Because if there’s one thing I’m consistent about, it’s starting over… with slightly better intentions each time.

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There’s something about habits that can feel both like a safety net and a trap, right? Some habits hold you together, while others quietly unravel you.

I’ve been on both sides.

Take my eating patterns. I already scrapped the plan I mentioned in this previous post because—surprise!—Bright Line Eating just feels second nature now. It’s not perfect, it can feel boring, but it works. And sometimes that’s enough. It’s muscle memory at this point. I don’t have to think about it much, which is the whole point of a habit: autopilot that helps you, not hurts you.

But then there’s the flip side—my tendency to stay up too late, telling myself, “Just one more thing.” That habit? Not helping. It pushes my mornings later, and with no kids to wake for school anymore, there’s zero urgency to get up early. And yet, I know sleeping late turns into working late, which turns into feeling like I’m chasing the day instead of steering it.

So here’s me trying to flip the script.

Today, I started fresh—with an actual schedule. A real, no-excuses plan I can lean into daily. Think of it as scaffolding for my self-discipline. My new Google Task list looks like this:

• 7:30 AM – Focused work block #1 (brain’s fresh, highest-priority tasks)
• 9:30 AM – Stretch + water break
• 9:40 AM – Work block #2
• 12:00 PM – Lunch (mindful eating, log my intake)
• 12:30 PM – Flexible work (meetings, admin, project follow-ups)
• 3:00 PM – Movement break (short walk, light stretch)
• 3:15 PM – Work block #3 (wrap up the day)
• 5:30 PM – Dinner (log intake again—BLE doesn’t track itself!)
• 6:00 PM – Evening workout (lighter—walk, yoga, or low-intensity cardio)
• 6:30 PM – Wind down, light cleanup, prep for tomorrow
• 7:00 PM – Read my two books (split 30/30 or however feels right)
• 8:00 PM – Write that book, or just have personal time
• 10:30 PM – Sleep prep: dim lights, no screens, gratitude journaling
• 11:00 PM – Sleep. Non-negotiable.

It looks… a little militant. And maybe it is. But I’ve realized I need structure when I’m trying to build (or rebuild) self-discipline. Without it, I default to late nights, random meals, and a free-flowing day that doesn’t feel productive in the right ways.

The truth? I’m hoping this habit of showing up for myself in small, predictable ways will make me less reliant on bursts of motivation—and more reliant on rhythm.

Because here’s the thing about habits, good or bad: they’re just evidence of who you’re practicing being. And right now, I’m practicing being someone who doesn’t let her day slip away.

We’ll see how it goes. Day one: in the books.

No likes. No comments. Just a little glimpse into a creature of habit—learning to choose better ones.