’m a serial self experimenter. Trying out new fitness crazes, health trends and productivity gadgets is my chocolate but you probably already know that if you’ve been here before. Smaggle is all about being the star of your own life and I post every day with tips and tricks to help you get there. I realised the other day that I rarely do retroactive updates. If I find something I love that works, I tell everyone about it but when I stop doing that thing, I just stop doing it. And that’s that. So today I thought I’d do an update post on where I’m at with a few things I’ve recommended to you guys that I’m no longer doing.
I batch less
I’m not back tracking on batching – I freaking love it so much – I’ve just adjusted the way I do it. The concept of batching is where you do several of the same kind of task at the same time. For instance doing a weekly shop instead of going to the supermarket every day. I have to batch some tasks, otherwise I’d never get anything done but I’ve relaxed a bit on blog post batching. I now leave at least one day in the week where I write my post the day before it goes it live. It just keeps things fresh and joyful and less scheduled. I like it. It’s working for me. I also shop every day instead of weekly. A massive supermarket opened just across the road from my house and I duck over grab what I need for dinner most afternoons. It’s a good way to end the day when I work from home. I get to wander around and listen to a podcast. Technically it’s a waste of time but I don’t care. Sometimes you’ve just got to do that.
I’ve ditched the 5:2
I did the 5:2 for most of last year and I really liked but I’ve ditched it this year because it’s having a negative effect on my productivity. I achieve a lot less on fast days than on non-fast days. Which is sad because it was super effective for weight maintenance and I’m still ironing out that issue but I can’t keep having two days a week where I’m only working at half my strength. One main benefit of doing the 5:2 though is that I’ve learnt not to be afraid of hunger, which is an excellent skill to have. So no regrets on that front, just a bit of a re-adjustment.
I’m cutting down on dairy
My doctor told me there’s been some interesting research linking dairy consumption to very painful period pain in some women. Just to over share, my monthly period pain is BRUTAL so I thought I’d give this a go. I’m an enormous yogurt lover (seriously the words ‘yogurt enthusiast’ used to be in my bio) but I’ve ditched all dairy except for a teeny sploosh in my tea. I’m not sure if it will effect my period pain but I feel better in general. Life without cheese is slightly sad but I’m coping and my pants aren’t getting tighter so that’s always a good thing.
I’m writing down two affirmations before bed every night
I’ve tried keeping gratitude journals but I’m already a very grateful person so gratitude journals become tedious for me very quickly. Isn’t that the most privileged bullshit you’ve ever heard? I hate me right now. Anyway I got given a beautiful gratitude journal last year and I never made it past the front few pages and I felt bad because it’s gorgeous. I’ve re-purposed it into an affirmation book. I have two strong affirmations I write down every night in the book. It’s just a great way to remember my goals and make sure I spend time each day trying to achieve them.
I’m caring about fashion less and less
That’s not entirely true but I’m very seriously considering turning my cupboard into a permanent capsule wardrobe. I tend to wear very similar things most days so I might as well just embrace this and try to streamline it. Don’t worry: I’ll still do outfit posts they’ll just be more minimalist themed than usual.
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What about you? Have you made any changes recently? Anything you use to do and love that you no longer do anymore?
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17 Comments
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I was diagnosed with Adenomyosis at the beginning of the year after years of terrible periods, i am now almost 4 weeks post op hysterectomy and am so looking forward to getting my life back! So i really hope your diet changes help your monthly hell, i wouldn’t wish those on anyone!
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Oh my goodness that sounds awful! I’m so glad everything is going to work out for you now – I’ve heard that if you don’t have babies when you’re body thinks you’re supposed to, your body tries to get revenge. That’s just a theory but screw you uterus!
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Trying to go grain and sugar free. I haven’t eaten bread for years, but do eat ryvita etc. searching for recipes that are sugar, gluten and grain free. I don’t want to be THAT person, so trying not to go overboard. From what I have read it’s kind of paleo, but with dairy. I could never give that up – yoghurt, cheese, butter! Again, not wanting to be that person, but I have been worrying lately about how animals raised for food production are treated and trying to buy only ethically produced meats and animal products. Realising at the same time, that I am blessed to live in a country where I have a choice. xx
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I’m not a huge bread eater but I love protein bread! It’s my favourite – I have a piece after dinner with jam for ‘dessert’. I’m totally that person too – I believe meat is good for you but you’re only supposed to eat 300 gms read meat per week at a maximum. I’m all about fish. love it!
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Totally agree about the gratitude journal. These days I just endeavor to be grateful in the moment and then make my written focus on my goals and what I want to achieve. I don’t begrudge what works for others but that’s what works for me.
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Definitely – because I’m a middle class woman in a developed country focussing on my goals is the best way to help myself and those around me. The more money/bigger profile I have, the bigger the difference I can make in this world. Sitting around being grateful doesn’t help me. x
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I am hopeless at computer time (really, really hopeless) but whenever I see your posts I am always glad! I relate to so much of what you say and have you to thank for the trouser free winter I am currently enjoying, loving those winter tights! Anyhow, off track, but wanted you to know that whenever I wander your way I am glad I did. Like those above, totally agree on the gratitude journal / affirmation idea and I would love an update on how you go living dairy free. xxxx
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Oh you are so lovely! Thank you so much – winter tights are the absolute bomb. Love them. I’m not completely dairy free – especially now it’s winter! – but I’m trying! 🙂
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I think you’ve made some great changes there!
I have one of those gratitude apps and it’s one of the only apps I’ve left notifications on for. The reminder pops up in the morning and at night. I don’t open the app or record anything, I just take a moment to think about what I’m grateful for and what I’ve achieved that day.
Other changes I’ve made? I’m loving exercise again, which is brilliant. I’ve also tightened up my diet. I’ve been dairy and egg free but have let gluten slip back in. Not anymore! And feeling better for it. x-
Oh that’s a great idea – it never occurred to me to just think it and not write it down. I’m such a blogger. *face palm* I’m going light on dairy – tiny splashes in my tea and teeny sprinkles of cheese but that’s it. I’ve even been going black with my coffee. I’d die without eggs. You not eating eggs makes me sad.
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I’ve cut down on sugar in a major way. Watching That Sugar Film will do that for you! My husband has lost 10+ kg so easily just by making better food choices, so I was inspired. I’ve also finally changed my mindset on my wardrobe to quality over quantity. No more cheap clothes. I have purged lots. I find myself reaching for the same things over and over – because they are ‘me’ and look and feel great. I look forward to a smaller, but better, wardrobe!
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Oh I love all these! I tend to go low sugar most of the time but sometimes I’m a bit cheeky! I gave up cheap clothing years ago – no regrets. I spend about $1000 per year on clothing which used to be 10 x cheap pieces and now it’s more like 3 x Marimekko dresses.
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Have you tried coconut yoghurt? We had a yum one, I think it was 5am.
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Oh I’ll try that! I bloody love yogurt – that’s part of the problem though because I can’t stop! 🙂
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Love the idea of the gratitude journal. I often feel so caught up in life that I don’t just stop and feel thankful for things in the here and now. But changes wise, the low carb diet is great for extra energy (but sad faces all round for the lack of pasta!)
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I’m kind of low carb permanently – I do have rice every now and then though. I’m not into pasta – I have it occasionally but I’d never order it at restaurant!
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I love this. Because yes people so often suggest things but you never hear about things after that.
I have tried to write gratitude journals so many times. But I fail each time. I am a grateful person, but I just can’t keep a journal. But I feel so stupid for not being able to do that little tast. Glad its not just me.
