January 4th - Positive changes from new goals/routines youve started:
I have only recently started some new routines and goals since I created them Jan 1st, so I dont know if Ive seen much of a change in me yet.
When it comes to my health goals, I havent notice a change much as that takes time (and technically my health goals and routine begins tomorrow since I’ll be back to the gym then).
I have been praying daily which is a goal of mine for 2026 (to be healthier spiritually). And i have noticed that I do feel more connected and more calm and at peace. So I suppose thats a positive change in me
Will continue working on my goals/routines and hope to see further change (as long as I can be consistent lol Consistency is what I struggle with the most).
The most huge change I’ve made to my routine is my sleep schedule. I’m in bed usually by 9pm and up by 5.30am latest for a quiet coffee. Four days a week I do a 6.45am gym class which I’m used to now and hope will complement my lifestyle when I land a job as I’ll still be able to attend the exact same classes. It’s definitely a process and routine that is the complete opposite of who I used to be, a complete night owl. I would stay up into the wee hours most nights and spent my life exhausted. I can’t see me ever changing this new routine now as it’s become super special to me. Those quiet and still mornings are magical, and I feel like I’m being more attuned to my cats as well as they are very excited when we get up and play with them. I feel it’s balanced an awful lot of mood and accountability factors in my life.
Also I eat more protein these days and take creatine daily which I believe is important to women over 40. I usually get this via a daily bowl of porridge with protein powder in. I feel like it’s a routine I really enjoy now, despite me not being a porridge person. It’s self care porridge
Jan 5th - What feels good about starting your normal routine?
Id have to say being able to go to the gym on a daily basis and also have time for self makes a huge impact on my mental health. Doing my routine gives me a sense of stability and control over my life. I find that my mood is better (happier) also bcuz of having a routine which then impacts my relationships in a better way. I feel like I am a better mom/wife when I have a stable routine.
I actually started some new routines a few weeks back. I started to do my laundry earlier in the week like around Wednesday/Thursday and I started to grocery shop right after the gym on Saturdays. I have also meal prepped on Saturday evening. It’s worked out really well which is a positive. I’ve been doing this so I could rest more on Sunday and not be as stressed or rushed to prepare for work. It also puts me in less of a bad mood. When spring and summer arrive, I plan to wake up early on my work from home days, Tuesday or Friday, to get yard work done before I login for the day. I just want my weekends to myself for my mental health.
5 January 2026
It feels good to get back in the gym routine! I’m not a fan of my job right now. It’s exhausting. So the gym is all I have going for me.
January 5th: I really didn’t restart any routines this year. I am getting my food more more dialed in: wfpb, no junk fats, sugars, or flours, no-waste cooking. My workouts and sleep are really showing it. I sometimes buy a bakery treat when I’m in town, and, damn, I can see it in my stress / HRV stats the next day! Not as much excursion as a glass of wine, tho!
5/1/26
Back to normal food routines is ace. My protein shakes and porridge, my proper Greek yoghurt, raw pine and fir honey and nutty granola, vegetables and lean meats! Back to the gym and its open for normal hours. All feels good and productive and forward thinking.
6/1/26
Dealt with having my last Invisalign appointment today and parting with a lot of cash (again) right in the middle of my interview prep for tomorrow. Considering I’m watching my last reserves of cash tumble out the bottom of my measly egg timer of funds, I think I dealt with it all well and didn’t have a meltdown in the dentist. .
Jan 6 - Something I handled better than expected:
~ My husband came home cranky from work. I was trying to cook supper and I guess I put the leftover quiche into the oven to re-heat too early (our side dish was cooking and everything wouldn’t have been ready at the same time). He got frustrated and I was about to get frustrated back but instead I forced myself to not say anything (do u know how hard it was to keep my mouth shut? lol). I stood by the stove and deep breathed like 10x. Its so hard for me to not say something back and get frustrated back. But i held my self together. I knew he was hungry and that caused the irritability. He wasnt mean to me or anything just overly frustrated in general. I am learning to not react to everything Cuz sometimes reacting makes things worse. Im trying to learn to respond instead.
I worked from home today so it was a pretty easy day for me. I didn’t have to wake up early and didn’t have to deal with office people.
I have been feeling tired lately. The weather has me sluggish no matter how much sleep I get, how right I eat, or how much I work out. It’s just that time of year. Today, I actually did good fighting off the tiredness. And I was really tired today. I guess you could say that’s what I handled better than expected today.
I guess I’d say the craving of going out for a drink on my day off. I’d usually go on Tuesdays but it always ended up in a night out. Instead I focused on things that made me feel good, a good habit. Right now it’s the book that has me in a chokehold. I’ll take it as a win
I turned the fact that I lost my job last year into a chance. I was scared at first, but now I am grateful for the break. I have so much time for myself and I use it to work on my health and peace.
In this break, I decided to quit smoking and then binge eating. I found TS.
I handled this so much better than I would have ever thought.
I think today was purposeful bcuz it was productive. I was not only able to take care of my physical wellbeing with a good workout and healthy food, but I took the time to really clean the apartment, as well as organizing my baking equipment cupboard which needed to be taken care of. I got rid of things I would no longer use and made room for new things. I get great satisfaction from a clean home. It helps me feel better mentally as well. I feel good today!
My mom and dad. They are getting older and I will miss them big time when they are gone. I am working on spending quality time with them.
Things have not always been good. They aren’t perfect now, but we found ways to connect.
I am grateful for this.
Jan 7 we met up with the monks on their Walk for Peace, driving 2.5 hours thru rural South Carolina to find them. My husband was hungover, so I drove. Stopped twice for him to puke. I haven’t seen him puke from drinking in a decade. I am grateful for sobriety. Yesterday was very purposeful and meaningful for me in many ways. I will always remember seeing them. I admire their purpose and practice very much.
Jan 8 We met one of my daughter’s partners sisters. She is 2 months post single mastectomy for a 2nd bout of breast cancer, so it was meaningful as I was 1 week post my partial. I hope we have a chance to share our journey together more. She lives a couple of hours away, but does visit.
I feel less heavy hearted / depressed / funked out / drained/off energy …whatever it was that I was enveloped in in 2024 and 2025. Lighter maybe? More gratitude perhaps? Maybe just better. I feel better so far in 2026.
Jan 9th
Positive ways that I feel diff so far this year
I feel hopeful this year.
I feel connected to others and to my HP.
I feel strong and healthy.
I feel mentally focused on my goals.
I feel confident (most days) lol.
I am beginning to really love who I am today
When spring and summer arrive, I plan to wake up early on my work from home days, Tuesday or Friday, to get yard work done before I login for the day. I just want my weekends to myself for my mental health. 
