I identified my obstacles to cooking and went from daily food delivery to none in over three weeks!

Typing this out because I’m proud and hopefully to encourage someone else to work with their circumstances instead of against them. I cannot stress how much this has already helped my mental and physical health since I was spending hundreds of dollars I didn’t have. This lifestyle has been hurting me in all aspects of my life for so long and it finally feels like there’s an end in sight. Healthy habits take a while to build but it’s a hell of a good start.

First, I rearranged my kitchen and living room so all of my cooking materials are on the table right next to the kitchen. I wasn’t using them when they were tucked away in cabinets, but now I see them and it reminds me to cook. My perishable pantry items are in the open now too, which means I actually eat the fruits and veggies I buy to snack on. Plus I have extra prep room and a nice space to sit and enjoy my meals instead of eating them in bed.

Next, I decided to prepare and eat things I actually like. I make things like spaghetti and meatballs for lunches, avocado toast and eggs for breakfasts, and stir fry for dinners. I won’t eat stuff I don’t like. I thought the groceries would be too expensive but it’s SO much less money. Along with this, I made the personally radical decision to allow myself to eat “unhealthy” foods and have them in the house. A pint of Ben and Jerry’s last nearly a week now instead of being gobbled up immediately because my brain no longer thinks of it as scarce.

Most importantly, I donated all the excess silverware and dishes I’ve collected (mostly from Target) through the years. Sometimes I would order food just to avoid dealing with that dreaded sink pile-up. Only having two of each object makes it impossible for things to stack up and overwhelm me. Everything is a few seconds away from use.

I’m proud but I’m also relieved. It feels nice to set myself up for success instead of consistent failure.