NST September 2021

mothernerd

Friday 3rd September 2021

Choose a happy life
When you wake up each morning, take a moment to think about the kind of like you want to have.
Consciously choose to have a happy life: one that is filled with love, laughter, good health and success.
Then begin your day focused on the things you can do to make this a reality.

It's never too late to start your day
Insomnia got you sleeping in until 2 pm?
* that's okay get yourself some coffee and go thrift shopping, no-one will know you just got out of bed
Anxiety got you staring at the walls until 8 pm?
*it's going to get better. Start a load of laundry and have a shower, so you go to bed feeling clean
Depression keeping you locked in your room until 11 pm?  
*it'll be alright. Go to the 24 hour store and buy yourself a(n inexpensive) candle - you'll wake up with something new
You don't have to start your day in the morning
I start at 5 pm sometimes and let me tell you, doing something almost always feels better than doing nothing. it doesn't have to be big or important. it doesn't have to be too much to handle. it's enough to wash your face or comb your hair. if you feel tired, it's enough to make a list for tomorrow. don't let the clock hold you back, it's a piece of plastic and glass. you get to decide what a day is
(future-ghosts)

mothernerd says I don't like the way this is written (tried not to alter/ correct it) but I love the sentiment. When my sleeping pattern was really bad (the CPAP machine improved things greatly) I was really worried about other people knowing when I woke up/ slept in case they 'judged' me. However I found I could cope with most things as long as I had enough 'overlap' with 'normal people'. If I woke early and fell asleep again after a while it was okay (my body needed it, especially when I often got to sleep after 4 am). If I slept until 10 am, I could function (after a fashion). As long as I was awake by 2 pm I could make phone calls within office hours or get to shops that shut at 5 pm. I know lots of you suffer/ have suffered from disrupted sleep patterns or just consistently fail to have sufficient sleep, so I hope it helps. Don't judge yourself, try to work with your body's natural rhythms (my grandma slept late but read until the early hours of the morning- she paired with a friend who was up at the crack of dawn and they would pass a postcard back and forth saying that they were awake, so that they could get in touch with family members if the message didn't come).

Similarly 'Just because you can't do it all, doesn't mean you can't do anything'. Just make a start. Do a little thing, or a small part of a big job - tidy a drawer, put the washing machine/ dishwasher on and let the machines get on with it (if you fall asleep again you have accomplished something in your day). When the boys were small I would put the washing machine on, once they were in bed. When I had PTSD it took me anything from 3 days to a fortnight to get the washing from the bottom of the stairs to the machine and even then it sometimes didn't get put into the machine. I remember wall papering the front room (when the two eldest were at high school). The room was so crowded (I tended to get everyone's cast off furniture and the things no-one else wanted after a family member died) I had to clear a small space, drag the sewing machine cabinet there (I was using it to stand on), put up one or two pieces of wallpaper and then move. But it got done. I'm often frustrated by the small amount I can do before running out of steam but bit by bit, and with lots of rest in between, things get done (maybe not everything I had planned or would like to do). I'm also very good at finding alternative ways of doing things. When something doesn't work (or I can't physically do it) I sit and think, find something I can use or another thing to try.

Our mind is like a little monkey who likes to wander from branch to branch (jumping from one thought to another)
It likes to constantly swing between the past and the future.
Invite that little monkey to rest on one branch for a moment and just breathe
(taken from sketches in stillness - a delightful set of cartoons, highly recommended).

crazy_cat_lady

Thank you for this ^^^^ post mothernerd. It's really what I needed to hear today because I'm heading towards lunchtime and I haven't started other than beating myself up over not doing anything.
Mildly hungover this morning but I had a fabulous day out yesterday with my friend. We had lunch (on a specials menu ) and gin, and then bought a bottle to bring back to mine where we sat and put the world to rights for a few hours. It obviously wasn't a nsd but it really was fabulous for my mental health and even with a hangover I feel better today than I have done for a while - must have needed the company.
DD is on Day 2 at sixth form. She did not enjoy the morning of forced fun and teambuilding yesterday so I'm hoping that today goes better for her. She's been so anxious about the change and it wasn't the best of starts...
Inspired by Buffy and the posts on here I've decided to do a minimum of 10000 steps a day in September. I'm going to find a well lit walking route rather than the wilds I usually walk in - that means I can keep my exercise going on the dark evenings, and it also ticks the box of looking after my mental health.
I have some writing I definitely need to finish today so I'm going to get on and get something done. I'm going to do my tried and tested thing of an hour of work followed by 10 minutes of something else. Helps the day go quicker.
Have a good day turtles...

