2022 - Moving forward

jwil

Last day off before back to work and school tomorrow   

I've had a productive morning so far - I always get more done if I get on with it in the morning, I'm definitely a lark!

I've cut little jwil and DH's hair, my shopping has arrived and been put away, I've tidied round and adjusted an ebay listing for DH.  He has prepped a couple so I'll list those later to go on Thursday.

I've caught up with emails and surveys and ordered online a bag for sorting the recycling that I had been planning on buying for ages to replace our grotty carrier bag.  It had 25% off, so even better.  I got a couple of other things while they were on offer as well.

I'm going to make a real effort to walk the kids to school once they are back.  It's easy to take the car when it's wet/cold or I've got a lot on at work, but if I at least walk them there in the morning then I'll tick off my exercise requirements without having to fit it in elsewhere.  I just have to make the effort to log on to work earlier to allow for the extra walking time.

I'm going to boil up some eggs today and keep them in the fridge so that I've got something easy to grab to try and tackle my breakfasts.  My biggest downfall is time, so I have to try and plan ahead to stop me grabbing whatever's easiest (Chocolate!).  I've ordered some tinned soup so that I've got something to grab quickly at lunchtime if I haven't got time to prep anything, and if I meal plan for the evenings, then that should help.

Better get back to it.  Have a good day everyone

savingholmes

Another productive day. Well done on the haircuts too - I had a few mishaps when I tried doing others hair and got banned LOL

Blackcats

Hard boiled eggs are a great option - filling and nutritious.  I sometimes make a quick lunch - I think it was a Joe Wickes suggestion - matchbox sized piece of cheese, chopped apple and a handful of walnuts.  I find that gives me an energy boost without a carb induced slump.  I've assumed it should be a small matchbox size chunk of cheese, not a giant matchbox size 🤷‍♀️.  Another good snack if you want an alternative to chocolate is a dollop of peanut butter with an apple to dip into it.   chocolate is still my go to snack of choice but I try alternatives on occasion. 

jwil

savingholmes said:

Another productive day. Well done on the haircuts too - I had a few mishaps when I tried doing others hair and got banned LOL

Thank you   I just use clippers so it's not too difficult.  They've also got curly hair so it hides a multitude of sins  

Blackcats said:

Hard boiled eggs are a great option - filling and nutritious.  I sometimes make a quick lunch - I think it was a Joe Wickes suggestion - matchbox sized piece of cheese, chopped apple and a handful of walnuts.  I find that gives me an energy boost without a carb induced slump.  I've assumed it should be a small matchbox size chunk of cheese, not a giant matchbox size 🤷‍♀️.  Another good snack if you want an alternative to chocolate is a dollop of peanut butter with an apple to dip into it.   chocolate is still my go to snack of choice but I try alternatives on occasion. 

Thank you for the suggestions, really useful.  I can't get on with nuts at all, so will have to think of an alternative, but apple and cheese sounds good!  I snacked on cold meat today, so that wasn't too bad, but would get expensive so will continue to try other things.

jwil

Back to work today, but had a very disruptive day, as last night little miss's tooth broke, so I had to get her an emergency dental appointment.  I picked her up, and then by the time we'd been to the dentist, it was close to the end of the day so picked up little jwil too rather than him being in after school club.  He was very happy, but it was 2 hours out of my day.  I'll catch up tomorrow.

I walked them to school this morning to get my exercise in   However, my foot is killing me so I think I'm going to have to get some new trainers.  I need some with a bit of cushioning.  I think I also need to replace my insoles as well which help with my foot pain.

I've sold two of the items I listed at the weekend, hurrah!

beanielou

Boo to the foot pain.Must be the day for it.
Yah to the sales.

jwil

beanielou said:

Boo to the foot pain.Must be the day for it.
Yah to the sales.

Yes, it must be!  My knee on the other leg feels really stiff and achey today as well, I'm falling apart.  Strange as it's not a 'new' walk for me.

savingholmes

Well done on the sales. Good that you managed to get a dental appointment. Ouch to the foot pain. I'm loving my new trainers - so much more support. I do wish I'd done it sooner!

jwil

I ordered some trainers last night from amazon and they've come today.  They are nice, but smaller than expected.  I think they are ok, so will give them a go.  I think eventually I will have to spend decent money on some but don't want to until I've got my finances back on track, so hopefully these will last a few months.

I've cashed out on PA today, and so have sent the money from that and my ebay sales to the mortgage.  DH is selling a few more things today as well which is good.  We're clearing stuff that has been on for a while so that's good.

I'm not feeling the work love at the moment, hopefully I'll get my mojo back.  I've just had a browse through the job websites and couldn't find anything I want to do more.  I just need a lottery win    I've also had a look at my pension, and I think I'm happy with the amount I'll get if I was to leave today, so anything else is a bonus and will make life easier.  That gives me freedom, but also assumes I won't retire until 67 which is not my plan!  I also calculated how much I might get if redundancy rears it's head over the next couple of years.  It would be a reasonable amount.  However, for now, I shall be staying where I am (unless forced out) as I like the job overall, it's reasonably well-paid compared to what is around otherwise, and I'm contributing to making a small difference to the world.  I need to sort out my finances and get the work done on the house before I consider a move and then there may be other options such as going part time etc.

One thing I realised from my recent GP visit, was just how much I am feeling 'meh' about life.  As well as a food diary, I had to record my moods, and it was often just 'meh'.  Not happy, but not unhappy.  Just no feeling at all.   The meds I am on have done wonders for my anxiety, but I don't have any get up and go any more, and am not sure if that's the meds or just my mood otherwise.  I might dig out my depression CBT books and start using the activities again.  I think I suffer a bit from SAD as well, as I do struggle in winter.  Sorting my diet will probably help too!

savingholmes

Sorry you are feeling meh. I think a lot of us are ATM. For many it's the pandemic, winter blues, the dark nights etc - lack of control... 

Glad your pensions are looking good. If you want to leave earlier than 67 - it would be worth checking how much that would reduce your pension by - and then seeing whether it is still at the right level for your revised goal - and if not how to fix it.

Well done on the OPs.