Today has been day 1 of my challenge to get 8 hours of sleep for 30 days straight.
Every day I’ll share my FitBit Surge sleep data.
Aside from that, I want to document how I’m doing in terms of changing my habits:
- No more screens, from 1 hour before bedtime.
- Go for a 15 minute walk during the day.
- No coffee after noon.
- Use my thoughts to get to a place of gratitude before I go to sleep and when I wake up.
Day 1: 8hrs 11min
I reached my goal!
No more screens, 1 hour before bedtime
Goal reached?
Yes. I was able to not look at any screens even earlier that 1 hour before bedtime.
How was it?
It was really strange to leave everything behind me so early in the evening.
Especially the phone…
I’m always connected on WhatsApp and to leave that behind and not look at anything anymore was strange.
What’s interesting is that I got to notice that I am having all these thoughts about how I want to check for messages or send someone a message. And it all comes down to feeling that people care about me, and the other wat around. For me to show someone that I care about them by sending them a message or replying to them right away. Even thinking: What will …… think when I don’t respond anymore? Will he or she understand?
What I love about this hour without technology is that I get to really explore these thoughts.
Is it true that it means I don’t care, when I don’t respond right away? Is it true that other people do not care about me, if they do not reply right away?
Of course not.
We all know this.
But subconsciously, I have been programming this in my behavior.
It’s so nice to be completely free of technology and just listen to myself.
Now, I can go much deeper into this, but I want do some work before my alarm goes off, to warn me to put away my devices!
Oh, I have to say, I also just went outside into nature for this hour.
I was fortunate enough to be in my hometown where I can really chill instead of in the city of Antwerp.
Tonight, I’m in Antwerp, so that will be a different story.
Go for a 15 minute walk
Goal reached?
Yes. I walked for 15 minutes during lunch break at work.
How was it?
Relatively easy. Some of my colleagues wanted to join in on this little stroll so it was a nice and supportive walk during the day 🙂
Good to wander around, without a phone and really look around and be present while walking on the streets.
We found a wooden “cat-ladder” hanging from a 3rd story balcony, attached to a tree, lol.
I thought that was funny.
No coffee after noon
Goal reached?
Yes. I did not drink any coffee after noon. Or in the whole day, really.
How was it?
Very easy.
I’ve already done a pretty good job in cutting out coffee in my afternoons, but I grab the occasional espresso at 3PM.
But leaving that, was no problem.
Change my thoughts
Goal reached?
How was it?
More on that, later.
Gotta do some freelance work right before my “no screen alarm”! Not the best way to move to a relaxed state of mind hey?
I know.
Stop reminding me.
What’s that? You don’t talk? I’m just having a monologue here?
Anyway, I try to remember: I’m striving for progress. Not for perfection.
#RecoveringPerfectionist
Let’s see what tomorrow brings!
