OK I know I am a broken record but can you please explain how this first month of 2024 is already over? How did we end up in February already? I mean, didn’t I just sat down and tried to formulate goals and plans for this year? And now I’ve been robbed of 31 days already in which I feel like I’ve nothing accomplished. Sigh. Shaping Happiness in January was tough. I was tested positiv for Covid the 11th but felt tired and drained since the 8th. My final negative test was no earlier than the 24th so I feel the entire month just slipped by.
Worst of all is that I lost the entire momentum a new year usually gives me to get started, tackling some of the harder habits. So I am really not where I wanna be mentally and physically. My biggest struggle in February is finding energy, moment and positivity to get going, start new healthy habits, and make changes. I guess it is small steps.
How I incorporated my word SHAPE in January
Shaping Life and Happiness
- We booked a get-away for our 10th anniversary that is coming up in February. Originally we wanted to spend the week with family at our honeymoon location in Finland. It didn’t work out mainly because we didn’t book in time. Then we figured we can go to Switzerland or Scotland until we realized the husbands passport is not valid (since he changed his name ten years ago and it needs renewal). So we ended up in the same spot we have been going to the last three years. I had hoped for something a bit more unique especially after last year’s mediocre experience. But we are feeling comfortable there and it also was the most budget friendly choice. I am determined to do some adventures and maybe a day trip to Denmark.
- I went for a two hour walk on a very snowy sunny day. It’s was truly magical and very many happy moments happened. (We are not talking about over exhausting myself triggering a Covid symptom increase.)
- I read one book with SHAPE in the title. Was only okayish.
Shaping Health and Body
- I walked 135.9 kilometers and an average of 5.785 steps daily in January. Six days I hit the 10.000 steps goal. Not too bad for being quarantined for two of the four weeks.
- I managed to close my Apple Watch rings 5 times. I always struggle with the movement part because I set it very almost unrealistically high for someone not exercising daily and working from home, on a desk. But I know myself I need the push.
- I did only nine jumping jacks until I fell ill and after that didn’t pick up exercise. Sigh.
- I did two yoga sessions and a total of 42 minutes.
- I took three naps.
- I started shaping my nails and having them grow a bit longer. They always splinter and break and it almost impossible to keep them longer to see any white edges. My plan is to take a bit more care and make my hands look more like I’ve got my sh**t together.
Shaping Mind & Soul
- I went for two of my five planned Mornings Walks.
- I thought about the shape #the100dayproject this year will take. Stay tuned.
Shaping Relationships
- I’ve met two of my book club ladies in Munich. One I’ve never met in real life and it was such a wonderful experience. I hope to see them again and not only online.
- I have booked us a weekend in Munster to attend my sister’s 40th birthday party early in March. It will be a double celebration as the day prior she is having her final exam to become a pastor.
- We made plans with my godfather and his wife to come visit us mid March.
- I’ve spend time with my parents helping set up the big Fete that is happening every year after I had to skip Dads birthday dinner due to Covid. And at the Fete I had the chance to catch up with some friends and family. Fun.
- I visited my aunt at the hospital after her hip surgery.
- I left 105 blog comments.
Shaping Home
- Mhm, does taking down the Christmas tree count? Or doing cleaning shores? Kinda. But it wasn’t what I had in mind when I set the goal.
- I have finally installed the new robot vacuum that we scored during Black Friday. While I type this Axel – as we named him – is mapping the house and doing his first clean. Axel can not only vacuum but also mop the floors. I am hoping to shape the apartment into a more guest friendly space. You know what I mean, right?
Shapes in the wild
I am on a hunt to find shapes in the places around me. Here is one I found.
How I will SHAPE life and happiness in February
- Shaping Life and Happiness I will enjoy a day trip to Denmark (hopefully). I will walk by the sea and be happy (I already know it!)
- Shaping Health and Body I will shape my mornings with weekly morning walks. I will shape a daily habit of doing face yoga (a compromise since I still can’t fully exercise after Covid). I will get back into yoga and try for once a week. I will additionally try to close my rings for at least twice this month. I will enjoy a lot of sauna.
- Shaping Mind & Soul I am going to start #the100dayproject and shape my sketching skills.
- Shaping Relationships I will shape my relationship with my husband by celebrating our 10th anniversary, And I will try to persuade him to write a guest post or do an interview thing. If you have questions please leave them. Maybe he’ll answer. No promises though.
