Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

I have stopped going on social media from 8pm and if I am still up I don't go on my laptop or phone after 9pm.  I don't know if it has helped my sleep as I seem to be waking every 2 hours at the moment but I am going to keep the habit, it isn't the easiest as my phone is a bit of a companion for me but I just sit doing sudoku instead.  I have gone back to reading each night after writing in my journal, I don't always manage the whole chapter though so finish it when I wake early in the morning.

ajmoney

All my work has been done for the day and I have finished stripping the first layer of wallpaper from my dining room, just the backing it has left behind to remove which I will do at another point.  I am going to head out for my walk now while there is some blue stuff in the sky, ready with another podcast to motivate and inspire me as I really feel they make such a difference to my day and mindset.  I am listening to the following, if anyone has any other suggestions then please let me know:

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Her Spirit with Louise Minchin

Happy Place with Fearne Cotton - I am reading some of her books at the moment.

Dinner is an easy one, chilli from the freezer so the lunchtime washing up can wait until later as I won't have too much from either meal.  Off to get cold in the fresh air!

savingholmes

Happy was a good book when I listened to it. 

ajmoney

savingholmes said:

Happy was a good book when I listened to it. 

I am reading Quiet now and read an interesting part about dreams this morning so am going to try and implement some of what the expert said in the book.  I listened to Dr Chatterjee's podcast with someone from Auschwitz yesterday and it was amazing, if you guys have an hour and a half free it is worth making the time to listen,  I went through so many emotions from my own personal issues but am definitely going to check out her books.  I was also recommended How to Fail with Elizabeth as a podcast yesterday and listened to one of those last night, her book is next on my list so I am looking forward to that.

Inspirational quotes/things I heard from yesterday:

- "If you change something you need to replace it with something."  It makes that I am struggling to move on at the moment after an event from a couple of months ago when it is not really possible to go out and do things to fill the void.  Hopefully the travel planning will help with that plus a swim friend and I are planning local swim adventures for the summer if we are allowed to do things like that by then.

- "When you are a perfectionist you are going to procrastinate."  This aligns with something I worked on with my cousellor but interesting to see it somewhere else.  I can't change this but I can try and change my expectation around things.

Suffolk_lass

If you want a bit of a laugh I can recommend "Fortunately" podcasts with Jane Garvey and Fi Glover

savingholmes

Edith Eger The Gift is a brilliant book as is Marie Forleo - Everything is Figureoutable

ajmoney

savingholmes said:

Edith Eger The Gift is a brilliant book as is Marie Forleo - Everything is Figureoutable

I will check out the Marie Forleo one, thanks.  I have read the introduction of How to Fail by Elizabeth Day last night.

I certainly feel like I am turning a corner although I am not celebrating yet.  For the first time in 7 weeks yesterday I felt peace and silence which was really relaxing.  I actually gave myself a few moments yesterday to sit and do absolutely nothing, no radio, podcast, tv and that is when I felt this overwhelming silence.  I am almost bidding the negativity so I can try some of the things I have read but so far the other things I have been doing seem to be working.  I have started a mantra before I go to bed, just 4 very short statements that are positive to go to bed in that frame of mind.  I am not pushing anything else at this point as I am more than aware with lockdown this silence and peace might be challenged.

I was intending to swim today but my left hand side is feeling uncomfortable and hampering my movement so I am being sensible and giving it a miss.  It might stop and wallpapering or gardening plans too so I guess I will be reading quite a lot.  I am also going to a local cafe to get my lunch to takeaway, supporting local and trying their polish hotdog that they have been advertising on social media.  The day looks lovely so I will probably walk along the seafront too.  It was very cold yesterday so I am hoping it is slightly warmer for today's walk.

savingholmes

Hope your left side recovers soon. Sounds painful. I loved Marie's book - she has a youtube channel too which flows with positivity

ajmoney

I am unsure if my side has improved, I am just being careful.  I am going to go for a swim this morning in the hope some gentle stretching from the swimming will help.

It looks like I will be a little busier with work meetings this week which I am happy about.

Today/tomorrow is going to be a test, the mortgage interest will put my larger one over into the next thousand bracket but more money going into the mortgage is not in the plan so I need to resist the temptation to pay a little more in to keep it under.  It will reduce with the next payments anyway.

Suffolk_lass

I thought of you last night as Countryfile on BBC1 had an item on Blue Health - based around outdoor water enjoyment - it won't tell you anything you don't know through your own experience but it reinforces the wellbeing and benefits to mental health