It’s been a quiet few weeks here, on the blog. I’m not sure if you noticed, probably no one did, but I have.
I’ve spent a lot less time sat in front of this screen forcing myself to write words, and a lot more time staring into space wondering about the meaning of life (and a bit of time cleaning my new kitchen to Foo Fighters).
The prospect of my kids both being at school in September has hit me hard. Not because I won’t love the me-time, the extra time to work guilt-free without Paw Patrol on in the background and requests for snacks and bottom wiping, but because I’m not entirely sure what to actually do with that me-time.
Turns out, any hobbies I had before children I’ve either entirely forgotten or they bore me to tears now.
I have had to search hard inside myself to think of things that I actually want to do, and I’ve written them down with the aim of coming back in a year and seeing how far I’ve got:
I want to get fit.
I’ve actually surprised myself with this one. I do want to lose weight, and have been working on that for a while, but it’s not all about what’s on the scales. I want to get stronger, and healthier and maybe less likely to die early.
I found myself really enjoying the BoostFit classes but then my foot screwed that all up and I still can’t do any high-impact stuff.
Having recently signed my daughter up for swimming lessons I realised how much I love and miss swimming. I have surprised myself; despite not having done it properly for years I can easily put away a mile in the pool, time permitting, and I feel so much better for it afterwards.
I’m going to spend at least some of my evenings away from my computer, at the pool, or maybe even try out some gym classes. We’ll see.
I want to travel.
A friend of mine has recently spent the month in Australia and New Zealand, and has been making me absolutely insanely jealous by keeping us up to date on his exploits.
Waking up to pictures of beautiful mountains and even more beautiful cocktails is enough to make anyone depressed over a rainy breakfast; honestly, if I didn’t have two kids who might realise that there wasn’t any food eventually then I would have been making my flight booking.
However it has definitely reawakened something in me; I’ve not been on holiday for three years but I’d love to start travelling more, and my ultimate goal is Australia and New Zealand; bit far for a half term holiday, but perhaps one day.
Maybe a few weekends away exploring, or a family holiday abroad might do the trick in the meantime.
I want to spend time on myself and my appearance.
I’m not getting any younger, and I can’t pretend I’m massively happy about this but unless you happen to be Paul Rudd then that’s the way it goes I guess.
It does mean that I feel the need – or maybe just want – to make a bit more effort now; I want to get my hair done more than once a year, spend money on nice things for me rather than the kids, buy clothes that fit and feel good about myself occasionally.
I’m not quite at the piercings and tattoos stage of my brief crisis but I could be persuaded by pink hair, maybe.
Oh, and I want to insist upon being in more photos, so that when I am gone my kids don’t forget what I look like. I don’t want the only evidence that I existed being selfies. Even if it’s vain, I don’t care.
I want to spend time with people that make me happy
The people who make me feel better about myself, the people I can laugh with and the people who make hours just disappear.
Every time I return from a conference having been surrounded by friends I always feel a little sad; that time is so good for the soul, and I should do it more. Even if it’s just brunch.
I want to do things I enjoy.
Like spending more time outside, and not just doing chores in the garden, but walking round lakes, on my own, listening to podcasts that make me laugh.
I want to go thrill seeking; I have already agreed a trip to Thorpe Park, just adults. No kids! Imagine that, they’re going to be so mad when they find out.
I want to listen to music that makes me feel things. I want to go to gigs again. I might be too old for the mosh pit these days but I can chill with a pint at the back with the oldies. I am the oldies now.
I want to drink nice cocktails.
Love this. I feel too I’m having a mid-life crisis although may need to accept I might already be over half way. Enjoy. My New Years resolution for the last 9 years was to make more of an effort on myself and it took until this years do it. I now was my face with face wash and not baby wipes. Its the small steps and all that! Helen x
I’ve got 1 starting school in September and the youngest gets his 15 hours at nursery after Easter next year. Getting fit is top of my agenda too.
I laughed so much at the Paul Rudd comment! This is so me all over. Love to travel, love to workout but I haven’t done so in ages because I am always so tired and I def need me time. I think I may have to wait a bit as my littlest is still so young.
Love this article. I’m a new mum this year but I’m already seeing so much change I don’t know what I’ll be like when he’s at school age! Better start making a list now!
I’ve been abroad once, 9 years ago to Canada on a trip of a lifetime to see my sister and do the touristy stuff like Niagara Falls. Because of her job she travels around the world. She’s been to Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, Chile and loads of the states in America. Am I jealous, hell yeah. But then I have what she doesn’t – kids, a mortgage, a husband and chickens! There are lots of places I want to go, but we’ve decided to wait until the girls are older.
Love this post x
I definitely think some you time is in order. All of the things you want to do seem achievable. Get planning those trips now!