[DocJohn]

Welcome to the Habit Change forum!

We envision this forum a place where people can go to check-in, give and get support related to trying to change a specific habit or behavior in their lives.

Habit change is hard, but there are a lot of great apps, life hacks, tips, and other things that can help you in your journey. Folks here can also help you with checking in on a regular basis, and support you in the process of habit change.

So get started today! Pick a single habit or behavior in your life you'd like to change (e.g., "Be more thoughtful with my partner," "Be on time for at least one thing this week," "Say no once to a request someone makes of me (if you're always a "yes" person, even when you're overwhelmed!)").

Best,
DocJohn

[PianogirlPlays]

Thinking about hard times instead of the good.

[spring2014]

my ocd that is getting me in trouble again and my weight issues

[PianogirlPlays]

Originally Posted by spring2014

my ocd that is getting me in trouble again and my weight issues

I can relate! It can be so hard. One step forward and two back. I hate it when I blow my successes. Resisting the food stuff then giving in. Resisting the negative chronic thoughts and then falling all apart when something happens. I keep thinking if life were smoother or the people around me would just be good and nice that then I could get better. So I am up and down like a yo yo. Hard though because the general trend is down with some relieving moments. It makes you wonder can it happen? Can I make progress? Can I feel better?

So get started today! Pick a single habit or behavior in your life you'd like to change

I know I read this post the first day it was posted but I don't remember reading the above. I probably read it and realized that I didn't feel I could post a habit without committing to change it and didn't feel ready to do that.

Even now, when my depression is about as mild as it has been in years (by "now", I mean the past two days) it's very hard for me to commit to a change in behavior because of fear of failure.

I did go to the gym this week for the first time in a very long time and exercise very gently for about 30 minutes. That has been a goal of mine for several months now, so I'm pleased that I finally went for the first time.

[Nammu]

This sounds bad...but right now for me getting dressed everyday would be a stride forward. I changed PJs but don't bother with real clothes and it's become a bad habit I need to change.

Today half there.

That's exactly where I was when I joined PC back last winter. I had spent most of two years in my PJs (not the same ones) except for when I went out.

I like to wear comfortable clothes at home, so I've started making the effort to change into yoga pants and a top in the mornings.

The only real difference between those and pajamas is that I can answer the door wearing them midday without getting funny looks.

[Nammu]

Thanks jo...your right it's not like in my moms time when woman were expected to dress in girdles, hose and have their make up on with the dress all done with spray. This reminds me I gotta go get dress, thanks jo.

[Nammu]

Real people clothes! Now maybe I'll get out and about today. Again thanks Jo and Doc John.

Oh my goodness. I never wear real people clothes at home. My pyjamas are all Yoga pants (black or charcoal grey) plus a T-shirt sometimes a sweater over top. I usually put on a bra before my first cup of tea, but sometimes I only do that if I'm leaving the apartment. I shower and put clean ones on each day- but not until the end of the day -like 2 pm. I choose pjs that also pass as real clothes, so it looks like I'm not wearing pjs if someone comes to the door or when I get the mail, take out the garbage, that sort of thing.

I only wear real clothes to the laundry room and when I'm leaving the house! And sometimes I wear my pyjamas to the laundry room.

I don't think I'm fooling anyone, I'm certainly not fooling myself! I don't actually own enough outside clothes to 'dress' each day. I wore a uniform at my last job. But this is something I'd like to do for myself. Even it it's just jeans and a sweater.

Thanks for this, sidestepper.

I think it would open up my life a bit more, if I got back in the habit of:

1. Eat breakfast
2. Exercise
3. Shower
4. Get dressed and tidied up in a way that I would if I were going somewhere.

and preferably before noon!

[Alone & confused]

My biggest challenge with changing habits is inconsistency. I'm typically pretty negative to begin with, but those moments when I Do become inspired or hopeful and optimistic (probably due to mania) are so short lived that I can't seem to make any lasting changes. It's very frustrating! I would love to just have a positive, forward momentum that doesn't go away after a day or two.

