08-Find enjoyment in the things
Enjoyable habits are more likely to stick
enjoyment - the state or process of taking pleasure in something.
My name is Chioma and I am an enjoyment enthusiast.
A friend once said to me that no matter where I am, if there is enjoyment, I must find it. And she didn’t lie. I genuinely like to take pleasure in things and find ways to make things more pleasurable. I also try to avoid things that do not provide pleasure as much as I can.
This is one of the reasons why I’m not a fan of things like fasting or dieting. The thought of not being able to have something that makes me happy in order to remain a certain size just doesn’t sit well with my spirit.
Around this time last year, I saw many of my internet friends talking about the Chloe Ting challenge. She is a young fitness trainer of asian descent who designs workout programs that promise to deliver abs in 2 weeks.
Typically, I am wary of anything that claims to produce such quick results. Plus I like to think I don’t care too much about having abs (because I know that spot reduction is a myth and I am already strong and fit and healthy and *insert all the other things I tell myself when I look in the mirror and don’t see abs*).
However, the reality is that I am a vain human being and the idea of a smaller waist will never be unappealing. I also knew a few people who had tried her program and seen results so I decided to give it a go.
I think I lasted all of 2 days before I messaged my workout partner to say I no do again.
I just didn’t enjoy the workouts. Something about it just didn’t click for me and so I abandoned it. Thanks to years of training hard and consistently, I know my quitting the program had nothing to do with laziness or not being able to keep up. It just wasn’t presented in a way that I found enjoyable.
So I went back to my old reliable online fitness trainer, Tiffany Rothe, who I discovered many years ago courtesy of my sister. She has the most infectious energy and her workout videos are super fun and effective. She does a lot of dancing/booty shaking type moves that will have you looking silly sometimes but also have you wondering why it hurts to laugh the next day. She has a great music selection to accompany her workouts (including some naija artistes), gives instructions in both Spanish and English (I know my numbers in Spanish thanks to Tiffany) and always has a lovely shade of lipstick on.
All these elements make her workouts throughly enjoyable for me and that is why she has been my go to for at least seven years. There’s also the fact that a black forty something year old mother of two is more realistically aspirational for me than a twenty something year old asian woman.
This is another example of why it’s good to try things. Different things. Just to see how you feel about them and how they make you feel, and not only because you have a particular goal or target in mind.
Sometimes you mind find a thing that’s very effective and gives you great results and then you might look for ways to make it more enjoyable. For me it’s choosing an energetic playlist for my workouts. When I hear that sweet soca coming through my headphones, I know that the little dance breaks between sets will make my workout more enjoyable.
Other times you might find something you enjoy that also has great long term benefits and gives you community, like salsa and boxing have given me.
I truly believe that there is enjoyment to be found in any and everything.
Enjoyment can be trying different flavourful dressings to make your salads more delicious. Or buying cute gym gear to brighten up your workouts. Anything that activates the pleasure centres in your brain and makes you feel good is enjoyment.
Find ways to take pleasure in the things and you might want to do them more.
I am currently in Lagos on a much needed and rather impromptu break and it has been wonderful so far. You may never hear me say this again but there truly is no place like home. And this is coming from someone who changed her twitter name to Ex-Nigerian after the events of 20.10.2020.
The past few days have been filled with love and laughter and food glorious food. I’ve also been doing my bit to #buynigerian by patronising some of the hard working women who just happen to be my friends.
Real hair by Boogie has the lushest human hair. I went to her for one thing and ended up with two.
Target travels sorted out my ticket super last minute and was very helpful when I needed to make an adjustment. Hit them up for all your travel needs.
The Reloved Rack is helping me declutter and make some money at the same time by selling some of my many many many shoes. Hands down the most professional consignment service in Nigeria, so if you’re ever looking to let go of your preloved items, give them a shout.
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Dermaspace, so I’m looking forward to a proper pamper session with them this week.
I am thoroughly enjoying myself as evidenced by the delay in sending out this letter.
Here’s wishing you a week full of enjoyment.
Chioma.