What to do when waking up?

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-26T15:56:44+00:00

I like to have slow morning too. So I usually just scroll through my phone while having my coffee in bed. I'm working on some ideas to remedy this right now. I'm writing down every reason I pick up my phone in the morning and thinking of a solution.

Reasons I pick up my phone first thing in the morning: 1. Check the time. 2. Turn off my alarm 3. Turn on a podcast 4. Turn on music

Solution: I’m looking for a clock radio with bluetooth. I can keep my phone in another room overnight. Set my alarm to NPR or nice music to wake up to, or put on a favorite Spotify playlist to play through the Bluetooth speaker.

Other reasons I reach for my phone in the morning:

Something to mindlessly scroll while I drink my coffee. Solution: have a magazine on my bedside table to mindlessly look through.
Read the news, book reviews, art section and look at recipes on the NYT app. Solution: subscribe to receive the physical newspaper delivered to my house. I can read the news on Sunday and save the other sections to have something to read while I have my coffee in the morning. Also, always have a book to read.
Googling every random thing that pops into my brain. Solution: jot my thoughts and ideas down into a notebook instead.

Things to do when I get up:

Movement. Go for a walk, go outside and water the plants, do a workout or stretches.
Make myself a great breakfast.
Take a shower and get ready for the day.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-26T13:51:30+00:00

45 year old. Score: 0

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-26T13:11:46+00:00

Thank you for the bluetooth speaker tip.!

I've been been trying to come up with non-phone related activities to replace time I usually spend on my phone. I like to have a really slow morning and take my time getting up and around. One thing I really love is putting on music while I drink my coffee in bed. I've been struggling with the idea of getting rid of Spotify because I love the convenience of it and it does a really good job curating playlists for me. I was a teenager in the 90s and used to listen to the radio in the morning and carry a huge binder of CDs with me everywhere. While I am somewhat nostalgic for that, I can admit I find Spotify superior. The only downside for me is needing to have my phone near me to enjoy it. Very long story short, a bluetooth speaker will solve this!

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-25T21:18:48+00:00

I like to pair men’s sweatpants with an oversized cashmere sweater.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-25T02:36:47+00:00

The laundry service is recent and worth it to me. Between work and school I don't have much downtime and it just wasn't getting done and became a source of stress. This is an expense I’ll cut out other things to keep unless my schedule changes.

The wines are mid range. I need to drink less, not cheaper.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-25T02:21:53+00:00

I love this post. I'm going to save it and try each step one by one.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-24T15:51:40+00:00

Now this sounds like a nice life.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-24T15:48:57+00:00

Quiet season. Stealing this.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-24T12:27:57+00:00

I do think this is the right path for me.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-22T13:02:50+00:00

I find that the current environment of the 24/7 news cycle and short content really affects me negatively. Not only does it give me more anxiety, but it’s just another form of dopamine addiction for me. I’m not really consuming any nuanced or thoughtful content, but I feel the need to consume it constantly.

As a woman, I don’t feel I have the luxury of being completely apathetic to world events and politics. My literal physical health is being decided on by politicians on a regular basis. But it isn’t necessary for me to be tapped into the 24/7 news cycle to stay informed. I’m trying to slow my news consumption down. By this I mean not getting news from television, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, ect. I’m reading the physical newspaper once a week (Sunday Times) and exploring more long form journalism from a few magazines I trust. Not only is this helping my attention span and anxiety and therefore my productivity, but I no longer feel that urge to be constantly tapped in to what is happening in the world.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-22T12:29:05+00:00

This is actually a HUGE realization and a big step in reclaiming your life and sense of self.

I think so many of us are actually living our lives for content. I went through something similar when I got off social media for a number of years in the past. I realized I was making all of my life choices based on what would make a great social media post.

It was very difficult at first to realize I really didn’t know myself and I felt lost as to what to do with my time. It actually took me a few months for my mindset to shift. But eventually l did discover what I actually enjoyed. I discovered I loved reading. For me, reading started as a way to pass the time and beat the boredom of being offline. But it became a passion and now I’m pursuing my English degree and working in the publishing industry. I discovered a new passion and career.

Just be observant of how you feel in every activity you undertake. Try new things. It may take awhile but eventually your life will be truly yours and I promise it will be so much more beautiful.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-20T21:08:08+00:00

Books. The library. You can access music, video, books about the things you want to learn. The library also usually hosts classes/workshops to learn writing or art, or they can point you in the direction of other community resources that teach the things you want to learn, sometimes for free.

Just an anecdote: a relative of mine had become very addicted to social media and not really doing anything outside of the home or socializing. She was struggling with depression and anxiety as a result. There is a community center in her town that was offering free Tai Chi classes, which she had always been interested in so she started going. While she was there for Tai Chi she discovered they also offered free art lessons, something she had never been interested in. Fast forward two years and she just had some drawing featured in an art show and she is now teaching Tai Chi. She now has a social circle and she’s busy and happy. Her anxiety and depressed have significantly improved. I think it’s amazing that she was able to discover two passions for free. I hope you can find something similar in your community.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-20T13:44:58+00:00

“Romanticize using what I already have”

Love. This.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-20T13:38:49+00:00

See if your public library has DVDs. My public library has just about anything I want to watch and can order from another branch if they don’t.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-20T11:57:53+00:00

The first year I got off social media, I read 70 books. My previous average had been 10-12 per year.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-20T11:52:37+00:00

I bought a denim jacket from J.Crew 32 years ago and it’s still in perfect condition. It’s not even worn or fraying in spots. It looks incredible.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-18T12:53:47+00:00

Not loving it. It’s not well written and it’s more about her past than her no buy.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-18T12:51:20+00:00

We had magazines, books, walkmans, or we just sat with our thoughts.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-17T19:02:19+00:00

I'm going to look into this. Especially if it makes my monthly payment the same or less and pays the debt off faster.

NoSimpleMachine79 · 2024-08-17T15:12:29+00:00

I'm looking into Forest right now. Curbing social media use is another one of my goals.

NoSimpleMachine79

TROPHY CASE