NST September 2021

thriftylass

Good morning. First thing I did was take my wallet out of my work bag as that let to too many spend days. Lunches are sorted for the rest of the week so don't need it.
Then I collected all the shrapnel from the house into one big jar. We all had our little drop places. Will open that for that special day towards the end of the year. 

I'll post my goals when I'm on a computer later

mothernerd

Wednesday 1st September 2021
A warm welcome to all turtles - new, returning, the ones we have missed and the usual suspects (Casablanca -perhaps I should go with film quotes this month). Hugs for all, including those who follow along (apple will have you in lycra and pompoms before you know it).

I haven't gathered any quotes specifically for this month (I have some saved ones) so I will start with some of my top tips for getting things done when you are injured, unfocused, struggling or just frazzled by life (with many thanks to the 'poorlies' - Old Style Ways and Poor Health thread.

1) You can get an awful lot done in 15 minutes. Or even 5 minutes. I learned this when stuck in bed. I would get downstairs, put something in the microwave, put away the washed pots (they'd dried all by themselves), washed any pots which had gathered since, collected more things that could be eaten (fruit, yoghurt) or things that could be done on the bed (I would get one of the boys to take out a drawer and put it beside me so that I could discard/ put back in order). If more mobile but having to force yourself, set a timer for 15 minutes, do what you can and then stop - 15 minutes work in every hour soon mounts up in a day and even 15 minutes a day makes a difference over time.

2)   Three things. Before you leave a room, do 3 things to make it tidier. It can be as simple as putting something away in a drawer, collecting something that belongs in another room, picking up bits of rubbish that missed the bin. When I have a 'dizzy' day and have to hold onto furniture and doors to get to the bathroom, I find this particularly helpful. I get myself as far as sitting up on the edge of the bed and pause. Pick up something from the bed to be put away (I tend to 'nest' on the bed, surrounded by books, sewing, laptop and stuff acquired during my morning routine - pills, drinks, toiletries, comb etc) or gather a few bits from the floor (to either put away or put on the bed to sort when I return. I once worked out all the parts of the bathroom I could clean whilst sitting on the toilet - sink, parts of the bath, most of the floor and skirting boards, the bars of the heated towel rail, pick up discarded toilet roll middles.

3) Lots of things can be thrown downstairs or carried in baskets. Very useful if you are struggling with mobility and/ or carrying things, especially down the stairs (whether it's a temporary injury or a permanent feature). Bedding (and clothes) for washing can be bundled, thrown, rolled or kicked, down the stairs and collected when you reach the bottom (or repeat if there's another flight of stairs). Rubbish and recycling too (although it's better to collect them in a bag and tie it up). I had a cheap set of straw waste bins
which would hold a lot of pots (cups, plates, cutlery etc - boy's rooms) and I felt much safer holding it in the crook of my arm and against my chest, leaving one hand free for the hand rail than carrying a tottering pile of plates and cups in front of me. After my hip operation I used my little 19 l day rucksack (as opposed to the 65 l shopping one), to take things to and from the kitchen leaving both hands free (with my crutches held in the recommended + formation).

I know lots of you will have read these tips before but often when we are busy, stressed or struggling with our mental health, lots of simple effective solutions get forgotten.

Quote for the day
You are not lazy, unmotivated or stuck. After years of living your life in survival mode, you are exhausted. There is a difference.

apple_muncher

My mum gave me a note f0xh0les, so PINCH, PUNCH FIRST OF THE MONTH backatcha!!!

I am a dwarf today, heigh ho, heigh ho! it's off to work I go. Not sure whether to be grumpy, Sneezy, dopey...

thriftylass

Seasons of mellow fruitfulness are upon us

I love autumn and the cosiness that comes with it. Better stock up on candles and get my crochet, books etc out again.

Exercise should celebrate all the things your body can do

Work permitting, I will go to the gym or pool 4-5 lunchtimes a week. Baseball training is on autumn break just now, so the evenings and Sundays are free again for family time or the kids’ activities.

Planning ahead is essential

The last few months planning has been neglected, not that there was much to plan (gosh, I dread the return of kids’ birthday parties, lol). But got myself a new planner/diary and have been using it for the last two weeks again.

