A guide for surviving 2013!

My mind have been wandering to the year 2013, the start of a New Year and pondering over what kind of resolutions shall I make.

I am utterly hopeless at keeping resolutions! So I have decided that instead of making a yearlong resolution, I will be writing down a list of resolutions and to see if I can do them monthly. It is sort of a gentle ease into doing something and monthly should a bit more achievable than a year, which everyone forget after 2 weeks!

Most of the resolutions I want to make for myself mainly are to do with my mental health, I really want to improve my outlook on life and finding ways to be positive and to think about other people as I can be self absorbed when I am at a low point.

Positive news in a jar!

I saw this on someone’s Facebook recently and I really liked this and I will be looking for a jar so I can do this!

This is always a good way to record what positive and happy things that has happened to you and it will remind you one year later what you have achieved instead of feeling sorry for yourself or struggling to name a positive thing that has happened to you.

Exercise

I’m not really a gym person and I find it hard to go to gyms as I tend to feel self conscious as also there are moments where I have anxiety attacks and low points where I don’t want to go out. I really want to do Pilates and Yoga again as they both are a form of exercise that help with thinking and self control as well I can do them in flat when I do not have the energy or the motivation to do something.

I will be looking into courses around Wolverhampton also in the university.

I recently read a blog by Rebecca Anne Withey who teaches Mindfulness Meditation- 

http://www.thedancingphoenix.co.uk/blog

I found the blog quite interesting and hope to attend one of her sessions one day. Having a Deaf teacher can be quite beneficial for Deaf people as well those who have mental health issues.

Expand your thinking with new experiences

I am going to try and push myself into trying something new monthly such as a new food experience, or learning a new skill. I hope by the end of 2013 I will have a degree, BSL NQV 3 and will be starting a CTLLS course! (With some other courses too such as First Aid)

Lose other people’s opinions.

Stop worrying about trying to please everyone. As Bill Cosby says, “I don’t know the key to success, but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

Frankly who cares what you think! I don’t!

 I do appreciate positive feedback and criticism but if it is not positive then I do not care, as it will not help me to learn from my mistakes.

I want to be comfortable and learn to accept myself.

Decluttering

I often aim to TRY to be tidier! At times sleeping in a bombsite can be depressing especially when I can’t find a thing!

Physical health

I really want to be healthier, not thinner! I have already started by stopping having takeaway for myself; I now have them if I am with friends!

I also want to learn a new habit of eating breakfast, as when I was a child, the taxi would come too early and I would miss my breakfast as they would be cross if I wasn’t ready and I would arrive at school far too early! Mum would put in a banana or an apple in my bag to eat on the way to school and complain to the taxi company as well. I didn’t really like cereal much and still don’t! So it can be difficult for me, I cant really eat much breakfast products as they are mainly made from wheat and can give me a tummy aches which isn’t a nice way to start the day!

            So I’m going try to start with fruit and making smoothies as well. I also want to eat better at nights as I tend to over eat and when I am too depressed to make anything I will eat any processed crap. I have started bulk-cooking proper homemade food and am freezing it so when I am unable I can just thaw it out and eat something healthy rather than a TV dinner.

            I want to drink more healthy as well which mean I will be trying to detox and drinking more water and herbal teas rather than relying on coffee for a caffeine boost (which is expensive!).

Appreciation/ gratitude

I have put my life at risk a few times and I want to appreciate the life I have and have gratitude for what I do have- a home, a family, good friends and so on. I want to learn how to show people that I appreciate them by asking after them and saying thanks more often.

I do adore many people and am glad to call them my friends and am happy they haven’t run away screaming when I am in a destructive mood.

Finding a healthy outlet

 When I am down I tend to spend my money on rubbish and try to find something material to amuse myself.

I want to get out of that habit and start on doing things that benefit me more such as writing, reading, doing some work or meeting a friend for a natter. Instead of keeping things inside and letting them build up.

Write a not-to-do-list

This is interesting; this could be anything from no more buying shower gels to not letting myself get stressed out.

Mental health

I am going to try to do things that are positive such as seeing a funny film, reading an enjoyable book, meeting friends who are fun and will offer a healthy way to have fun.

            Try not to let negative things bog me down such as disappointment, failure or broken promises. Try to make them into a positive issue such as more time to finish a book or more time to write and whatever else.

So there you go! My list and hopefully I will be able to do them all!

One thing I found that really helped me in 2012 was to have a weekend away with the lovely ladies and I am looking forward to the next one in January. This gives me something to be excited about and I always enjoy myself!

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve plans and try to face a new day in a positive way! (i.e A hangover from a fabulous Night with friends!)

Fact: In Scotland, New Year is called Hogmanay and drinking whiskey is compulsory (not really but it’s fun!)