Are you looking for some creative ideas during lent? Are you wanting a challenge for you to make a change? Are you someone like me who wants to do more than just the routine in life?
Here's a few pages of my personal life journey....
It is that time of the year when you have the dates set for your travel for the Summer to visit family and friends back home. It is such a great feeling to know you are going to spend time with your loved ones, have wonderful homemade food, and do a bit of short trips within the state. If you are like me, there is an element of stress accompanied with the excitement of this travel.
Having stayed in the US for past 6 years, I've put on so much of weight. That's even worse post-wedding. So, returning home after a year with more pounds added to your body mass inevitably means you are going to be a victim of your loved ones' comments (don't get me wrong here- it's all out of love and concern!)
So, I started pondering on how I can put myself through a strict regime before the vacation, so that I can be in a better shape. What more better season than this- lent!
I came up with a few ideas of dividing my time (3 months to go home) and taking on 30 days challenges in strides. I did not just want to do conventional sets of rituals to lose weight- exercise and diet, but add some more to my life that can help me to gain better health overall and ultimately enhance my well-being.
So, I've put together 10 different things I have planned to start adding and taking away from my everyday life starting from tomorrow. Here's how I'm starting my first 30 days challenge (follow my blog to know what ideas I'm coming up with for the next 2 sets of 30 days challenges)-
1. Walk if you can not work-out: Plan is for me to consistently devote a minimum of 30 min during the day for work out (gym) The days I'm unable to make it, i will make sure I reach the steps-target for the day (6000 steps). Small beginning can take it a long way. Don't give up!
2. Weekly meal-plan: Have 7 days meal-plan printed and up on the fridge and on my phone to constantly remind me of my next meal (to plan, prep, and enjoy). Personally for me, this helps to reduce my stress in thinking "what to cook for dinner?" "what lunch to make with what I have at home?". Also, this is good practice to avoid doing the last minute drive-thru or grab-and-go fast food.
3. Outside eating replaced with gourmet home-cooked food and setting aside the money that hypothetically that we would have spent. My plan is to collect that money in a mason jar and later while we go to India to spend it to sponsor a meal or two in a local orphanage.
4. Make mindful food choices: Some of the ones I am starting with are-
- at least 1 fruit a day
- less oil, ghee, and butter
- less sugar and salt
- and finally reduced portion sizes
5. Give away 1 thing each day: I am setting aside a space in our house to pile up 1 thing (each day) that I no longer need. It could be that dress that I am hanging on to for the last 2 years with the hope to lose weight, or that tight sweater I bought because it was on sale and never wore, or that dish that I no longer use, or the collection of pens/pencils I do not use. Look at a new place each day and pick at least 1 thing to give away. It helps lessen clutter and also would help someone who needs it more than you do!6. Half hour ahead: Going to bed at least half hour before I normally would and waking up at least half hour before I would on a typical day. In my case, we sleep somewhere between 11-12 PM usually and wake up around 7:00 AM in the morning. So I am hoping to go to bed before 10:30 PM and rise before 6:30 AM.
7. 2 X 15 min tithing: I am planning on setting aside 15 min in the morning as soon as I wake up for my quite time (usually it is for bible-reading and meditation) and similarly spend the 15 min toward the end of the day to reflect, journal, and pray.
8. Connect back closely: To those who have not been in touch with their friends/relatives for a long time, this is a good opportunity. Take this challenge to give a call (preferably a video call), write a letter (unconventional style), or compose an email, or at least text ONE person a week and re-connect! See what difference it creates.
9. Reflective Journaling: To those who have busy lives like I do, there is so much going on that you miss out the little things around you. Especially if you are new to married life like I am, you know what I am talking about. In all the adventures of life journey, there are moments that are missed-- moments that are worth capturing and cherishing. You can do it in any area where you would like to count your blessings or list your things of gratitude. So, this is something I've already started for this month. Each day i am writing (and would continue to do it for next 30 days) 3 new things I discovered in our relationship that I am grateful for-- Some days pertain to his character, and other days on his actions, or even other days on the time we spent together. You can be creative and think about different ways how you would like to do this (photojournaling, online blogging, index cards...)
10. A compliment a day: More often we take close ones around us for granted. They seldom hear how much they mean to us or what impact their deeds had on us, or how much we appreciate them. I've decided to intentionally stop and at least give 1 compliment per day to people around me. That intentional effort and thoughtfulness will not only make their day but yours too!
So, beginning tomorrow, let's get on board to this challenge. Follow my blog to see an update on how the challenge is going and for the next two sets of challenges. Leave your comments below with your thoughts regarding the challenge and of your experience. Together, let's make a difference in others' lives and so to our owns!
- Dr.Pris Selvaraj is a professor at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. She teaches psychology and counseling. She is an expert in the area of positive psychology. She researches on creative ways to implement positive psychological exercises in classroom, with her clients, and in her practice.
Feb 14, 2018
9. Reflective Journaling: To those who have busy lives like I do, there is so much going on that you miss out the little things around you. Especially if you are new to married life like I am, you know what I am talking about. In all the adventures of life journey, there are moments that are missed-- moments that are worth capturing and cherishing. You can do it in any area where you would like to count your blessings or list your things of gratitude. So, this is something I've already started for this month. Each day i am writing (and would continue to do it for next 30 days) 3 new things I discovered in our relationship that I am grateful for-- Some days pertain to his character, and other days on his actions, or even other days on the time we spent together. You can be creative and think about different ways how you would like to do this (photojournaling, online blogging, index cards...)
10. A compliment a day: More often we take close ones around us for granted. They seldom hear how much they mean to us or what impact their deeds had on us, or how much we appreciate them. I've decided to intentionally stop and at least give 1 compliment per day to people around me. That intentional effort and thoughtfulness will not only make their day but yours too!
- Dr.Pris Selvaraj is a professor at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. She teaches psychology and counseling. She is an expert in the area of positive psychology. She researches on creative ways to implement positive psychological exercises in classroom, with her clients, and in her practice.
Feb 14, 2018
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