Lifestyle

Personal musings from my life. Generally they’ll include anything millennial adults will ponder at midnight before the start of a new week! I.e ME! 

Chapter 3 : March’21 Goals

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Not sure if you missed me, but I took a impromptu break from the blog. I didn’t really have much to say regarding January, especially after the horrific lows I seemed to feel throughout. I know I won’t be alone in saying this lockdown has been the hardest yet. Starting a new year with the same turmoil of the last just had a hugeeee impact on my mental wellbeing.

Thankfully, I’d spent some time managing my thoughts and focusing on myself. Since taking that break, and not being around to update you all, there is a lot to pack into this update and goal post!

Read : My Jan’21 Goals

11 Weeks in the House

I can’t quiet believe that we have reached 11 weeks in the house already! And I’m shocked to say we have conquered our Jan’21 Goals, among many others too! Suffice to say, some of these would have been my Feb goals, but hey ho.

Quick Home Update

Our loft was boarded just a week ago, and it’s been a life changer! We have managed to store all of those nitty gritty ‘ can’t get rid nor store anywhere else ‘ and we are so happy. Baring in mind the weight worry and initial “you shouldn’t store anything in the loft” speech from the builders, we managed to find someone that would do it to the NHBC standards and not void any of our warranty. Obviously, we still have to be considerate towards the weight of what we are storing, but its meant we have been ruthless with the junk we have collected- win win!

Read my advice on getting your new build loft boarded

We’ve Started Painting! Finally. And not one, not two. but three rooms so far. I caught the bug and I just couldn’t stop. My week off in February was very very productive! I’ll be sharing more of the transformations on the blog, but you can check some of them already on instagram.

Our lawn was turfed! Which made a hugeeeee difference. This was something that happened early January and we are so glad we got it done. We thought we could wait, but Rhodie really needed the space, and it’s paid off. We are now about 6 weeks since having it done, and are now thinking garden plans to make the space perfect for Summer.

Our wardrobes arrived and have been fitted! This felt like a task that took forever, but they came, and we finally have bedroom furniture and some much needed storage in our third bedroom. It was a long time coming, but its pulling together and we are both happy with the decision to keep a wardrobe out of our master bedroom!

My March’21 Home Goals

2021 is all about my home, so in truth, there really isn’t any other goals for me outside of it. I have been really struggling to think of other goals outside making our new build a real home, and that’s my sign. I have certainly ramped up my instagram feed, and I have even started to create reels. But my creativity in other areas of my life ( my blog and letterbox ) has all stemmed from finally getting round those bits and bobs I had been thinking about when we were waiting for our home to be finished. And I love that. So instead of making up some probably random things that I’d kinda like to achieve outside my home, I’m keeping my home my focus – at least for now anyway.

Have livable spare bedrooms

As with anything home, there is a domino effect with everything. And now there really is no reason not to have 2 usable spare bedrooms, I hope March signifies that turning point, especially with real storage in our third bedroom and a loft space for those bits we want to store.

Paint some more

After catching that painting bug, and with no more immediate works going on internally, I am eager to get some more spaces painted and with a splash of colour. We still have 7 more spaces to paint, one being the killer hall, stairs and landing. Having been fairly successful in the previous 3 rooms, I am confident we can get it done, and I’m hoping we can before the warmer weather strikes. I have stuck to my colour palette so far, but it has certainly had some revisions since being in the house.

Start the garden plans

We do have a great blank canvas in the garden. And having seen Rhodie run across the grass we are so happy with our decision to turf early. Even during these still chilly, but sunny days, its been lovely to have some green space. But as always, we have some big plans and ambitions for the garden space. We are truly lucky to have such a long garden, and we want to utalise it as much as possible. But our garden is also uneven, sloping away at the bottom. So making the garden plans in March will really help the process of creating a garden we will love, utalise and work well with the space and terrain we have!

Plant…something!

I didn’t ever think I would be that keen to get started on the gardening, but living in a literal building site with dust and mud everywhere, I really want to plant some pretty pretty flowers, atleast in time for Spring. Aside from the back garden, I want to soften the front of our property, and our brick wall to the side of our drive. Lots to do outside this March.

I am so excited for our plans for our home. And thanks to Bojo’s latest announcement, I am just excited to let people into our own green space, hopefully for a BBQ and cocktails!

