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I thought I’d write a different kind of post today: more of a check-in, if you will. The kind of post I see other folks writing and I think to myself, that’s the kind of thing I want to write.

You see, I can really drag out a post. The idea is there – imperfectly formed – but the writing and the editing process seem to run on and on.

I don’t want to be the kind of writer who takes ages to post anything, who agonises over every word they write. It’s comical really – my blog gets so few views, it hardly matters what I write so long as it feels right to me.

I was interrupted there by the doorbell. It’s that time of year when packages arrive. I am still receiving orders I made during Black Friday. I say during because Black Friday is no longer just one day of the year but now seems to drag on for days and weeks even – rather like one of my blog posts…

I am a dreadful consumer at this time of year. I am badly triggered by Black Friday and a desire to nail down all my Christmas shopping while prices are reduced. I dislike this show of weakness and, by the time Cyber Monday has passed, I am consumed with relief that it’s all over for another year. I can delete unwanted emails about how my shopping cart is still waiting for me, unsubscribe to newsletters that I signed up to in a bid to maximise my savings, and the shops, although still busy – it is three weeks to christmas after all, aren’t quite so stressful. I can navigate my way up the high street from the office to the bus station, to catch my bus home, without feeling as though I’m clambering over rampant shoppers, or be derailed by the Buy One Pair Get Your Second for 30% off in the Skechers window…

I consume Black Friday and it consumes me so it’s relief that it’s finally in the past.

I confess that opening the latest package was quite fun. I’ve ordered many items from Amazon in the last week or so, and couldn’t recall what was arriving today so to discover that this package was almost entirely for me was a lovely surprise. A little “festive” cheer on this wintry Thursday morning and a pleasant distraction from work and this blog post…

The package contained a small selection of books I’d seen in Waterstones. I love Waterstones for a browse and if there isn’t much of a price difference, I will happily make a purchase, and essentially pay for the experience of shopping with such a lovely retailer; but if it equates to a few pounds or more, I’m afraid I hit Amazon for most purchases.

Today I was delighted to see the beautifully illustrated, The Twelve Birds of Christmas by Stephen Moss.

I love birds and I love to connect with nature. One of my favourite grounding practices is a simple walk in nature. It doesn’t have to be a forest or a park – any local greenspace will do, even if I have to walk along a busy main road to get there. Even where there is traffic and people and shops, you can still find evidence of nature – like the flowers in people’s front gardens that have somehow survived the cooler temperatures and are hanging on into the very latter part of the year.

This morning I only had time for a brisk walk round the block but that walk takes me up onto a hill from which I get the most fantastic view of the neighbourhood and beyond and there is always something wonderful to spot like a feisty Robin on a nearby branch or blackbirds, foraging for snacks in the undergrowth. Having been in an office all day yesterday, with minimal access to natural light, even 15 minutes outdoors, soaking up the weak winter sunlight feels like an enormous treat.

I also found myself with an empty household and time to spare so I embraced the opportunity for a little stretching, dragging out a dusty old yoga mat and following a beginner’s flow on YouTube.

It got me thinking about habits I want to let go of, and new practices I could incorporate for health and wellbeing in the coming months. Rather than wait till the 1st January, I have already begun to think about what might serve me better and taken tiny steps to gradually build these into my day – like a bit of stretching, fewer processed carbs and saying No to colleagues who request last-minute Teams calls at inconvenient times on days deliberately set aside for deep work.

I’ve recently introduced a new ritual. I do enjoy a ritual: something I do with intention that actively brings more joy to my life. At 11am on the days that I am working from home, I make myself a very basic but very delightful matcha latte – a serving of good quality matcha, whisked by hand with a splash of hot water and steamed milk. I accompany this with a couple of squares of good quality dark chocolate. It feels decadent and something I’d expect to see on an influencer’s TikTok purely for the aesthetic value but it feels good to me and there’s really no need to spoil those few moments of pleasure by filming what is an entirely personal experience, providing benefits for both my mental and physical health.

I’m finishing up now. Today’s post is short and sweet. More like a journal post and almost entirely for me. If you did take the time to read it, I thank you, and hope that some of it resonates.