- Shaping Home Rollover goal from last month: I will list more items on eBay to get things sold. I will start planing how to shape our terrace for the upcoming outdoor season. I will start thinking about growing my balcony garden.
Now let me know how your January was? Did you shape any new habits? Are there things that need shaping in your life. What das shaping happiness mean to you?
18 comments
I’m glad that you’re feeling better! There is a feeling of having time robbed from us when we are sick, I feel that. February is a new month, and Spring is just around the corner.
How long does it take you to get to Denmark? The idea of going to another country for a day trip sounds amazing to me! I can get to the ocean within about 1.5 hours from here (including traffic and so on, it’s not really that far). I should have a day trip to walk by the sea. It’s cold with big waves here.
I love your photo too! Beautiful.
Oh a day trip from Berlin to Denmark wouldn’t make sense. The drive is over 5 hours. But we are on vacation in northern German at the Baltic Sea and then it’s not quite an hour. So I hope we can do that.
Your trip to the ocean sounds fun. You should do that.
And I agree being robbed of time when sick (or during my migraines) sucks. So much wasted time.
Oh no, I hope you are fully recovered soon. It’s so important to make sure that you don’t stress out your body (in all ways not just exercise) so you can fully recover and move forward. I hope it is a speedy process for you. Hopefully the time for your anniversary will kick start the process.
A day trip to Denmark! That is such a weird concept for me coming from Australia. How fantastic.
As you know there’s plenty of shaping required in my life. I think my most successful was getting back into regular running. I only missed one weekend feeling unwell, and one other run that was the day after a vertigo/migraine attack so I’m pretty happy with that.
Thank you Melissa. I am feeling better but I am also impatient so I need to slow myself down. It’s hard.
Yes, it’s possible to reach Denmark in a day – 5-hour- drive but we’ll be closer during the border during our anniversary trip so I am planning to hop over. Hope we can do that.
I am so impressed with your discipline to get back in shape. I’ve never enjoyed running so I always need to find other things.
Ugh, I can totally understand that you felt robbed of whole month with being sick with Covid and all. Hopefully you can just put a “check mark” behind January and look forward to a blank slate in February… including better health.
P.S. I also don’t know where January went. Time perception is a trip.
Yes, January is lost month this year. Let’s see if February is better. At least we have something to celebrate this month.
Glad to hear you are on the mend! I can totally, totally understand your feeling of someone stealing time from you. I love the baltics- my dad and I went to Lithuania and Estonia back in 2013 and had a very good time. I remember how freezing the Baltic sea was n April…
I also love how you are using your word of the year to inform your writing and life in general. Will be looking forward to more updates from you :)
Thank you so much Daria. It is a bit tougher to use the word shaping in wording my thoughts. Magic was so easy but I try to find new phrases.
I love the Baltic too. I want to visit Danzig – will try to convince the husband for next year or the year after for the anniversary trip. Also love to see Tallinn after writing about it for three years in my last job.
I am hoping you are feeling better too. Seems like we all had a rough January.
The exercise-induced fatigue from COVID is no joke. I hope you’re taking care of yourself!
I am taking it really really slow. Still tired but it’s getting so much better.
Oh, and that photo of the lights and spirals is WONDERFUL. Good eye!
Thank you. I loved the discovery. Went the extra mile all the way down.
I’m so glad you got through Covid. I’m sure it will take a while to get your energy back. I love how you’re incorporating your word of the year into your daily life. The photo of the found shapes is magnificent!
Thank you Michelle. Incorporating shape isn’t quite as easy as magic last year but it’s only the first month. Very happy with the photo if I may say so myself.
You had a really rough start to 2024! Covid really just robs us of all of our energy and plans and goals. I hope you are entering February feeling more like yourself. You have some fun plans! <3
Thank you Stephany. It really was a shitty start. Let’s hope it’s all upward from here on. So far February seems much better.
COVID is no joke. It’s not just a cold, for the love of everything. I hope the return to health is steady and smooth. And! Better to be sidelined in winter, when it’s cold and not as inviting outside, vs. summer, when you want as many hours in fresh air as possible. <3
Yes really not just another cold. I am getting better.
I’d rather be sidelined in summer though as winter is more my jam. But it is what it is.