Florals & Musings

2023 was a year of change for me, the biggest being when I became a first-time mom in March. I’ve grown so much this year, and yet I’ve never felt more like myself. Welcoming my son allowed me to reevaluate my life and develop new rituals that helped me vibe better in 2023. Here are 10 new things that improved my life this year.

Limiting My Social Media Time

I am horrendously guilty of mindlessly scrolling for hours. So, when my son was born, I knew it was time to kick my phone addiction finally. I didn’t want him growing up with my face constantly on my phone, and I didn’t want to waste the precious few hours of free time scrolling Instagram. 

At first, I would put my phone away whenever I was with him and would only get on during his nap or when he would go to bed. Then I found I was much happier when I didn’t spend all day on my phone. Now, I consciously try to replace most of my scrolling time with reading or writing (going for 20 books read in 2024 and finishing the manuscript for a short story idea I have!). I still get on my phone (of course), but it’s limited to times when I have a few free moments, but not enough to read an entire chapter. 

Making Social Media Fun Again

I write what I want, and I post what I want. It’s a blast. 

I attended a writing conference in November and sat on a session hosted by an accomplished freelance writer. Afterward, I looked her up on Instagram and saw she had less than 2,000 followers. It hit me then that I had spent too much time writing content for Instagram (and growing my platform to 12,000, which didn’t get me far) when I should have been working on writing I could have published and made money from. 

Realizing that I want to be a writer who writes novels, short stories, and plays and not a lifestyle influencer or full-time content creator freed me to let social media be fun. 

Sticking to a Consistent Workout Schedule

When I had an easy recovery after the birth of my son, I realized that, as a woman in my early 30s, it was time to start the habits that would affect the rest of my life. It was time to prioritize my health because I want to be as healthy as possible as I age. My husband and I joined our local YMCA because they offer childcare, and I’ve made sure to go at least twice a week. I recently added a weekly Pilates class to my routine to accompany a weekly yoga class and cardio. I plan to add more strength training to my routine in 2024. Even after a few months, I could tell a significant difference in my physical and emotional health. I feel better, sleep better, naturally make healthier choices, and have plenty of energy to keep up with my son.

I look forward to keeping up with this new routine into 2024. 

Building a Real Life Community Instead of Online

When my son was 6 months old, I took him to a weekly baby storytime at our local library. I thought my son would enjoy the stories/songs, but I also thought it would be a good opportunity for me to meet other moms in my community. I’ve avoided the often toxic online communities and now look forward to this every week. 

Spending More Time in Nature

On non-rainy days after our library time, I started taking my son on a long walk at our local park. Getting outside and spending extended time in a beautiful park next to the Chesapeake Bay helps keep life stresses away. I used to dread winter walks, but now I love bundling up and breathing the crisp air. Feels healing to my body. I have found this year that getting outside on a regular basis keeps any seasonal depression away. 

Avoiding Alcohol

I quit drinking when I was pregnant (wanted the baby to have all his brain cells, ya know?), and after I had him, I just never really went back to it. I already thought most alcohols tasted like straight battery acid, so it was cathartic to admit to myself that I never liked the shit. I’m also one of those lucky people whose body does not do a good job processing alcohol, and I always feel terrible the next day if I go over my extremely low limit. So, I’ve happily embraced the mocktail life and maybe a tiny glass of wine occasionally if it goes with the meal. I’m much better for it. 

A Glass of Water First Thing in the Morning

I’ve started drinking a large cup of water in the morning before I have anything else, especially coffee. I don’t know if there is any scientific evidence behind it, but I feel more alert and generally better in the morning. It was an easy thing to add to my morning routine that has made a big difference. 

Going off Hormonal Birth Control

I’m always hesitant to talk about it because I think there’s a lot of fear-mongering around birth control, but when I got my IUD removed in 2022 to get pregnant, I couldn’t believe how much better I felt emotionally. Gone were my severe anxiety and irritability. I felt better equipped to handle life’s stresses and didn’t feel like I was drowning. At the end of the day, we need to remember that birth control is a medication, and it’s not going to work for everyone. If you feel like I did, it might be worth going off it to see if it helps you feel better. 

Limiting Caffeine

I am one of those lucky people whose body is affected by everything. My body doesn’t like alcohol at all, and it isn’t a big fan of caffeine. Caffeine too late in the day is practically guaranteed to keep me awake. I used just to ignore it and drink whatever I wanted, but after too many nights of poor sleep, it was time to do something about it. Although giving up alcohol was easy, I enjoy coffee too much to give it up completely. So, I have one cup of coffee or tea in the morning, and then it’s caffeine free drinks for the rest of the day. My sleep is so much better for it. 

Flavored Seltzer Waters

Many years ago, my husband and I decided to stop buying soda for our house because we can’t drink it if it’s not physically there. But that left water or iced tea to drink, and I must limit my caffeine. We started buying the flavored seltzer waters (my favorite is vanilla or lemon-lime), which made a huge difference. I’m drinking much more water because I have more variety, but I’m not drinking any sugar. They are more expensive than buying a two-liter of soda, but it’s 1000% worth it. 

Bonus – Keeping a Positive Attitude

I feel good about life and that I can meet any challenge that comes my way. I believe that I’ll achieve the goals I have for my life, and I really think having a positive attitude and believing in yourself is half the battle. 

There you go, ten small things that really improved my life in 2023. I can’t wait to carry them into 2024 and find even more ways to keep the good vibes going.