Little Change Number Two: Get More Sleep

As I mentioned in my last post, I don't have the time or energy to commit to big resolutions. But a new little one every week? I might be able to pull that off.

Week one's goal was to drink more water. I'm actually still doing okay with that one. At least I'm drinking more than I had been (which wasn't hard to do) and I'm conscious about it now.

Week two's goal is a bit harder. I'm supposed to get more sleep, or at least the recommended 7-8 hours per night. Well I generally get 7-8, but I'm not a truly happy, functional human being with anything less than 9. High maintenance, right? Plus with pregnancy comes notoriously bad sleep (uncomfortable, sweaty, stuffy nose, constantly need to pee...it's a blast). Which isn't fair, since in 2 months I will be getting even less, more broken sleep. So really, I have no delusional ideas here. I will get the most sleep I am able to get, poor-quality and all.

Tomorrow starts week three: Keep Off the Couch. At 31 weeks pregnant the exhaustion is setting in, but I'll see what I can do. Join in with me if you'd like!

52 Itty Bitty Little Changes

I've been feeling stuck lately. There are so many things I want to do or start. I keep seeing some great reading challenges I'd like to join, but then I remember that come March I'm not going to have the motivation or time to keep up with reading. Or really anything for that matter. Like housework. Man, that second trimester was awesome for housework. I was a nesting machine. I'm only a couple of weeks into the third trimester and all the normal day-to-day work is slipping away from me.

I'd love to get thin again, but I'm going to have to wait until, oh, I don't know, next year? Let's be honest. It's going to be a long time before I can really focus on losing this weight. So, in the meantime, I'm trying to content myself with making small changes that will have an impact on my overall health. Lucky for me Amazon had the same idea, and I was able to purchase the Kindle version of 52 Small Changes: One Year to a Happier, Healthier You for dirt cheap. Even now it's still cheap ($3.99 at time of posting).

So far I'm still on week 1: drink more water. I'm...not terrible at it? I was barely drinking any before so I've upped it and I'm trying to track how much I drink with an app for my phone. I'm not being strict about it, since anything is better than the nothing I was drinking.

I guess my whole theory is that while I can't commit to making any huge proclamations or changes this year, I can at least try to make some small ones. And maybe, if I can keep it up, these small changes will turn into a larger change and it won't feel like I've really done much at all.

If you want to, I'd love for you to join me! Things like this are always more fun with friends!

One Kind Deed

The last few days have left me heartbroken and in despair. I have no intention of discussing the event as the news is everywhere. However, in light of what has happened, I have felt a need to do something. The most overwhelming feeling I've had is how terrible the world is. Ever since I became a mother I have been so acutely aware of just how big, how evil, the world can be, but the point has really been brought home. I want to hold my daughter close and never let her go, but I know she needs to learn to have strength to face whatever may come. So, while I cannot change the world, I can try to make it a better place.

My original thought was to create a kind of New Years Resolution/Challenge, in which I would do one good deed or practice one act of kindness each day throughout the year. I may still do that, but to make it formal I'll need to hammer out a few more details. Plus, I don't feel like waiting until the new year. We need more goodness in the world now.

This past year has been a difficult one. There have been multiple deaths in my family, as well as some major family upheaval. Not to mention that becoming a mother has rocked my world so hard I have a hard time knowing which way is up. On top of all that (and perhaps because of it), I have not been my best person this year. I have strayed so far from who I used to be that sometimes I hardly recognize myself. I also err too often on the side of caution, not wanting to put myself out there and be judged. More often than not I'd rather fly under the radar and not be noticed.

This needs to change. I need to change.

So, in an effort to change myself for the better and try to bring light and hopefulness to those around me, I am challenging myself to do one good deed each day that I would not have otherwise done. It can be something as small as a kind word to my husband after a particularly grueling day, instead of snapping at him for not helping clean up. Or it can be helping out a stranger financially or buying flowers for a friend just because. The point is to make me reach out of my shell, to become a part of the world again, and try my hardest to make it a better place.

**Update**
You can follow my progress on Twitter (@amyliz2008) using the hashtag #dailykindness.