Well hello, first Happy List of 2024! It feels like ages since I wrote one of these thanks to January being approximately 87 days long. But here we are, we’ve made it to the second month of the year. I am longing for some warmer weather now though I know we’ve a little while to wait for that yet, unfortunately. I don’t think too much happened in January but you know I can’t miss a month with these posts so let’s take a look at what actually went on!
I’m not the biggest fan of January, to be honest. Once Christmas is out of the way I find myself needing some warmth and more daylight which January definitely doesn’t provide. However, I did take the opportunity to embrace some slow living practices, get back to taking care of myself, and establish a better work/life balance. We also kicked the new year off with a holiday. So it’s definitely not been all bad!
1. We started January with a little trip to Center Parcs. It’s the third year we’ve visited at the start of the year and when I say it’s just the past way to begin the year it really is! I worked all over Christmas as did Josh so taking that time out in the new year to relax, be surrounded by nature, and do nothing but swim, read, and feed squirrels was pure perfection! We’re considering switching things up next year and trying somewhere now but I can’t see us ever giving up our New Year holidays now!
2. As I mentioned, I tried to embrace some slow-living principles in January. For the first time ever I have a word of the year which is self-care. The last quarter of 2023 was crazy and the way I was working was definitely unsustainable. I’m taking 9-10 hour days, no proper lunch break, no time for myself, reliant on takeaways because I couldn’t be bothered to cook, no movement or exercise. Mentally and physically it just wasn’t healthy. Self-employment has been a huge adjustment for me and part of the reason I quit my job was to have a better work/life balance but as 2023 came to an end I actually found myself with a worse balance. So I decided January was the perfect time to fix that and get into some healthy habits that will see me through the rest of the year. It’s been really great and that balance is definitely coming now so I’m excited to see how the rest of the year goes.
3. I’ve joined the gym. Although full transparency, I am not a gym girlie I’ve joined for swimming! We used to go swimming loads years and years ago and I’d forgotten how much I loved it! Who knows, I might pluck up the courage to try out the gym eventually though! My mother-in-law goes to the same gym so I might tag along with her a couple of times so it doesn’t feel quite as intimidating. It feels so good to be regularly exercising and I enjoy swimming so much that it doesn’t feel like hard work either.
4. Self-employed life feels a lot more settled so far this year, I obviously can’t speak too soon but things were very hectic last year and it all feels like it’s finally falling into place. There are some tweaks I’d like to make and financially I’m not quite where I’d like to be. However, I know that will all come in time. I’ve only been self-employed for 3 full months so I don’t think I’m doing too badly, to be honest. If things keep going the way they are then I can see 2024 being amazing for my new career!
And I think that’s about it for the Happy List, a short and sweet one this month! I have an exciting little trip coming up in February which has been a long time coming, I have some really exciting work projects that I can’t wait to get stuck into and I have a lovely little weekend to myself coming up this weekend so there’s lots to look forward to.
How was January for you? What did you get up to? Let me know in the comments!
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