(no subject)
I've been in a fairly thoughtful mood lately. As the year is winding down (48 days until Christmas!), I can't help but think: was this a good year?
I took a look at my resolutions I set out in January to see where I'm at with them.
1. Work out more and buff myself up.
Health wise, I think I've done fairly well. I usually go to the gym 2-3 times a week in addition to dance class (3 times a week), which means I only take Sunday off as a "no gym" day. This doesn't always work out (no pun intended), but I do get to the gym on a regular basis. I haven't noticed a huge difference in my body, but I'm pretty small. So I suppose any changes won't be that noticeable anyways. I will say though that my arms and back are looking more muscular, and my stomach looks tighter. So yay!
2. Get rid of my debt.
Leaps and bounds I have not made, but I'm on the right track. I'm going slower than I had first hoped, but I realise that my loans can't be paid off overnight. If everything goes as planned, I should be completely debt free (knock on wood) by June 2010. I just have to keep kicking myself in the ass to keep myself from overspending. Christmas is going to be difficult, but I think I can do it.
The reason why I'm playing off my debt slower than I had wanted is because I put money towards my nest eggs every month (my savings account and RRSP). I know that it doesn't seem intuitive to save while in debt, but I feel better this way. I like seeing that egg grow every month. :)
3. Buy a car.
Given that I'm pretty dead set on NOT accumulating any new debt before I pay off what I currently have (stupid expensive education), this didn't happen. But we'll see, I may buy a car next year.
4. Get a new job.
Well, I sort of did. I was transferred into a new department and my portfolio has changed a little. I am no longer directly connected to anyone in my old office. YAY
5. Move out and find a new place.
Check, horray!
6. Lower my cholesterol.
I am genetically disposed to having higher cholesterol, so there's not much I can do about this unless I go on medication for it. And really, my cholesterol level isn't super high... it's just a bit higher than normal. >_<
7. To just be true to myself, to keep growing, to learn and live as much as I can.
I'm happy. So I'm counting this as a win.
To elaborate on being healthy, here are a few other lifestyle changes I have adopted:
1. I bought a neti pot yesterday and gave it a go. I've wanted to get one for ages, and I finally randomly found one at the campus pharmacy. For those who don't know, a neti pot is a nasal irrigation tool. I'm host to a lot of nasal problems: my nose is dry (the climate is dry here anyways), I have allergies, etc etc. I've read a lot of raves for neti pots when it comes to helping these ailments, so when I finally found one, I was like YAY.
It was a little odd to use, and I couldn't help but laugh at how funny it looked. I also had some drainage issues; the water came out of my left nostril just fine, but it was a little harder finding the right angle to drain my right nostril (some of the saline solution went down my throat... YUCK). Anyways. Conclusion? I am IN LOVE. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but I am breathing so much better today. I can't wait to get home and use it again tonight (well, that's an exaggeration but I do feel good).
2. I am implementing "no sugar" days. Today is the first. I want to start cutting as much sugar as possible from my diet, so I figure this is a good way to do so. Natural sugars (e.g. if I have an apple) are ok, but I'm not letting myself eat any candy/sweets/etc. I figure I'll start with one day a week, then up it until I get to 6 days a week without sugar. I'll allow myself one "crazy day", because I KNOW there's no way I'll be able to function without chocolate.
3. I am hoping that cutting sugar from my diet will help my skin. I'm really not a fan of my skin. I still break out every now and then (I'm almost 25, come on!), and I have mild rosacea (I can thank my Scottish ancestors for this) which means that even when I DON'T have pimples, my skin is still red and blotchy in certain places.
I've gone to the dermatologist and nothing seems to work.
At this point, I know I should probably just give up and deal with the fact that I will never have alabaster skin, but goddamn is it ever frustrating. Sigh.
Anybody have any tips & tricks that work for them?
I took a look at my resolutions I set out in January to see where I'm at with them.
1. Work out more and buff myself up.
Health wise, I think I've done fairly well. I usually go to the gym 2-3 times a week in addition to dance class (3 times a week), which means I only take Sunday off as a "no gym" day. This doesn't always work out (no pun intended), but I do get to the gym on a regular basis. I haven't noticed a huge difference in my body, but I'm pretty small. So I suppose any changes won't be that noticeable anyways. I will say though that my arms and back are looking more muscular, and my stomach looks tighter. So yay!
2. Get rid of my debt.
Leaps and bounds I have not made, but I'm on the right track. I'm going slower than I had first hoped, but I realise that my loans can't be paid off overnight. If everything goes as planned, I should be completely debt free (knock on wood) by June 2010. I just have to keep kicking myself in the ass to keep myself from overspending. Christmas is going to be difficult, but I think I can do it.
The reason why I'm playing off my debt slower than I had wanted is because I put money towards my nest eggs every month (my savings account and RRSP). I know that it doesn't seem intuitive to save while in debt, but I feel better this way. I like seeing that egg grow every month. :)
3. Buy a car.
Given that I'm pretty dead set on NOT accumulating any new debt before I pay off what I currently have (stupid expensive education), this didn't happen. But we'll see, I may buy a car next year.
4. Get a new job.
Well, I sort of did. I was transferred into a new department and my portfolio has changed a little. I am no longer directly connected to anyone in my old office. YAY
5. Move out and find a new place.
Check, horray!
6. Lower my cholesterol.
I am genetically disposed to having higher cholesterol, so there's not much I can do about this unless I go on medication for it. And really, my cholesterol level isn't super high... it's just a bit higher than normal. >_<
7. To just be true to myself, to keep growing, to learn and live as much as I can.
I'm happy. So I'm counting this as a win.
To elaborate on being healthy, here are a few other lifestyle changes I have adopted:
1. I bought a neti pot yesterday and gave it a go. I've wanted to get one for ages, and I finally randomly found one at the campus pharmacy. For those who don't know, a neti pot is a nasal irrigation tool. I'm host to a lot of nasal problems: my nose is dry (the climate is dry here anyways), I have allergies, etc etc. I've read a lot of raves for neti pots when it comes to helping these ailments, so when I finally found one, I was like YAY.
It was a little odd to use, and I couldn't help but laugh at how funny it looked. I also had some drainage issues; the water came out of my left nostril just fine, but it was a little harder finding the right angle to drain my right nostril (some of the saline solution went down my throat... YUCK). Anyways. Conclusion? I am IN LOVE. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but I am breathing so much better today. I can't wait to get home and use it again tonight (well, that's an exaggeration but I do feel good).
2. I am implementing "no sugar" days. Today is the first. I want to start cutting as much sugar as possible from my diet, so I figure this is a good way to do so. Natural sugars (e.g. if I have an apple) are ok, but I'm not letting myself eat any candy/sweets/etc. I figure I'll start with one day a week, then up it until I get to 6 days a week without sugar. I'll allow myself one "crazy day", because I KNOW there's no way I'll be able to function without chocolate.
3. I am hoping that cutting sugar from my diet will help my skin. I'm really not a fan of my skin. I still break out every now and then (I'm almost 25, come on!), and I have mild rosacea (I can thank my Scottish ancestors for this) which means that even when I DON'T have pimples, my skin is still red and blotchy in certain places.
I've gone to the dermatologist and nothing seems to work.
At this point, I know I should probably just give up and deal with the fact that I will never have alabaster skin, but goddamn is it ever frustrating. Sigh.
Anybody have any tips & tricks that work for them?