What do you have planned for the month of March? Do you have any tips for a newbie gardener? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comment section!

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My January 2021 Goals

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Hiyah Friends, and welcome back to my monthly goals post. Now, besides being nosy, I find goal posts inspirational to read and even write. They can help maintain and channel focus, especially when we are living and experiencing something like a worldwide pandemic.

Whilst it would have been easy to leave my goal posts behind in 2020, I wanted to keep up these regular posts. Even if it makes it a little easier at the end of the year to pinpoint key milestones of a year. As a new year dawns on us, and the prospect of better times gleaming through, I am so excited for this fresh start.

So, without rambling on much longer, lets kick start 2021 with a brand new set of goals for January.

January flat lay

Get completely un-boxed

It’s no surprise when people say they have boxes from their move that still haven’t been unpacked several years later. Thankfully, we have unpacked the majority of our boxes, with a few stubborn left in our third bedroom. Although I would LOVE to hide them away and forget about them, its really not an option. Here’s hoping by the end of January we will have un-packed and found a home for it all and boxes will be no more!

Board our loft

There comes alot of pros from moving into a brand new build home, but one of the cons we have quickly found is the well insulated but lack of storage loft we have been left with. Of course, that means it’s down to us to install some boarding to house our Christmas decorations.

With the pure intention of getting everything straight, high on our list is making our loft storage safe. With a quick google and look at DIY stores, it seems fairly straightforward and not tooo expensive to install. Here’s hoping it goes well.

Wardrobes

The bane of my life and a main reason why our upstairs feels so cluttered – we don’t have any wardrobes, With one chest of draws, clothes are piled unattractively across various bedrooms making it a very stressful experience when trying to find something to wear. I’m praying in January we can finally order and build some much needed wardrobe storage and I can finally get my clothes where they should be.

Part of the reason we still don’t have wardrobes is the delay on Ikea Pax wardrobe solutions. Unfortunately, there are no other alternatives that offer us the storage we need in the space we have.

Read : Our 2021 Interior plans for our New Build Home

Letterbox

Letterbox had a break at the end of 2020. Having had a tough year, it became hard to keep on top of the magazine and give it the attention is deserves. There have been a lot of plans and content creation over the previous weeks, so it will all be ready for its first edition in 2021.

Blog

I think its fair to say my blog is going nowhere in 2021. Over the previous months, it was hard to create the content I really wanted, but having moved into our new home, and with lots of plans to make it our own, I’m excited for the year of DIY, home decor and interior content.

I finally feel my content will reflect my current passions and I’m so excited for the year.

Unlike every January, I feel so optimistic for the month, and even the year. We have a new focus, that being the house, but I feel so rooted, unlike the back end of 2020. With a new home, a puppy and lots of projects, I feel everything is set up for a cracking year, whatever the universe throws our way.

What’s your January goals?

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Taking a positive look back on 2020 – What did I achieve?

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Christmas has been and gone on what can only be described as the most surreal year to date. And I don’t know about you, but I am excited to look onto a new year and hopefully a brighter time for us all.

But before I bid farewell to this wretched year, I want to look back on 2020 in a positive light. There has been so much negativity surrounding these last 12 months, I didn’t want to kick start the new year with the same negative energy. So, grab a cuppa and even jot down your own happy memories of 2020. Do let me know if you create your very own 2020 round up, I’d love to give it a read.

We moved into our first house

If you’ve been around here for a while, you would have probably got fed up of my ongoing commentary of buying and selling to get into our first house. But this is by far our biggest achievement of 2020.

5 Years after stepping onto the property ladder, we made the next step. Yes, there was a 3 month wait, and we did have to move back in with my parents, but it was totally worth it.

Our family grew – with 4 little paws

Little did we know 2020 would entail a little fluff ball by the name of Rhodie. In September we brought home a Cockapoo who would steal our hearts, literally. Now, several months later, we literally couldn’t imagine our home without him. Dogs offer real warmth, purpose and love in a home, and he’s literally the best addition to our family.

Appreciation towards the small things

Lock-down 1 (March), 2 (November) and 3 (December) have all spurred my appreciation for the small things in life. Those small trips to Starbucks on the weekend, the sunshine on my cheeks, the small chit chats with family face to face. 2020 was a year of keeping your distance, but also embracing, and appreciating what we do have in life. I am forever grateful for 2020 highlighting my gratitude for my own home, and stable job.

