I am having issues now. I feel like I use my phone more after the 2 hours without. I am annoyed with myself. Suggestions? Help?

@77tes I am a stay at home mother, but it usually out of boredom.

I guess it is not really boredom, but I am the person that always needs to be doing something. I am the nail biter, which is a bad habit itself. I just need to keep occupied, but I dont want to clean. What is the point of cleaning if it will be destroyed two seconds afterwards by my one year old. Hahaha. I guess I need to fill in the gaps instead of pulling put my phone and doing absolutely nothing there to occupy time.

Hahaha @nebslp I do embroider and knit, but I haven't picked it up in sometime. Embroidering is oddly relaxing. Today I started writing to occupy my time, which has helped.

@nebslp that is Awesome! I have only embroidered little pictures to entertain myself. Haha. Yesterday, I wrote a book review to submit on my goodreads account. I do write in a journal would I get upset. I would like to do more creative writing. I occasionally write poems when I feel the need. Ultimate goal is to write a novel.

@Wildchildx1289
Sounds like writing!!

thanks @nebslp and @77tes for the encouragement for my goal.

@77tes from your Move it Monday post you are doing great with your yoga goal! You go girl 👍.

@nebslp you have shared a wealth of information with us on various topics. I so enjoy reading your posts. I really like your August goal of going to your studio every morning and taking time to begin and plan your day mindfully, especially now that you are coming off a very busy and full summer.

@MadisonMolly2017, I am so sorry about your ocular migraine. I can't even imagine how painful that was💐. That is awesome that your 90 minutes of exercise is making you sleepy! Great tracking!

@themedalist, so wise of you to choose to spend your time more productively and happily instead of forcing yourself to complete the music theory class that was no longer useful. Your August goal of maintaining an even tempo sounds great!

@Wildchildx1289, Since you asked for suggestions I just googled and found that there are apps or specific methods on different brands of phones in the settings for how to track not only how long you are on your phone, but how you actually use your phone screen time. (I did this on my phone for a time earlier this year out of curiosity when it became available from an update.)

I have heard that if you change your phone screen or lock screen to black and white, instead of seeing the lovely colors that draw us in visually, that that has been shown to help.

Turning off or silencing the notifications from apps and social media, and checking them only when you decide to, instead of being constantly notified. Doing this puts you in control of your phone usage. (I do this)

Google for ideas for ways to help you reach your goal. There is actually a lot of information out there with ideas to help one use their phone less often.

You can do this!! Yes, you can!

That is so cool that you have a goal of writing a novel! And that you are finding ways to do some writing in the meantime!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My goal for this month:
This August's I will: I will track my progress (again) of getting to sleep earlier, success will now be lights out by 11:00 PM.

I will use 😇 for lights out by 10 P.M, 🕚 for lights out by 11 P.M, after 11P.M. ❌.

(I am allowing one night a week(end) only if something special is going on so it won't trigger failure feelings.)

August 1: 🕚
August 2: 🕚
August 3: planned later night
August 4: 🕚
August 5: 🕚
August 6: 🕚
August 7: 😇
August 8: 😇
August 9: 🕚
August 10: 🕚
August 11: 😇
August 12: 🕚


🤠🌺

Ok! First 8 days done!

Good habits around SLEEP so far:
Was Already established. 10:30 medicine,
Was Already established, putting water by bedside,
New!*** getting out ear buds for use, if needed
New!***putting sleep mask where I can get it easily,
New!***Dimming lights at 9:30, and no later than 10:30.
New!***Using audio meditations** immediately** if I wake up at night & in AM,
new!***continuing to go back to sleep, if possible, until I’ve accrued 7 hours.

To work on this week:
☘️Turn off TV/computer no later than 11pm. Record time achieved.

Record time you turn off phone
Record time you fell asleep (approx) Record time you woke up.

Beginning night of Aug 13:

☘️Yes❣️
🛌 12:10
📱(12:39)1:25⬆️
💤1:25⬆️
☀️6:39 (mask) 7:20⬇️
⏰5hr55mins ⬇️

Unseasonably hot here so I was very energetic after my 7:30 walk & throughout the cooler evening.

Baby steps.
My lack of good sleep hygiene is related to 2 things:
* My phone #1
* I’ve always “fought” goi g to sleep even when yawning even as a kid #2

Other possibilities:
* Evening meds
* Dinner too late
* Decaf coffee/bit of choc is too much caffeine for me at 4pm?
* Exercising too late in day

I’m more committed than ever to solve this, as I’m seeing how it’s impacting me now. (I didn’t really want to admit I had an issue.)

For me to remember WHY I need to put that phone down.l:
Today, I am sleepy, slight headache, my muscles are aching (workout-related, but more sleep would have helped with repair), eyes are dry (I figured out awhile back that lack of deep sleep causes this in me), emotional/less resilient, more fretting in general, didn’t go to a social group this morning because I didn’t feel I could be “cheerful” enough & also more energy than I feel I had. (Gearing up to see a dear friend late this afternoon - maybe a nap)

I’m actually optimistic that I can solve this now. I’m going to go slowly.

Thank you @themedalist, and all of you. Each & every one of you has had a significantly large, positive impact on my life, my health, my habits! 💕

This weekend will be tough for me. My husband and I are taking a trip down to see my stepdad and my mom so that we can say our "goodbyes" to my stepdad who has is on hospice and fading rather quickly. I am going to make journaling my goal, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I eat over my calories or junky food since I know we will be eating all our meals out. I will try to make the healthier choices, but I'm an emotional eater and this has been an incredibly difficult few months.

Prayers or positive thoughts for Paul not to suffer and for my mom (Suzanne) to find peace and strength when she needs it would be so very welcome during this time!

Love you all and have missed you like crazy! You are all rocking your goals this month! So much inspiration on here!

xxoo