Category: Adulthood

It’s January and don’t we know it. The memes have flooded social media claiming that January has in fact over a hundred and fifty days in it and everyone quite frankly wants to tell it to bugger off. We feel stuck.

I was one hundred per cent with everybody on this until I entered the final week of this gloomy month. I hadn’t noticed that I had been suffering with the January blues. The flat period once Christmas and New Year are all over and everybody is fat and skint, it hadn’t bothered me. I thought.

It wasn’t until the other day when I suddenly felt brighter, more energetic and found myself doing more with a positive attitude that I thought perhaps my gloomier spirits over the past month couldn’t simply be justified by my period or just another rubbish day and here’s what I’ve discovered I’m doing to illustrate my exit out of the January blues.

I am drinking less coffee

Coffee keeps me going. I begin every day with a cup of the good stuff and it is my favorite smell in the morning to welcome the day in. There’s nothing quite like the warm beverage soothing your insides while filling your nostrils with contentment and also providing a large kick up the backside to get you started with the day ahead.

Yet recently, well, since my boosted spirits came along last week, I have noticed my consumption of caffeine has decreased. Whether it’s because I am getting energy from being happier and doing more creating an upwards spiral or whether it’s all in my head and I am still drinking an unhealthy amount, I feel better for it, though still solely rely on that initial cup to get me going.

I am appreciating the sunshine

I love the sun, doesn’t everyone? But lately I have noticed it so much more. Days where no cloud lingers in the sky above and the view out of my bedroom window while I work sits there looking fabulously inviting have stuck with me. Each day when I walk I fixate on the weather and the sunnier walks recently have left me feeling happy from within.

In fact, over the past week I have noticed that I am appreciating everything more. I have always been one to sway to the negative side of things and chuck my dummy out of the pram at any minor inconvenience in life, returning a few moments later to realise it’s not that big a deal. But lately I am appreciating everything more from the glorious scenes that the weather brings to my work space to a hot mug of tea to half an hour to myself to read a good book. Everything.

I am taking in more

Though none of us understand the Brexit chaos and everything that comes with it, I have recently been more actively involved in the news and tried desperately hard to understand it, while still convinced that no politician that is interviewed on TV understands what they are talking about anyway.

When driving around in my car I would have in the past always had music on, especially during the darker months of the year in attempt to try to cheer me up but lately I have opted for Podcasts.

Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing feel of having a companion with me at all times, discussing important and interesting topics, but I have also listened and taken in all that they say rather than shutting off temporarily and returning to the episode confused.

I am getting less frustrated on a daily basis

I’m a girl, I am young and by no means perfect so I do get easily irritated by the ignorant actions of others most hours of most days.

However, with my newly improved mindset since exiting the January blues I have found that no longer am I jumping to anger and frustration as an exaggerated reaction to something that won’t matter to me in five minutes let alone five years. Instead it is taking longer for me to have to rationalise my response because I am rarely hitting that level of annoyance.

In other words my temper, patience and everything in between has lengthened and for that I am proud.

I am making more of an effort

From my outfit to my health I am suddenly making more of an effort. Not much more, I confess, I am never going to be one of those girls who gets up an hour before leaving the house in order to perfectly straighten my hair, redo my makeup five times and choose my outfit for the week, but I am making more of an effort than I have been over the past two months or so.

No longer do I fall out of bed five minutes before leaving just in time to brush my teeth and not worry about anything else, but I leave a little time for properly applied makeup and to ensure my outfit has had some amount of thought over it.

I am also consciously caring about my health and attempting to eat less and do more to shift a few pounds before the spring. I am only a few weeks in and already feeling great, despite putting on a pound and ripping a hole in the bum of my jeans last week. We’ll not discuss that.

I am generally feeling happier

Aside from the specifics, in general, I feel much happier, positive and excited for the future. I am finding I am more creative with my writing and the ideas are constantly buzzing around my head for novels, blog posts and various other projects when before I was struggling to come up with a topic to write about each week.

I am also finding that I am being more productive and once I have finished my work for the last few days I have tidied my room, sorted files and made notes with enough time to read lots and listen to podcasts and radio shows as well.

The future is bright as they say and I think we can safely take this saying quite literally as we head into February, with spring just around the corner.

Britain may be exiting the EU, but I am exiting the January blues.

Picture this.

A weekend. You. Poorly you. Recovering from a cold that had you struggling to stay awake beyond ten o’clock on a Saturday night. A wild game of Monopoly accompanied by, wait, NO WINE. You couldn’t face it.

Sunday morning. A dose of night nurse and a good night sleep had you feeling better but still far from 100%. An easy Sunday morning and a fresh dog walk in the sunshine bumped this up a notch but still you were nowhere near your whole healthy self.

A birthday. A birthday of a good friend brought you to the pub. You had said you weren’t planning on drinking much because you didn’t think it would help with your cold so you would probably opt for a nice Irish coffee. Show your face for a drink, a caffeinated drink with a little kick, and wish your friend a “Happy Birthday” then leave. How sensible is that?