I found my happy

In everything I have put into 2020. From working from home, moving property and continuing my own business. If this turbulent year has taught me anything, its to make sure I’m happy with the choices I take and the path I embark.

This year has certainly not been filled with new cities explored, sunny holidays or BBQs in the sunshine with friends and family. For many of us, its been a quiet year. But i’m forever grateful that at the end of this strange old year, I’m still in a lucky position in my job, relationship and home.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Thank you so much for supporting me and my slice of the web, I’m so excited to continue my journey with you throughout 2021.

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7 Weeks of Puppy Love – What it’s been like as a fur mumma!

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People now call me mum, to Rhodie, which has been rather bizarre but also warming. Because in these last 7 weeks, I seem to have gained a ‘mothering instinct’ when it comes to this little pup. Whether it be clearing the latest inside accident, nabbing stones from his mouth or playing with the water bowl to make sure he’s getting plenty, my every second thought now surrounds this little fluff ball.

But boy, its hard work taking on this roll as fur-mumma. Beside the poop and wee, there is so much to worry about! Has he eaten something he shouldn’t have? I hope that’s not poisonous for dogs? Is he bored?

But thankfully, me and my husband seemed to have created a fantastic team when rearing a puppy. With a little discipline, but a heck load of love, Rhodie has come on leaps and bounds – literally!

Potty Training

It took several weeks but we have made huge headway when it comes to poops and wees! We only went through 130 puppy pads to get him preferring the grass to the hard wood flooring. I had heard of lots of different tactics to encourage outdoor toilet trips, but we only found a couple of things that actually helped.

Keeping him on a lead – Especially in the first couple of weeks, keeping him on a lead in the garden helped, especially since he could be easily distracted.
Staying in one place – Within the garden was a fantastic idea! It meant Rhodie knew when we headed to a particular spot within the garden it was for one reason only – the toilet. Even now off the lead, he nearly always does his business in that area!
Praise – And lots of it! Our neighbors must have thought me and my husband were mad, but we really really praised any toilet trips. Keeping out tone high pitched and lots and lots of cuddles and clapping. He now associates those outdoor toilet trips with high praise!

When it comes to incidents inside the home, we have always sent Rhodie outside after, and reinforced no and naughty when Rhodie was inspecting the crime scene. In recent weeks, we found he wasn’t telling us so much so he needed to go outside and would just wee inside for the sake of it. On these occasions we rubbed his snout in his wee and again reinforced no. Whilst it sounds harsh, it worked as very quickly he was once again telling us he needed to go outside.

We have no way moved past the indoor incidents, but they are certainly few and far between.

Bedtime

This is an interesting one, as we are in a very unique situation, living at my parents whilst our new build home is finished. Alas, we knew we wanted Rhodie to have full reign of our new home, and sleeping upstairs with us when we are in our new abode. Bearing this in mind, from the start he has been staying in our bedroom. No downstairs crating, always in our room in his own bed.

During the early days, he was in a crate, but he would cry and cry if the door was locked. So, naturally, that door has never been closed or locked! Whilst I panicked we would wake up to a room shredded beyond recognition, we have been incredibly lucky that he has yet to knaw, nibble or ruin any furniture during the night!

In the last couple of weeks we have invested in a bigger dog bed and had away with the crate. Although I thought this might have an impact, it hasn’t. He settles easily at night, with willingly going into his bed once we have turned the tv off, and only wakes us at 6:30am every morning to join us for a snooze on the bed.

Always lead them to their bed – Reinforce the word bed when putting them in their crate / bed and always take them straight back if they leave.
Ensure there are chew toys – Like ropes and cuddly toys. This will ensure you’re not waking up to carnage.
Before Bed, a good let out – We always let Rhodie out just before bed. This will reinforce the idea that that is the time to go toilet.
When they cry, don’t talk and let them out – This is another one I read on the internet and it works a treat. To discourage a playtime during the middle of the night, listening to their cries and letting them out without acknowledgement is a clear sign they should go out, do their business and go back to bed.

