Happy 2017, my Philly ladies! This month is speeding on by, and thankfully, this winter seems to be going a little better for me than I was anticipating. Instead of letting the winter blues get me down again this year, I decided it was time to make some #upgrades, ones that directly and totally benefitted one person alone: me! With a little help from my friend Vitamin D (in the form of baby yellow pills), and a few changes, I’m excited to share what I’m working on this month and beyond . . .
My Living Space
I’ve been in the same Center City apartment for almost five (5!!!) years, and the major players in my furniture game continue to be hand-me-downs that don’t necessarily lend themselves to the space I have. The biggest problem with this place is the storage, combined with my ability to acquire so. many. things. Inspired by some moving friends and a whole lotta Pinterest, I started making moves and buying some items that optimize my space and make it feel more like a home (rugs, curtains, and more!). I’ll for sure do a little apartment tour once it’s done, but for now, making some changes is making me feel real good.
My Health & Fitness
As you’re likely well aware, I’ve spent the past couple of years addicted to Flywheel. I would go four times a week, something I was pretty proud of. But while I lost some weight and made friends and really loved my Fly experience, my body was freakin tired. I craved a different workout, mainly something a little less intense, every once in awhile. And with a monthly spin membership creeping up to an unspeakable amount, I couldn’t afford to work in extra classes on the side. So this month, I finally made a change and cancelled my monthly membership. I’ve joined Classpass (sign up with me for the ol $30 discount!) and am really excited to explore the Philly fitness scene. So far, I’ve taken some yoga classes (including an aerial one!), but please share your favorite studios with me!
My Sleep
I struggle with sleep. I am one of those humans that truly can not function without a good night’s sleep, and when I don’t get it for several nights in a row? Forget it. So this year, I’m making a solid effort to get at least eight hours a night. I know it’s going to be hard, but prioritizing more slumber in my life will only make the rest of my waking hours that much more enjoyable (for me, and everyone around me). In the same effort, I’m also making more of a promise to myself to wind down before bed. That means not bringing my cell phone into bed with me (had to pull out the ol alarm clock for that one!) and reading before I sleep. I’m making some good progress on my magazine stack next to be bed, but I still have a long way to go.
My Organization & Time
I will always be a physical, written planner lover forever. I’m pretty obsessed with finding the perfect agenda each year, and this year, my search was just as extensive. I wanted something to help me keep track of things (like how often I work out or get eight hours of sleep! Duh.) and help me set goals and work towards them. I landed on the liveWELL planner by inkWELL Press (<– $10 off with that link!), and so far, I’m liking it a lot! There are six set-up videos that come with your purchase, and once I got around to watching them (ugh), they really helped me optimize the ways I could use each section of the planner. I’m excited to work on it more.
This year, I’m also going to work more on protecting my time. I can’t go out every night of the week like I used to, because it hurts me making the changes above. I’m trying to be strategic about how I spend my time, making sure I’m present and accountable for the time I am out and about. If you have any tips, tricks, or things that have worked for you with life changes like these, I’d love to hear them! xx