February's Goals & Intentions

We finally made it to the 751st of January and in a few days the shortest month begins.

I joke about January being such a long month, but the start of the month actually provided me with a lot of space to slow down and catch my breath after the rush of Christmas.

January also brought with it some trying times (the car failed its MOT, the dogs became unwell and the microwave blew up. Yep, literally BLEW UP). Luckily, I managed to practice what I preach and implement some of the techniques that I’ve learned to prevent me from tipping over the edge.

How did you find January?

Looking forward to February brings a mix of emotions for me. It’s the month that I start my maternity leave with my third baby, and I’m really nervous about becoming a mum again. I feel so excited to meet him, but I’m also quite aware that my entire lifestyle is going to completely change very soon.

I feel like there’s still so much that I need to do, but he’ll be here in a few short weeks. I’m staying calm and trying to get as organised as I can before his due date (4th March).

So what are my goals and intentions for February?

Personal Life & Health:

There’ll be more slowing down and resting for me this month. I also want to enjoy the peace and quiet that provides me with so much calm.

Sleep is becoming more disrupted for me, so I’m going to make sure I get plenty of rest whilst I can.

I’m going to keep reading through other writers posts here on Substack as I’m loving that right now!

Work Life:

In January my course - The Simple & Calm course launched and I’ve loved every minute of it. I still have to pinch myself that it’s finally here, live and teaching people how to live a simpler life.

I’ve written lots of posts for the course ready for my maternity leave, but I still plan on being around. This course has felt like a child I’ve been growing for the best part of 2 years, and it has finally been born. I can’t just leave it now. I need to nurture it, learn how it works and support it to grow further.

This month I’m going to continue to schedule as many posts as I can before the baby arrives.

Finances:

• Current debt: £12,071.71 (£847.76 paid off in January)

• Plan of action: Pay off £800 towards debt in February.

January was such an expensive month for us due to needing to fix the car, and buy all of the baby things. I’m so proud of us for not adding to our debt or using the credit card during this time which we previously would have done.

I managed to save lots of money when buying the baby stuff by using reward apps, cash back sites and special baby events. I’m really proud of myself for being extra frugal and patient to make sure that my money goes further.

Sinking funds: We’ve also managed to squirrel away some savings for our daughter’s birthday in March too. I need to buy her presents in February as the baby is actually due on her birthday (!) and I might not be able to get them if I leave it too late.

Again, I’m so pleased that we’ve set up these sinking funds and we’re not adding to our debt. Would you like a separate post about finances/ sinking funds etc where I can go into more detail? If so, leave a comment and let me know.

Home Life & Possessions:

January saw the start of my nesting. I’ve cleaned every inch of the house and organised every drawer and cupboard within an inch of its life.

My husband made a few trips to the recycling centre, and overall I feel cleansed and oh so calm at home. The minimalist in me is so happy right now.

I’m still selling things regularly on Vinted which has been nice to earn some money from our unwanted items.

Technology & Social Media:

I’ve really fallen out of love with Instagram lately and I’ve barely posted anything in January. I don’t miss it. My new found love is Substack, and I’m becoming quite obsessed.

It’s so much more refreshing to read a post from an incredibly talented writer than it is to aimlessly scroll on Instagram I’ve found.

I don’t have any plans to work on my Instagram account in February. I suppose I’ll just go with the flow and see how I feel and if I want to post something, I will.

Family & Relationships:

February could potentially be the last few weeks as we know it as a family of four. It could also be the month that he’s born if he’s early (!). I’m not sure how the children will react to the new baby. They’re certainly excited and Harriet has faffed and organised with the baby’s clothes more times than I can tell you. It’s super cute.

Charlie thinks the baby will look and be exactly like he was as a baby. He keeps asking to look at baby videos and photos of himself, and it’s so adorable reliving these memories with him.

We’re going to spend time this month talking more about the baby and how we feel about him arriving. It’s going to be such a change for them as much as it is for me, so we need to prepare them as much as possible for his arrival. If you have any tips or tricks to help the children adjust to the baby’s arrival, please share them in the comments.

And so those are my goals and intentions for February. Basically, I’m going to be resting, nesting and preparing for his imminent arrival. Before I sign off, I just want to remind you that you can sample the Simple & Calm course for free for 7 days. Simply click below to sign up, and feel free to cancel before the 7 days are up to avoid being charged. Although, it would mean a great deal to me if you were able to support me with a paid subscription.

---

THE SIMPLE & CALM COURSE:

The Simple & Calm course is open for enrolments! Delivered weekly via a post, you’ll receive a lesson on different topics teaching you how to live a slower, more considered life that brings contentment, not stress. Because everyone deserves to live a simple and calm life.

For more details, including how to enrol, read the following post: