January, being the first month of the year, seems to me an appropriate time to reorganise. Reorganise is defined by the online Cambridge Dictionary as “to organise something again in order to improve it”. And there are a few things in my life which need improving! I’m not limiting myself to material things either, everything will be looked at with a view to changing it to improve it.
So, let’s see what I’ve done already.
Health: I’ve had a couple of issues lately, nothing too serious yet but, if I don’t do anything about them, they could grow into significant problems. Changing my diet to support my immune system and ensure my body is getting the best nutrients is not rocket science. I have been gluten free, apart from oats, for a long time now and have definitely felt the benefits. I don’t feel as bloated and am far less gassy than I used to be. For the past few months I’ve ditched the oats as well. Since December I’ve cut most dairy products out of my diet. I still use butter but I no longer have milk, yoghurt or cheese. Staying away from cheese has required a huge effort as I love cheese, but I have far less mucus dripping down the back of my throat and I’m coughing less. The few times I’ve been unable to resist food with dairy I have noticed the difference!
I’ve also started meditating every morning and practicing yoga when I can. I still have to find a yoga instructor – it’s on my list!
Budget: Toward the end of last year I sat down with calculator, pen, paper, bills and my bank account to work out where my money was going. The result shocked me. So, I’ve changed a couple of utility suppliers and reworked a few plans for internet, etc. I spent quite a long time comparing suppliers and looking at different health insurance companies. I know there are comparison websites out there but they didn’t compare some of the companies I was interested in. I’m not sure if I got the best deals, but I have saved a few dollars. I also turn lights off if I’m not in the room, switch off the TV at the power point when I’m not watching it and turn off chargers at the power point when nothing is being charged.
I’ve also changed my shopping habits, I now decide on the recipes I’m going to cook first and then shop, instead of grabbing what I can and then throwing it out the next week. I find I cook more vegetarian meals and I try to cook enough on a weekend for work lunches the next week.
So, what is left for me to do? Unfortunately, quite a bit! I still must reorganise my study at home. There are tubs and boxes filled with things I brought back from my father’s house after he died. I need a new filing system (not to mention the motivation to file), I need to throw out a lot of things I don’t need. I still need to go through my clothes, shoes and jewellery and throw out anything I haven’t worn for at least a year. Anything still in good condition will be donated. Similarly, in my kitchen I need to throw out pots and pans which are worse for wear and never used. There is still much to do, but at least I’ve made a start!