Calling14

Can someone take my cc off me. Already a failure this month. Naughty step I am there.

Day 1 - bought jigsaw and craft kit for grandkids as both been poorly last week, not sure if I will see them again this weekend as grandson still sick last night. Wee spend also in HB needed few toiletries.

Day 2 - ordered 2 dresses and a top online reeled me in with 25% off, also ticket for gig next year so excited about that. Might not keep both dresses!

Today - well need milk and potatoes, nothing else really.

Was going to go to a gig tonight, quite a drive and hearing someone you know vaguely has passed away with covid at age of 40, made me bit anxious, was double jabbed as well.  Night in feet up and a glass on wine I will settle for.

Will catch up on reading this months thread and new mini challenges later, alone in office and busy bee today.

Grateful for

Invoice for tiles bathroom finally arriving, did the work March, seems cheap hope there is not another to follow. As lad went back and forwards collecting bits not sure if this is everything.

Weekend probably another quiet one, missing my rugrats a lot, hope they are better soon.

Annoying boss off on holiday for a week yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

thriftylass

I'm with the London based energy supplier 6ul6. The prices are good, it's all green and the customer service is usually good. But their payment suggestion are way off. The second time after I inquired 2 months ago.

I am £166 in credit
Pay £95 month (just reduced from £105 after last inquiry)
Over the last 12 months my bills were on average £100 per month

The app says my monthly usage is £123 (not predicted usage) and I should up my payments to £140 (it even says: looking at your current usage - last bill was £58! - and balance we recommend you pay £140)

 Even with an expected price hike of 25% that is off.

cybertortoise

Calling - how sad! I'd have stayed home too. Sorry for your loss, even a vague acquaintance hits hard.

A very spendy day today for me, 4 kids to buy for for school and college, plus 2 pairs of work shoes for myself. I budgeted amounts though and have come in under. All my budgets are written out for the month. Cash set aside for the things I need to pay cash - hairdresser and rubbish collection. Bill money set aside safely but will need topping up at the end of the month.

I'm hoping to go food shopping tonight as I will only need to take my boy to the barber tomorrow then and should be set for a couple of NSD. I'm aiming for 10 but going to try for more. I recorded every penny spent today and will continue to do so as it's a major downfall of mine. I've had a dodgy couple of months and still catching up missed bills etc, by the end of this month I'll be caught up but skint.

Back on hospital placement from Monday, I've got my lunchbox ready and will make sure to buy something to take for lunch to save some money. It's a subsidised canteen so a hot meal is only £2 but i'm there for 3 weeks so it adds up. I need to grab some coffee as I only have decaff and i'll need the morning boost next week - added it to the list that I am making. I loathe food shopping so I'm going to try really hard to be good and get a whole week of food rather than a few bits that won't last.

We walked to town and back saving parking money and a little fuel, also helped me hit my 10k steps before midday. I didn't sleep at all last night so I woke the kids up early. The shops in town were still closed when we arrived (opened 5 mins later) and we got home before lunch. Unfortunately I had nothing in for lunch and had chosen the wrong shoes so could only make it to the local shop for something for the kids to eat. I'm off to finish my shopping list and maybe try for a nap before I have to go shopping.

Hope you've all had a good day.

f0xh0les

Still on NSD1, took the kids to school (grrrr already), needed money for parking in town, so had to take out a tenner, then buy 2 ring doughnuts so that I would have coinage (nods wisely like she means it), gave blood, got a free biscuit and 2 pints of fluid, was thinking about going for coffee and cake as a reward to thank me for the public service, but I just wanted to go home and not spend money. So I did that instead and ate the doughnuts at 50p each, instead of £3.50 per slice of cake.

