abstention

Most of my self-improvement projects seem to me to fall into this category: abstaining from or exercising self-control to limit myself in regards to things that I love. Currently on that list are - eating less food; eating fewer desserts (not the same thing!); getting less sleep; and a number of things that involve me spending less time sitting around with computer, books, and TV (i.e., running, writing, spending more time focused solely on my kids and/or outside).

Now, I admit, it's sad that I consider writing and focusing solely on my kids as time that I'm abstaining from things that I love to do. But if you look at it, reading a book or playing a computer game are sheer enjoyment. Writing (for example) comes with anxiety, requires a certain level of focus that's difficult to achieve in my daily life, and is a bit of a mental workout. Kind of like running - it's enjoyable, but that doesn't make it any less a task.

Of the list in the first paragraph, I've done pretty well in the two eating categories over the last month. A stricter, more weight-loss-oriented diet may well be required, but from the standpoint of making better eating choices a part of my daily life, I've gotten a good start and should have no trouble maintaining/improving on where I am right now.

Next up for a heavier focus - less sleep. By which I mean going to bed at a decent hour at night (that would be 11:30ish, which still feels to me like a lost half hour out of my day), and getting up in the morning at an hour I'm not ashamed to admit to other moms. Shooting for 7 am as a regular wake up time.

Working on my usage of time and cutting some of the escapism out will come a little later.