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5 months to emerge as a butterfly
benbenandme
Forumite 11.9K Posts
“When you find yourself cocooned in isolation and you cannot find your way out of darkness…
Remember, this is similar to the place where caterpillars go to grow their wings.” 
Welcome to my new shiny diary 
I have been around this board for donkeys years now, I'm fairly good with my money but financially things have changed quite a bit over the last couple of years, and with the current situation are liable to change again.
So why a new diary now and why the title and quote? Well I have a son with ASD and can recognise quite a few traits in myself. I am not good with things being out of control so right now with everything that's going on in the world I need to make some sense of it and take back some control. I work in a school, (not a teacher), and am currently working from home. Obviously none of us know how long this is going to go on for but I need to put some plans in place as otherwise I will just while away each day, sat on my bum, eating junk and achieving nothing. I have spent years thinking I would lose weight / get fit / do yoga / make an effort with my hair etc but life got in the way and there was never the time. Now there is the time and nowhere to hide, I either get on and do it or admit I have been making excuses all my life.
So, I am going to work on the assumption that I won't be back at work until September. This may be totally wrong, too early or too late, but for now its my best guess. This means I have 5 months. I don't know if I'll emerge looking like a beautiful butterfly, a dull moth or remain a decaying chunky caterpillar, but I have 5 months to focus on me.
So what will this look like? Well I have some definite plans and some other thoughts that may evolve:
* For starters I am going to start the Couch to 5K programme again today. I was up to week 7 but haven't run for 3 weeks due to my foot hurting. I am going to start from the beginning again today, and build up to where I was again. I want to be running 5K regularly (at least once a week) by September. I had recently started going to the local parkrun and want to continue that once life is back to normal.
* I want to grow my nails again - I have bitten them all my life, I stopped last year when ds left school and they grew long and lovely. I haven't bitten them since but they are currently very short and need some tlc again.
* My belly is, and always has been, the bit I hate most about how I look. Planking is going to become a regular thing in my life.
* Steps - I have charged my fitbit and will hit 10,000 steps every day. This should hopefully help me resist the temptation to sit on my bum and watch Homes Under the Hammer all day.
* Lose weight - I want to lose 25lbs to get me back to the weight I'm happiest with. This will be a slow burner, its difficult to get nice fresh salad stuff at the moment as I'm trying to stay in unless we really need something, salad stuff just doesn't last very long and I don't want to be going to the shop most days. I will log via My Fitness Pal and track there, I'm aiming for about a lb a week.
* Drink water - I rarely feel thirsty (am too busy stuffing my face normally), so need to make a concerted effort to drink a lot more water.
* Skincare - yesterday I treated myself to some new skincare products from a friend, we were supposed to be going on an amazing holiday this summer which won't now be happening, so out of the holiday funds I have bought some nice products and will get back to my daily routine, I have the time now as I'm not rushing to get ready for work.
* Other exercise - I have a couple of kettlebells in the garage, we have a punchbag, a bike, Mr S (my other half) has weights I can use, I'm sure there's an old skipping rope and other long since forgotten about items in the garage that I can use. There is always Youtube for exercise videos - maybe some yoga from there?
* Me time - each day I need to do something for my mental health - it can be anything that is purely for me. Not for my other half, for my ds, for the dog or anyone else, just me
There will be other everyday stuff going on too, I will keep you updated on my finances - I normally like to make extra bits and pieces from surveys, matched betting etc, but this will be limited now (I'm desperately missing my football). The next post will include my SOA and then I will be working on a bumper list of things to do around the house to fill my time and keep me busy too
So this morning I have weighed myself, I'm going to take lots of 'before' photos and measurements so that I can record my progress. If anyone wants to join in please feel free, who's with me?
I have been around this board for donkeys years now, I'm fairly good with my money but financially things have changed quite a bit over the last couple of years, and with the current situation are liable to change again. So why a new diary now and why the title and quote? Well I have a son with ASD and can recognise quite a few traits in myself. I am not good with things being out of control so right now with everything that's going on in the world I need to make some sense of it and take back some control. I work in a school, (not a teacher), and am currently working from home. Obviously none of us know how long this is going to go on for but I need to put some plans in place as otherwise I will just while away each day, sat on my bum, eating junk and achieving nothing. I have spent years thinking I would lose weight / get fit / do yoga / make an effort with my hair etc but life got in the way and there was never the time. Now there is the time and nowhere to hide, I either get on and do it or admit I have been making excuses all my life.
So, I am going to work on the assumption that I won't be back at work until September. This may be totally wrong, too early or too late, but for now its my best guess. This means I have 5 months. I don't know if I'll emerge looking like a beautiful butterfly, a dull moth or remain a decaying chunky caterpillar, but I have 5 months to focus on me.
So what will this look like? Well I have some definite plans and some other thoughts that may evolve:
* For starters I am going to start the Couch to 5K programme again today. I was up to week 7 but haven't run for 3 weeks due to my foot hurting. I am going to start from the beginning again today, and build up to where I was again. I want to be running 5K regularly (at least once a week) by September. I had recently started going to the local parkrun and want to continue that once life is back to normal.