[unaluna]

Im reading this in my underpants. My apartment is always too hot!!

(((Alone and confused))) consistency is a big thing for me too. This is the first since like forever that i have kept at something for like a month. Something would ALWAYS upset my applecart and set me off course. Some demand from the outside world - even something like a dentist appointment would overtire me or something, i dont know. And then i would get TOO hungry and overeat. The dental school where i go is EXTREMELY slow - like 3 hours to just clean your teeth. The waiting drives me nuts.

[Nammu]

Wanted to post a good outcome. I got dressed this morning. took stuff to goodwill & sold some books and got lunch. The case worker showed up shortly after I got home, I was dressed and had progress to report!!

now to do as Alone said...forward momentum

[Nammu]

Took Sunday off and didn't get dress but it was a conscious decision. Getting dressed everyday has lead to an increase in productivity, just doing stuff I've put off for a long time.

I followed your lead and I got dressed this morning. After first cup of tea, I cleaned up and put on pair of comfy jeans and a decent top that is the type I would wear outside the apartment. I just put my hair in a high ponytail and bobby-pinned back my bangs.

I did feel like a grown up, and I think I've been more productive today because of it. And, I did not hesitate to take out the garbage, because I was already dressed.

[Nammu]

It's amazing isn't it! I even stopped off yesterday and got my hair cut! I think my head is about 5 lbs lighter.

Oh, well done you, Sidestepper. I'm impressed. I love that lighter feeling after a cut.

I really need to get my hair cut. I've been cutting it myself for the past year and a half, but it's gotten out of hand. Hopefully Friday I can work up the nerve to stop by my local first choice and get it done.

[Nammu]

How the hair cutting go Tea?

Oh sidestepper, thanks for asking. I'm afraid I'm stuck at home with a cold, it just hit me yesterday. Next week, for sure.
I did manage to get dressed early in the day ( in regular grown-up clothes) three days this week, so I'm pleased with that.

[Nammu]

That's great, getting dressed in grown up clothes! I did today too, but I had to see the pnurse so...yeah a bit of a reason. But I did add a necklace and earrings, that I haven't done in ages. It's getting dressed on the days of no place to go that counts more.

Jewelry, wow, that's pretty darn impressive.

I'm not there yet. However, I did pluck my eyebrows today and tested out some make- up, neither of which I've done in over a year.

The holes in my earlobes have grown over, for real. Not the thin layer of skin grown over, that I can push my earring through with a bit of pain, but thickly grown over. I have no idea where one gets their ears pierced nowadays. I had my ears pierced in 1978! I'm worried I'll have to go to one of those Tattoo/piercing sort of places, because when I google ear piercing/my town, that's what comes up. I'll ask whoever cuts my hair next week - they'd might know. I'd really like to be a bit more put together when I leave the house.

I was showered and dressed, wearing make up even, and out the door by 9am today. I packaged up a parcel and took it to the post office, got my hair cut, voted, and did a small grocery shop. All on foot.

[Takeshi]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Welcome to the Habit Change forum!

We envision this forum a place where people can go to check-in, give and get support related to trying to change a specific habit or behavior in their lives.

Habit change is hard, but there are a lot of great apps, life hacks, tips, and other things that can help you in your journey. Folks here can also help you with checking in on a regular basis, and support you in the process of habit change.

So get started today! Pick a single habit or behavior in your life you'd like to change (e.g., "Be more thoughtful with my partner," "Be on time for at least one thing this week," "Say no once to a request someone makes of me (if you're always a "yes" person, even when you're overwhelmed!)").

Best,
DocJohn

What's with the grin, and the APPs are the first thing you thought of? It's getting harder to search for good apps and hacks on the internet, I'm not tech savvy, folks simply want the best, from the best, they cost money too sometimes, right? Net folks are out of their mind. I appreciate your effort though.