Traditionally September was the month for signing up classes

I have a few things that I’m planning to pick up again or learn. I started blogging last January and then things happened. So, my plan is to learn about it properly before I start again. The kids German lessons need to be stepped up too.

I also need to do a wardrobe check (I won't be buying anything new.  But I keep wearing the same things over and over but know I have other clothes I like, same with shoes. Just tidied the cupboard of doom under the stairs and rediscovered shoes I forgot I had and I only own 5 pair ) and use last years’ fruit from the garden that is still in the freezer.

Embrace the concept of 'getting there slowly'

Will need to do that. I usually fail or give up because I want to change too much to quickly. So my priority for the rest of this year is to have a healthier relationship with alcohol (if there is such a thing) and step by step get back into good habits like meal planning, NSDs etc. This month I focus on NSDs, not drinking, meal planning and going to the gym. Anything else will happen or not.

Mental health and meal planning

See above. Also, that will reduce the temptation to have treat dinners that usually lead to a drink to go with it. Any additional trips to the shops will be good if avoided as that reduces temptation.

 

Budgets are set

Will report back tomorrow how day one went.

Have a good afternoon/eve

lcc86

I thought I had asked to join this challenge but realised I haven't! Count me in as my budget is crazy tight this month due to being underpaid by my old employer when I left (nice leaving gift that was).

Seasons of mellow fruitfulness are upon us - I quite like the feel of autumn and the rich colours, putting candles on in the evenings etc. Not that I'm wishing summer away by any means!

Exercise should celebrate all the things your body can do, even if it's only lying on the bed and stretching like a cat - so I've been good at swimming 3 or 4 times a week and recently started doing more yoga alongside horse riding, but had a call from the hospital yesterday about going in on Saturday for a procedure on my back. I've had it before and it'll set me back a couple of weeks. I'll do what I can as and when I can though!

Planning ahead is essential - my plans were messed up by my employer underpaying me. I have one event to go to, that's all I can realistically afford now anyway so maybe that's a good thing. Trying to get as much housework done before Saturday as I can as I won't be up to it for a while.

Traditionally September was the month for signing up classes - just started a new job, getting to grips with that is enough learning for me! 

Embrace the concept of 'getting there slowly' - I definitely need to take this on board more, patience is not my strongest suit and I just want everything to happen NOW. 

Mental health and meal planning - I've been journaling for a couple of months, setting aside 5 minutes at the end of each day to reflect has been good for me. I always meal plan, OH does his best to ruin it by wanting takeaway but I stick to my guns even if he doesn't! Have lost a decent chunk of weight through meal planning so no intention of stopping.

Budgets should be set before the start of the month - done, have no choice but to stick STRICTLY to it this month.

Extend a hand to those who are struggling - I do regular charity donations. Will try and do a food bank one too.

Reassess your goals and habits - I'm currently reevaluating why I horse ride at the moment (first World problem eh) and whether I still want to do it. It was something I took up when I was finally in a financial position to do so and I usually get massive mental health benefits from it but am in a bit of a rut at the moment. Luckily my back procedure will let me take a step back and think.

ldee2111

Hugely grateful to Mum for popping in for a natter, making me a bacon sandwich, doing some cleaning in my house, and picking up DS from nursery. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a positive first day back at work, for my new colleague being lovely, for dc having a brill day on their own, for dh sorting my bike out, for my bed to look forward to!

mothernerd

I have two plans - a 10 to 12 week plan (the nurse wants me to do repeat tests in 10 weeks - 9 now, and to see her again in 11 weeks). My sugar levels were up (but hadn't realised it was a fasting test until I got there - I would have been falling over if I'd fasted from 9 pm the previous evening until my 1 pm appointment). Need to think seriously about losing weight my way. We have food in but both freezers are full of stuff mum wanted (in order to make several things she last made regularly about 10 years ago). None of it has moved in the last 3 weeks. So some compromising but will aim for healthy eating/ healthy swaps (just had fruit loaf toast rather than go to buy crisp/ chocolate etc) and eating to boost my immune system - lots of veg. 