4 o’clock. Gin number 3. Still not drunk but well on the way and what happened to your cold?

5 o’clock. Heading elsewhere. “You’re coming to the house to drink some more of what you don’t need aren’t you?” Of course you were. But just for one. Really truly honesty, just for one.

A few hours later and certainly having consumed more than “just the one”. Gin number 7. Dancing on the kitchen floor, forgotten you were ever feeling rough and not even considering the morning.

The road. Oh that famous, ever lengthening road. Just as you’re ready to leave, your coat is in sight and you’ve located your shoes, someone comes up with the bright idea of having one more alcoholic beverage “for the road”.

I’m telling you from experience, that road is the world’s longest road.

The hangover. Just about getting up ready to face the day. Crawling away from your heavy covers to your beauty parlor to help make you look better than you feel.

Work. The struggle but the unhelpful knowledge that it is entirely your fault, completely self inflicted and the thoughts about not drinking again. Definitely not drinking that evening. Perhaps not all week. In fact, right now the thought of alcohol makes you want to vomit.

The videos. The footage comes to haunt you. Photographs and video clips reminding you of how drunk you were, how stupid you were being and how awful your are at singing, luckily the clips don’t show your dancing. Clips that you don’t remember taking.

Never again. Never again.

Next time. Despite declaring yourself teetotal and vowing never to drink another Gin & Tonic, you find yourself back on it eight hours later, consuming Sauvignon Blanc with a friend. Here comes that almighty road. “Let’s just have one more for the road!”

Sound familiar, we’ve all been there.

If your head is anything like mine is right now then it will be buzzing.

It will be buzzing with a huge list of ‘to-dos’ before the big day which is fast approaching. It will be full of names of the people that you still need to buy for but ideas for presents for those that you’ve already bought for. It will be flagging from all the hours it’s working and a lack of sleep due to failure to shut it up overnight and it will be desperately trying to keep it all together.

As the festive season is in full swing, I thought it appropriate to dedicate my second festive blog post to 8 top tips to remain jolly during the festive rush.

A rush that occurs every single year without fail but one that I don’t quite understand due to the fact that we have an entire year to prepare.

However, panic and rush we always do so here goes.

1. Go online, avoid city centers

Yes, if you’re one of the many people who has left their entire list to buy for until the last few weeks before Christmas then the internet becomes your new best friend. Think again when getting into your car if you’re heading towards a town centre to shop, you will end up strangling somebody.

Not only will there be hoards of people slowly meandering around most of which will be the smug majority who finished their shopping back in May, there will also be crying kids who didn’t get to see Santa, queues for every checkout and a lack of availability on the shelves.

Sticking to the virtual shopping experience will keep you cool and avoid unnecessary violence.

2. Amazon

If the Internet is your best friend then Amazon is your true love. Just last night I was flicking through the world of Amazon, searching for certain specific requests for presents for family members and scrolling through the gift ideas sections for others. After about half an hour of solid searching, I completed all of my shopping.

It felt good. No waiting in traffic, no park and ride fees, no standing in queues or losing your patience behind the slow moving crowds of people. Just a simple confirmation email almost congratulating me on my success. Job done.

3. Keep on top of everything

Planning ahead is crucial at this busy time of year. It’s hard enough staying in control of things in the calmer months of the year so at Christmas it is more necessary to plan your time wisely.

Keeping up to date with work, chores, social events and everything in between can seem nigh-on impossible. However, having a diary in which you can write everything down will ensure that you don’t forget to attend your Christmas party while also remembering to change the bed, pick your sister up from the station and take your uncle to his carol concert the following day.

4. Always stop for a cup of tea

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – there is nothing quite like stopping for a cup of tea. Taking the time out of your day, fifteen or thirty minutes, to enjoy a warm cuppa and maybe a mince pie or two.

Especially at Christmas you might forget to do this but doing so will allow you that bit of breathing space to figure out what needs to be done next and to pause for a moment to feel good about all you’ve already completed.

5. Treat yourself too

Not much beats a new purchase for you especially at a time when you’re buying so much for others. A new dress for the Christmas party, some new accessories for you to wear on Christmas day, a new outfit for the pub on Christmas eve. Go on, treat yourself, you deserve it.

6. Wine

No matter what a rubbish day you have had at work, however much your family are getting on your nerves, or the slow people, or the fussy people you encounter each day, there is always, always wine.

Whether it’s red or white that you prefer, maybe even some of the warm mulled variety, wine is always a good way to chill out after a long day.

7. Appreciate the little things

This is important during every season of the year but when we are busy it is often one of the first things that we forget.

Appreciate the sunshine, the beautiful morning skies, the lights on your neighbors house. Appreciate the laughter of the children who enjoy this season most, the good will of most people at this time of year too. Appreciate your year, your life and everybody it and try really hard to do so because if you can’t be happy at Christmas then when can you be?

