If you follow me on Instagram (@besidebeth), you've probably noticed that my posts have been trending towards working out and eating healthy.  Hopefully you're not sick of me already because I'll be continuing with those types of posts as I follow my journey towards losing weight and getting healthier.  

You might be asking yourself, "Didn't she just do one of those programs a few months ago?  What ever happened to that one?"  And yes, it's true.  I have started and stopped a number of different programs in the past.  Like most people, weight loss has been a challenge for me for a long time.  So of course I've tried everything I can do to make it work.  

What's different this time around is that I'm also starting to work on becoming a happier, healthier person on the inside.  I'm working on personal development every day in hopes that I can get one step closer each day to being happy, healthy, and confident.  It's not going to happen overnight, but I am going to stick to it and try my very best to share my experience along the way.

My plan is to use this blog as a way to share healthy recipes, weight loss tips & tricks, and lots of personal development ideas.  I'll be continuing on with my Something For Yourself series so that you can learn something new about how to take care of your own wellbeing, whether that be spiritual, physical, or any other way you take care of yourself.

So now that you've heard about my plan, I'll share a healthy recipe with you that I just tried for the first time.  I was skeptical about making a recipe with brown rice because I've never liked it in the past, but amazingly I loved this recipe.  I don't know if it's the type of rice I bought (which was Safeway brand long grain brown rice) or if it was the other ingredients, but whatever it was, I loved it!

No surprise, I found this recipe on Pinterest, just like most of the other recipes I make, but it's originally from a site called Skinny Ms.  Check out their site for the original post.

Mexican Rice
​
Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small sweet onion, diced 
• 1 cup long grain brown rice (recommend Uncle Ben's Long Grain Brown Rice - not the quick or instant kind)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Kosher or sea salt to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can petit diced tomatoes
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles (optional)
• 2 cups vegetable broth, low sodium (optional, chicken broth)

​Directions
In a large skillet or sauce pan add oil, turn to medium-low heat and saute onion until tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and continue to saute one additional minute. Add remaining ingredients, cover, reduce heat and simmer on low for approximately 45 minutes or until rice has soaked up the liquid and is tender. 

NOTE: The time it takes to cook the rice will depend on the brand. Some brands take 35 minutes, while others take up to an hour. We prefer Uncle Ben's Long Grain Rice because it is tender in approximately 35-45 minutes. 
​
Remove from heat, leave covered and allow to set 10 minutes before serving.

I hope you make this recipe and tell me if you like it in the comments!

It's amazing how quickly things can change, isn't it?  Sometimes it almost happens without us even realizing a change has occurred.  And other times the change is so significant that you can't remember what life felt like before it happened. 

I've definitely experienced my fair share of change, especially in the last year.  In December the company I had been at for almost six years announced that they had been acquired and we would be moving over to a competitor.  It was completely unexpected and at first a little scary, but in the long run it has turned out to be a good change.  Now I love the company I work for and appreciate how much they invest in each employee's growth and development, much more so than my last company.

I feel like I've also changed my mind a lot in the past year.  One day I'm completely certain I know what I want to do with my life and then the next moment I'm questioning everything and letting go of something that recently felt so certain.  

The biggest thing I can think of is my decision to move to California.  Once I decided that's what I wanted to do, I was hard set on making it happen.  I even flew to San Diego with a friend and went apartment hunting!  Now, I realize that moving to California was my attempt at making change happen in my life for the wrong reason.  I was trying to change the outside of my life instead of looking inward and changing on the inside.   

Ultimately, I would still love to move to California sometime in the future, but I just don't think now is the right time for me to make that change.  I guess that's a lesson you have to learn the hard way; figuring out that something you think you want isn't the right thing at that moment.  

So although I am not pursuing a move to California anytime soon, I am working on some other changes that I think will really make me a better, happier person.  Self-improvement has been on my mind a lot lately and is actually one of the main reasons why I started the Something for Yourself series.  I had been spending a lot of time working on improving myself and wanted to share what I had learned.  I would like to let you follow along as I continue on my journey towards being a happier, healthier person.  So, stay tuned for more Something for Yourself posts and a bunch of other content I've got in the works for you.

