new week

Set the Tone

I’m never particularly happy when the weekend is over, especially a relaxing and peaceful one like we just had. It rained yesterday, and it was wonderful, staying inside, just watching football, cooking, and snuggling with the Husband Guy.

I won’t lie and pretend that I woke up this morning, pumped up and excited to start a Monday morning. But I look at it like this: Monday is going to come, every single week, whether I want it to or not. So shouldn’t I make the best of it?

Five work days are sprawled out in front of me. Today sets the tone for how the rest of the week goes.

I am heading out soon for lunch with a co-worker and friend, and I am looking forward to that. What are you doing today to set the tone for a good week?

I knew our weekend was going to fly by quickly, but damn…that was ridiculous. I was just walking through the front door on Friday, and now, rudely and abruptly, it’s the start of a new work week.

It’s hard not to get angry and frustrated and downright cranky, and hurling myself to the floor of my office and throwing my stapler and maybe some folders is still not out of the question. I look forward to our weekend for so long, then it’s gone in a flash, like an ice cream cone melting too fast on a hot day.

But I know that starting the week with a chip on my shoulder is just guaranteeing a long Monday and an even longer and more painful week. So in the interest of gritting my teeth and trying my damnedest to be positive, I have these to share:

Convinced yet? Yeah, me neither. But I do like the idea of using Mondays to ask myself, what do I want to accomplish before this week ends? Over the next five days, instead of just petulantly holding my breath until the weekend, what do I want to achieve…besides, of course, dreaming up plans for the upcoming weekend?

Monday

This is my mood this Monday morning: hopeful. Excited for a new week. Maybe not exactly refreshed from last week’s hectic pace, but at least more rested, ready to face the day, prepared to take on more challenges (within reason, of course), wondering what I can do today to take even a tiny step toward some of my goals for my future.

Some day, I may actually learn to not let worrying about others, even the kids, weigh me down to the point that I am drained and depleted. At least I am more aware of it and am learning to switch gears, to seek out people that bolster and comfort me, like my husband, and to focus on self-care (and maybe a little retail therapy!)

Mondays don’t need to be rough. Sometimes, like today, they are the perfect day for a new start.

Happy July 1st!

july-1st Today is the start of a new week…the start of a new month…AND the first day of the second half of the year! If you were waiting for a sign (or if you have just been lazy and sloth-like lately, like me), then today is the day. The day of new starts and new beginnings.

Last week I actually did a half-assed job of working out most days and sort of logged my food. Compared to no effort at all before that, it was pretty darn good. I expected at least a small loss on Saturday, but instead I gained two pounds.

What the flying hell? *shaking fist* I was angry and frustrated. I admit that “Why do I bother?” popped into my head, and I considered any efforts at the gym last week a complete and utter waste of time.

Then I calmed down a bit, and I remembered that every single time I have slacked off, I gained weight the first week back to working out. Something about water retention in the muscles, some mysterious and evil little head game my body plays. So this was not unusual. Just annoying.

Half of this year is over already. If I would have stayed consistent, I would be at my goal weight right now, enjoying my new clothes and feeling great. It’s hard to not slap myself silly for stumbling so hard and being so far from my goal weight again.

But I also know that moving forward can’t happen if I am still punishing myself for my mistakes. I need to shake all of it off, the regret, the anger, the frustration, then give myself a hug and declare a truce with myself. I want to take care of myself, not pummel myself into the ground and kick myself while I’m down.

My husband keeps telling me he would be happy if I didn’t lose any weight at all, but I know that my weight is too high for my height (or lack thereof, as I am frequently reminded by my husband, who is almost a full foot taller than me!) I’m happy that he likes the way I look now, but I just don’t.

So…today is like second New Year’s, as we wave good-bye to the first half of the year, hopefully learn from it, and burst into the second half, ready for success.

Good Week

are-you-sure-the-weekend-is-gone-already-32146848 When the alarm went off this morning, my husband tried valiantly to convince me that it is a federal mandate that if it is raining on a Monday morning, you don’t have to go to work and can sleep all day. As tempting as it sounded, I was skeptical. Anyone else side with him?

We ended up having a very nice weekend. We got a lot done but still had time to spend together. It just went by way too fast!

Last night I devoted some time to setting up for another successful week: my workouts are scheduled. I cooked extra chicken to pack healthy lunches this week. I made a fresh pitcher of unsweet tea so I will drink that instead of soda. It’s going to be a busy week, but I am determined to make it a good one.

Its-a-good-week