Resolutions.

As I poured myself my zillionth (slight exaggeration ;) ) cup of green tea of the day, I decided I wanted to write about change, and resolutions.

Looking back over the years, I don't really remember any set resolutions I have told myself I would stick by, due to the stereotypical view that everybody always breaks them. This year, I was in two minds. I concluded that I would begin to make a few controllable changes that I would set myself, but would not taint them with that 'r' word. Resolutions to me, always seem to be blunt demands that people give themselves and know they will never be able to complete, because just hearing the word instantly relates to not believing you can. I hate that.

Anyway. 

Change 1: Drink more water. Because I'm still on christmas break, I don't tend to carry a bottle of water around with me all day, and since I've been back at my mum's, I have found myself often needing to sleep off migraines because I am dehydrated. So simple answer; drink more water. I've been doing well, and always reminding myself that I need to fill my glass, (even if it is still half full), but in the winter the water seems colder, so I have also taken up drinking Green Tea with Lemon. I have to say, I have no idea why it's taken me almost 20 years to discover that I love it!

Change 2: Eat healthier. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying I eat a ton of junk, but whilst living with 40 other young people and cooking for myself in a kitchen that some people often leave in a mess, cooking has grossed me out at times. So much so, that over the past year I am honestly unable to say that I've always eaten properly. So now I'm at my mum's for a while, I've made a pact with myself that I will eat proper meals, and snacks (if/when I want) that give me energy and make me feel good. Whilst living away, I picked up a good habit in the name of graze boxes (www.graze.com, if you're interested), and I'm still subscribed which means I have those to snack on, and steer away from the sugary, fatty, junky rubbish that seems to keep appearing in this house. (I'm doing well, by the way.)

Change 3: Impress myself with what I wear, even if I am just at home and half of my outfit is pj trousers or sweats. Working 12 hour days always knackers me out, leaving me not feeling bothered about what I change into at the end of my days, so I would tend to go for comfy, mostly baggy, and easy. When me and my ex boyfriend split up, I was pushed out of my almost daily routine of showering, dressing in pj's, and cuddling up. I was no longer just heading down the corridor to his room, but I was making a new routine for myself and I got into the habit of thinking about what I was putting on, a little more. I'll admit though, it was a messy break-up, my confidence was rock bottom, and I was living with people that had already seen me at my worst and knew the things that had happened. Since clearing my head and beginning to love myself more and more, I decided I owe it to myself to really think about what I wear. Conclusion? It's easy, and I love it. Today my outfit consisted of leggings, a baggy jumper (not hoodie) that could probably get itself into the guinness world book of records for it's bagginess, and a scarf. I looked good, and felt good, even if I do say so myself. Win! (By the way, I totally spent money I shouldn't have earlier by buying some gorgeous boots, and I don't feel the slightest bit guilty...)

Change 4: Smile more. When I look into a mirror to inspect the way I look, I often glance, 'hum and har' a little, then walk away. However, since I have been feeling better about myself I have decided that, whether I stop at a mirror to inspect, or just walk past it, if my eyes catch it, I must smile at myself. So not only do I feel good anyway, but reminding myself that I look good makes me feel even better. I can't lose!

Change 5: Gradually sort my sleeping pattern. Not being back at work yet has given me less reason to wake up early, which has slowly made me turn nocturnal. This is something that always used to happen in school holidays, etc, but I figured, with all these changes, getting proper sleep will probably do me some good, too. Day by day, I am working with myself to go to sleep even so much as half an hour earlier, and getting up, half an hour earlier. My friends may call me wise, but that gives me no reason to totally act like an owl!!

Healthy Courtney = Happy Courtney. Well, HappIER! :)

Now that my mug is empty, and I still have a little time before I should be asleep, I'm feeling a refill.

Green Tea with Lemon, anyone? Even with an inspirational mug...

Courtney's Imagination★