And now, let's get into the main purpose of this post.  We've already talked about setting a morning routine and a night routine for yourself, but we haven't focused on a daytime routine.  This is something that may seem obvious and somewhat unnecessary, but since creating my own daytime routine I have felt much more focused and centered.  It's nice to feel like you have a set plan for the day, especially when you work from home like I do and need some extra structure to your day.

Here's the routine I set for myself a few weeks ago, including my morning and night routine:

7:00am

• Wake up
• Feed cats
• Put on workout clothes
• Make bed
• Write in gratitude journal
• Take pills

7:30am

• Workout
• Stretch
• Shower
• Skin care
• Get dressed
• Have breakfast
• Make coffee/tea

9:00am

• Start working
• Morning break (snack & sparking water)
• Keep working

12:30pm

• Make lunch
• Eat at table (no TV)

1:00pm

• Back to work
• Afternoon break (snack & tea)
• Keep working
• Make to-do list for tomorrow

5:30pm

• Done working
• Make dinner
• Eat at table (no TV)
• Relax (read, watch TV)

7:00pm

• Feed cats
• Take pills & vitamins
• Put on pajamas
• Skin care routine

9:00pm

• Get in bed
• Bible study
• Pray
• Meditate
• Sleep

It may seem silly to put some things on the list, like putting on pajamas or actually sleeping, but for me it's just nice to see everything laid out and to have placeholder for each part of my day.  

There are some things on my list that I've intentionally included in order to spend time on them and not forget about doing them.  Some of these are things like writing in my gratitude journal, bible study, or eating without watching TV.  These are things that I used to only do if and when I remembered to do them, so now I've got a nice reminder to make sure I make them a priority in my day.

So that was a look at what my daily routine looks like.  Again, you may not need to write down certain things that you're already going to remember to do each day, but it might be a nice place to start by just writing down everything you do and then adding in those bonus items that you sometimes forget to do.

I hope this was helpful.  Let me know in the comments if you have any questions on easy ways to structure your day.

It's been a few weeks since I have written a Something for Yourself post, so I figured it was time to do another one.  This week I'd like to talk about making your house a haven, which can mean different things to different people.  To me it means that you have created a space for yourself where you are comfortable and relaxed.  

Home should be a place you look forward to returning to, and these are some of the ways you can make your home a haven for yourself:

• Make sitting areas more comfortable with pillows and blankets
• Install dimmer switches for your lights or use low wattage light bulbs for more serene lighting
• Decorate with low-maintenance plants and flowers
• Hang beautiful artwork or motivational quotes to give depth to each room
• Use candles to provide a relaxing warm glow to any room
• Have diffusers or plug-ins to give each room a nice scent

And here are some other ideas from Pinterest on making home feel cozier.

The best way to feel relaxed the minute you walk through the front door is by having a a great entryway.  This type of entry provides organization as well as comfort to your home.

After a long day at work there's nothing better than curling up with a good book and a glass of wine.  This reading chair looks like a perfect place to relax after a long stressful day.

Another great way to relax is by taking a bubble bath.  This tub would be ideal for a long soak because it is so deep.  All you would need are some candles and you would be all set to go!

Of course, the best way to unwind is to have an amazing bedroom to rest and relax in.  I love that this room has soft lighting and a lot of comfy touches to make the room more cozy, like the warm colored walls and the soft throw pillows on the bed.

These are just a few ways you can make your home a haven.  If you have any other tips and tricks, please leave a comment below to share your ideas.

