Quick recap!

My apologies for disappearing for a while. I am recovering from the joy that is adrenal fatigue!  Basically I allowed my body to get so stressed that she is now in a state of constant stress and fatigue, and I’m tired all the time if I don’t sleep enough and take good care of myself.  I am once again a work in progress 🙂

Here’s a recap of my recent minimalist goings-on:

Budget

• I have been trying to keep my grocery budget to $50 per week.  The very act of paying attention has resulted in me being close enough for the two weeks I’ve been trying it.  However, I didn’t have a lunch prepared for today so I wound up spending $10 at the store this morning for breakfast and lunch to eat at work. 
• I paid off a student loan, as described in my last post!  I will be updating Loan #2 to take on the additional “snowball” payments.  I still anticipate that I can be debt-free in ten years.

Purging and Stuff

• I STILL have not gotten rid of the stuff from the Reverse 100 Things Challenge.  It’s hard because I have a deeply ingrained yard sale instinct.  I definitely want it out of my apartment, though, because it’s driving me mad.  So it will either go to Yard Sale Limbo in my mother’s basement or be donated. 
• Spring cleaning time is upon us.  I anticipate a huge purge to take place in the coming weeks!  Stay tuned 🙂

Health and Wellness

• Despite joining a gym and paying for it every month, I have been choosing to exercise by walking my boss’s dog in the park or around town.  I am determined to start using the gym membership I pay for, however, because otherwise I will just kick myself for spending the money.  But walking Brutus is very rewarding and fun, and my boss appreciates that I take him out when she can’t!
• I have been gluten free for a couple of months now and I believe I am improving.  I have much less joint pain than before, and I haven’t had tummy trouble like I was noticing after a wheat-heavy meal.  Being gluten free is hard at first but easy once you realize that it’s as simple as eating and preparing whole foods.
• Depression and adrenal fatigue are fighting to win the “least motivating force within Caitlin” award lately.  I am trying to counteract with sunshine, lots of sleep, and adequate nutrition.  Mostly I am treating with Doctor Who marathons.  Not super effective, but I do think with a British voice in my head now.  Sometimes it’s Sco’ish.
• I got skin biopsies done yesterday for possible melanomas.  Expect a post on sunscreen coming up!

Philosophy

• I’ve discovered a new way to gauge whether or not I should spend my money on something.  Would I buy it for my sister?  For example, I have started seeing a chiropractor.  We worked out a payment plan of $80 per month, and it seemed like a lot of money.  But, I wondered, if my sister could potentially improve her health with chiropractic care and I could help her afford to do that, would I pay $80 a month? And the answer was yes.  So now I see the chiropractor.  This is not a fool proof method, since I also frequently treat my sister to lunch, dinner, and random presents – but for big stuff, it works. 

What have YOU been up to lately? I can’t wait to catch up on reading everyone’s blogs!