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I haven’t been very active over here on the blog, but if you follow me on Facebook, I post a morning or evening reflection there once a day! Sometimes I feel like my thoughts aren’t lengthy enough for a blog post and it’s just a lot more convenient to share my ramblings in that space. But I have missed posting these “Lately” posts each month so I’m popping in here just shy of February to share what’s been going on as of late!
Lately, I’ve been….
Reading
Click to buy on Amazon!
This book about the Intuitive Eating program. Before reading this, I read this book where Kelsey Miller – the author – shares her emotional journey to find a better path to both physical and mental health. Every line, every experience, every interaction she shares in her book ran so parallel to my own experience growing up as a chubby kid and transitioning into a chubby adult. The yo-yo diets, the unhealthy and toxic relationship with food. All of it felt so similar. So, naturally, I felt the need to pick up this book. And, boy, is it a good one. I cannot recommend it enough. Especially if you, like me, are a chronic dieter.
Eating
This has been on repeat every single day for the past two weeks. A piece of toast, eggs, and a slice of cheese (or, lately, I’ve been swapping out the cheese for mashed up avocado). I’m waiting for the day that I overdose on this breakfast. But, so far, I wake up every morning craving it like nobody’s business.
Drinking
In addition to the same, standard breakfast, I’ve been drinking THIS coffee every single day. I’m obsessed. My mom gave me a jar of it over winter break because she knew that a Starbucks opened up in our small town. She was hoping I would opt for this instant coffee instead of falling back into my addictive Starbucks pattern. I politely accepted the gift and thought it would be good to have on hand for those days when I’m in too much of a rush to make it to Starbucks. Well, turns out, this instant coffee is AMAZING and I actually prefer it to Starbs. (I know. Crazy, right?)
I’ve also been waking up and having lemon water each morning before I make a cup of coffee. Everyone always talks about all the health benefits in lemon and I figured I might as well jump on that bandwagon. It goes perfect with my morning meditative time.
Watching
Ever since I got this office job, Ankur’s been trying to get me to re-watch episodes of The Office. I binge watched it back in college, but that was before the series was over. So the final two seasons are completely new to me. I’ve been loving it so far. (Especially because now that I work in an office setting, it’s a lot more relate-able. I’m itching to start some office pranks at work).
Anyway, we’ve now reached the point where Michael Scott is gone and I can tell this is going to go downhill quickly.
Listening
Last week, I discovered that I was allowing the news and the media to be the soundtrack of my life. I was filling all my white moments with podcasts and audiobooks and NPR News and anything and everything to keep me informed about what’s going on in our world today. I realized that my every task and every moment felt so HEAVY because I was allowing this stuff to run through the background of my day. So, I made a ton of playlists (Pizza Party Playlist, Sunday Food Prep Playlist, Art Therapy Playlist) on Spotify and I’ve been listening to a lot of MUSIC instead of INFORMATION and it feels oh-so-good.
Celebrating
A few weeks ago, we had a Ladies Night Out in Knoxville over an exam weekend. We left the husbands back at home to study, rented a hotel room in Knoxville, and went out and had some fun downtown! We always make day trips to Knoxville, but it felt exciting to be able to experience the night life there without having to worry about driving the hour and a half home. I definitely need more nights like that in my future.
Hoping
For a snow day! Two weeks ago, we had two Snow Days and I LOVED it. It sort of screwed up the schedule for the medical students, but it was wonderful for ME! I am obsessively checking the forecast each day to see when our next snow day will be. Looks like snow is expected this weekend!
Reflecting
I’ve been dedicating 5-10 minutes each morning and each evening for some intention-setting and daily reflection. It’s been a really nice way to start and end my day and each day has become so much more purposeful and aligned with how I want to feel. I’m still obsessing over Simple Habit – a meditation app that has specific, intentional meditations that are only 5-10 minutes long. I’ve also been enjoying their 30-day “Simple Habit Podcast” series for those days where I can’t seem to quiet my mind. The instructor touches on topics in mindfulness (from positive psychology to the nature of the human mind). I’ve also been journaling each day. So even though I may not always be active on the blog, I am writing each day and I love the consistency and routine.
That being said, I’m off to go journal a little bit before heading into work.
Hope you all have a beautiful day and it’s not too cold in your neck of the woods!
