At the beginning of the year I wrote this blog post “Why I’m Only Setting One Goal for 2019” which was effectively a blog post at the beginning of the year with my “New Years’ Resolutions”, I just don’t call them ‘resolutions’.
This year, I didn’t want to add in any new goals. Lots of things were changing for me at the end of last year career-wise and I wanted to be able to deal with all of those things instead of trying to get to grips with new goals for the year.
In a nutshell, what I do want to do, is to take more consistent action with the things that were already on my list from previous years.
When I originally posted my consistency goal back in January, everyone was keen to see how I would be getting on with them a year on. So this is a half-year update so that I can check-in with myself and update you all.
Exercise
So…. at the beginning of the year up until we went to Dubai in February, I was at yoga once a week, a 30 minute HIIT class at lunchtime twice a week (if working from home) and on Tuesday’s I was also managing to get to a fab ballet class; the class was challenging enough to be a real workout and made me feel amazing afterwards (I love ballet; I completely zone out in a class).
Compared to the beginning of the year, my enthusiasm has waned somewhat, but I have still been working out regularly. I often document ‘evidence’ of me at the gym on IG Stories and I’ve just added Poppy onto my membership, so I’m sure I’ll be going along more and taking her with me for her own children’s classes.
During this process of tracking goals and my achievement (or otherwise!) of them I’ve wanted to balance actually making progress with not being too hard on myself; I will exercise when I have time to exercise. I know I feel so much better when I am regularly exercising, so it’s up to me to prioritise it.
I’d say a typical working day for me is 70% sedentary. I’m usually sat at a desk or in meetings or creating content (including editing that content). So I need to prioritise exercising over working (and socialising!) which I find much easier said than done.
Essentially, I am exercising regularly enough and I’m happy with my progress on this mainly, compared to the zero exercise of last year, so yeah, kudos to me.
Exercise: 3 out of 5
To read how I set goals, have a read of this post here and to read the original goal-setting post for 2019, have a read here.
Meditation
I am much better at meditating in the morning, although I do sometimes practice at night (and usually fall asleep doing it). One thing I’ve realised since trying to be more consistent with meditation, is that I no longer need the ‘ritualistic’ side of meditation in order to meditate.
For example, in the morning, I like to light a candle, maybe get my crystals out, play some music and all of that stuff. You can of course meditate without any of that. I have practiced enough that I don’t really need quiet around me. One of my favourite places to meditate is on the Tube. I may look like a bit of an odd-ball closing my eyes for the whole of my Tube journey, but I really don’t care! I feel chilled out and arrive where I’m going in less of a fluster (unless I’m so chilled out I miss my stop of course, this has happened before haha).
I have also been asked many times to create content around meditation that I am starting to work on it. It’s been such a useful practice for me over the years and I want more people to experience the benefits of it. I’ve spent some time thinking about the best medium for meditation content, it is coming guys, so look out for it.
Meditation: 4 out of 5
Cooking
I am cooking once per week. There. *rolls eyes* This was one I struggled with the most. Once a week may not sound like a lot, but it is to me because I don’t love it. Again, at the beginning of the year, I filmed lots of my cooking on Instagram Stories, but I am certainly spending less time at home now that the sun is out and things are busier so there is less time to record and edit it all. But I have some more cooking content coming up.
My problem was that I did not ‘love’ cooking, but I realise I just haven’t found what I like to cook. Cooking can be a bit boring unless you’re trying new things.
I have been looking around for more inspiration; I have bought some more cookbooks, I have followed some foodie accounts on Instagram and Pinterest and two accounts I’ve loved following recently is Sonnie, a 10 year old chef who cooks every Monday and really goes for it! His cooking will put most adults to shame (including me!) and I’m also following Original Flava which recreates ‘Caribbean recipes from home’ by two Caribbean-British brothers who mix in traditional recipes with stories about family which reminds me so much of my own, especially when my Gran was still with us. I have pre-ordered their book too. If you want to check it out it’s here.
Pops and I also did a collaboration with Sacla earlier this year at The Cookery School on Little Portland Street which was amazing. It was such a bonding experience, she absolutely loved it. So I’m pressing on with it. Check them out for cookery classes and adult:child cookery classes especially, it was brilliant and all of their ingredients are sustainably sourced.
Cooking: 3 out of 5
Content Creation
How I currently create content on these social media platforms:
Instagram – Both on the grid and stories with good consistency. I’m rarely ever ‘silent’ here. I think I took some time off when I was ill and went to South Africa and may for a few days a few weeks ago – my followers DM me to ask if I’m ok. It’s very like me to be silent here.
Twitter – especially when Love Island is on, it’s absolutely hilarious watching the hashtag when it’s one, I laugh my head off!
Pinterest – I like the visual nature of Pinterest, I don’t need to worry about how many likes and comments my content gets, its purely inspiration and aesthetics. You can follow my boards according to what you find interesting – interiors, style, organisation tips, it’s a curation of things that make Pinterest different to any other content I create online. I find it quite therapeutic and pin every day when I’m putting Pops to bed.
Facebook – is usually a replication of my Instagram and Blog content, but it’s where my family will see if as they don’t use Instagram! The posting frequency is usually the same as Instagram.
Like to Know It – This is what I call ‘the Shopping Channel’ I am getting better at this, people always ask me where I buy certain things, so I’m publishing more here with better consistency but need to get better at it.
Blog – I literally have about 50 nearly completed blog posts and I need to hurry up and get on with completing those. That is all. The consistency is not here at all.
IGTV – Whilst I’ve created more content here, it’s sporadic, but I have committed to creating content on IGTV at least monthly because I like it so much. I am comfortable with vertical video. YouTube and horizontal video not so much. Hopefully consistency is coming!
Newsletter – hasn’t even happened even though I had such high hopes for it! Must do better. Sign up for it anyway so that I have someone to send it to when I eventually get to it!
Content Creation: 3 out of 5
(for the lack of newsletter alone!)
Reading Paper Books
I’m getting much better with this one, I buy lots of books, I have at least 3 on the go at any one time and I’ spending more time reading with Poppy too. Happy with the progress on this. I like posting snippets of books I’m reading on Stories and underlining sections. I have lots more book-related content coming too (see my point on ‘blog’ above).
Reading Paper Books: 3 out of 5
Invoicing my Clients
I’m still terrible at this, I have found someone else to do this for me which will start in August. That is all.
Invoicing my clients: 1 out of 5
Time Unplugged
I think I have been doing better with this. I am working less in the evenings and spending time with Poppy and the Hubs without the phone or the laptop. I’ve taken days off just for me which I’ve been meaning to do for a long time. I set my Instagram alarm for 3 hours per day and I rarely go over it. I’m happy with progress on this one. Balance is being achieved, I do not feel overwhelmed right now, Things are good work:life balance-wise right now, but ask me this question again when I have a big legal deal on because then this number is 0.
Time Unplugged: 3 out of 5
Essentially, There are things I haven’t made any progress on (newsletter) and there are things I have (cooking). I’m a work in progress both with the above and generally speaking! I’m not going to be too hard on myself. I just wanted to focus the mind with these goals is all.
I’m interested to see how things go from here and if I will drop any completely. Maybe, maybe not. I’m keen to keep going with consistency. Consistency is key.
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