, relationships, money), which means I don't have to look at the big stuff. I have to get a grip!

Off into Leeds this afternoon to meet up with my brother and his partner. Cinema folllowed by a few beers then the train home. Don't think it will be a late one, I've got £40 left in my bank and some pennies in my purse so hopefully that will be enough.

Have been thinking of getting a massage next month for my treat. I'm feeling a tad stressed (friend last night said I'm on the ceiling....and I was trying to be deliberately calm and composed ) so I think some TLC might do the trick. So, I'm either going to go for a Swedish back massage (nice!) or an Indian head massage (also nice!). Any ideas which would be best to help me unwind, de-stress and calm down?!

copperjar

My prediction of "I don't think it will be a late one" didn't quite work out, stumbled back home on the last train a bit worse for wear and my bank balance considerably less than at the start of the day! But I had a lovely evening, I'm still £2.10 in the black and its pay day tomorrow and I managed to unwind and have some fun. Hurrah!

So January finally draws to a close, its been a long month with some ups and downs, but generally I think its been a good start to 2011.

Positives
- I paid £1063.03 towards my total debt
- I paid £759.62 off the credit cards
- I have got into a routine with the gym and have been going 3x per week. (Not so positive is that I haven't been this weekend due to night out and hangover).
- I've remained in no contact with the ex all month.
- I've started eating healthily and losing weight. 3.5lbs lost in two weeks
- I've treated myself to a few bits this month without feeling too guilty.
- I've been out and had some fun
- I have remained smoke free since 10th Jan
- I've started doing some work on my self to become a more well rounded, less stressy, more proactive, less insecure, positive person

Not quite so positive
- I've spent too much time obsessing and stressing over things out of my control
- Work situation is still very unclear and interviews are looming, for which I have done no work and can't motivate myself to do any.
- I've remained in no contact with the ex and know that we'll probably never speak again. Positive in some ways, upsetting in others.
- I think I put the 3.5lbs lost back on last night!

So all in all, the good list far outweighs the other one.

I've just worked out my finances for next month and will be able to pay £550 off the CCs on payday Its a short month so I can be a bit more frugal, haven't got any big expenses in Feb and got a reasonable amount of mileage expenses this month. I'm going to set myself a target to pay off another £250 in Feb...just need to work out how!

eBay, amazon, packed lunches for work, NSDs, cashback - that's all I've got so far.

iwantahome

Your start of year definitely sounds more positive than negative. yey


Back massage? or head massage?

I'd say back massage. I've had an Indian head massage and forgot to take a hat with my into town. I ended up having to go and buy a hat as they put so much stuff in my hair it made it very very greasy. so greasy it took two full separate washes over the next two days to put right. So for all the massage was a gift I ended up spending a tenner on a hat, not very MSE.

Also it is a small thing but the indian head massage was quite uncomfortable having to sit in a horrible chair whilst trying to relax, but back massage means lying down and falling asleep :rotfl:

however you have reminded me that I have a voucher for a massage that needs to be used soon. I think i'll go in a couple of weeks and treat myself to an afternoon out for lunch too, I also have some shopping centre vouchers left over from christmas hmmmmm? what to buy?

jwil

Wow, you've had a great January copperjar (It may not have seemed it at the time ) but paying over £1k towards your debts is fantastic in the hardest month of the year!

if you come up with any good stress busting ideas, I'd be interested in hearing them (can't do massages though, I don't like being touched by strangers )

copperjar

I've paid off my Virgin CC :j

So pleased its gone - and a month earlier than I first thought possible. Now onto the Santander one....

Its been a strange few days. Work situation really getting to me (and would be business partner), the interviews are looming, notice period is getting ever closer and the sense of panic/dispair/rejection/impending doom has just been overwhelming the past couple of days. I'm not going to dwell on here because for the first time in a couple of days my heart isn't racing and my head isn't spinning - and I'd like it to stay that way!

Booked my back massage for 2 weeks time (thanks for the recomendation IWAH) and have been to the gym tonight. I never, ever thought I'd say this....but exercise seems to work!

I've also decided to have a little rethink on all the changes I'm making/trying to make at the moment because I think I might be doing too much all at once. Its all positive but because there's so much of it, I don't get chance to enjoy the successes before moving onto the next thing. And inevitably some things don't work out and then I beat myself up about those (I'm so high maintainence!). I haven't even had that much joy about the Virgin CC because my mind jumped straight to the next debt to pay.

RELAX Catherine!

startagain_2

Congratulations copperjar on paying off the CC.

I think we are all guilty of rushing through life and not stopping to take a breath at times. I have often thought of my next goal, target or challenge without enjoying the feeling of achievement at having reached the current one. Life is too short to hurtle through without pausing now and then to just relax......

Good luck in whatever is ahead of you in the days to come..

SA

jwil

Well done on paying off your credit card! I'm another who is guilty of rushing ahead for the next target. Need to stop and enjoy the moment sometimes!