You know, there are a few now I think about it, the first that comes to mind is probably my sleeping habits. Many moon’s ago, before I became a mother I could go out ( and party), grab a McDonalds breakfast in the wee hours of the morning, come home, take a shower, and go straight to work. I cringe at the thought of even attempting to do this these days! I could never. I was in my late teens and early twenties then.
Since then, and not having this patten any more, I have always had a habit of going to bed late and waking up early. I am rather strange in that I am both a night owl and morning person. ( Meaning I don’t mind getting up early). But this is impossible if you’re getting into bed at stupid-o-clock and getting up before the sun rises. Your body, health, and mental state are completely messed up with this pattern.
Early To Bed, Early To Rise
A little while ago, I answered a writing prompt on what I would do more of if I had more time, in this I spoke a bit about my journey with yoga and qualifying as a teacher. One thing that this course has encouraged me to do is get to bed early, and rise early. According to Ayurvedic yoga and medicine and your own body type, there are set times that are good for you to wake and go to sleep. For me my ‘dosha’ is Veta in Ayurvedic medicine/ yoga, and this encourages a bed time of around 10:00pm and to wake up before sun rises, typically around 6:00am. I have tried to do this for a while, and over the last few weeks I have changed my actual ‘bed time routine’ to include things that are great for this ‘dosha’ of mine. I must say, it has done wonders for me and my energy levels the following morning, not to mention the quality of sleep I actually have during the night. This is for sure one positive change that I have done in my life. It is hard to get into bed at 10:00pm though, because this is often when the house is quiet ( not on the weekend when my son is up later than normal), and it’s also a really cool time for me to write, listen to music and chill with my partner, or do something that I wish focus on even if that’s just read a magazine. *Sighs* so I find myself going to bed often times after 10:00pm. I have modified this to around 11:30pm!! And I don’t have any problem getting up for around the 6:00am mark, as long as it’s not a chilly morning and the house is not too cold.
I really love getting up early, it’s a great time for me to clarify my thoughts, as again the house is quiet! I can write, journal, do a twenty minute yoga session or use my exercise bike, and start my day calmly and refreshed. It’s also really nice to actually sit with a cup of tea and watch the sun rise from the window, or balcony if it’s not to chilly out.
Quit the Fags!!
You know this was probably the best thing I have done in my life. I don’t even know why I started this shit, as it was so hard to break the habit. My mum died of cancer, and so did my dad, they both were smokers and heavy ones at that. I started this habit in my teens to be ‘cool’ I guess, and as life went on and became more stressful, I turned to it as a way to coping. I also used it as a social thing while in my twenties while out drinking, at parties, or bars etc. When I got pregnant with my son ( he is now nine) I did manage to stop, as it was disgusting while pregnant. I was one of these women who did not know they were pregnant, in fact my test showed up as negative and then I went back to the bin a day or two later and saw the faint line. I didn’t believe it as it was so faint. I retested and hey-presto my son was in the oven cooking, I was pregnant and so I was no longer interested in smoking.
It was not until my mum died, and I saw exactly what lung cancer does to a person, and how it really is just not something I would want for myself. The thing is, later in life in my thirties I only really associated smoking with dinner and having a coffee, I was never a heavy smoker it was just a habit. So when my mum died in 2021 I really made a conscious effort to stop. I used Nicorette gum and for me it worked as I was never a very heavy smoker. I didn’t manage to crack the habit on my first try, as I was trying to stop during a very stressful time ( Covid-19, death of my mother etc). However I managed to do it. Plus, my partner does not smoke, and he loves exercise and fitness so it made no sense to continue. Not only that, I myself as a yoga fanatic and healthy eater the habit of smoking just really does not go hand- in- hand with who I actually am, in terms of trying to look after my body and health generally.
Commitment To Journal Writing
Journal writing has been a part of me since I was about maybe fourteen years old, however, I made a commitment to daily journal writing about six years ago. This has been life changing! In so many ways, I have gained clarity, understanding of myself, feelings, and the world around me. It has helped me to action plan, think about the future, and manifest the kind of things I hope for into reality for me. I think that the practice of daily journal writing even if it is a few lines can be helpful in the present moment, and in the future when looking back on things. It’s a great life long habit for me. It’s the one place I am totally honest, God knows what people will think after I die and they read them LOL.
Moving Near The Water
About six years ago, I upsticks and left the major city in the depths of south London where I was born and raised. I moved to a location near water, a lake to be exact. Now, while the lake was not as pretty as the one in the picture, was wonderful! It even had a man-made beach. Since then I have moved, but I made a conscious decision to live (in the city) that is right by lakes and water again. If I drive less than ten mins I will reach a lake, and I don’t think I could live in a location that does not have access to a lake, green spaces, or somewhere I can connect with nature again. I will always be a ‘city girl’ I’m from London, so of course that will never change. I love the vibe and buzz that cities have no matter where they are in the world. What I have learned though is that water is essential to me, it just does something that helps to keep me balanced and yes, sane! Not only that creative, I have plotted ideas, stories, and things I want to write about, right by the water. I have learned that I really enjoy walks around them, being near them, dipping my feet in them, sitting by them, and just observing the world go by from a location surrounded by water and a few random ducks. This was something that really changed my life in a positive way.
What about you? What changes have you made?
Author, Kim Knight 