Last week I talked about creating a relaxing morning ritual for yourself to get your day started off on a nice note.  Today I will talk about ending your day with a "me" night that will let you relax before bedtime.  Here are some ideas for your "me" night:

• Light some candles
• Take a bubble bath
• Spend a few minutes meditating
• Journal about your day
• Make a list of what you want to accomplish tomorrow
• Set out your clothes for the next day
• Drink some tea
• Go for a walk
• Watch a sunset

Here are some YouTube videos that have other ideas on how to have your "me" night:

These are just some of the ideas you can add into your night routine for a "me" night.  You can mix and match whichever ones you like and keep switching up your choices until you've created a routine that works for you.  Let me know in the comments if there is anything else you like to do on your "me" nights.

This week I'm going to talk about starting your day off right by establishing a morning routine for yourself.  Each person is different, so there's not one perfect morning that will work for everyone.  

What I would suggest doing is writing down two or three things you can do each morning so that you can start your day on the right foot and set the tone for the rest of the day.  

Here are some ideas on things you can do:

• Get in some form of exercise
• Relax with a cup of coffee
• Meditate for a few minutes
• Write a to-do list of what you want to accomplish that day
• Spend some time getting caught up with social media
• Write in your journal to set intentions for the upcoming day
• Make a nice breakfast for yourself
• Spend some time outside and soak up some sunshine

And here are a few YouTube videos that have some other ideas for you:

Hopefully after a week or two of following your routine you will feel like mornings are a time to get centered for the day instead of feeling like you're starting off the day by being frazzled.  Let me know in the comments below which of the ideas you have incorporated into your morning routine.

Meditation is one of the most recommended forms of relaxation and stress reduction.  It is easy to learn and only takes a few minutes a day, so even if you are new at it you can still enjoy the benefits right away.  I have been meditating on and off for a few years now.  As one doctor explained to me, meditation is a chance to do nothing for a few minutes of your day.  While meditating you are free from worries and concerns that typically stress you out.  

Here is a great article by Daily Makeover on how to get started with meditation.  Either follow the instructions listed in the article or try it on your own.  There are plenty of ways to get started with meditation and different formats work differently for each person.  

The way I started meditating is by finding meditation podcasts on iTunes and doing guided meditation.  This made it easier for me because I needed to hear a voice that would guide me along the meditation.  For me, sitting in a quiet room is a perfect recipe to let my mind wander and start to overthink things, which is the exact opposite of what you're trying to achieve.  One of my favorite podcasts is called Meditation Oasis.  

There are also apps you can put on your phone that can guide you through meditation.  Here's a link to a previous article I wrote about the meditation apps I use and why I like them.  Some of them include visualization to help you relax, which is another form of stress relief I like to use.  Visualization is also great in helping you achieve your goals, similar to what we discussed last week with vision boards.

However you decide to bring meditation into your life, remember that it takes time and practice to quiet your mind and relax your body.  The more you do it the better the benefits you will see in your life.

I am always looking for new meditation podcasts and apps, so if you have any favorites please share them in the comments below.

Next week I will talk about establishing a morning routine that will allow you to get your day started off on a positive note.

Last week we talked about taking time to set goals for yourself.  For me, this is the best way to give myself peace of mind that my life is headed in the right direction.  I have also found that in order to keep my life on track I need to practice daily gratitude.  Sometimes it can be easy to forget how blessed we are when life gets busy, but taking five minutes each day can help remind you of what is great in your life.  

The easiest way to make gratitude a part of your daily schedule is to start a gratitude journal.  This will give you a chance to take a few moments out of each day in order to remember what you are grateful for in your life.  It doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy. I use a daily planner from Target that has a few lines for each day.  I leave it on my nightstand so that after I make my bed each morning I remember to write down three things I am grateful for.  I have been doing it for eight weeks and it has become a part of my daily routine.  

If you're unsure of what to write down, just try to keep it simple.  You can use the first things that come to mind, whether it's something from the day before that made you happy or something you're looking forward to in your day ahead.  Anything works as long as it makes you feel a sense of gratitude.  Hopefully you will feel happier right away and can take that feeling with you the rest of your day!

If you've been following this series from the beginning you will have written a personal mission statement, set goals for yourself, and just started a gratitude journal.  Next I will talk about visualization and making a vision board in order to create a picture of what you would like your life to look like.