WEEKLY HEALTHY LIVING CHECK-IN AUGUST 15TH, 2020

**This week has been decent.. Started off the last weekend with some Major retail therapy ....I was contemplating buying "New" bikes as well for the hubby and I.. But $500 America money, for 'two' bikes seemed like alot?!... Plus I hadn't rode one in many years! ...I was riding around the store practicing again trying to get my balance. It was surely a "sight"...lol..... I stayed on track with everything (meals, activity, sleep, water)... I think its possibly the best week "mentally" for me staying on track with things since May (after all the turmoil with my former classes and former studio). I felt good mentally enough to push aside any un-healthy thoughts and stay on the plan that I set for myself.

**The weather is still great, I've been continuing to walk/jog the local track. And I love that since I'm able to go early in the day, that I'm pretty much all by myself, alone with my music (or my thoughts)..... I've also discovered a HUGE grassy, beautiful, field behind the track. And I was able to get my dog out this week finally for some activity as well. I'm so grateful to now have 3 big , open, beautiful spaces that I can take him for our walks together! While also enjoying different, beautiful scenery together....

**My mind has still been a little anxious about finding indoor space for my outdoor classes with September and Fall approaching in the distance....Just going back and forth with myself mentally on what to do, or finding the best choice and option, and "when" to approach someone. I just really have to make this work for all of us. Its becoming a bit of a stressor dealing with the thoughts of it all.... Or maybe fears of rejections?...

**No major plans for the weekend... Intentions today are to get up and get some form of activity in... and I want to check out this NEW Nutrition store that sells a "Combo" set of a "Healthy Shake & a Tea"! Gluten Free, Low Sugar and carbs, High Protein and low in cals...& Keto friendly (for anyone looking for that, as I'm not Keto)..... So I'm looking forward to that! The combo I have picked out already is "Salted Caramel Shake & Tropicl Blast Tea"!... Can't wait. Doesn't that sound delicious?!.....

ENJOY THE WEEKEND~

@PoliteOcean

It was a good and balanced week overall.

I was able to wake up early and plan my days ahead and ticked off the tasks like a Ninja. 😊

@PoliteOcean

My week started out trying but by the end of it I managed to reign it in and feel like I made some headway! The best part of my week was the last Listener experience I had. I had started the trauma path and finally decided to share some of my story. I got an amazing listener I cried and laughed and it was good to release those emotions and not feel terrible with sharing. It made me end up doing something I really needed to do even though it was a huge thing and took forever. I've been using the short meditations on here to cool down if I get anxious. It's really convenient they are so short.


I don't know how much of a tip it is, but I just was kinder to myself and reached out more to validate it was okay to be so. I let myself take it slow and just kept reminding myself my fall backwards, in this case, wasn't my fault, I could only control getting back on track if I was easy and honest with myself. (This for me is hard to understand)

My highlight was after the near eight hours it took to un-mat my hair =-= The relief was victorious
My struggles have been fighting to get back into self-care after depression and my last PTSD episode. & trying to sort out therapy.

**Hey Everyone~ How has your week been?!

had a pretty good week. had some good things and some bad - im just trying realy hard to keep the bad things in perspective so i dont nose dive into powerless, depression and hoplesness.

**What was the BEST part of this week for you?!

i didn't have any good parts of the week - just times that were easier to endure than others.

** With so much going on these past few months, and things starting to open back up.. in addition to "School" starting for some recently, ...What is One way that you are able to relax or find the time for peace and calm when stressors arise? Whats the Most relaxing thing that you did this past week?

I like to take baths: i finally have locked door privacy, turn up music and i can't hear anyone complaining or yelling at me lol, i let everything go that isnt beneficial to me. i soak and just, let go.

**If you could share ONE tip that helped you to either stay on track, or get back on track, during the summer and/or these times of Covid....What would it be?

Mindfulness and staying with the hard to hold emotions so that I could get through to the other side.

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

can't find a job and have no income, boundaries with family not respected, i have been asked to talk on the phone way more times and longer than i feel comfortable with and i have phone anxiety issues, a few family members are being really mean and it is not wareneted and i am so done with this.

**What are your weekend plans?!

pokemon go , pretending to look for job bc i cant right wow after all the no's - i need some recovery time but my family will be so angry if i am not looking every day - they do not beleive in breaks if you need them, maybe watch a movie but bsically hide from family as much as i can; stay in baths, locked bathroom, upstairs if hey are downstairs, stay downstairs if they are upstairs, outside when they wont stop, yeah my wekend plans i guess seem to be wrapping myself in depression like it is a freking blanket. ugh

**What would "YOU" like to talk about or share with about your Week?! WE want to hear from "YOU"~

it really has not been that bad - im just allowing myself to sink down a bit and also lil mad at the people in my life that constantly make me feel guilty for self care and make m feel like less of a person.

