The most January of January's is over!

My ramblings on surviving a UK winter, my new routine with a productivity hack and how I'm feeling about life right now

Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash

Hello everyone

How was your January? Are you welcoming February with open arms? I’m certainly pleased that we’re a few steps closer to longer days and the clocks going forward. I mentioned back in my letter at the start of the year that it was likely going to be a very January January for me. And, reader, I was pretty much correct. I started back at work after an 18 month break which was a shock to the system, forcing me to return to certain habits I’d let slip whilst travelling, such as getting up to an alarm or brushing my hair. I’ll admit though that it hasn’t taken me as long to adjust as I thought it might have done. It definitely took me longer to adjust to travelling after leaving work in 2022 then it has to get back into work. I’m not sure what this says about me as a person. Actually, I think it probably says more about society. I was so tangled up in the nine-to-five mindset that it took me a good six months to untangle myself and perhaps it’s the being so tangled in the first place that has then enabled me in taking no time at all to get back into it. I’ll just need to make sure I don’t get as tangled this time around.

Are you keeping up or are you tangled now too?

The thing with working, whilst something I obviously need to do as millionaire I most certainly am not, is how much time it takes up. I then have to figure out how to fit in all the other things I want and need to do. By the way, this isn’t a pity call, and I’d encourage you to not feel sorry for me (unless you really want to). My life is no great hardship and my issues are pretty much what you might call ‘first world’ but when you get used to having all the time in the world to explore, to read, to write, to run, to practise yoga, or to generally just lounge and faff about to then actually having to think when you are going to do this stuff, is quite a change. Then throw in the added life admin duties of cleaning a house or doing laundry or walking the dog, and my day is over before it’s even started. I honestly don’t know how people with children do it.

One thing I’m actually quite proud of myself for so far this year is my dedication to my training routine and, without wanting to brag, I’ve been getting out of the house most mornings to either go to the gym or for a run. I’m the kind of person who if I don’t get my workout done first thing, it never happens. So I make that my priority. It’s also good for me to get out of the house before a day of working from home otherwise you will find me going stir crazy due to the onset of cabin fever. I’m following a training plan so everything is scheduled in for me which helps to keep me accountable and most definitely helps me out of bed in the dark, wet, windy dismal British winter weather.

When it comes to my writing I’m trying to squeeze in moments where I can. Sometimes before work, oftentimes afterwards. I tend to write a lot on weekends. It’s the same with reading. Honestly, I’m missing being able to give so much time to them both but it does make those moments where I do sit to write or read even more special. It’s also not necessarily a reduction in time that is having the biggest impact but a reduction in headspace after a busy day at work. For the first couple of weeks, I was tired and I wasn’t sleeping well, perhaps due to new surroundings or change in lifestyle, so finding time to focus on anything else other than work was hard.

But, reader, I’ve found a new hack! It’s simple really but I’m finding it super effective - a productivity timer!

I usually set it for 30 minutes, and at the same time I hit play on a playlist of choice. The timer notifies me when my 30 minutes is up and encourages me to take a five minute break, which I do, and then I either set it for another 30 minutes or I don't, depending on what I have time for. I find this method allows me to deep focus without any distractions. The productivity app is on my phone but I was looking at buying a separate timer to avoid me having to use my phone because, let’s be honest, it’s usually my phone which is the source of my distractions!

Does anyone else have anything they do or use when wanting to have a period of deep focused work? Let me know in the comments below!

Ok, I’m going to be very British now and mention the weather. I know, I know. What did I expect from spending January in the Yorkshire Dales? I don’t think it helps that last winter my husband and I were in southern Spain enjoying those warm temperatures, blue skies and longer hours of sunlight. What my time here is making me realise is that I can’t spend another winter in the UK. Waking up in the dark, starting work in the dark, finishing work in the dark, running in the dark. Darkness all the time. And the rain. And the wind. And the cold. And not just for a few days (Spain does rain too!) but for days and weeks on end. I find myself counting down to the weekend just to be exposed to more daylight. I try and get out for a walk on my lunch each day to get at least a tiny hit of vitamin D but it’s not ideal.

*Frantically adds winter sun to vision board*

Time troubles and weather woes aside, I’m feeling pretty good. I feel blessed to be spending time in a beautiful part of the UK. I feel grateful for this period of stability and the opportunity to get into a good routine with my running, even planning in some races. I’m using my brain at work, and dare I say it, actually enjoying it. And I’ve been partaking in my second favourite hobby, eating, by doing a foodie tour of the local area resulting in me stuffing my face every weekend with delicious food. It made me think how in another life I would have loved to be a food critic. But how does one even embark on such a career?

Anyway…

Whilst we of course never stop planning for our future, this little chapter is giving us the chance to regroup and refocus and decide what our future has in store for us. It’s all quite exciting really!

I appreciate this has been a complete ramble and if you made it this far, thank you and you’re welcome!

I’ll see you next time 💜

Much love

Lyndsay

xxx