* I want to grow my nails again - I have bitten them all my life, I stopped last year when ds left school and they grew long and lovely. I haven't bitten them since but they are currently very short and need some tlc again.
* My belly is, and always has been, the bit I hate most about how I look. Planking is going to become a regular thing in my life.
* Steps - I have charged my fitbit and will hit 10,000 steps every day. This should hopefully help me resist the temptation to sit on my bum and watch Homes Under the Hammer all day.
* Lose weight - I want to lose 25lbs to get me back to the weight I'm happiest with. This will be a slow burner, its difficult to get nice fresh salad stuff at the moment as I'm trying to stay in unless we really need something, salad stuff just doesn't last very long and I don't want to be going to the shop most days. I will log via My Fitness Pal and track there, I'm aiming for about a lb a week.
* Drink water - I rarely feel thirsty (am too busy stuffing my face normally), so need to make a concerted effort to drink a lot more water.
* Skincare - yesterday I treated myself to some new skincare products from a friend, we were supposed to be going on an amazing holiday this summer which won't now be happening, so out of the holiday funds I have bought some nice products and will get back to my daily routine, I have the time now as I'm not rushing to get ready for work.
* Other exercise - I have a couple of kettlebells in the garage, we have a punchbag, a bike, Mr S (my other half) has weights I can use, I'm sure there's an old skipping rope and other long since forgotten about items in the garage that I can use. There is always Youtube for exercise videos - maybe some yoga from there?
* Me time - each day I need to do something for my mental health - it can be anything that is purely for me. Not for my other half, for my ds, for the dog or anyone else, just me
There will be other everyday stuff going on too, I will keep you updated on my finances - I normally like to make extra bits and pieces from surveys, matched betting etc, but this will be limited now (I'm desperately missing my football). The next post will include my SOA and then I will be working on a bumper list of things to do around the house to fill my time and keep me busy too
So this morning I have weighed myself, I'm going to take lots of 'before' photos and measurements so that I can record my progress. If anyone wants to join in please feel free, who's with me?
Mortgage Total: £58,420 / £75,000 2023 Savings Pot:£1461
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Replies
I too am currently furloughed and trying to look at the opportunities for 'me time' and trying to use the time constructively. My steps are really struggling since being off work - I am on my feet all day in my job so being at home is impacting that.
Have you looked on You`tube for yoga - I'm a big fan of Yoga with Adriene. She has a 30 day programme which I'm doing this month.
I also need to get back in to my running. A few years back I ran a half marathon, now I doubt I could run to the end of the road!
Good luck with your goals.
I did the London marathon many moons ago, was one of those things on my bucketlist, although I walked quite a bit of it. I have done Couch to 5k a few times now and I love it, it works. It's just getting my butt off the sofa that's the issue! I've found my headphones, got the app ready, music is ready, fitbit is charged, trainers are on, I just need to put down the laptop
The 3rd load of wahsing has just gone in the machine so I have no excuses now, I'll be back in a bit x
That took up about 5,000 steps so I need to get out in the garden this afternoon,, maybe clean the car and get some more steps in around the house. Tomorrow as I will be having a rest day from Couch to 5k I will take the dog for a decent walk and get my steps in that way.
As I got home a DHL van pulled up and my delivery of cards has arrived - I am a partner for Flamingo Paperie (used to be Phoenix Trading), I sell at events / craft fairs etc but as they have all been cancelled I am concentrating on online sales. That will give me a job to do sorting them out this afternoon
Dinner is cooking (roast gammon), 5 loads of washing done and dried outside, beds changed, hoovered through, cards sorted and put away.
Tonight I have a facebook meeting between 8-9 for my cards, other than that it will be a lazy one (again!).
I have taken Mr S to work, come back and put the washing machine and dishwasher on. Today looks like being another gorgeous day out there, so I will be taking the dog for a good walk this morning and getting my steps in.
Other than that I will be pottering in the garden, maybe clean the car, doing a bit of stuff for my cards and probably a bit of housework.
Hopefully today will be a no spend day but let's see
Time for some lunch then some pottering this afternoon.
I dropped MR S at work, came back and went straight out for my run this morning, it was much nicer doing it before it gets too warm. I'm feeling all smug now that I've done it - it's a hard slog while I'm running but the feeling afterwards once it's done is fabulous and lasts for a fe hours, it motivates me to get on and get more done with my day.
It only came in at 4,600 steps today though so I still have a fair few to fit in throughout the day. I did my 10,000 yesterday too.
So today - I am planning on giving downstairs a really good deep-clean. It's not too bad a t the moment to be honest but I want that feeling of it being properly done.
I also have stuck the dishwasher on, stuck the washing machine on and am generally up to date with stuff indoors.
I need to go back into my Tesco order and do that properly, I just stuck a few bits in a basket and checked out to secure a slot last week. I've already got a big piece of beef in the freezer for Easter, I need to get the bits and pieces to go with it though.
I'm amazed how the banking is easier this month - none of the little daily trips to the local shop, none of the bets, it's making things much easier to track
I did Couch 2 5K last year and went 3 times a week at 5:30am - it really does set you up for the day. I totally noticed a difference on the days I didn't do it.