Start small if you need to. Perhaps start with eating better – drink water 3-4 times a day. Eat veggies or fruit with one meal a day. Try this for a week. If you are doing well, up the goal. If you are having difficulties, think about why and see if you can break the habit.
Exercise is good for you and your attitude. If you like the gym try to go at a regular time because you will start to meet people. Or sign up for a group exercise class.

Once you start making progress on your goals things will be easier. Getting back in shape so you can get a job that is related to your degrees should be your end goal.

Work at it and post on 43Things so we can cheer you on.

Good luck.

Sue is right. Exercise is really good for you. 20 minutes of exercise a day releases chemicals in your brain that act as an anti-depressant. That alone might sort out the way you’re feeling.

I feel you though. I’ve hit several patches in my life where I feel like I’m in rut and found myself seriously unhappy for one reason or another. I’ve had so many mini mid-life crisises that I just roll with it now. Money issues was one of those for me many years ago. I found that a lot of the things I was doing as “hobbies” (like shopping) required more money then I had to spend. I can only speak for myself and your situation may or may not parallel mine, but returning to any sort of happiness took a shift in my thinking.

Ultimately, I was always the source of my discontent. If I’m unhappy its often because I’ve fallen into a rut and am failing to recognize that I need to change myself. If I’m feeling lonely its because I’m not calling people to make plans. There is always someone I haven’t seen in months/years that I should take the time to get lunch with and that doesn’t have to be expensive.Sounds stupid and simple but sometimes obvious answers take some soul searching to find the •real• reason for your discontent. Making a list of goals is great but don’t beat yourself up. As I read your list many of them seem little negative. Its great that you’ve identified things you want to work on but shift your thinking.

If you hate running and the gym find an inexpensive team sport where the game is physical enough to get your exercise and offer you some social time to maybe meet some new great people. Community colleges, and sometimes park and rec programs + adult schools in your city, offer sports related classes that are often really inexpensive. Or check Meetup. There are tons of free group activities going on everywhere. If you dread not being able to drink soda take on a quest of finding the 10 new drinks that you’ll love. Maybe one of those is making your own soda. Orange juice + carbonated water fizzy water. Its amazing actually, try it.

I find when I dread my goals I fall away from them. And if you’re not sure how to start. Choose one thing and decide today to take one step to make it happen. Thats it, once you get rolling you pick up momentum. Stop with the excuses, dont watch TV tonight or check the internet until you’ve accomplished one thing towards achieving one of these goal. Don’t let any sort of depression, even if minor, get in the way of your progress.

Good luck. We’ve all been there.

A few comments from the peanut gallery…

8 parts to a goal like this may be a lot to start off with. 5 is a more manageable number. why, you may ask.

I cannot tell you, other than that simpler is usually better.

To simplify, it is easier to be absolute. If you wanted to stop smoking, you would not have as much success if you cut down to half a pack a day as if you simply stopped. Same with the sugary sodas. Best to simply deny yourself. In no time at all, you will not want them.

Same with more veggies. Best and easiest if you make up a veggie diet, shop for it, and eat it. An beware of dressings. A simple oil and vinegar is good – many tasty dressings are loaded with sugar – stay away!

One last idea – maybe it will work for you, maybe not. It is the reward. Like, when I lose 10 pounds, I get to…. (have a day in the country) (buy a piece of jewelry) (something like that). I agree with your friends here who suggest you post your progress. It does wonders. good luck!

First off, thank you for all of the suggestions and advice, it helps to know people are behind you, supporting you. Now progress:
1.I’ve switched to orange juice and water at work instead of pop,
2.I did two new things, went with a friend to a minor league hockey game with their friends in a different city, and ate at a food truck!
3. I’ve lost two pounds thanks to veggies(and juice/water)!
4. I broke down and bought new clothes that fit my larger self and I actually feel better about myself because I’m less uncomfortable (plus the added confidence of getting compliments doesn’t hurt either).
5. Money’s still an issue so I’ll be working overnights now while looking for something else.
Over all, more positive but it’s only the beginning.

I have to work almost all those things also. It sounds like things are going better for you.

I really wish people would understand you can’t just snap out of it.

Progress:
1.I’ve got more hours at work so getting better at barely getting by

2.I got all dressed up and went to a new restaurant for New Years Eve and had a fun night with family and friends.

3.I already did my new thing for January, I went to a soup festival and tried some tasty and not so tasty soups including vegan ones.

4. I’ve taken up cutting coupons and changing meals around what’s on sale to save money and eat healthier.

5. Going to start the couch to 5 k program!

A structured excercise program doesn’t work for everyone. I find that the only way I excercise is if it is a fun activity.

What do you LIKE doing? Going for a walk every day is a start, especially if you can find a walking partner. Maybe volunteer to walk someone’s dog.

Biking: especially if it takes you to an interesting destination, like the library, or a park, or to a friend’s house.

Some places have pick-up basketball games you can join, or there’s a community baseball team, or…?

Swimming is fun, and yoga is good for your emotional state as well.

Try low-calorie beverages like tea instead of soda. Even fruit juice shouldn’t be a beverage choice more than 8 ounces a day. Too much sugar. Don’t do diet sodas, just stop soda all together. Maybe have water with a squeeze of lemon in it.

Learn how to cook with veggies so it isn’t so boring. Learn to stir-fry, to steam, or to use your microwave to cook them.

Combine your “do one new thing a month” goal with your fitness goal. Try geocaching, or bird watching (see if you can go with a local group), walk in a park in a different part of your city, go to a museum, find out when/where local festivals, art or music venues or local theatre groups will be performing. Take a short class on something artistic, or a short class at a local college, spend a weekend volunteering to help your city with spring cleanup, at the food bank, at the animal shelter, what have you.

Helping others could combine several goals, and maybe you can meet some people.