Again, with the Happiness Project.

So I have got a few people onto this book now and they/ you are all loving it. One of the (many) things about the book that I love is how easily I was able to see parts of my own life reflected back to me. I have been on a quest of sorts to assess my own energy levels. This is the first thing Gretchen does in the book and I am not planning on living my year like hers but certain things really made me think.

One of the  biggest things I learnt from the book that has increased my energy levels is this: GET MORE SLEEP. I know so simple right??  But for the last week I have NOT been getting up at 530-6am to try and get some Etsy work done before I either have to go to work or before Busy gets up. I have been waiting to get up when Busy does ( about 630-7am) and it has been great! I don't feel like I am running behind, I don't feel like there is so much to do still. I feel more rested. I feel less cranky. It was that simple. MORE SLEEP!

The other thing I have been doing is I have JUST started seeing a personal trainer.  I initially thought "I shouldn't have to pay someone to motivate me I should just get off my own bum and start jogging again" ...but 3 months went by and I didn't. I didn't even get my trainers out of the cupboard. A good friend of mine has been seeing this personal trainer for a few months and is feeling great and looking great and I have sat on my bum for 3 months thinking I should just start jogging but not actually doing anything about it.

So  I have started with the personal trainer -she is nice. She doesn't yell or scream in your face just encourages and pushes you to kep going push yourself a little harder. Of course in my inpatience-don't-do-anything -by halves mindset I want to immediately start going every day and be fit overnight. Obviously this is not going to happen. On Saturday afternoon I attempted to go for a run with disasterous results, it was demoralising to realise how far I COULDN'T run anymore- how unfit I have become. But on the flip side I have started - I am doing something about the fact that I cannot run anymore, and as I am fond of saying nothing motivates you more than starting!
Wish me luck.

Secrets of Adulthood

Sometimes a book keeps coming at you from all different directions. I kept seeing The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin everywhere. I would walk past a shop and see it, I would see it online, I would see it in the newspaper, I would over hear someone talking about it at a cafe. The universe trying to tell me to read it. I scoffed inwardly "I don't read self help books and I certainly don't need help to be happy." Cynical? Yes. 

But yet it still kept jumping out at me. So I popped it on my kindle before we went to Thailand and I started reading it on the plane. I was immediately struck by the authors honesty it is hugely personal but so much of what she said rang true to me. Gretchen makes various commandments and personal truths for herself to keep her on track as she tackles different aspects of her life month by month. The research is comprehensive and explained in an easy to read way and there is a good mix of evidence as well as personal truths. I loved some of the great ideas she has like : don't delay a task that takes less than a minute. I have made this 5 minutes for me and I find if I just- for example put the washing away rather than be annoyed by the basket it really actually makes me feel lighter. 


Probably my favourite part of book are The Secrets of Adulthood. You know those things you work out as you grow up that you can't believe took you so long to "get' which I loved as I often thought about these kind of things, when one would spring up I would immediately think - why didn't I work that out sooner?? What took me so long to work it out?


So I started writing mine down when I thought of them:


here they are:


When cranky assess last food and water intake.

Good food and exercise makes you feel good.

Sometimes it's easier to shut up

Ranting and raving and "venting" make you feel worse not better.

Always be nice to admin people, no matter how difficult that may sometimes be.

It's generally not the fault of the person who answers the phone.

It saves time if you read the instructions.

Friendship is not always forever.

It's nice to be nice.

No one will ever be as consistently excited to see you as your dog.

People who come across as snobby or rude may just be incredibly shy.

If you say the compliment out loud, it will make you both feel good.

Nothing ever turns out as you imagine it in your minds eye. Never ever.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.*

Being optimistic is a force of will.

Question professionals decisions and treatment plans. Ask about evidence. 

Always have a wet weather plan.

The words "sorry" and "but" cancel each other out.

Wanting change means getting actively involved.

Feeling guilty is a choice you make.

People that tell you you are sensitive may have just been incredibly insensitive. 




* this one is obviously not my own but it took me a while to get the concept

What are your secrets of adulthood? I would love to know, I bet you have lots of them.