I started my contemplation early this year, as it was a pretty crappy year for me. My cat died, three people I know died, my partner was struck with depression, money issues, etc etc. Although most of the negative stuff wasn't immediately due to anything I did or didn't do, I did decide early on that I wanted to make some changes.
First change: cut back on my caffeine intake. It had gotten to the point where I was having trouble getting to sleep each night. So I've reduced my intake by half, and I'm getting to sleep easier now. I may reduce it further, but right now, I'm pleased with how things are going.
Second change: I had to get back on my chore schedule. I do most of the housework at home, and I've just gotten really lazy about doing it all. So I downloaded an app for my phone for that. I've loaded up all the chores I do around the house into it, and it shows me what I need to do every day when I get home. I've been checking it the second I get home, and doing them before I do anything else.
Third change: I decided I wanted to try vegetarianism. About equally for health and for moral reasons. That said, I don't want to make things overly difficult for myself or anybody else. So I sort of made some guidelines for me to follow.
1. If I'm not "in charge" of my meal, I'll eat whatever I get. So if I go to a friend's house for dinner, and he's serving hamburgers, I'll eat one. If I can eat "around the meat", I will, but I won't have any problem with indulging in meat once in awhile. This doesn't happen all that often, so I don't anticipate this being much of a big deal.
2. If I AM in charge of my meal, I'll try to find a meatless option.
3. If there IS no meatless option, or if absolutely none of the meatless options sound appealing at all, I'll have a fish/seafood option.
I started it two weeks ago, and it's gone pretty well. My meat intake since December 14th has been one slice of bacon, and a slice of roast beef on Christmas day. (I ate at my parents' house.) Yesterday I had fried fish at a restaurant that really didn't have anything vegetarian. And I had shrimp at some point week before last. But everything else has been vegetarian. I haven't really felt the lack, either. Maybe I will eventually, but right now, things are going well.
Next thing to pump back up was my exercise schedule. This is something that ebbs and flows, and unfortunately, I've been slacking a bit too much as of late. So I'm back up to at least a 40 minute jog five times a week.
Next thing I want to work on is sexual, but I'll keep that one private.
Lex
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Aries
