My January Reflection: Positives, Negatives, and New Goals
With the end of January being 10 days ago, I want to reflect and share how my January went and things I was successful at, things I struggled at, and things I need to work on. I plan on sharing a reflection every month so I can keep track of the highs and lows of January and also share the triumphs and struggles I have with chronic pain. Even though it is important to look at the positive side and focus on the good in life, especially with chronic pain, it is equally important to acknowledge your struggles and how you can better manage pain. Chronic pain is as mentally draining as it is physically, and reflecting on your past habits can help create new habits that overall make you happier and feel better.
Things I was very successful at:
I would say I was very successful in January in terms of school, extracurriculars, and other activities. I was able to keep my motivation in January and focus on school for the whole month while spending time on my extracurriculars. I also had a very successful month in terms of exercise and implementing movement throughout my day. I continued going for tennis 3 times a week and would go on walks, practice yoga, or do other physical activity during the day. I also found different ways to relax and spend time with friends and family like going for a walk on the beach, watching the sunset, or making brunch! Lastly, I started reading more books and opened my interests to psychology and self growth novels.
Things I struggled on:
- Managing my time
- Pacing and taking breaks
- Learning when to stop or how to say no
January was a very busy month for me from switching to my more rigorous classes to coming back from Winter break to keeping up with tennis and other extracurriculars. It was definitely a rough change and it took me a while to become accustomed with my new schedule. From the first day of my new quarter, I had much more homework in all classes and had to prioritize my time better. In the end, I was able to get all my work done, but I know I can manage my time and pace myself better. I would rarely take breaks and this would cause me to feel exhausted by the end of the day. On some days, I would be on my computer for over 12 hours and I know I need to structure my day to pace myself better.
Second, I need to work on learning when to stop and how to prioritize my activities and time. I am the type of person who wants to put 100% effort into all my tasks, and I know with a chronic headache this is impossible. I have had many commitments this past month and I have tried to put all my effort into all activities and realized this is not sustainable. I have to remember that my physical and mental health comes first and it is essential to prioritize different tasks and take breaks throughout the day.
My goals for February:
My goals for this month mostly relate to pacing myself and making sure I have time to destress and relax while getting my work done during the day. Some habits I want to continue and/or start include:
- Meditate for at least ten minutes each morning
- Take a break once every hour and walk around or stretch
- Schedule one thing (big or small) into my day that I will look forward to
- Have 30 minutes before bed to read, watch tv, or do anything else that helps me relax
- Switch up my workspace every couple days; for example, work outside if the weather is nice!
Categories: Blog