Lunch from stores with DH, then went off charity shopping and spent £3 on a green double duvet cover set,  £2 on a single duvet set, £2 on another 100% cotton double cover in white, and £1 each on a 100% cotton double fitted sheet and a single white fitted bedsheets. Because they are 100% cotton, they can be any colour I choose to dye them in future, they will have multiple lives in various hues.  Kids came out of school with requests from teachers for a certain colour  of ink pen to mark their work, so we ended up in Mr T's shopping emporium and managed to find a pack of 10 glitter gel pens with 3 purplish colours for DS4, and a green one for DS3 and it also has a gold and silver one, which I will put aside for the labels for presents for that certain day that shall not be mentioned.  Plus they were half price with a Clobcard. Ended up with nice ys tomatoes, ys salad leaves, a ys  pineapple, and some burgers while I was at it. Hopefully will not need to shop this weekend.

So quite  a few things off the 'going to Uni' list, for cheap. 

Now just have to wash all the fabric to stop it smelling of febr33ze.

lcc86

Evening turtles. End of my second week in the new job and it remains quiet. I tried to take advantage a bit more today and got a bit of housework done as I'll be out of action for a few days. Everything is clean and tidy so any mess will be OH's responsibility! Got some books and box sets lined up for tomorrow for when I get home from hospital. Enforced relaxing is difficult but I have no choice so might as well embrace it!

@Thrifty_Taylor don't let hubby keep you on cooking duty too long hehe. Hope he feels better soon!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for being able to stay home (got glutenised last night and was throwing up for 3 hours. Ugh), for dh doing all the dc stuff, for managing to get some important emails sent out, for a fluffy blanket to snuggle under, for easy peasy food.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening turtles

Not been a gentle start to this month - been hectic and stressful!  DD1's car failed its MOT so i've had to arrange time off work to taxi her to 2 separate hospital appointments, total of over 140 miles.  Also  had to drive her to work both days.  Will then have to be mum's taxi to work on Monday, then take her monitor back to hospital. Her car is going to cost over £1700 which is more than its worth but her dad and grandma have offered to help her out a bit thank goodness.

DD2 was supposed to be moving into her flat in her new uni town but landlord said it wouldn't be ready today; me and her friend/flatmate's parents rearranged our plans but then the landlord said actually you can move in today - arghhh!  Too late to revert back to Plan A so they will move in next week.  It has saved me a 300 mile round trip as i can't do anything next week as we have a family do but i will transport DD2's stuff to our family event and her boyfr will transport it to the flat for her.  Means i can't do a recce of the flat/new uni town just yet but i will go in a few weeks....

I went back to work on Weds which was ok.  CEW - we have to go back to the office from mid Sept up to 2 days a week too!  I'm pondering asking my boss if i can do my hours over 4 days instead of 5.  Did some of my self employment job this morning and will have to do some over the weekend.  I should've been paid for job #4 on 1 Sept but no sign and no contact from outgoing person either.  Not very professional   It's only earning me £97 a month but it all helps!  

Achieved 1 x NSD so far.  Will do budget tomorrow and have a proper look at the challenge too. I'm on holiday for one week so i'm going to set a specific budget for my hols and one for the rest of the month.

I've managed at least 10k steps every day and this week have done one exercise class and one pilates class.  

Gratitudes - being able to help DD1 through a stressful week; DD2 coping with changes to plans without too much of a wobble; understanding boss and flexitime.

Deni x

ditty1234

Hi I am still just hanging on to this thread by my fingertips, with feet in the water, dragging behind the boat. But I will not let go. I am getting on to the money tap and I am working on turning it off, or at least to a trickle. 
My ds1 is now in rehab, so in isolation for 2 weeks, which is a nightmare for him after 5 weeks in hospital, and hard on me as I am the one who visits every day and try to cheer him up a bit. Not easy. Yesterday I brought a sunflower from the garden and a puzzle and a vegetable cook book from a charity shop. That sort of worked, I worked on the puzzle and he read a bit of the book - and he does like cooking so at the moment he will have to learn to cook with one hand. It's all change and hard work, but it can't really start until the 14th when he is allowed out of his room in the rehab.
I am trying to go to work, but not doing a great job. 
Ds2 is preparing to go off to uni, so lots of change ahead. 
Also the job I had to pass on earlier, is now back for January, so I am very excited to have another go at that, and to be able to do the change in an orderly manner. 
I am not really managing NSD days as am taking bits of food orr stuff for ds1 most days, and slightly scatter shopping. I have managed this week on a £20 shop so far though just going through left overs and freezer stuff, so time for a grand shop today. 
Grateful for carers and physio people, for lovely colleagues and for friends inviting me to go away with them for a couple of days later in the month.