WHAT ARE YOU GIVING UP FOR “DRY JULY”?
I was reading a post by the fabulous Miss Kempson from Sarah’s Style Emporium, and she was discussing what she was giving up for “Dry July” (an initiative set up to raise money for cancer, whereby people get pledges to give up alcohol for the month of July).
Like Sarah, July has been a cross roads for me in terms of evaluating where I am at in relation to where I want to head for the rest of the year. As you may know, I am a fan of life’s little check points and natural rhythms that allow you to pause and check in with yourself. With July being the middle of the year, and having recently returned from two weeks away in Perth, it seems like a good time to refocus.
I love the feeling of a plane taking off, as my life seems to be left behind, far, far behind – I mean, my life couldn’t run fast enough to keep up with the plane, even if it tried. I wave to it on the tarmac as the plane pulls away, and it eventually gives up trying to get on the plane with me, along with my to do list which stops alongside it to puff and pant, and then they wave in defeat wishing me a good time. The break will probably do her good. Maybe she’ll even roll over her super, start walking and drink more water, like she always promises us she will when she gets back, they say to each other.
The beautiful thing about holidays is that they give you clarity and perspective – a fresh point of view that arises because you have put down your pens and pencils and switched your mind off from work and things to do. Returning home after my break, it was clear I was giving too much of my energy away, and it was time to start slashing – cutting back on commitments, getting rid of any dead wood and eliminating any energy drains. So, like Sarah, I am using Dry July to not only cut my alcohol intake, but to give up other things in my life in order to fulfil my goals for 2010 and have more balance in my life.
Here are 3 of the things I am giving up for Dry July:
1) I’m switching off the laptop after midnight (I used to stay up until 2-3am working on my laptop) and I am no longer using it in bed. Instead I will be reading books in bed – such a delightful way to end the day.
2) I’m giving up wine during the week at home (disclaimer: Friday nights are considered weekends). I’m no nun, and have no intentions of being one, and, well, I love a good glass of vino, so I have no intentions of giving it up for good.
3) Overuse of social media. Yes, I know a social media addiction is better than being a crack whore, but I had no idea how much time I was wasting on it that could be spent doing other much more productive things.
What could you give up for July that would improve the quality of your life? Alcohol? Cigarettes? Toxic Friends? Sugar? Chocolate? A bad job? …
I think your list is wonderful – realistic, and beneficial for LIFE. I’m not a drinker so ‘dry july’ is kinda null for me. But to give up internet after midnight? That’s a challenge. To take a book to bed? Oooh. Toughie. I like it! I may just join you, G..
I am doing really well on the book front to bed, and have cut down my vino, but not quite as much as I would have liked. I am still persisting though, and have implemented some other really healthy habits I am enjoying. How are you going for Dry July?
Gaynor, take a read of this post – I have cut & paste a quote – I really connected with it & have been focused on finshing up with something left in my tank – http://www.melaniward.com/working-til-your-well-is-dry-barriers-to-living-your-magic-part-4/
“women entrepreneurs, spend their days squeezing every last bit of themselves out until there’s nothing left. They give everything to their kids and families, everything to their clients and customers and everything to their business. They keep the fire burning at both ends. And to add insult to injury what they did get done never seems to be enough by their standards”
She suggested an experiment “For the next 7 days experiment a little. Whether you apply it to every area of your life or just a writing project or a program you’re creating play with stopping right at the point where you know you can do more. Finish when you know you’ve got a mile left in you or an hour left of writing or another chapter of creating”
Acknowledging you for the fine tuning you are doing to your life in July. I went back to a book before sleep (even for just 5 mins or so – great for unwinding)
Love this Jo! I also loved your recommendation to read The Circles – I picked this up years ago, but I am definitely going to hunt it down again. Here’s to Living Savvy!
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Good luck! Very realistic but also challenging goals. Let me know how you go. Especially with the social media addiction
Happy to report my social media addiction is well under control and I am feeling all the better for it. July is proving to be a pivotal month for me as I remove some unhealthy habits and replace them with much better ones. I can’t say I have been perfect, but have made some real progress that I am happy with. Et tu?
What a fantastic list: realistic, achievable AND beneficial. I’m not usually a fan of giving up things that I love, but you’ve certainly tempted me to get thinking!
Have you given up anything? If you love it and it’s not doing you any harm, then I see no good reason for you to give it up – indulge away Corrine, indulge away