**Hey Everyone~ How has your week been?!

It's been a rollercoaster. I felt really lost and empty, but I also read some amazing books that made me feel so much better! I made some hard decisions this week that make me uncomfortable, but I'm proud of myself for doing so.

**What was the BEST part of this week for you?!

I read a book in a day for 3 days in a row!! (today was a graphic novel, which takes much less time but I'll take it) I haven't been able to read like that since I was little, and it feels amazing to be discovering that side of me again.

** With so much going on these past few months, and things starting to open back up.. in addition to "School" starting for some recently, ...What is One way that you are able to relax or find the time for peace and calm when stressors arise? Whats the Most relaxing thing that you did this past week?

Meditation's a struggle for me, but it does help a lot when I'm able to sit down and quiet my mind! I'm not sure what the most relaxing thing I did this week would be, but meditating, stretching, scrolling through positive posts on tumblr, and reading all helped.

**If you could share ONE tip that helped you to either stay on track, or get back on track, during the summer and/or these times of Covid....What would it be?

Honestly? It would be to take your time. Sometimes, you have to fall off track before you get back on it.

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

A highlight would definitely be the amount of books I read this week. A struggle was dealing with past attachments that are causing me more pain and stress than good.

**What are your weekend plans?!

Chill, read, play some piano, take one (1) singular call. Honestly, I'm not too sure haha.

@PoliteOcean Here is how the past week went. Monday I had an appointment with my psychologist. For the past 2 and 1/2 years, I've struggled with not having a purpose. This is very unusual for me. It's really annoying because I've always been very ambitious. I've had so much disruption not of my own choosing it seems a waste of time to make plans. I've been taking ancient history courses this year, but it seems like it's not enough to stave off the sense of futility. My social worker didn't bring any lunches by. I called her but she never returned my phone call. My case manager hasn't called me either, but I'm going to stay on top of it. Friday, I had an appointment with my primary care physician. There is not much she can do for me other than coordinate care with other therapists. The rona has put a huge strain on the medical system, so it's taking a lot longer to get things done. This past week I studied the origins of Russian civilization, and the transformation of Scandinavia from the age of the Vikings into a modern European state, and the origins of the Kingdom of Denmark. For this upcoming week, I have someone coming over on Tuesday for an interview to see if they want to be my caretaker.

**Hey Everyone~ How has your week been?!

My week has been pretty good this week. I did have a complaint at work from one of the customers. But my supervisors understood what was going on. One of the other associates forgave the slight I accidentally gave her when I first started. She entrusted me with one of the security keys she checked out, temporarily while she went on lunch. This is a big deal because it makes my job 100x easier if someone has a locked item.

**What was the BEST part of this week for you?!

The best part of the week was going to the grocery store today and phoning my parents.

** With so much going on these past few months, and things starting to open back up.. in addition to "School" starting for some recently, ...What is One way that you are able to relax or find the time for peace and calm when stressors arise? Whats the Most relaxing thing that you did this past week?

The most relaxing thing I did this last week was to take another shower with the sleep aromatherapy scent Black Chammomile and to paint my nails again.

**If you could share ONE tip that helped you to either stay on track, or get back on track, during the summer and/or these times of Covid....What would it be?

In the last week, I went back to some notes on a book I'd taken in OneNote and went through and developed a schedule where I could change things (I used a different color for the things that would be flexible) and then planned out my next week. Things don't always go according to schedule, but I'm doing more on it than I would otherwise. I also found out I could put the same program on my phone and refer to it away from home, so I was able to refer to it on break at work and other places without printing it out each day.

I also read an article on the TWLOHA website blog about social anxiety and social distancing that reinforced what I was already feeling.

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

My highlights have been getting in contact with people and being more proactive about my housing situation. My struggles have been figuring out my financial picture.

**What are your weekend plans?!

My weekend is almost over, but I slept in Saturday and Sunday. I read most of a book called, Do It Scared, and commissioned a sign based on one of the key points inside.

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This week has been another busy week but it was nice to have a break and go to the gym with my friend over the weekend. I would say that staying busy by doing different activities helped during the Covid period, because it made time go quicker and prevented you from worrying to much. Connecting with nature helped me relax during these difficult times either through listening to nature sounds, sitting in the garden or gardening.

How has your week been?! - This week so far has been good.

**What was the BEST part of this week for you?! - Seeing my cat and spending time with her.

** With so much going on these past few months, and things starting to open back up.. in addition to "School" starting for some recently, ...What is One way that you are able to relax or find the time for peace and calm when stressors arise? Whats the Most relaxing thing that you did this past week? - I go outside for a walk in nature, It helps calm me. The most relaxing thing I did was take a good nap.

**If you could share ONE tip that helped you to either stay on track, or get back on track, during the summer and/or these times of Covid....What would it be? - Writing down my struggles and how I over came them.

**What are your weekend plans?! - I had a girls day with my mom.