Tag: Self-Improvement

3 Reasons I Love Reading Before Work

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Why you should read in the morning, morning routine, books.jpg

Habits Take Time

Almost every morning of the workweek, I read for about 30 minutes to an hour. That’s after getting up, showering, hopefully making my bed, making and/or eating breakfast with Nick, and packing lunch for the day. (I do this all in my light pink terry cloth robe that I’ve had since high school. Just thought you needed to know just how much of an old lady I truly am.)

I do love a good morning routine, but reading used to not be a part of it. Actually, I took a long break from reading for a while, so incorporating a book into my breakfast time was difficult at first. But I’m so glad I did.

Here’s why.

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Perfectionisms: Self-Abuse Disguised as Self-Improvement

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How to beat perfectionism.jpg

SELF-TALK THAT LIES

On a run in City Park a few weeks ago, the man and I talked about how we’re both prone to perfectionism, how we both let the ultimate goal sometimes sabotage the smaller progresses, how the black-and-white, all-or-nothing way of thinking when it comes to certain goals (fitness, finance, career, etc.)  is sneaky and seductive, making us think we aren’t (ever) enough, setting us up for self-scolding and, ultimately, self-sabotage.

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How I’ve Changed Since “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”

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DIAMONDS, PRESSURE, & ALL

In January and February of 2015, I was cast in my first bucket-list role: 1 of the 4-person cast of the musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!

A year and a half later, I’m reflecting upon not just how my health has changed (I’m 30 pounds heavier in these photos) but also my overall happiness.

I now can look back with compassion and a heart full of love for the girl I was. It’s been a tough 18 months, but you know what they say: Diamonds are made under pressure.

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ONE OF THOSE “OFF” DAYS

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Starbucks Caramel Frappucino is my guilty pleasure on off days

The Out-of-Nowhere Blues

Getting Real: Despite feeling well-fueled and organized for my long, tiring day yesterday, it was one of those off days where nothing feels easy or good. I was just grumpy.

I’ve come to accept (more often) that negative emotions come in cycles and need to work their way through your body… and that resisting feeling “off” causes even more offness.

So I leaned into it, with a tasty treat and a few mood-boosting techniques.

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Getting Real: An Introduction

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Basic Bitch feet in grass photo. :) Springy/strappy sandals!

Those are my feet in the grass! What a Basic.

Welcome to The Real Life!

This blog project has been brewing for some time. I have dabbled in blogs before, but they never stuck. Why? Because I wasn’t being my authentic self. I was subscribing to the blog-o-sphere’s obsession with apparent perfectionism (emphasis on apparent). I was trying to do all, be all, conquer all—essentially be something that I was not. And in the end, I was benefitting no one, least of all myself.

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