I just checked the date thinking “is it too late to write this blog post now?”…how is it only the 6th January? I was expecting it to say 20th. Just goes to show how life is dragging in lockdown 3.0.

During 2020, I was forced to spend a lot of time with myself. That might sound odd, but usually my brain is active on other things like, where to go next etc. Actually sitting with myself and being content with myself enjoying the little things in life made me learn at lot of lessons.

My new life lessons have shaped my new years resolutions for 2021. I will add that, I have never been a new years resolution person. The phrase “new year, new me” would make me wince. Yet here we are…

Right after the countdown I actually said “I feel like this years going to be for me”. I am more than ready to embrace change into my life and face aspects of my life that were making me unhappy, rather than just moaning about it.

Read More

Yes, a very common basic new years resolution but let me explain why…

I taught secondary school students 2 years ago. I spent the majority of my time making complicated content sound easy. Then I had to young kids close together. My range in vocabulary had changed. Conversations with friends and family started to feel slightly intimidating because I knew for a fact that the words I would choose to speak were very bland. It is not like I don’t understand what complex words mean, more so that I lost confidence in using them.

To get me going I downloaded a vocabulary app, simply called: Vocabulary. It pops up with a new word and meaning throughout the day as a notification to your phone.

Then I purchased a Kindle. When I was younger, I would always have a book in my hand. I read Malorie Blackman’s book over and over. I spent a lot of time researching Kindle’s because the feel of an actual book to me is part of the whole reading experience. Not to turn this into a Kindle review but, there are a few things I enjoy:

• The access to hundreds of books that can be downloaded instantly
• Cost efficient compared to buying an actual book
• Do not take as much space as books do
• The data insights into how much you are reading and how long you have left makes me eager to read more.

So far, I have read more books in January than the past couple of years.

Shop Small

In a bid to become more conscious of the planet, shopping small is something I want to pay more attention to. I must confess that I use to be the first to hop onto Amazon and order what I needed from there but after discovering Etsy, and the hundreds of small businesses that make beautiful products, it is my first point of call now.

The downside is they tend to be more expensive. However, as I have become more minimal, I look at treating myself to a cute house accessory that is sustainably made rather than buying what I don’t need from a huge store.

Keep up to date photo albums

Anyone else take hundreds of pictures on their phone and never get them developed?

I purchased this photo album to put a stop to it. I love how it reminds me of when I was younger and I would look through the old school photo albums my parents use to make. I’ve filled three up to now and they are my favourite things ever.?

I use the free prints app to select 45 free photos a month and just pay for postage.

Become more organised

A hard pill to swallow was that I am not organised. I think I do try to be but I write that many notes down all over the place and have so many new ideas for projects on the go, I found myself not moving forward with any of them.

My new planner is solely business focused and is the key to my new mission to become organised. It features a full weekly spread with room to add goals and tick lists. by far the most superior weekly planner I have ever seen.

Journal

On the subject of planning, my final resolution is to journal. This is for me to brain dump all of my thoughts and feelings in the evening in the hope for an easier switch off.

I love the aesthetics of bullet journals however, for me I know that I need a simple journal with various prompts. You can purchase my exact journal here.

Mental health is extremely important and over one of the most challenging years we have had, I realise this is something I need to do for myself.

I would love to know in the comments if you currently journal and has it helped you in any way?

Thank you for reading

lot’s of love

Zoe

xx