resolutions – Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

2025, family, Goals, Home, life, Politics, relaxing, thoughts

2025 Mental Health Goals

Posted on January 17, 2025 by nancyb422

In my quest to be mindful in 2025, I’m focusing on my emotional and mental wellbeing in addition to my physical wellbeing.

I know that sleep is important, and in our house it’s always been important to my husband! For most of our marriage, this man has gone to bed at 8pm and would get a good 8 hours of sleep. I would usually make it into bed by 10. Since the first, I’ve made an effort to head up by 9pm, get some reading in and have lights out by 9:30. I also started wearing my Apple Watch to bed so it can record the different stages of my sleep.

Another bedtime ritual I’ve started is a 5 or 10 sleep meditation with my Peloton app. I wear my ear buds, start the program and absorb the soothing music and soft voice of the instructor. I usually discover I’ve fallen asleep! My average sleep time for a week has ranged from 7 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours and 28 minutes. My crowning achievement was a night of sleep with NO minutes awake!

Because I don’t have a set time I need to be in the office, This year I’m learning to embrace that! It’s tough to get used to when for so many years, I’ve been at my desk by 8:30! My alarm is still set for 5:45 but I take time to drink my coffee and complete my workout. I have extra time to read the paper!

There are times at work that cause me and the two people there (one being my son) to start to wallow in frustration and self-pity. It’s specially tough to see it in my son, so I always try to turn it around and cheer us all on! We have so much more going for us than against us!

I’m packing up for the day and heading home at 3pm (to-do lists are vital for me!), so I can walk with my husband and our friends for some exercise and socialization.

I’m not on board with our upcoming federal administration so that has made me anxious when I read stories that seem more fiction than fact. For the time being, I’m averting my eyes because I know there is nothing I can do to change any of it. I hope in the near future I can get involved with an organization that will help make a difference for people in need.

*My mental health is better when I stay positive*

2025, Goals, hobbies, life, thoughts

2025 Physical Goals

Posted on January 15, 2025 by nancyb422

All my life I’ve tracked the numbers on the scale and have a roller coaster relationship with food and my body. The January 1 entry in my first diary as a soon to be 10 year old says among other things, “I resolved will try to exercise every day”. I was 9 years and 8 months old.

Maybe it was because the 60s and 70s were full of the Twiggy models or maybe it was because in my brain, I was not petite, just short. I topped out at 4’11” in sixth grade, never to reach the ultimate next foot.

Over the years I’ve used tracking methods like Weight Watchers and Fitness Pal and worked out to the all the Jillian Michaels and The Firm Workouts in existence, and a couple of times over the last four years, I’ve worked with Jennifer, a nutritionist at Evolved Nutrition in Wallingford.

Working out, has never been an issue for me. I’m using my Peloton in one way or another for up to 45 minutes 6 days a week. But what do they say? Losing weight is 80% diet and 20% exercise…..

This January 1st, as the weight crept up from vacations and general not paying attention, I knew I had to get serious. Is it the impending 65th birthday around the corner? Probably! But more than that, I know, because I’ve done it, that when I lower my weight, I feel better. I have more energy, my arthritis doesn’t bother me (as much), my hip pain disappears. It’s a no-brainer. But sometimes so hard to just take that first step.

So, I’ve started up the Fitness Pal app and really started using it. I’m more aware of how I feel after each meal, what works and what doesn’t. I’m becoming more aware of how I feel emotionally. I’m drinking more tea, and doing more meditation.

I’m looking at the different strength workouts on Peloton to work on lighter weights and more toning, like Barre workouts instead of trying to life 20 pounds.

I achieved my first 1,000 minutes only 14 days into the new year! That’s because my husband and I and another couple in the neighborhood join up in the afternoon when we can to take a walk to the center of town and back. 2 miles, 46 minutes and a great break in the late afternoon. The first year I was in the challenge I completed 13,000+, and last year was 14,000+ so it’s my goal to hit the 15,000 this year.

Here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2025!

*Hubs and I at the Shops at Hudson Yard in December 2024*

2024, family, friends, Goals, life, Writing

Two (or 3) Simple Words

Posted on July 2, 2024 by nancyb422

How do you express your gratitude?

Thank you. I appreciate it.

Those are two ways I usually express my gratitude for something someone has done for me or said to me.

I think sometimes, for me, I don’t slow down or stop to think about thanking the people who are around me all the time. Family, co-workers. I am go, go, go in the office and expect people to do the same!

I need to stop and reflect what someone does that makes me feel good or happy or satisfied the way something was done. Not just for something they say to me or do for me.

The words will be the same, but for different reasons.

2021, Goals, life

Welcome to 2021!

Posted on January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 by nancyb422

I don’t usually use New Years as a time to start at 0 or set goals. I like to use my birthday to re-set and I’ve given up on goals because I’m afraid to fail so why bother.

But this year is different I’m sure you’ll all agree. In the words of Queen Elizabeth in 1992, it was “annus horribilis”.

It started out great! Plenty of jobs on the books, a trip to Cabo with friends, and then the creepy crawly tendrils started wending their way into our lives.

I remember first it was “wash your hands!” We were still only at that phase when we went to Maine for a long weekend. It was another couple of weeks before the shit really hit the fan.

That came in the middle of March and places were closing down and we were like “what the f….”. What else was there to do but close down for a week to at least figure out what was going to happen. Fortunately one job just finished up, one was exterior work, and the other a bathroom that didn’t impact the homeowners too much.

But enough of that. It was just mentally a tough year for us all. People working from home, with kids learning remotely. People with no jobs at home. People (like us) who were still working everyday and praying everyone would stay safe (they have!).

And then there was the election. OMG that election. I think it’s still going on. Do we have a winner? I’m not really sure.

So why do I feel like entering 2021 I need to re-set? I think I just want to shake off the germs of 2020.

Why do I feel like this year of all years I want to set goals? Mainly because I’m 60 and if I can’t set a goal because I’m afraid of failure, that means I’ve still got a lot to learn.