Walks

We were so lucky that at just 12 weeks old he was ready to go for daily walks. And keen to make sure he was road savvy, we have only been on local walks to the park. In fear of pushing him too much at once, we have been fairly frequent for walks, but doing no more than 10-15min at a time.

We are reinforcing sit at the curbside and he is now getting the hang of sitting and waiting – so much so we don’t have to say it. I would highly recommend this type of walking first before heading on extravagant woodland walks. Short leads also help refrain him from pulling!

I don’t think anyone really appreciates how much patience it takes for a puppy.

As much as you can prep for broken sleep, wee and poo, being relied on by a fluffy friend is pretty tiring. Aside from the financial tie, puppies and dogs require love, care and attention, even when you might not feel able to offer it 100%.

Getting a puppy has been the best decision we made, but has been testing. Being at home with a demanding puppy can feel pretty isolating and lonely, especially during a pandemic. The worry of leaving them alone, even for a quick pop to the shops is ever present. Plus the guilt when you do come home and they are just so eager to see you again.

But having that little fluff ball is also so rewarding. The pure joy of just being with you is so warming, and just feeling needed and loved, even when you yourself have the worst day. Being in demand, mopping floors constantly, clearing poo, yes its all grinding but its totally worth it!

My Top Tips for new fur-parents

Set boundaries from the start – Like being on the sofa and bed. This is vital because confusion from you will only lead to a confused, disobedient pup. We have trained Rhodie to sit and wait to be invited up to either the sofa of bed.
The lead is your best friend – Especially in the early days of potty training. Whilst it can be tedious to keep going out with the puppy, it helps ensure they know where to go to the toilet and won’t be distracted when in the garden.
Integrate early – with other doggos. We are fortunate that we are living with my parents and elder dog currently. But we have ensured he is mixing with other dogs including family dogs and greeting others on walks.

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5 Things to do during lock-down 2.0 – that you didn’t do last time!

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That’s it, we, the UK, are in another national lock-down. 4 Weeks of essential travel and shopping only, and no visits to family or friends. It’s a scary time so it’s completely understandable to be overwhelmed, worried, scared, anxious. And everything in between of course. I myself am taking a different approach to this next lock-down – with a whole lot of positive attitude.

Along with that positive mindset, I’ve decided to make sure this lock-down is a little more productive than the last, with these five things I’ll be doing over the next 4 weeks.

Read : Simple life pleasures whilst staying at home

Keep in touch

If I’ve learnt anything since lock-down ever became a thing, it’s that keeping in touch with friends and family is so important for all involved. Make sure you keep in touch with them over these coming weeks. This second lock-down can be tough for us all, so making menial chit-chat and even unloading your worries to a friendly ear can hugely help keep spirits high.

Top Tip : Perhaps this lock-down is a fantastic time to create weekly quizzes or Sunday afternoon tea catch ups via facebook video.

Send Gifts

Lock-down can be a lonely old time, so sending a quick pick me up to someone special can ease the strain. It doesn’t have to be expensive, even just a little care package of self-care items including hand cream, bath salts and more.

Shop online

Retail therapy can make anyone feel a little better, surely? And in November there is an even bigger excuse to shop – Christmas! Don’t forget to shop small too – supporting independent businesses can be the lifeline they need during this difficult time.

Do that thing you have been putting off

I’ve been putting an awful lot off recently, partly due to my lack of enthusiasm. But as 2020 starts to wind down, now is a great time to make a little something of the year – that’s my mindset anyway.

Conquering those bits and bobs you’ve been putting off all year will certainly give some purpose to the year, and make this lock-down productive.

Release the Pressure

Of feeling like you have to be achieving something. Whilst this post might come across like you need to be doing something productive during a lock-down, you don’t. You really should just be looking out for yourself, and your loved ones as much as possible.

Release the pressure on yourself and your mental health by unwinding, taking time to distance from the madness. Lock-down isn’t here to learn a new skill, write a book or knit an entire wardrobe. But if that’s what helps release the pressure and unwind than do what you need.

This lock-down is so different from the previous. We all kinda know what to expect, and we know we can make it through. Like my husband says, we all have a 100% track record for making it through every day.