8. Remain calm, smile through it and embrace the festive spirit

The other day I’d had a really busy day at work, as is always the case, and in the last hour a man came in, ordered his ham for Christmas and then asked for two sacks of coal. I – reluctantly but not showing my hesitation – grabbed the keys to go up to the bunker to get it.

He offered to help. I was taken a back. What a kind man, I thought. He then, after loading his two bags onto the trolley, helped me further by voluntarily bringing two more sacks down to prevent me having to go up again that night. True genuine kindness and the spirit of Christmas. You don’t find too much of that these days but it’s what it’s all about.

Remain calm when you begin to lose your patience, smile even if it is through gritted teeth and embrace all that is good about this jolly festive season.

When things go wrong, have a cup of tea. If things are going great, have a cup of tea. In any given situation, have a cup of tea. Sometimes it is so important to physically sit yourself down and have a cup of tea.

While struggling to come up with a topic for this week’s blog post I decided to boil the kettle and make myself a nice mug of green tea, avoiding coffee for once in my life to give my stomach a break. Don’t be fooled I am no health freak.

As I was waiting for the kettle to boil I proceeded to empty the dishwasher, put away one load of washing that was hanging on the airer and hang the load that had finished in the machine up to dry. All of this was done in such a rush trying to beat the click of the boiled kettle.

I then made my tea as quickly as I could pour and took it straight upstairs to its usual position on my desk and started to work, leaving little room to breathe in the process.

It was in this moment that I came up with the topic that I am going to write about this week – the importance of a nice cup of tea.

Not only do I love tea but the whole process of drinking a warm beverage usually requires you to stop and be still, at least for the seconds that you’re sipping. This is why I have used the example of having a cup of tea to basically say – STOP. Sometimes we forget to in this modern chaos that we call life and it is so important.

What should have happened in the scenario I am describing seeing as I had just finished a busy six hour shift at work was that I should have made my cup of tea calmly, paused while waiting for the kettle to boil, sat down on my comfy sofa in my cosy living room and enjoyed every sip. I should have simply enjoyed the process of stopping for a fifteen minute period to have my cup of tea.

Life these days is mad and we are constantly fighting the ticking clock to get every task completed that we set ourselves. I am the worst for overloading work into a period of time that is too short for the amount I plan and I kick myself if I don’t get it all done, never even considering time for a short break.

However, stopping for that tiny period of time within our days to savor the moment of having a cup of tea will help no end. Deliberating over things while you wait for it to cool down a little, or if you’re me and a little pathetic with heat, then a lot. Enjoying every sip and a deep breath after. Loving the fact that you’ve actually stopped and not feeling guilty because it will only ever be for half an hour, max.

Not only does this process have the obvious benefits of hydrating you and warming you up especially during the winter months which are rapidly creeping upon us, but it helps psychologically in that people are proven to feel better after a nice cuppa. There are so many benefits to all kinds of tea and it’s surprising how a small amount of time spent physically stopping can refresh you more than you would think.

Next time you’re boiling the kettle, forget all tasks that need to be done for the time being and make sure you sit, with your cup of tea and enjoy. Appreciate the rare moment of physically stopping.

(I really need to take some of my own advice).

There may be lies and cheats and people who constantly tread on your feet. There might be people who will do anything to get their way, but there are always good people.

Some people will make you feel uncomfortable with their judgmental eyes glaring at you across the room. They may even be bold enough to comment on things such as how you look or act, but then there are always good people.

You might be following somebody down the road who is walking as slow as a snail and you want to get past because you’re late for an appointment. Or your issue lies with someone who can’t decide on what they want as they take up all the staff in the queue in front of you, but then there are always good people.

You may hear about the worst kind of people on the news. People who kill other people, hurt other people, hurt animals or abuse their rights, but you have to remember there are always good people.

The complainers and forceful brutes who think they know it all and want to step on everyone that they meet, but still there are always the people.

You might get frustrated at those who don’t work at all yet get everything handed to them while everybody else slaves away. Maybe it’s those who are so tight with money that they refuse to donate to charity that bother you most, but there are always the people.

There are people who love and give all that they have out into the world to share – they are good people.

There are those who never judge and have time for anybody no matter who they are nor what their own issues may be, their ears are for listening and that is what they offer – they are good people.

So many people rescue animals and provide them with a better home to live in for the rest of their good lives – they are good people.

There are people who will work for free, volunteer to help those less fortunate than themselves or work but give half of their wealth to a good organisation – they are good people.

If they do good deeds but don’t insist on anything back – they are good people.

When you’re in a shop and someone is short ten pence so the person behind gives it to them – they are good people.

Friends who give gifts or cards “just because” – they are good people.

Those who haven’t time but make it for people they love – they are good people.

People who love unconditionally and give hugs freely – they are good people.

Those who genuinely care – they are good people.

If you’re having a bad day remember that there are so many good people out there. If everything is going wrong then remember the good. Goodness is all around us, we just have to see it and focus on it.