Autumn planning ....

I'm a bit late with my planning this year.  I think I spent so much of July and August saying 'let's do that in September or let's get together in September' that I have found myself ridiculously busy!  Did you see my previous post about my week of networking and my week of outfits?  Anyway, lets get onto the matter in hand.  I love to reorganise myself in September and October, I still feel like it is my new year despite not being so governed my school terms now, I love autumn and after the summer holidays and summer months, I enjoy the feeling of 'back to school' goal setting.

My lightbox is from Vavaky and can be purchased via Amazon (details below)

​My priority this year is to learn to relax a bit more, to refresh and recharge.  I do seem to follow a pattern of struggling with low mood and some depression at this time of the year and so self-care needs to be much higher on my list of things to do!

So here is what I am up to right now to try and find a better balance in my life:
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1. I don't agree with the terms 'off the wagon' or 'restarting my diet' I absolutely believe that we have to make permanent lifestyle changes.  I read a fabulous article here from Precision Nutrition about not pressing pause - turn the dial down sometimes - but don't stop, always do something, however small.  So I am taking time to be kinder to myself and my focus will be on gut health, body composition and dealing with some inflammation and hormonal issues as well as the all important mindset.  I will exercise - using weights - twice a week.  I am going to be (almost) alcohol free for a while, limit my sugar and eat mostly gluten and dairy free (for no particular reason, just to allow my body some time to reset my gut health).  I am about four weeks into this and so far I am coping very well and feeling a lot better.
2. And this slots nicely into dealing with stress.  I do suffer from overwhelm, stress and low mood.  I recently went to The Rainbow Rooms in Marlow for a workshop called 'Creating Room for Calm' - the emphasis being on if you can get your home more clutter free and calm then it will help calm your mind - I picked up so many tips from Amy at The Tidy Mindset and Michelle at The Rainbow Rooms - we learnt Less is More, and how essential oils, mindfulness and meditation can help our focus.  I am excited to start using these new tools.
3. I have been nominated for not one but two blog awards!  Firstly Brilliance in Blogging 2018 run by BritMums and also the Best Over 40's Blogger category for the Asquith Adores Blogger Awards - vote here.  This feels really surreal and I am so honored whatever happens with the results!  It does mean that I am spending more time working on my blog though and I still have a lot to learn about the more hidden techy side.
4. An ongoing issue for me has been my quality of sleep.  I was chatting to a lady at the gym recently and we both agreed that as you reach peri-menopause you do slow down a little and for the last year or so getting out the house for an early exercise session has proved impossible, I just can't seem to get going.  I am more accepting of this now and instead of fighting it I am adjusting my routine around it.  I have always been an early riser so to find myself on a bit of a go-slow has been tough.  My sleep however is much better now that I have my sleep hygiene rules - read more here.
5. This next year might be the last year living at home full time for my daughter.  She is currently working on her personal statement and we have visited the university she really wants to go to, if she is lucky enough to get a place on this very oversubscribed course then she could be going away next autumn.  Mostly I try not to think about it, we are incredibly close but I am absolutely supportive of her dreams and want to encourage her every step of the way.  It does mean that a big change could be imminent for us both though.

So that is what I am up to, very general this year but all very important.  I do feel like I need time to recover.  Sri Lanka was amazing but it did make me look at my own life and want to adjust a few things (read this post here) and it left me feeling quite tired both emotionally and physically - then to have a busy September - means that I have been struggling a bit.

What about you, do you set new goals, do you have something you want to focus on right now?  I'd love to hear from you.

Love from
Michelle xx


My lightbox was gifted to me from Vavaky and can be purchased via Amazon, you can find it on this link here.

​Disclaimer: Some of my links are affiliate links which means that the brand knows you have come to their website from here and I may get a small commission if you buy something and keep it.  This small income goes towards the running costs of my blog so I am very thankful for every click. ​

Galle Fort, Sri Lanka