Lifestyle: Recognising Bad Habits

Ups and downs, life is full of them. It’s cyclic. To enjoy the ups, you have to experience the downs. But key to ensuring that sinusoidal curve remains in balance is recognising bad habits. Bad habits start innocently, but can quickly tip you off balance and send you spiralling down a hole.

Now that the endless summer nights are very much at an end, we’re staring the into the depths of the abyss that is winter. Make no mistake the cold dark nights are here to stay.

I’ve written this lifestyle post as I’m admitting to struggling a bit over the last few weeks, the seasons have changed and I haven’t quite adapted yet. Whilst I do still get out and about, its nowhere near to the same extent as I would over summer.

Over the last 4 years, the end of summer has been signalled by a return to university. The stress of deadlines, exams but also filling my mind with learning kept me occupied on these darker nights. This summer I graduated with a bachelors degree in engineering and decided to call time on education. I wanted more time to myself, to pursue life. Now I’ve got that time, it feels very unfamiliar. I’m allowing my creative mind to wander, but trying to regulate it to prevent indulgence and distraction.

I guess it’s a harsh reality that I allowed university to take over much of my life, it has in some way become part of my life and shaped it the way it has. It was such a big part of my life and now it’s no longer there. In a weird way I miss it – I miss the social element and the constant learning. That said, I don’t miss the stress, the late nights and constant headaches induced by tiredness, masked with coffee.

I’ve recently let my eating habits slip and consumed more alcohol than usual. Whilst these are by no means catastrophic actions, I’ve simply been living slightly more unhealthily than usual – but it has had other knock on effects. I’ve felt a little more sluggish and a little less motivated. Couple that with darker nights and I’ve got a ready-made excuse to skip appointments and existing plans. Skip exercise. Skip anything I would ordinarily relish as a challenge.

What’s the problem with that, you may ask? Its change, its deviation from normal, its tipping the scales out of equilibrium. There’s nothing wrong with breaking routine every now and then – and I totally agree on that. I wrote this blog at a time of year where it can become easy to indulge excessively. It’s a time of year people start succumbing to excess, to inner demons. Allowing them to win and slowly slipping away from normality.

I’ve done some pretty tough physical challenges this year. Cycling across the alps & everested, most notably. I’ve trained hard. Been wetter and colder than ever before. But fundamentally I rely on exercise to keep me in balance, mentally and physically. It keeps me sharp and keeps my stress levels low.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done was loose over 20kg in weight and drop 8 waist sizes. But it was the best thing I ever did. It allowed me to rediscover myself & feel confident in what I’m doing – exercise being the key ingredient.

Yet here I am on this winding path that is life. My path is different to the ordinary, hence I often walk it alone. With that comes doubt and insecurity. I question myself. But I know I must remain consistent, stick to the healthy eating and exercise routines. It’ll keep me in shape, sharp and confident to deal with challenges as I delve into the unknown.

I don’t know what is next for me – I’m trying to work it out. But I know for sure, that recognising bad habits and the slippery slope they lead to isn’t part of it. I’ve been there and will never go there again. Recognising bad habits, recognising that ‘oh just one’ is okay, but regularly that becomes an addiction and a problem. Recognising bad habits, moderating my excess and preventing addiction has allowed me to flourish and is enabling me to follow a path m making for myself.

‘Find a goal and chase it. If not, work hard on whatever is in front of you’ is a motto that has stuck. Don’t let distractions discourage you or bad habits lead you astray. Live and embrace this wonderful life we’re lucky to live.

I guess what I’ve tried to say, in a roundabout sort of way, is I’m adapting. Adapting to the shorter days. Finding alternative ways to exercise and stay healthy – both body and mind. Just a little two pennies worth on anyone else feeling confused & less enthusiastic now that winter in settling in. Thoughts welcome in the comments.