What will you be doing differently this lock-down? Do you have any plans?
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My November Goals

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Well, well, well, November here you are! It seems a bi-monthly goal post is much easier to pen together. With a lack of activity and not much change through the month of October, I really struggled to see the positives and have something to focus on. Much rather, I sought the, keep your head down and press on attitude. October entailed a lot of window shopping for home purchases and settling in with our little pup – Rhodie.

As November started with the announcement of another national lock-down, it seemed like a good month to write off. But as easy as that would be, my mind is focused on tackling some of my to-do list and some of the things I should have achieved during lock down 1.0.

So, here it is, my November Goals to manifest into reality.

Read : My September Goals

Plan and Purchase

Back in September, it was all about exchanging and moving out of of our first home. But it’s already been 6 weeks since we made the move out, and have thankfully exchanged on our new build and completed on our apartment! Now the wait is on for our property to finish, on schedule, just in time for Christmas.

With *hopefully* just a month or so to go until we have those precious keys, November really is about planning and ordering those important pieces ready for our completion. I have lots of ideas, and my eye on lots of pieces, but its time to make the decisions and order where we can.

Read : Lessons I learnt from decorating our first home.

Get Rhodie road savvy!

Late October marked the milestone of Rhodie being able to go outside on walks and experience the wider world. He loves his little walks and we are keen to get him road savvy before taking him on countryside walks on the rolling hills. I hope by the end of November he will be confident roadside, and sitting curbside too!

Read : Prepping for Puppy parenthood

Dare I say, Read…?

I say this because back in September I wanted to read just 2 books in a month, and I didn’t even manage that. So I say it again, reading is on my agenda, especially with another lock-down imminent.

Read : Simple life pleasures whilst staying at home

Start the Christmas shopping

I fear Christmas shopping with social distancing, minimal customer numbers and queuing outside stores is a recipe for disaster. Paired with the prospect of an early December completion and my endless list of new home DIY, getting started early on Christmas shopping is a must for November. I will be shopping online for much of my shopping, and I’m excited to spread the cost instead of dumping it all on my credit card.

November will be the month for lock-down 2.0. And instead of wasting the time safe at home, we plan to get things ready for our next chapter, and prepared for the festive season.

What are your plans for the month of November? Do you have any goals for November?

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Prepping for Puppy Parenthood

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I have always wanted a dog for my own. Having a family dog came quiet late for me and pets were usually hamsters and rabbits. Our cheeky Cocker Spaniel, Chester, came bouncing into our home during my second year of Uni. And as much as I was away, I still fell in love with him and relished having him as part of the family.

But I quickly purchased my own home and moved out with my husband, leaving Chester very much the family dog I didn’t have complete responsibility for.

As we started house hunting, I toyed and joked about us expanding our brood by four fluffy paws and my husband was very, very cautious. We live fairly selfish lives, and having had nothing to care and be responsible for before, we weren’t sure if we could take the plunge. So we parked the idea.

Fast forward 6 weeks, and my Uncles two Cockapoos had their very first litter. Like a twist of fate, the litter of 5 puppies included just one boy and we just knew we had to jump at the chance. It’s not every day you know both the mother and father doggos come from a good home.

Once we had confirmed our property, and my parents had agreed the puppy could move in with us, it was a given and we started visiting our puppy, from as little as 4 weeks old. With each visit, we fall more and more in love with him and his growing personality.

Read : My September Goals

But, of course, there is a lot to prep for when it comes to our new addition. Even when living back with your parents. Luckily, my current work situation means I can be around the puppy at all times. Plus we have another dog to guide him into a routine, so hopefully there won’t be too much indoor poop and wee!

Aside from the aesthetically and oh so cute bits and bobs ( leads, collars, name tags ), there’s the insurance, crate, vets bills, puppy pads, bed and so much more.

We have just 4 days to go until our world will be flipped by a little fluff ball. Our late morning starts and free-spirit attitude will be quickly replaced with midnight toilet breaks and worrying for the destruction after leaving the house for just a couple of hours.

Are you a puppy parent? Any advice for a first timer? Leave you advice in the comment section below.

ps. Be prepped for plenty of puppy pics.

We sold our home in 3 days – during Covid!

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I really didn’t think I would be writing this, but honestly, we sold our 2 bed apartment, during a pandemic, in 3 days! And to say I went into a huge meltdown is understatement.

Those eagle eyed followers will see some of my content will allude to something happening in the property department. And well, we seemed to have managed to sell our current property and buy our first house!!!

