For April, I chose something food-related again—finishing dinner before 7 PM. Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that eating earlier makes me feel lighter and more energetic the next morning. I believe this habit has the potential to help with my sleep struggles as well, so I was curious to see where it would take me.
🌱 My April Update
Hi everyone,
I hope you’re doing great. Here’s a quick reflection on my April habit journey.
I tried my best to stick to the plan of finishing dinner before 7 PM. Most days, I managed it. But on some days, I gave in to cravings and snacked—usually chips—after dinner. I know it’s not ideal, but I was feeling weak, both emotionally and physically, and sometimes I caved. A few evenings I ate nuts instead, which felt like a better compromise.
There was one particularly stressful day when I had a heavy, carb-loaded dinner at 9 PM. I know it wasn’t a healthy decision, but I needed that comfort. Despite these slip-ups, I still feel this habit was a success overall.
At the beginning of April, I weighed 72.6 kg. As of today, I weigh 68.95 kg. While the number isn’t everything, it does make me feel lighter. That said, I also think my March exercise habit contributed to this. Although I wasn’t very consistent with exercise this month (I missed about 10 days in a row), it still played a part. Honestly, I felt like I was self-sabotaging my own progress. My journaling also took a hit; I skipped a few days. But I stayed consistent with eating breakfast most mornings, which I’m proud of.
💤 What About Sleep?
Sleep continues to be my biggest struggle. Some nights, I couldn’t fall asleep until 3 AM. The anxiety and racing thoughts are intense. I try listening to podcasts, but that often stimulates my brain more. It’s like the moment I lie down, every unresolved thought comes rushing back—and even the smallest worries spiral into anxiety.
I’ve also been scrolling through YouTube late into the night, which I know is disrupting my sleep. I’m hoping to reduce that gradually. Maybe I’ll turn it into a habit later this year. Sleep hygiene is proving to be harder than I thought, but I’m learning that progress doesn’t require perfection.
❤️ Emotional Check-In
Despite the challenges, I’m emotionally stronger than I was a few months ago. I’m learning to let go of the things that used to hurt me deeply. Some days I still cry, and that’s okay—but I feel like the happy days are slowly increasing. That gives me hope.
I’ve started getting excited about things again—like solo travel. I used to love it but had lost motivation lately. Now, I’m thinking of planning something soon. I even thought about recording breakfast recipe videos, but I’ll hold off on that for now. I want to avoid taking on too much at once.
🌸 Gentle Reminders That Stayed With Me This Month
Before I close, I wanted to share a few thoughts and affirmations I’ve come across—some from books, some from conversations, and some just whispered to me by life. These helped me through April, and maybe they’ll help you too:
- 🌿 One day at a time.
- 🌧️ Even when something feels too daunting right now, please trust: this too shall pass.
- 🌿 List down some activities that calm you down so that you can use them when you feel anxiety for example, drinking a warm tea, taking a walk, self hug, stretching, a song that soothes you.
- 🙏 When things get overwhelming, hand them over to the universe—or God, or whatever you believe in—and simply say: “Please take care of this. I’m giving it to you.”
- 😢 It’s alright to cry.
- 🤗 It’s alright to mess up. Please don’t be harsh on yourself.
- 😊 Smile at yourself in the mirror more and feel beautiful.
- 💖 We deserve to be loved just because we exist. We don’t have to earn it.
- 🎶💃 Dancing and singing to your favorite song can regulate the nervous system.
- 🌥️ Not every day will feel happy or positive—and that’s okay. There will be better times ahead.
- 📣 Be your own cheerleader. Loudly and proudly.
You’re doing better than you think. We’re all learning as we go.
✨ Habit #5: Dance Like No One’s Watching (May)
For May, I wanted to choose something light and joyful.
I’ve realized I haven’t danced in years. As a kid, I loved dancing even when I am not good at it—but somehow, I left it behind. So this month’s habit is simple and sweet:
Dance to a song from your childhood every day.
Sing out loud, move freely, and feel the joy.
This habit feels like the easiest one so far, simply because it makes me happy. I’ll be back with a full update on June 1st. Until then, keep smiling, keep moving, and be kind to yourself.
Habit Tracker
This month, I’ve decided to maintain a habit tracker so I can keep a daily record of which habits I followed successfully. The goal isn’t perfection—but awareness. Tracking helps me stay accountable and gently encourages me to keep going, even on the tough days.
I will try to update it everyday. You can find it below.
12 Healing habits 