Making Lil' Improvements!

Hey hey!

I have been on my journey of self-improvement. One thing I have kept in mind is, instead of trying to stop a bunch of my 'bad'/unhelpful habits, it is more helpful to keep adding healthier helpful habits instead! So here is what I have been doing thus far:

Since I am basically a giant toddler, I have been using a sticker system still. I have a planner with space for every day, and I have been writing down good things and things I have gotten down, and I give myself a sticker for big things I get done, and one for two smaller things I get done. It feels childish, but I got an amazing pack of 600 stickers for only $6 on amazon, and I have been enjoying being able to flip through my planner and see all of the stickers I've earned and all the things I've done! I mean, if it works it works, so I plan on keeping this up! I think I am going to give myself little rewards for certain numbers of stickers, so like for 50 stickers I was going to take myself to get my hair and nails done or something. Or for 50 stickers I can buy something up to $25 on amazon I've been wanting guilt free. So they are great for motivation keeping track of my progress so I can see it long term, and also as little motivating rewards to myself!

I kinda don't keep up as much with my magnetic white boards trying to plan things for the week unfortunately. But I haven't been down on myself for the time and money to set them up, because they did help me initially in breaking down what kinds of things I needed to do daily/weekly/monthly, and realizing the difference in quick tasks versus harder or longer ones. I have been doing at least one easy one per day minimum, and at least two big ones per week (with one being cleaning my guinea pigs haha).

What I have been doing though has been tackling bigger projects, several per week. Last week a big one was putting together my piggie cage to where I am using loose fluffy stuff in 2/3 of the cage instead of the whole cage covered in fleece. Part of my trying to make myself smell better aspect is doing my laundry more, and keeping my washer cleaner. So I have used and thrown out most of my bedding I had been using for years so that I don't have to wash it in my washer anymore, so my clothing does seem to be cleaner thankfully.

I also have been trying to make myself more organized, and have bought multiple larger bins and containers. I had organized my bathroom stuff a few weeks ago, and mostly put away my various hobbies that were sitting around cluttering my family room.

Instead, each hobby has a bin, and I just get that one bin out for when I want to do the thing, like when I was scrapbooking a few days ago. And I made sure that, when I was done, I put the bin away so it wasn't taking up room in my family room for no reason. Next, I am going to do a container storage system for all of my clothing, because my closets are still a hot mess. I will get my decoration closet back in order another time. But my main focus is my clothes closet, because apparently ADHD-ers tend to have pile systems.

Putting clothes on hangers just doesn't work for me. So instead of trying to force myself to do something that obviously is a struggle, I will work with my brain in a way that works. I saw on TikTok a girl that recommended storage tubs for your clothes on shelves instead. A container for short sleeves, one for long sleeves, one for pants, etc. And it makes so much sense in my mind. So while I don't necessarily WANT to do the work in order to put it in place, I'm excited to implement something that will make my life easier and more organized.

Something else I just texted my sister for literally today is for her to be my morning body double. I knew that she exercises in the morning, which is in theory what I would like to be able to get myself to do and have struggled to. So I asked her what time in the morning she exercises, and it's an hour time difference, so I don't know if I will schedule to call her when I am starting or what, but basically she will help me remember and stay more accountable!

Stay tuned for more strategies I plan on implementing!!! I am constantly thinking of more things to try out, and am just trying to get past the executive dysfunction in order to implement them! Let me know if you have any tips, tricks or ideas!!!!