5 things I loved this January
I started making a record of ‘5 Things I Loved This Month’ in my bullet journal about six months ago. I think one of the first places I saw the notion of collecting your favourite things of the month was this post that I found on Pinterest. It’s a wonderful way to keep track of the positives of the month. Sometimes the best bits of the month are small things, like a new favourite nail polish. Other times its lunch with my best friend, or taking the dogs for a walk on a perfect afternoon.
This little monthly ritual is one of the ways I practice gratitude. Making a deliberate list of my favourite things of the month is a way to reflect on the simple pleasures I’ve experienced. I can’t encourage you enough to start this on a monthly basis. Keeping track of things that delight you is a surefire way of bringing them into your life more. They can be as meaningful or as frivolous as you like! As long as it’s something that gave you pleasure, interested you, taught you something, or made you smile then it’s got a place on the list!
Your list can be as long or as short as you like. I’ve picked ‘5 Things’ because it suits me, but you can pick 3 or 10. This is your beautiful life, you can set your own rules of what makes you happy and how you want to record it.
1. Writing this blog!
I haven’t written in any kind of organised or regular way since finishing my MA. Writing had become a chore. It felt like hard work and something everyone else wanted from me, rather than something I wanted to do for myself.
Committing to this blog and writing for it regularly, with posts from my heart and my life, has felt like such a welcome home to writing for me! Completing all of the website building tech stuff, which is really not my forte, was also a step out of my comfort zone.
I feel really good about my new writing routine, and I’m planning on getting a quality, thoughtful post created for you all twice a week. It’s making me happy, and satisfied!
2. Going to Shambala Festival with my best friend!
I haven’t been to a big festival in more than five years, with my anxiety playing a big part in holding me back. So this is a big deal! And it’s a super cool, award winning, eco friendly, glitter bomb weekend of amazing.
We are already planning outfits and crazy make-up, and what bits we most want to see and do. I am already so exited. There will be music, all vegetarian food, yoga, fantastic debate and political groups.
And best of all? The venue is about half an hour from my home! I feel so grateful that this explosion of excitement and happiness is right on my doorstep!
3. I got some new nail polish!
I have become quite a fan of Essie nail polishes, and I just got a new colour this month – Ladylike. I have developed a little weekly ritual of sitting and renewing my manicure every Sunday. I pop a movie on, settle down, and focus on making my nails cute!
I’m fan of makeup and dressing well, but I particularly love having my nails painted with a colour I love. Because while I can’t see my own face, even if my eyeliner is on point, I can see my hands all day and a good nail polish makes me smile!
4. Winter weather!
I know, I know. It’s a total nightmare for so many of us. But I’m a winter baby through and through, and as much as I love the summer, I get a special glow when I wake up to see snow falling!
This Sunday we had a lovely flurry of snow, that eventually settled for a couple of hours. So off I trotted to the park (with the pups) for a little walk in the snow!
Admittedly, the puppies got cold about halfway through so we carried them in our jackets. But that’s a win too in my books – puppy cuddles and snow! Needless to say I’m buying them jackets, which is going to be so cute I may pass out!
You can check out lots of pictures of them by following me on Instagram!
5. I’m working part-time now!
This is a biggie. I’m feeling incredibly fortunate to be in the position to reduce my hours from 37 hours a week down to 25 hours. This last year I have really struggled with being ill a lot, and an overwhelming amount of stress.
I tend to throw myself wholeheartedly into things, and I’ve ended up coming home from work so exhausted I hardly have the energy to watch a whole movie, never mind work on my own projects!
In just the last 3 weeks of being part time I’ve made strides with my Etsy store, set lots of balls in motion for another business idea, worked on this blog, and I’ve started a project management course. I feel energised, motivated, and full of determination.
Final thoughts…
Making a list of 5 things you loved this month (or whatever amount you settle on!) is a really accessible way to start practicing gratitude. In the times when I’ve struggled most with anxiety, or had a really tough time, I found it hard to practice daily gratitude. When you’re feeling down it’s hard to think of anything positive. But at the end of the month coming up with 3, 5 (or more) things that you loved or enjoyed? That’s a lot easier.
Maybe it is a nail polish, or a cup of tea with your mum, or even a lie in after a week of hard work. The act of sitting and thinking about what you loved this month moves your attention and perception towards the positive things in your life. And it becomes easier every month. I usually do this in my bullet journal, but a diary or blog or even the notes section on your phone could be your spot to collect your hoard of happy things.
Trust me, at the end of the year when you look back – you’ll have a smile on your face. I promise that looking back through a year of your ‘things I loved’ you will be able to chart the big and small things that make life worth living. How do you practice gratitude? Have you ever tried to make a record of the things you love? Let me know what you think – I love to hear about how you feel about my posts!
Love, Isobel x
If you enjoyed this post I think you’ll love Finding Your Joy!
Header, Pinterest and quote graphic photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash
Photo of the park, and photo of me are all © Isobel Lindsay-McElhinney
