2014: A year of living without

In the past few months I have started reading +Leo Babauta's blog, Zen Habits. For anyone who is looking for a more peaceful way to approach life, I highly recommend his writings. One post in particular has really caught my interest. "A year of living without"  is an experiment where Mr. Babauta gives up one thing every month and replaces it with something else. At the end of the month he decides whether he wants to put the thing he sacrificed back into his life or continue to live without it. Now if you read his list you will find that the things he has chosen to give up have not negatively effected his life, but the things he has chosen to replace them with have the ability to very simply create a positive impact on his life. I imagine it won't be easy giving up things I have been very accustomed to doing for many years; but, I am only committing myself to being without each sacrifice for one month. In the end I am hoping that this little experiment will allow me to experience new things in life and enjoy the things I have been missing out on. At the end of each month I will blog about my experience. Now for my list...

The 12 things I'll live without in 2014:

1. January: Being a homebody. Anyone who knows me probably knows that I am most content when I am in the comfort of my own home. Sometimes, my boyfriend and I will make plans to go out to see a movie or grab a drink. I usually change into my comfy clothes early and end up convincing myself that it will be way more relaxing to stay in and watch movies with a bottle of wine that we already had at home. Don't get me wrong, this can be just as fun as going out, but this month I intend on going on more local adventures. Replacement habit: Going out into the world more often.
2. February: Stress. These days I don't have a lot to be stressed about in my life, but everyone has their little moments. Instead of carrying on the stress by continuing to talk about it or think about it, I am going to try some simple zen habits to get through it.  Replacement habit: Deep breathing, meditating.
3. March: Alcohol. I'm not a very big drinker, but I do like to have a glass of wine or a margarita out at dinner and I was recently introduced to Angry Orchard hard cider (So Delicious!). This month, I will satisfy these cravings with a hot cup of tea.  Replacement habit: Tea.
4. April: Eating out at restaurants or fast food. My boyfriend and I both work full time and my boyfriend is going to school as well. This makes it very easy to say yes to fast food and to go meals from restaurants several times during the week. This month, I will discover new recipes and find a way to make cooking at home more enjoyable after a long day of work.  Replacement habit: Cooking at home.
5. May: Texting. Texting is super convenient and doesn't have to turn into a long back and forth conversation if you are in the middle of something else or don't have the time. Phone calls usually turn into a longer conversation than they were intended to be and my generation has become so accustomed to texting that calling someone on the phone is oftentimes dreaded. This month, I will only return texts by phone call and I will only call people that I want to get a hold of. Replacement habit: Calling people on the phone.
6. June: Staying in bed late. On a day off, or a day when I don't have work until later in the day, it is really nice to be able to stay in bed and browse the web on my Ipad until well into the afternoon. However, I usually end up feeling more sluggish and lazy throughout the day and guilty for not spending more of my time off with my furry family members. Replacement habit: Spending time with my animals.
7. July: Watching TV and movies. There are a handful of shows that I follow religiously and if any of them are on during the month of July, this will be a hard sacrifice for me to swallow. I also enjoy watching a good movie before bed. This month, I am going to catch up on the books collecting dust on my shelves and enjoy the scents of a few lenders from the library.  Replacement habit: Reading.
8. August: Dessert. Can't live without it! This month may be the hardest of all the months for me. I eat dessert at least once every day. It makes me extremely happy, but it probably wouldn't hurt if I scaled back on it a little. Fruit will be my new dessert in August. Replacement habit: Fruit.
9. September: Facebook and other social media. The idea of being able to stay connected to multiple people through various social media websites is pretty cool. However, for me it is a bit too distracting. The majority of the time I'd rather be brushing up on my veterinary studies, but the Facebook and Instagram icons are just so handily placed on my home screen. This month, I am focusing more of my time on topics that develop my career. Replacement habit: Veterinary websites.
10. October: Buying new things. Who doesn't like having new things? But, who really needs new things? This includes buying household items (other than groceries). This month, I will rummage through my dresser, drawers and closets to find a new home for everything that I am unable to justify a use for anymore. Replacement habit: Donating or selling things that I do not need/use.
11. November: Computer devices (excluding work). This is a big source of procrastination and breaking boredom. There are a ton of interesting things to learn from a solid website, but a lot of random crap is out there as well. This month, I will trade in the internet, computer games and computer apps for a refreshing workout. Replacement habit: Exercise
12. December: Cell phone (except to answer a call or text). One thing I truly despise about a cell phone is its ability to divert one's attention away from the present. This month, I will only use my phone to answer calls and text messages. Otherwise, I will fully engross myself in the present moment. Replacement Habit: Being in the present moment

Here goes nothing 2014...