09 Sep 19

Back to school new intentions

Who’s got that ‘back to school’ feeling! I love this time of year; I’m such an autumn person. After the long summer, I always get that itch to get stuck into new projects, usually just before the kids go back to school. Whether you have kids or not, seasonally I think this is a great time of year to set new intentions and step up your game. Feeling energised after the summer break and ready to get into a new routine I plan to kick-start my wellness and think big when it comes to new work goals. So what’s coming up?!

Keep it Happy

I’m fresh from Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place festival last weekend, which allowed me to feel immersed in all things positive. I loved hearing people sharing their stories and expertise on how we can live a fulfilling and happy life. I’m very lucky that I adore my job and I am learning more and more how I can use my expertise in interiors to help people to feel happy in their homes or explore their creativity which is a wonderful way to live an inspired and fulfilled life. So it’s made me re evaluate the content I share with you guys, so over the coming months in terms of my blog content and the courses I offer I’m looking to tweak this to offer more of the happy vibes! My next big project is to write and build my next online course which will see me share all I know about how to identify your own sense of style and colour palette so you can create a home that makes you truly happy!

Create more time for myself

One thing I have flagged up, especially after spending the weekend with Fearne, is that I really don’t honour enough time for my wellbeing or indeed myself. After attending a talk by the inspirational yoga teacher Zephyr Wildman at the festival, I got present with the fact that wellbeing takes dedication and practice. We have access to wonderful teachers via workshops, classes, online content, and books but if you don’t show up regularly for yourself and practice than you won’t get the benefit. So there are a few practices that I’m going to include in my week. First up to rise just thirty minutes earlier each morning in order to do some yoga, breathing and stretches in order to start the day in a positive mood. Another inspirational character I met at the weekend was Richie Norton and on his instagram feed (@thestrongtemple) he talks about daily ‘small wins’. So if I don’t feel like yoga or a work out that morning it might just be 5 minutes walking outside, a gentle jog, or simple breathing and stretches. His message is to just do something! I often suffer from feeling overwhelmed with everything I have to fit into my day, and so this has really spurred me on to just do small things. It doesn’t have to be a full hour workout!

Organise my week

I was really inspired by the business entrepreneur Sarah Akwisombe who, on one of her regular Instagram Stories (@sarahakwisombe), showed followers how she organised her week. She had different categories for work, family and her own personal calendar on her desktop calendar. (This is the system I use as it syncs with my phone and I can share my diary with my team and family). I’ve chosen to book in a weekly meeting with myself, every Monday morning at 9am where I look at my week ahead and book in all my meetings, appointments, travel and the times I need to write my blog content, Instagram feed or prepare notes for the podcast. Then, news flash, also put in the times I need to go for a swim, walk or yoga or go for a coffee! This is all about time for me taking as much priority as all the business and family commitments that are in my dairy.

Meet up with people who inspire me

As a solo entrepreneur, I spend a lot of time either in my home office or conversing with people online. It suits my lifestyle well and I’m happy to be cutting out commute time. But I get really sparked up and lifted with joy when I meet with like-minded people who inspire me. So I’m going to make sure that I have regular hook ups with people who give me a boost. A lunch date with no agenda, a coffee or an afternoon visiting an exhibition, attending a talk or workshop. The plan is at least one ‘ self-indulgent, no- agenda’ meet up once a month. I’m starting off this month by having lunch with Sarah Akwisombe at Sketch on Friday!

I also plan to host some more events aside from my full-day workshops. I’m inspired to bring together people who are as passionate and curious about design as I am and create a way for us to regularly meet up face-to-face and share ideas. Maybe a breakfast meeting or evening event? The working title is the ‘Colour Lovers club’ so look out for these later in the autumn. My idea is to hook up with some pioneering and fascinating people in our industry and share conversations around colour and design. Who would you like to hear speak- drop me a message.

Offer a little help and advice and inspiration every day

Like many of you, I struggle some times to work out what I’m using social media for and my relationship with it. It’s a blessing and a curse! I spend such a significant part of my day, both working hours and non, on Instagram with a little time on facebook and twitter too. I have to keep really conscientious about why I’m on these platforms and how well they are serving me. They can be complete rabbit holes of distraction and while Instagram has been an incredible tool for me to connect and share and get inspired in equal measure, it can also draw me towards a low mood or anxiety if I’m not disciplined with it. So I’m setting myself a new intention! I am going to aim to share something positive, helpful or inspiring every time I post. And I’m going to spend less time scrolling. I swear its ruining my eyesight anyway!

Create my happy Home

Everyone always tells me how lucky I am to have a builder for a husband. I am and well, I’m not! Our home renovation continues at a snail’s pace while he is always busy prioritising other projects. But my home project for this autumn is to complete the living room. I didn’t feel inspired to do it over the summer as we spend so much time outdoors but as the nights draw in I look forward to getting the log burner going and enjoying my living room. So time to whip up a mood board for this room and get inspired. I know I want it to feel cosy and soft and somewhere to retreat to. I’ve got some colours in mind and am looking forward to pulling it all together. After delivering my talks on home happiness at the Happy Place festival it really has hammered home that feeling happy and content with our homes really is a strong foundation for our overall happiness.

If you set yourselves any new term intentions, I’d love to hear them here!