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When I started writing this post it was the very start of January, and just a few days later we find ourselves in another national lockdown. I think it’s fair to say that 2020 wasn’t the year that any of us anticipated it might be! It’s certainly been a year of ups and downs and 2021 is shaping up to not be the year anyone wanted or expected. There were so many things I was looking forward to for the children last year and this year and some of these are things that they can never get back. Some are things that might be picked up this year, but I am doubtful.
But, what’s done is done and we are where we are. I started planning 2021 as if it was going to more of the same, and I’d assumed it would be more of the same way into the autumn. I know many think that Easter and the summer will be the start of things getting better, but I’m not so sure I share that optimism.
Like many others, I’ve made note of some changes I want to make during 2021. They’re not resolutions as such, but just the changing of the year seems like a good time to put changes in place.
Digital Life
I need to spend less time scrolling through my phone at night. I’ve started leaving my phone downstairs at night time and instead I am reading my books in bed. I’m already sleeping better and not ending up down rabbit holes on Twitter and Instagram.
I’m also trying to be more organised with my necessary online life. It’s too easy to spend ten minutes here and there throughout the day checking emails and the such so I am trying to be more disciplined in when I do my online work. I’ve found since we have switched to online meetings I get a bit fatigued with it all and it’s meant that some of the online stuff I want to do (such as this site!) ends up being neglected.
Drinking Good Coffee
This might seem like a random thing, but I’ve made a choice to drink better quality coffee. I need to cut down on the amount of coffee I’m drinking so I’ve decided that I should probably go for quality over quantity. I was recently sent some coffee bags to try from Lola’s Coffee Bags and I’m a convert. I do enjoy coffee and really do prefer freshly made coffee to instant granules. The only downside to fresh coffee is having to clean out the caffitiere which is always messy and ends up being left on the worktop until I want to use it next! The coffee bags are much more convenient and mean that I can enjoy fresh coffee without the fuss of cleaning up afterwards. Plus the coffee is delicious too! I’m really impressed and when I’ve used up my samples I’ll be ordering a case. They work out around 33p per cup so much cheaper than a coffee shop coffee and with all the convenience of enjoying in your favourite mug!
Read More Books
This ties in with the two above. I was lucky to be gifted some wonderful books for my birthday and Christmas and I am already making some good inroads into the reading pile. By leaving my phone downstairs I’m managing to get a good 30-45 minutes bedtime reading in and working through my books. I am hoping to make inroads into my non-fiction books this year; hopefully, I’ll have the headspace to finally get into these books.
I’m also trying to find time in the day to dedicate to reading. The children all spend a lot of time reading so having a point in the week when we all snuggle on the sofas with a hot drink and a good book will bring us some much-needed relaxation and downtime in the day. I’m always keen to model reading for the children so that they see that it is an everyday part of my (adult) life.
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
This year I want to try and get out and about most days. I think this is really important at the moment; it’s too easy to spend day after day indoors and there isn’t a particular reason to leave the house when we don’t have anywhere to go and no one to meet up with. We are lucky to live close by to a canal and this week the children and I have been out walking along the canal. We have enjoyed spotting some of the birds along there and I look forward to seeing the birds change as we move into the spring and then summer. The children are certainly benefitting from the longer extended walks and they’re busy spotting paths they want to explore. I plan at least one day a week when we head off the beaten paths of the canal and into the woodland to explore more. We will pack a snack and a flask of hot chocolate for the children and coffee for me. I want to study birds more with them so this year we are going to do a short project on a bird each month, although I’ve not planned this in much detail as yet.
My changes are only moderate changes; but in a world that seems unpredictable and a million miles from how we would like I think sitting with a coffee and taking stock is probably the best approach for now!
Im with you on the outdoors, so much to see and so much to enjoy as the seasons change …. I never take my mobile phone to bed, its just not worth it.