Building Routines and Overcoming Struggles While Traveling
Welcome back to In Reverie, where I share my journey of growth, learning, and building a better life. Today, I want to talk about the steps I'm taking to transform my life for the better, including the challenges of building and maintaining routines while traveling.
stop waiting for things to come to you
Unfortunately, life doesn’t hand us the things we want, otherwise we would all be living our dream lives. You have to get up off your ass and work for it. When we first arrived in England, things were exciting for a bit, but then everything slowed down. I hadn’t found a job yet, so funds were tight. We were staying in a small town, and I got sick. I found myself falling into a depressive state. I was unmotivated, eating poorly, spending half my days scrolling on my phone with the TV playing in the background, and going to bed late. It felt like I was going backward. This lasted about a week, and my thoughts grew increasingly negative to the point where I almost packed up and went home. Ridiculous, right? I had worked incredibly hard to get here, dreaming for months about the travel opportunities that were now slipping away.
quick tips:
If you’re short on time, here is a list of my best tips!
Break Down Your Goals: Start small. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many changes at once. Focus on one habit at a time and gradually build on it.
The 2-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. This helps build momentum and reduces procrastination.
Create a Vision Board: Visualise your goals by creating a vision board. It serves as a constant reminder of what you're working towards.
Use Habit Trackers: Keep track of your progress with a habit tracker. This can be a simple chart or an app on your phone. Seeing your progress visually can be very motivating. There are cute apps that track your habits and every time you complete something, your pet is fed and it grows!
Find an Accountability Partner: Share your goals with a friend or family member who can hold you accountable and encourage you along the way.
the turning point
So why didn’t I just get up and explore the area? For one, I needed to be careful with money while finding work. Secondly, the weather in the UK was horrid—we didn’t see the sun for nine days straight, apparently the worst winter on record. One thing about me: I love the sun. I’m an absolute lizard and could spend all day basking in its rays.
But then, I realised I hadn’t had free time like this ever. I’ve been working since I was 12 years old, spending the last 14 years studying and working on repeat. Why wasn’t I taking advantage of this time to become the person I want to be? The person who is fit and healthy, challenges their mind daily, works on their skills and hobbies, and lives their best life.
first steps to change
Now I am no professional, this is my experience - but it worked wonders for me. The first step was acknowledging that I was being lazy and that I was capable of much more. I started making small changes and building a routine.
Bedtime Routine: I began by going to bed at the same time every night, initially just an hour earlier at around 11 PM.
Morning Routine: I started getting up earlier, around 7 AM, and completing tiny habits like doing my skincare routine, changing out of my PJs into gym clothes, drinking a glass of water, taking my vitamins, and feeding the dog.
Gym Routine: I added a gym routine, going to the gym four days a week and rewarding myself with a delicious breakfast afterward.
Even though this only took up about 2-3 hours of my day, it had a domino effect on everything else because my mindset had completely switched. My days became more and more productive and purposeful.
stop procrastinating
We need to stop procrastinating and waiting for things to come to us because, unfortunately, 9 times out of 10, they won’t. If we want something, we have to work for it. On a large scale, if we want a new car, we have to work hard to save money and buy it. If we want to lose weight, there is no magic pill or quick solution; we have to change our diet and move our bodies more. If we want something in life, we have to take action.
setting goals
With my newfound motivation, I started thinking about what else I could do with my time. So I decided to set some goals. I bought a journal and wrote down five things I wanted to achieve by the end of the year. They could be small or big.
My goals were:
Become Healthier: Eat more nutritious meals and move my body more.
Daily Stretching and Cold Showers: Stretch daily for 15 minutes and take a cold shower.
Read Daily: Read one chapter of a non-fiction book every day.
Learn a New Skill: Increase my knowledge in marketing and business.
Try Something New: Learn or try something new once a fortnight, could be as small as trying a new recipe. Thanks to this, I have made some amazing meals. I really want to do an introductory pottery class—when money allows, of course. This goal is primarily to open up new opportunities and have some fun while doing it.
book recommendation: atomic habits by james clear
Absolutely life-changing. It provides a foolproof method on how to build good habits and break bad ones. It’s no wonder why the book is a bestseller. It is incredible and has opened my eyes to the power of small changes.
additional tips for building habits
Identify Triggers: Understand what triggers your bad habits and replace them with positive actions.
Reward Yourself: Celebrate small victories along the way. Rewards can be a powerful motivator to keep you on track. This is my favorite one, I love a little reward.
Stay Flexible: Life happens, and sometimes you might slip up. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Just get back on track and keep moving forward. (I need to listen to my own advice here)
Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your progress and adjust your goals as needed. Life is dynamic, and your goals should be too.
conclusion
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Remember, life is short, and we must make the most of it. Start today, take action, and become the person you want to be. Let's build a better life together.
hi, i’m h!
Sharing my stories, tips & tricks so you can spend your time enjoying other things in life rather than scouring the internet for hours.
