I’ve caught a cold on the eve of my wedding anniversary, and I couldn’t be more bummed about it. I actually felt the cold coming last night. It was just a sensation in my head – nothing full blown, and really indescribably. But I knew it, so I started drinking water and orange juice during the day today to try to hold things off.

No go. I’m dripping and sneezing, and I think my daughter is, too.

It occurs to me that I could have planned for this. I mean, you can’t really control when a cold comes, but there are things you can do in your daily life to avoid being as exposed to them. I could have been exercising regularly. I could have been eating more balanced meals instead of all the junk I usually consume. And the soda. Even last night when I first felt the cold, I grabbed another diet soda even though I knew it wasn’t going to do me any favors.

So in the Personal Wellness category, I have some things to think about.

My lousy eating habits

These are affecting my family, too, since about half the time I’m cooking for them as well as myself. Easy meals like Dirt and Worms (code for Chef Boyardee – long story) and Hot Pockets are attractive because they’re, well, easy. Fast. Quick cleanup. Not so much on healthy – at least not as much as spaghetti with beans would be, and a nice tall glass of milk. Nearly as easy, much better choice.

My lousy exercise habits

Once again, affecting the family. We’re trying to get settled in our new house, and when I get winded just going up the stairs (seriously, that happens), I can’t do as much as if I hadn’t just spent all my energy getting to the second floor. And then there’s the whole example to my kids bit. Yes, we take them to the park and they get a chance to run like wild childs and wear themselves out, but they aren’t seeing me do anything. So when they get older and the park no longer holds any appeal, what are they going to do? Park on the couch and watch TV, just like Mommy.

My love for diet carbonated beverages and energy drinks

This might just be the worst. Diet soda implies nothing bad, but when it’s replacing goods like skim milk, water, occasional juice, well, there’s nothing good about that. The energy drinks are worse, because not only do I get the immediate perk of all that caffeine, I also get a more immediate crash – usually right around 2 or 3 p.m. when I’m at work. That’s bad, because that’s usually when I need to push the hardest. And the calories in those suckers! (Because you know I’m not drinking the diet energy drinks, no siree.)

So what’s the plan, Stan?

Name’s Nicki, not Stan, but whatever. My plan? I don’t have a plan. “What? A planning blog without a plan?” Well, I’m actually just learning to plan. I’m very good at Laissez-faire, and not so good at getting things done. Although I am improving, I think. And in the spirit of improving…

My (rough draft) plan:

1. Get over the sick – lots of rest (I’m going to bed soon), no more than one soda until I’m healed, lots of liquids, and find an OTC medicine that will hack it for me to get me on the road to recovery.
2. Get drinking – water, that is. And more milk. DH drinks it like it’s going out of style (2 gallons a week), and I barely finish one.
3. Get moving – this will be hardest. It’s a new neighborhood, I don’t know how safe it is at night, when I have the best chance to move. Perhaps I can scope things out and set a route during the day as I do some shopping tomorrow.

This isn’t a scientific plan, but I also don’t think all plans need to be. This is basic, and something I think I can handle. I’ll challenge the food switch after I master the drinking. Hopefully these will be the tools I need to get going on the right path.