We’d been thinking of moving since we got married, and my anxiety towards money had held us back. But the turn of a new year, and some of those quirky aspects of owning an apartment growing old, we just knew it was time to take the plunge.

And then Corona arrived.

But that didn’t stop us. Instead, we used the lock down as time to prep our home for selling and it clearly worked. Within 3 days of being on the market, we had an offer at full asking and we were suddenly looking for our next home. This is about the time I really started to panic – we needed to find a house!

Paired with new viewing restrictions, the surge in the market and even delays to new builds due to lack of material and several weeks of lock down, it was pure hell trying to find a property. We didn’t want to lose our buyer, but we didn’t have lots of time to try and find the biggest purchase we would have ever made.

But as luck would have it, in just a couple of weeks, we had a offer accepted and we were back on the new build treadmill to buy our first house.

Read : How we prepped for selling our home during lock-down

Our New Home

Its funny, this new build site had popped up on Rightmove several times and I had totally discounted it. I will happily admit, I am a house snob and the illustrated pictures did not do the development justice. After my husband noted it down, and we drove to the site, we requested info and went down to the properties. Within 2 days we had fallen in love with a floorplan ( because it was just a pile of bricks ) and had put our little red spot on plot 168.

Now, 15 weeks after our offer, we are handing over the keys to our apartment, and heading back to my parents.

We are so thankful that we have the opportunity to get out of our property and wait for our new home to be finished. There is always a risk when purchasing a new build that all your ducks won’t align, and your buyer not waiting for yours to be ready. We knew, even when we considered a renovation project, that we wanted to get out as soon as possible, living with my parents till we found a house or ours was finished.

Now we wait, and plan, and spend!

It’s expected our property will be ready by the end of November, if not earlier! So whilst lodging with parents, we will be hunting, picking and buying flooring, paint colours and new furniture! With so many plans for the brand new house and bare garden, we have plenty to think about and plan whilst we patiently wait for the finished product.

After chickening our several year ago to chat money and moving, I am so happy with how everything has turned out. Even when a pandemic, moving deadlines and long wait times were looming, we managed to buy a house that offered us everything we wanted ( and a bit more ).

If you’re thinking of moving, do it!

How I’ve learnt to keep focus when working from home

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7 months. That’s how many months I have been working from home. 4 months is how many I have left, all being well of course. My completely digital day job has been moved home for the rest of 2020 and whilst I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work throughout the pandemic, it can be damn hard to focus on the job at hand – literally!

I really wouldn’t choose to work from home full time, but alas here I am. So how have I kept focus? Well, there were plenty of times where I had to be my own cheerleader and motivate myself to work, but I seem to have a bank of tools to use if I have a not so manic Monday.

Here’s how I’ve been keeping my head in the game, despite there being so many distractions at home…

Read : Is a routine the key to WFH happiness?

Change of scenery

And whilst this might seem exactly the opposite of working from home, changing your scenery could be the kick up the bum, get my work done change you need. Head to a local coffee shop, work space or even to a friends for a day of work. Being outside your comfortable home can help peel you away from the latest netflix series, pop album and even the fridge. Being elsewhere will certainly help focus the mind on your job.

Set breaks

Back in the office, you used to jump up for a cup of coffee at natural intervals. Without anyone else around you, nor a rhythm in your work, you can find yourself making too many breaks, or even not enough! Setting yourself regular breaks to make a coffee, grab a snack, or take a walk around the block can help give you the small breaks you need, and divide up your working day into small chunks.

Close the laptop at lunch

When in the office, its not uncommon to head to the on site cafe, visit a colleague, head into town or grab lunch locally. Working from home saves pennies, but can mean you spend lunch stuck in the same position as the rest of the day. Closing the screen for your lunch ensures you take a break, even for the sake of your eyes. Being away from you WFH desk and screen can help re-focus when you come back to work.

Switch off the distractions

Some people, me included, just hate silence. Having a TV show or radio playing in the background can help focus the mind – it does work for me. But for others, it doesn’t and only works as a nice distraction from their workload. Understand what distracts you and what helps keep you focused.

Make a good environment

No one really thought when working from home started that we could be working from home for such a prolonged amount of time. But even if you have a month, or 3 , left to work from home, comfort is key. Having a good place to be able to work is critical to keeping focus when working. Being uncomfortable breeds moving away from the workload and doing everything but.