Questions of the Day:
- What are you eating lately? Celebrating lately? Reading lately?
Hi Divya, There are so many things I love about this post! The book you are reading made me think of one of my favorite podcasts “By The Book” where they live by self-help books for two weeks. I wonder if they’d try this one! I also have been super into meditation and am obsessed with Insight Timer! I’ll have to check out Simple Habit as well.
We’ve been watching through the Office too! I’ve never seen it and LOVE it! Great way to laugh a little at the end of the day 🙂
Nice to hear from you! That ladies night out sounds like such fun. How awesome that you all were able to spend the night and just enjoy yourselves. I do love a good snow day – I’m part time so I don’t get paid, which is the downer, but I could use one or two more this winter. LOL It’s supposed to snow Thursday but I don’t really know how much.
-lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Unwrapped: Christmas 2017 Gift Haul
I can so relate to you filling your blank space with news and then feeling weighted down. I had to turn it off too. I am now listening to self help, and working through Mom Mastery University instead and I feel positive. It’s amazing how much we can get overwhelmed when we aren’t careful!
Love this post! So thoughtful and thought provoking. Or, more so causing me to reflect! I am currently reading Dare to Hope by Katie Davis Majors. It is an amazing book! Don’t give up on the office just because Michael left. It does go downhill, but there are still many good moments to be had! Thanks for the tips!
I really enjoy a lot of the ideas here! I also try to fill my background noise with positivity.
We’ve been watching the Office too and are also in the final episodes when Michael is gone. They aren’t nearly as good but I’m determined to finish the whole series because I didn’t the first time it was on the air.
Beth recently posted…Ollie Says
Avocado toast with fried eggs is a favorite breakfast of mine as well, so good! I will have to check out that book.
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups recently posted…Weekend Recap + A Giveaway!
Ummmm – that toast? Looks absolutely amazing! ::drool::
I’ve never tried avocado toast with eggs, but it sounds really good. I’ve never watched The Office, but have heard that it’s a great show. I’ll have to check it out soon. I do love snow days, but I am so over winter lol. I’m ready for warmer weather. I hope you get a snow day soon.
Emily recently posted…Your Time Will Come
Sounds like you have had a great January so far!
Eggs on toast is one of my favourite breakfasts 🙂
Setting aside time for intention setting and reflection each day sounds like such a good idea – I think I need to do something similar.
Eggs on toast are the best! I go through phases where I eat it a lot, and then not for a while. As delicious as they may be, they’re much more tedious to make than just toast by itself 😂
Indya || The Small Adventurer
Oh hi Divya!! Loved reading this, and hearing what’s going on in your life lately <3 that breakfast sounds amazing. I tend to have days when I eat the same things back to back and miraculously don’t get sick of them. Also I’ve never heard of that instant cofffee before, but better than s-bux, eh?! My brother got me mushroom instant coffee for Christmas which is just as gross as it sounds, but don’t tell him I told you that 😉
The Office!! I love that show so much! I’ll have to rewatch, too 🙂
Hope you’re having a great week, beautiful girl <3
Charlotte recently posted…The best vegan lasagna. Ever (omg, my first recipe post!)
I’ve been having lemon ginger tea every day for a while and I feel like it’s really making a difference.
I am super-intrigued by that instant coffee. Gotta look for it at the store!
San recently posted…Monthly Favorites | January
Hello BRU…… Glad to hear you are enjoying it over StarBs.
Moms can be good advisers at times:):) Yeah!!
Its always a pleasure to read your blog…. one gets to know what are DiyAnkur upto.
God Bless you Health, Happiness and Success in Life!!
I loved reading this post. Like you, I can eat the same meals over and over. I need to try your egg, avo, and toast option. Maybe I’ll have breakfast for dinner tonight 🙂 Also, I love that you made a bunch of different playlists to lighten the mood and get out of “news-overload.” It’s amazing how much music helps to shift a person’s mood, isn’t it?
I could eat cheese or avo with anything, all day, every day. This past month I’ve tried a diet where I eat salads during the day – including breakfast. I sometimes boil an egg in the mornings, because hunger. So then it’s tomato, green beans and cucumbers. Sometimes I add cheese. Even though I love cheese I try not to do much of it AND I’ve cut out bread for weekdays. I no longer feel so bloated.
Ohh I need to try that Bru!