NST March 2021: a turtle rollercoaster

apple_muncher

NST March 2021: a turtle rollercoaster   

Rollercoasters.

You love them – the adrenaline rush, the ups and downs and swooping around the corners, the change of speed. And at the end, you leap off the ride and run round to join the queue for another go.

You hate them – you clench your teeth and close your eyes as you are thrown around. You cannot wait for it to be over and then you stagger off the ride and vow to be the one to look after everybody’s bags next time.

The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster for us all. Not one of us is untouched by the virus and its ramifications. Twelve months ago, we could not have envisaged what has happened and the impact of it. Nor can we envisage the next 12 months. They may also be a rollercoaster, but as turtles we look at what we can control so that we experience A Life Well Lived. You may need to get rid of debt, pay down your mortgage or build up your savings. You may need to rid yourself of unloved clutter (and people). You may need to find new freedoms, new skills. We are turtles. Ninja Saving Turtles. We ride the East Australian Current (well, they do in Finding Nemo…)

 

Re-set your thinking. Have a look at your habits – those things you do automatically, without thinking about it. Do any need altering/replacing/binning?

Offload your excess baggage – stuff, emotions, people (!) If it makes you sigh or drains you of your energy, then it doesn’t belong in your life.

Listen to people carefully and make them feel appreciated by doing so.

Learn something new, or do something you haven’t done in a while

Eat well – get those veggies down yer neck! Look in those cupboards for things you’ve had sitting there a while and use ‘em up.

Rest well too – get enough sleep, enough fresh air, enough activities that nourish your soul. The clocks change this month, so don’t forget.

Cherish each day and tell us of at least 3 gratitudes for it.

Out and about. As the days lengthen and the temperatures rise, spend more time outside.

Aim for 17 NSDs. You won’t lose one if you have travel-related expenses, medication needs, irregular payments in cash (eg window cleaners – but put the cash aside in an envelope on a spending day), or if you only buy yellow sticker (ys, reduced) items.

Sow some seeds. Either physically, in the garden/pots. Or start some things that will bear fruit in your life later on: regular reading; meditation; an exercise routine; flossing; keeping in touch with people; studying.

Think about and ponder the year ahead. Yes, it isn’t necessarily the ‘traditional’ time to do this, but the rules and regs change regularly so a re-think of plans and ponderations is always useful.

Extend a hand to others – foodbanks, shelters, charities.

Rules:

-the rollercoaster ride lasts for the month of March, all 31 days of it.

-set your budget before the month starts - gotta know what you're aiming for!

-put £5 aside and treat yourself in the last week of the month. What can you get for your money?

-let us know how you are doing – aim to post daily. No turtle gets left behind.

 

Who will join me on the rollercoaster?

apple_muncher

Reserved for rollercoaster riders:

1 apple_muncher

2 greent

3 Toni'sfriend

4 Deni_debt-free_dreamer

5 Calling14

6 mothernerd

7 Kerry_Woman

8 lcc86

9 facethemusic

10 Shrewbie

11 Porridgecat

12 misstara

13 buffythedebtslayer

14 Thrifty_Taylor

15 ldee2111

16 f0xh0les

17 shabbychic12

18 PurpleJay

19 abundant1972 - pompoms + lycra for cheerleading

20 remote_control

21 ditty1234

22 DrCarrie

greent

Me, please, apple! Thank you x

Toni'sfriend

Yes. please, Apple.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

me please apple - but i'll have my eyes closed!! x

Calling14

Me apple can this rollercoaster not go backwards please?

mothernerd

Love the challenge, hate , hate, hate rollercoasters. I don't do well with fairground rides (think it's an inner ear problem). I remember standing with my back to the fence when DS1 went on one of the Camelot ones at the tender age of 7 (the other two were too small to go on). He loved it, I couldn't even bear to watch him. Then when DS3 was old enough he wanted to go on the little 'Alice in Wonderland' one. It's probably about the height of an average house and just has a couple of circuits and one plunge through a hole in the apple and out the other side. Neither of the other two would go on with him as it was a 'baby ride' and he was too small to go on by himself, so I had to sit with him to wedge him safely in the seat. Sometimes it was okay, not fun but bearable and sometimes I hated every minute - and he always wanted to go on it over and over.

Will do my best but keep the sick bags handy.

apple_muncher

Sounds like we'll all be guarding the bags so far!!!

Kerry_Woman

Can you add me to the list.  Thanks.

lcc86

Count me in please! Aiming for 18 NSD's, also aiming to have more work/life balance by purchasing additional annual leave as work is draining me. Definitely want to be out more too. Will think about the rest of the targets over the weekend 

facethemusic

I love a roller coaster! I'm in for the month. Will make a plan for the month over the weekend.