What can I say about May? It’s been busy and fairly productive, but not in any of the ways I had actually planned. A bit of a win/lose!
As has become the pattern for my months, as I work towards a calmer place, my goals fell under the headings of clutter, writing and personal. And, although I didn’t do too well on the specifics this month, I have made progress. Mentally if nothing else.
Clutter
My focus was to be paper. Paper, paper, paper. We have too much of it. We can never find the important stuff. I need to file things! And, my month has been all about paper. However, I haven’t touched a single piece of current paperwork.
We are finally working through the boxes that we shipped from the UK and we found several that contained paper.
Memory boxes to be precise.
I am a sentimental hoarder. I have memory box after memory box. And, I have done the same for the kids. However, four years after packing up these boxes (and many more years since I looked at some of my own ‘memories’) I have realized how little of it I actually need. It’s been an interesting process, one that I will write about in more detail. Suffice to say, if something hasn’t made me smile as I’ve taken it out of a box, it hasn’t made the cut. I have thrown away a lot. A LOT.
It’s been good.
Writing
Where to begin. I’ve barely written at all, much less made any progress towards my goal of starting to schedule a few posts for the summer. I’m not sure why, but I have struggled to write this month. My motivation is AWOL, but my enjoyment is also taking a vacation.
I’m hoping that this is simply linked to my personal goal of slowing things right down and taking care of myself after a hugely busy April, and in advance of what will be a hugely busy summer.
We’ll see.
Personal
I had one goal. SLOW DOWN!
And, I have. I’ve been getting outside and enjoying the warmer weather, walking a lot, getting more exercise and giving myself time-off. I’ve even done some gardening (unheard of!).
I have been sleeping better, I’m calmer.
So, although it’s been a busy month (the run into the end of term always is) I am in a good place.
June Goals
Personal
I am realizing just how strongly linked all the things I’m doing are to my own mental health. As I make progress; rid myself of clutter, write for me, make time to relax; I can feel myself getting lighter. Less burdened, less overwhelmed.
So, for June I’m simply going to keep doing what I’m doing. Letting go of things that don’t bring me joy, and doing more things that do.
And let’s face it, the simpler we can manage to live is often the answer to our whirring minds! There’s no doubt about it, slowing down benefits us, makes us take stock and focus on what matters. Love the quote by the way Sara – I’m a sucker for simple, profound quotes!
Thanks Carol. Slowing down is definitely good, as is getting rid of the stuff we don’t need – it clutters our space and our minds x
I find being decluttered and getting things done helps me to relax. It’s amazing how the mind being clear makes life seem so much clearer.
So true! I really hadn’t quite realized how stressful the clutter was until I started really working on getting rid of it!