January Resolutions

I am so happy to see February! January has been a very long month, it always seems so much longer than other months with 31 days. Work has been insanely busy, so time has flown, but it is nice to be finally in frosty February.

Nothing of note happened in January - apart from the for the first time in my life I haven't been away one single night. At home for the whole month and it's actually been really restorative. We've had some decorating done in the house, the first since we moved in 3 years ago and it really feels even more like home now. Lots of walks with our silly Sproodle, and I even went back to the University of Nottingham on a work trip. A walk down memory lane and I got really nostalgic!

As I wrote in this post I'm taking New Year's Resoultions more seriously this year. Each month I'm giving up and taking up something, and I've got some goals around fitness as well.

For January I gave up alcohol and I took up meditation every day. That sounds incredibly cliche written down! I have missed alcohol after some particularly long days at work I have to confess, but it was definitely doable. Meditation was an incredible addition to my life - I used the headspace app on my phone and it made a huge difference to my stress levels. Most nights I only did 3 minutes, but I found myself using some of the 'routine' at different points throughout the day. I think I will carry on with the sessions - they are really helping me to be more present.

For February..... after thinking long and hard about this I have decided that I am going to listen to a German podcast every day. I want to get my German language back and thought it might be a way to try and do that. I am going to give up crisps - they are my real weakness junk food wise!

Hope you are all keeping warm!

Happy weekend, Helen xx

Resolutions

It's been a lovely start to the year - peaceful. The highlight so far has been a trip to London with my Dad. We wandered around key landmarks and went to see Mary Poppins, a pretty perfect day. More Dad-Daughter time is definitely on the 2019 agenda.

This year I'm determined to make some resolutions and stick to them. I figure if I write them down then I'm fully accountable right?

My first resolution is around fitness - every week I want to swim at least once, run at least 10km and do at least 1 session of yoga/pilates. The motivation is health - I find when I exercise both my physical and mental health are far better. I wrote last time my word for 2019 is acceptance - I've decided I have another one: nourish.

My second resolution is to choose 1 thing to do every day each month and 1 thing to give up for the month. For January I have chosen to do one session of mindfulness every day on the Headspace app on my phone and I've chosen to give up alcohol. I'll report back each month. It's quite fun really, thinking and planning about things to do every day for a month. I'm thinking about yoga, playing the piano, reading and crocheting for other options!

Have you got any New Years' resolutions?

Pictured: Buckingham Palace, my wonderful Sproodle (Springer Spaniel cross Poodle - ridiculous name for a ridiculous dog) Jess, my parents' beautiful Cocker Spaniel Puppy Bobbie