Alright, friends, it's been a week!

Did you fulfill last week's dare to shut down before bed?  How did it go for you?  Did you find it difficult to fit in time, did you enjoy the half or whole hour of peace before slipping into sleep?

If you were unable to give it a go, please give it a try!  It makes such a difference, really.  Do not forget to prioritize sleep!  You can read more about the fundamentals of sleep at FitFluential.  Balanced Bites also discuss how bright lights after the sun goes down can negatively influence your metabolism.  So try making your 7-9 hours a habit--a priority--and aim to get 30-60 minutes of technology-free downtime before bed. Let your brain ease into the darkness, let your body understand that it's nighttime, and let your mind become free of the stresses that distract it from relaxing.

That's what I'm about to do. I'm about to crawl into bed (later than planned - thank you Mad Men!) and finish my book before rolling over into what I hope is a solid eight-hour slumber.

But first -- it's MONDAY!  Yayyyyy!  (TGI-Monday, remember?)  

What will you focus on this week?  Last week, I sought to shut down before bed, and I think I did a pretty good job!  I slept well, I enjoyed the book I'm reading and about to complete (review to come -- I have so much to share!), and I will continue prioritizing my half-hour of shut-down solitude. Laptop shut, phone off, eyes shut.

Remember how it works?  First we pick a focus, and then figure out how it'll work in our week.  This week, I'd personally like to work on something that's come to bother me and I think I'd be happier overcoming.

1. One main focus: Snack smarter.  I've found the lack of structure in my day for most days of the week has gotten me in the habit of excessive, mindless snacking as a way to avoid unpleasant tasks, reduce anxiety, or fill the gaps between activities.  I'd like to limit these unnecessary munchies and only snack once or twice a day, ideally when I'm actually getting hungry.
2. Two things I'm going to do: (1) Whenever I find myself on my way to the kitchen, I will do one activity first to relax (such as listen to a song, do a five-minute yoga sequence, etc).  If I still want the snack after, then I can have it.  (2)  I will pre-portion healthy snacks so that I don't get carried away without noticing.  I filled five small zip-loc bags with a quarter-cup of almonds--one for each day.  In the morning, I will do the same with baby carrots, and I've also got a couple single-serving containers of Chobani Greek yogurt ready to go. These will help me not only to make smart choices for what to eat, but also to notice when I've had enough.
3. Three benefits:  (1) I'll feel less remorse after realizing how much I've snacked, (2) I'll get extra stretching each time I crave a bite, and (3) sticking to snack-sized servings will ensure that my appetite is fully intact for mealtime.

Sound like a plan?  If you've got an over-snacking habit like I do, dare you to join me in my focus for this week.  If not, pick something that will help improve your habits--either ending a negative one or picking up a positive one, or make you happier in some way, shape, or form.  Get more sleep, increase productivity, think positively, talk to a stranger, make time for fun, meditate, fit in daily exercise, smile more, whatever you like!

What will you focus on this week?  Make it a good week :) HAPPY MONDAY!