Back on the Happiness Project

I didn't have a great week last week. I felt sad. I felt overwhelmed. I felt deflated. I spent a good portion of the week feeling nervous and I couldn't seem to put my finger on why. Subsequently, I didn't feel like doing anything around the house, laid on the couch for any given free moment, spent way too much time on my phone, and ate my face off.

Feeling emotionally bad breeds behaviour that tends to dig my self-created pit a little deeper. I then tend to feel worse and continue to do all those bad things to try and make myself feel better. On Sunday evening I decided I need to start climbing out of the hole. It took a good self talk and a list to claw my way a few feet closer to the surface, but it felt good.

The list included the following:

1. ABSOLUTELY no eating after supper. I am not hungry and do not need popcorn drenched in butter, or any of Calder's Easter chocolate (what little is left. . . I may have put a pretty substantial dent in it).
2. DO NOT sit down in the evening until everything is cleaned up and bags are packed for the morning. This usually takes no more than a half an hour. I feel good when it is all done. Not to mention the fact that I can relax more fully when I am sitting in a clean house. Hugh thinks I'm crazy, but it's just how I'm wired.
3. EXERCISE at least twice. This means running. I haven't run since the start of February. The weather is supposed to be nice (finally). GET OFF YOUR BUTT.
4. BE KIND to yourself. I went to the Silverspoon Dinner last week and saw Jann Arden speak. Deena wrote a marvellous post about it. Jann Arden spoke of being kind to yourself and minding the words we speak to ourselves. As she spoke, I reflected on my own behaviours and thought I did a pretty good job of this. I quickly gave myself a pat on the back and immersed myself in the rest of her speech. It didn't take long for me to take that pat on the back, back. Last Tuesday I noticed that I say negative things to myself about my skin and hair almost every time I look in a mirror. Not good and I need to stop. LIKE NOW.
5. CHECK one thing off the to-do list everyday. This may mean mailing a letter, making a return, blogging, or editing a home movie. JUST DO IT.

I didn't want to get too carried away with a list. I knew that if it got to long, I was liable to fail on many fronts. I didn't want to fail. These last 6 weeks at school can get tough. Kids get stressed. Teachers' get stressed. I want to make sure I am in a good place to keep the stress at a minimum and the best way to do it is to get my happiness project back in the forefront. If you want to read more (or have a reminder of some of the things I've done), scroll down and click the "My Happiness Project" label.

I am continuing to link up with the girls from the style Challenge. Check out what they are up to as well. We are a diverse group and have a lot more to talk about than fashion!

Deena @ Shoes to Shiraz

Shaunacey @ Confessions of a Frumpy Mummy

 Katie @ The Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life
Beth @ Fast Life Slow Life
Vanessa @ X-tremely V
Anne-Michelle @ May We Be Allergy Free
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side
Carrie @ A Lovely Little Wardrobe
Carly @ Faith Family and Frugality
Lana @ Two Teens and Their Mama

Happy Wednesday