Tips for keeping busy at bay + kids' Christmas gift ideas
Good morning,
I hope you are well and if you are in NSW, ACT and VIC you are enjoying emerging from lockdown. I am enjoying it but I am consciously taking things slow. Much like last year after our long lockdown last year, I am wary of sliding straight into busy. It is very tempting because there feels like so much we need to catch up on but with our daughter starting her year 12 exams today and the two younger boys adjusting to being back at face to face learning, I need to make sure I am calm and present.
While in no way do I wish to go back into lockdown, I have actually enjoyed having plenty of white space in my calendar and not rushing from one thing to the next. I have liked being in the car driving around less. I have liked that I have been shopping and buying less.
So much of the busyness of our life can come from doing things out of habit, not intentionally. I am loving that I can see family and friends more now and we can go out to places, but I am trying to do this intentionally. When organising things or accepting invitations I am asking myself a few basic questions:
If I had to do it this week would I still want to do it? There can be a tendency to schedule things out in advance if we are not overly keen on it but don’t want to say no. Sometimes the date needs to be in advance, so asking myself if I would be prepared to do it in the next week if I had to, it gives me a good feel for whether or not I should do it.
Does it have to be in this format? I loved having walking catch ups with friends and family during lockdown as it was really the only way to be able to do it. I am not totally against cafes and going out to dinner, but this doesn’t have to be the default format for catch ups just because we can do them now.
By adding it to the calendar, how much white space is left? Just because a space is free on the calendar doesn’t mean it needs to be filled. I am avoiding back to back events and multiple nights out in a row. I know many people who love this type of socialising but I am not one of them. I feel better when I feel like I have time free and unscheduled across my week.
How are you settling into post lockdown life?
Have you tried the newly formulated Adapt Drinks Relax? It is a non alcoholic, zero sugar, all natural, lightly sparkling water with adaptogenic herbs designed to help you unwind and relax. You can read more about it and buy it here!
Last week it was gift ideas for teens, this week I have Christmas Gift Ideas for kids aged 0 - 12. The list includes some modern inclusions and some retro ideas that might just remind you of your own childhood - anyone else grow up playing with a magic tree house?
Have a great rest of the week!
Nic