I had so many good routines a couple of years ago. I started working from home and finally found the time time to exercise, cook, all the good things. And then I went and got pregnant, and now it's just chaos. I'm trying to get back to how things were, but also trying to accept my life is different now and I have a toddler, and I should take the small wins where I can and not expect perfection (or even the imperfection of years past).
We have a shopping list on the side in the kitchen with a pen next to it that I write anything that we’ve run out of. I’ve also trained the husband to do the same so we always have a supply of essentials. It’s such a great idea of yours to preplan the meals and then to enjoy the cooking time with a podcast. I find cooking tedious so I might try that! Do you do all the cooking?x
I’m right there with you on being inconsistent with exercising. One thing that helps is to sign up for personal training -- offline or online -- so I don’t have a choice but to show up and move that booty! Though, to be honest, I tend to tap out of that too after a few months, so IDK, maybe I’m just allergic to exercising? 🤷♀️
That’s such a good way of looking at it - to think about practicing something instead of being frustrated that you’re not perfect at it already. I really need to think about a few things that way too, thanks for sharing your thinking Ella!
Living with a scientist who loves lists I can say it works. He made a food shopping list( in food stuff groups!) and prints it off weekly. Highlighting what we need for the week. Before I met him I never, EVER did a food shop with a list. We also have a blackboard in the kitchen for things we run out of. He has tamed my spontaneous big shop habits. It's dull...but...
Also I do my exercises in my lunch break to stop me seizing up. Dull but...I'm less creaky! Good luck and I'm glad I'm not the only one who starts with good intentions....
Hey Becky! I’m so glad it resonated with you. It’s been one of those thoughts that resonated so much with me, I wanted to write about it!
And yes, i love the way you put it: the self consciousness of looking at the result! Exactly that! But if I focus on feeling fluent, if I know what I want to do next before I have to think of it, that’s what feels much better!
I love Lynda Barry’s books, I’ll take a look at that one again. I remember reading them as reference when I did my big essay and every page resonated. She’s amazing!
Ella, I love this post and relate to a lot of it. It's great to be reminded of this way of thinking about all the things we want to integrate, as something to practice. Since reading your post, I keep hearing and reading things about practice too - clearly need this message right now!!
Also definitely this idea of 'fluent' being the goal rather than 'good' feels so important to me, I like the way you put it. It's more the feeling of process rather than the self-consciousness looking at the result. Did you ever read that book by Lynda Barry, 'What It Is'? She writes about this a lot too.
I had so many good routines a couple of years ago. I started working from home and finally found the time time to exercise, cook, all the good things. And then I went and got pregnant, and now it's just chaos. I'm trying to get back to how things were, but also trying to accept my life is different now and I have a toddler, and I should take the small wins where I can and not expect perfection (or even the imperfection of years past).
Good post. I enjoyed it and share many of your feelings.
We have a shopping list on the side in the kitchen with a pen next to it that I write anything that we’ve run out of. I’ve also trained the husband to do the same so we always have a supply of essentials. It’s such a great idea of yours to preplan the meals and then to enjoy the cooking time with a podcast. I find cooking tedious so I might try that! Do you do all the cooking?x
I’m right there with you on being inconsistent with exercising. One thing that helps is to sign up for personal training -- offline or online -- so I don’t have a choice but to show up and move that booty! Though, to be honest, I tend to tap out of that too after a few months, so IDK, maybe I’m just allergic to exercising? 🤷♀️
That’s such a good way of looking at it - to think about practicing something instead of being frustrated that you’re not perfect at it already. I really need to think about a few things that way too, thanks for sharing your thinking Ella!
Living with a scientist who loves lists I can say it works. He made a food shopping list( in food stuff groups!) and prints it off weekly. Highlighting what we need for the week. Before I met him I never, EVER did a food shop with a list. We also have a blackboard in the kitchen for things we run out of. He has tamed my spontaneous big shop habits. It's dull...but...
Also I do my exercises in my lunch break to stop me seizing up. Dull but...I'm less creaky! Good luck and I'm glad I'm not the only one who starts with good intentions....
Hey Becky! I’m so glad it resonated with you. It’s been one of those thoughts that resonated so much with me, I wanted to write about it!
And yes, i love the way you put it: the self consciousness of looking at the result! Exactly that! But if I focus on feeling fluent, if I know what I want to do next before I have to think of it, that’s what feels much better!
I love Lynda Barry’s books, I’ll take a look at that one again. I remember reading them as reference when I did my big essay and every page resonated. She’s amazing!
Good luck with your practicing! X
Ella, I love this post and relate to a lot of it. It's great to be reminded of this way of thinking about all the things we want to integrate, as something to practice. Since reading your post, I keep hearing and reading things about practice too - clearly need this message right now!!
Also definitely this idea of 'fluent' being the goal rather than 'good' feels so important to me, I like the way you put it. It's more the feeling of process rather than the self-consciousness looking at the result. Did you ever read that book by Lynda Barry, 'What It Is'? She writes about this a lot too.