Accept when you need a breather

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much work you need to do, you just can’t focus enough. Know when things aren’t working and you need a breather. Take a walk, switch on some music or even do some of those home chores. Taking a 10 minute breather from your work load can give you the breathing space you need to collect your thoughts and re-focus.

Keep lists

Never under estimate a good old list, especially when trying to focus. It can certainly feel over whelming when there is lots to do, so writing it all down to visulise, priortise and tick off can be a great way to manage a hectic schedule, and remain focused.

Are you working from home? How are you maintaining your focus when there are so many potential distractions?

My September goals

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To say the last couple of months have been hard, would be an understatement. Loss, stress, excitement, new beginnings. It seems like we’ve had it all in the last 3 months.

I had wanted to keep it on the down low, at least until the legal paper work had been finalized, but we managed to sell our apartment, and reserve our first house back in June. Yes, we sold in a pandemic, and managed to find a property that gave us everything we wanted as a married couple and growing family.

We happily exchanged just last week on a beautiful new build property with Linden. We will immanently be moving into my parents property until its completion in December.

Aside from the move, we’ve also bagged a gorgeous little puppy for our new home! He is a cockapoo and we are both overjoyed and so excited to add a little fluff ball to our family. Of course, we will be in my parents home for nearing 10 weeks, so he will be there with us, and our family dog, Chester.

So that’s for the update, now to crack on with my goals. Because if I have learnt anything from the last 3 months, and lock down, having something to focus on is so important. I have started to take on manifestation, as a way to visualize and even materilise some of those things I’ve always wanted, into reality.

It seems to have worked to some degree, so putting together this month target post is a way for me to manifest those targets and hopefully help them become a reality.

Get back to the blog

An impromptu hiatus from the blog was so well received, but it’s time that I stop the slouching and get back to it. My rhythm has returned and I finally have some energy to write and create. My creativity had taken a hit during the slow summer, but I find something rather refreshing and energizing about September. I have lots of posts penned, of course many including the new home, and how I have been coping with the lack of travel.

For September, I hope to post 5 new blog posts and re-shuffle the design.

Read, read, read!

My end of year target is 25 books and I have hit a stumbling block at the 18th read. I have had some pretty terrible reads lately, one of which took me several weeks to finally decide I could take no more. My stack of to be read is pretty healthy and I’m hoping my refresh will expand into my reading and I will hit target pronto!

For September I hope to read just 2 new books.

Keep at Letterbox

Hopefully you have heard of my brain child – Letterbox Magazine. Over the last 3 months I have really focused on my new love, a digital home interior magazine. And it seems to have worked. It’s instagram page hit over 10,000 followers and the subscriber list is ever growing. Even more promising is the impact it has on home owners, with plenty of inspo and advice for creating a real home. It receives so many positive reviews and comments and I couldn’t be prouder of the progress I have achieved through it these last couple of months.

But as it grows, so does my workload. I am really hoping that in September, with my blog back in schedule, that I can just keep both a float. I have really struggled with this is the past, but I have faith in myself that I can do it.

Exchange & Move

September will be the month that we move from our first ever property! Whilst I didn’t think I would be so eager to head back home to mum and dad, my brain can’t seem to handle juggling a new build property, picking options, working from home, chasing solicitors, organizing bills and choosing new furniture all at once. So ticking off the flat, moving out and being able to just focus on the new home is high on my agenda.

Moving home is no easy, quick task. But this seems to have gone on long enough. Now we have firmly secured our house, I am excited whilst sad for the completion day to arrive. As mentioned I just think I will be happy to have that one aspect ticked off the list.

Become Puppy Parents

And last but no means least is the biggest goal of all – successfully being a puppy parent. Its funny, because other than ourselves, we have nothing to be responsible for. So having a bouncy, barking four legged fluff ball to feed, walk and nurture is something we are both so excited, yet nervous for. My little to buy list is ever growing and I am so impressed with the beautiful range of pet products that I had no desire to purchase before!

If you don’t currently keep goals for your month, I would highly recommend giving them a little trial. It surely gives you something to focus on, especially for those times when you feel lost and unable to focus.

What’s your September goals?