I am still not into cooking much so I will freeze some of the meat that came in the last order (did double ups on most things)but going to make bacon soup with broad beans and chestnuts (hg broad beans and chestnuts were bought from hb for festive season 2019 and they keep hiding).

Quick mental health round up this morning as a list of 'signs' caught my eye messy room (check), stuff on the bed (check), loss of interest in cooking and eating (check). So have made a start on fixing those (bed is now mostly clear and so is the chair that was heaped with clean bedding and clothes plus done the usual rubbish round up and recycling (3rd bin bag in 3 days, mostly with garden rubbish).

Spent quite a lot of time outside, just sitting on a chair at first then progressed to sifting last bits of soil and finally cleared one bed of tomato plants. I have 5 large mushroom boxes of tomatoes along the bottom of my windowsill to ripen. Also harvested the remaining broad beans and the baby potatoes (they were leftovers from last year, I put them in the bottom of the bags with my brassicas and they only took off when the last cabbages were picked a few weeks ago). Planted the last of this year's last Friday.

My second plan is for the remaining 4 months of the year, which is a total of 122 days - allowing for illness and really bad days that should leave at least 100 productive days so will have longer term goals for savings, walking, going home at least 2 days per week and building on whatever foundations I put in place this month. Going to try recording food, mood and activity and take positive steps to improve them all.

I wanted to go to town this afternoon but got stuck into the garden so have ordered a soft bristle broom (the handle of the old one bent in two so it left on a journey to the tip last Saturday), the glue mum wanted plus one that will do plastic (fox) onto stone (chunk of, painted silver) and the second book in a series I started recently (small dragons in Yorkshire) online. Resisted buying a second book, will take my library books back sometime (last one completed today) and still want to do a trawl round the charity shops at some point - anything not available will go on my present list (along with a year's supply of toothpaste, suncream, moisturiser).

Grateful for berries and ice cream, fruit loaf toast, getting things done.

Budgets - will be sticking to same targets as last two months Food 400 (with 100 of that set aside for takeaways - a big chunk of that will go on Friday/ Saturday as mum wants to treat DS2 and his gf), DIY 100, Miscellaneous 100, and Travel 35. So far have spent on Sunday delivery (food for this month but wanted a cheap delivery slot), the online things listed above and will set aside the cash for the milkman and window cleaner. Need to get a balance for my bank account when I do go to town and try to avoid spending and build my savings (DS3 has paid me up to the middle of October so total looks better than it actually is).

crazy_cat_lady

Evening all
Naughty Tortie Turtle #11 checking in with a very, very hectic first day of the month. Although I am very pleased to report that I still managed a nsd because everything I had to do today was either no cost or already paid for. I've done a lot of driving but the car had plenty of petrol in it so nothing needed there.
Quick list of things I've done - I won't bore you with too many details, it's only day 1.
8.45am - took dd to the doctors. She had blood tests this morning (clearly no shortage of tubes at our doctors)
9.45am - took NT1 to the vet for her post op check up. She had (another) tumour removed last week which cost over £600 but at least the cost of today's visit was included in last week's bill. Good news is that she's recovering really well and has even managed to gain a bit of weight. 
10.15am - housework, breakfast and started my exam writing
12.30pm - picked dd up from the hairdressers.
12.45pm - collected nephew and drove him and dd to sixth form for their LFT so they can start tomorrow (both negative thank goodness)
2pm - dropped nephew off, then drove to the only uniform supplier for ds school to pick up his trousers which I'd had to order in. Then drove to dry cleaner to pick up ds blazer.
4pm - went with dd back to the doctors to drop off her sample for testing (all clear)
Bit of a busy day. However I'm grateful for getting lots of little jobs done, not spending any money and making really good progress on my work.

CEW

Only a quick check in today, can’t miss day one after signing up to the challenge, as I’ve not long finished work. Worked late as I had an extended lunch break, two and a half hours, as my DD came to visit. Haven’t seen much of each other due to COVID and my need to isolate.

I will add my plans for the month tomorrow when I should have a little more time but I’ve banked my first NSD

Grateful for wonderful and supportive work colleagues (we are a completely new team and none of us have met in person) and a lovely lunch with DD.