Small Ticks

Strange title, but this is what 2018 is going to be about

2017

I was on the whole happy with our achievements last year, alot of the changes we wanted are now normal life for us, we have jumped off the commercial merry-go-round, we still purchase what we want, these days we want alot less than before, we ignore all the masses of stuff pushed at us every time we shop or go on line. In fact we do not often go into town and a big supermarket shop does not happen that often. We saved money where we could, bulked purchased brands we love when they are on special, ensuring we hardly ever paid full price on, coffee, teabags, spread, muesli and cat food, plus loads others, even getting all the wild bird food off line in bulk. We do not have any budgets, just an underlying need to spend wisely. I will keep up my hobby stash spend list, I'm not looking for savings again this year. We have cut down on our waste, we hardly waste any food these days. 

I was pleased to see China has stopped taking our 'dirty' waste, it's time for us to sort our own waste, at home we recycle as much as we can, last year we decided to cut our waste, and one of the easy ways is not to bring it into our house, we already purchase loose fruit and veg, and not using those free little plastic bags, it's a bit harder at the till, but we have taken the easy route too often. NOW we need to get the producers to change how they pack things, a good example buy 4 pears, they are often on a tray in a plastic bag, both unnecessary packaging. We do not buy coffee when we are out often, and when we do it is always in a china cup. We only purchased fresh orange juice in a tetra pack in December, just 2 packs for our Christmas morning bucks fizz, we do not have a local recycling depot for these, so we don't purchase anything stored in them. I am growing all my plants from seed, if I do purchase any plants, I take the pots back to the garden center to be recycled.

2018 - small ticks, this is tackling big issues in small monthly bite sizes.

I have a few things to concentrate on this year, all about me, it's easy to work with hubby to sort our home life out, and lose focus on my personal goals. Hubby and I will stay on our lifestyle path, we are enjoying the benefits gained over the past couple of years. I aim to set myself a small task each month, which I can tick off once I am regularly following my plan. It is so easy to set big targets and then fail, knowing the challenge would be too much for everyone.  

Each year in early January I record my weight, each year I put on a couple of pounds, which I feel is good for a woman my age, last year, I put on 4 pounds, today I looked at my BMI, which is 29.5, far to high for me. I really need to lose some weight, which I say every year, I lose a bit of weight in the summer only to put it back on during the winter. I really do not want to go up a clothes size, I have so many lovely items in my wardrobe.  So this year I am going to look at it from a different angle, I need to get fitter. 

My January task is to get my steps up to 8,000 a day minimum, and aim for 10,000 steps. Plus to cycle a couple times a week. I have done these amounts of steps before, mainly in the summer. 

My household challenge is to spring clean the Kitchen, dining room and sitting room. 

So small steps, to which I am off for a walk with hubby.