Because it’s not the big goals and successes in life that bring true happiness, but the little joys that you choose to notice each day…
I don’t love January – does anyone? – and it’s typically extremely quiet for me work-wise which means I spend a lot of time in hibernation at home; if I’m not careful, I start to merge with my chair. But over the years, and thanks in part to my bullet journal, I’ve worked hard at taking each time of year for what it is and intentionally making the most of it.
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This January, I knew I wouldn’t get out for many walks but I made the most of my Pilates subscription. I knew dry January would just make me miserable so we agreed a ‘no drinking at home’ rule (once the last Christmas beer was gone!) and planned a few nice occasions out instead. I thought carefully about what useful tasks I could get done indoors that would improve the shape of the year ahead – reorganising our bedroom, planning the garden, and of course working hard on my writing – and I did them!
And as always, I was careful to take time to be grateful for all the little joys (and bigger ones) that kept me going along the way:
Setting some intentions.
Lamb aubergine pastitsio always makes me happy.
The last Christmas craft beer.
Spotting fungus on a nature walk.
King Alfred’s cakes.
Got a bit emotional eating this – pasta with a very simple tomato sauce made from my homegrown tomatoes in the summer, and frozen til now.
Treated myself to a new sticker book with Christmas money.
It might be the prettiest sticker book in the world!
Eye-catching cloud.
Garlic growing through a sprinkling of snow.
Frosty kale.
Frosty heuchera.
A lot of frosty things!
Beef stew with olive oil dumplings – husband’s favourite!
Planning my veg garden – the only kind of gardening I do in January! I bought a bunch of new varieties from Real Seeds…
Something new I’ve been trying in my bullet journal, to balance my priorities better.
We reorganised a section of the bedroom and bought better storage at last!
Rainbow!
Made pork ramen and it was delicious! More broth next time…
Snowdrops at the community garden.
Sunday roast at the pub.
What a handsome boy!
Moss-scape.
Making chicken broth.
All stocked up!
Date night! Both these drinks are normal sizes…
Bought a new orchid for my desk.
Pretty viburnum down the street.
Look up!
Reorganised my desk. I love my desk!
Reviewing the month in my bullet journal – it’s my favourite bujo task!
Treated myself to a new jumper and I’ve hardly been out of it since.
Bought myself the brightest flowers I could find. Shame I couldn’t get the light right in this picture… Everyone deserves flowers in January!
