If I'm honest, this week I have really struggled to find any inspiration to write. I've sat a couple of times with the laptop ready to write, hoping that something would just jump out of my head onto the page. But I'm tired. I'm not physically tired as such. I'm emotionally and mentally tired. That's not unusual for this time of year. I often end up having some kind of emotional meltdown around about now. It's usually if I've managed to hold it together throughout January. It's like a pressure cooker kind of scenario and suddenly the lid blows off. The trouble is that the trigger and the timing are difficult to predict!
The snowdrops are flowering, the tulips, crocuses and daffodils are sprouting and the hours of daylight are certainly longer. All of that helps to lift my mood and make me feel a little better. I’m looking forward to the weekend and a little bit of time to rest and reset (and the rugby of course!).
I’ve watched a few different YouTube videos lately about making changes and thinking about what you want your life to look like. I’m still thinking about some of those things. I find it difficult to think about what a different kind of life would be like - would I still do the same job? Would I work at all? Would I live somewhere else? Those things sometimes fill me with more fear but perhaps that’s just because it’s the unknown. Anyway, what I did start to think about is what an ideal weekend (or at least a Saturday) would look like. It would be different at different times of year. In the summer it would involve much more time outdoors for example. At this time of year it’s more about hygge and preparation.
An ideal Saturday at home would begin with getting up at an early-ish time. I find that if I have a lie in I feel like I’ve wasted a lot of the day. Sometimes a bit of extra rest and sleep is important but I prefer to feel like I’ve used the time well. I like to listen to the radio in the morning while I read and then write my journal/morning pages. I write three pages of A4 when I’m not at work (1 page on the days when I am at work) and then have my breakfast. I like to get ready and dressed for the day and then get on with some jobs in the house. Usually that would just be some housework: tidying up, cleaning, laundry, etc. Then some lunch.
After lunch on an ideal Saturday I would probably play the piano for a while, maybe working on a new piece of music. I might spend a bit of time outside in the garden, depending on the weather. I would love to say that I would spend time reading but if I’m honest, that’s probably not the case. I find it difficult to read very much unless I’m on holiday. I might get out some arty things and do some painting or sketching. I might watch some YouTube videos and catch up with ones I’ve saved during the week. The radio usually goes back on during the afternoon on a Saturday for a couple of hours and I’ll sit and have a cup of tea at some point. (This weekend there’s rugby on the TV so I’ll be watching that most of the afternoon and following the progress of my fantasy rugby team on the Six Nations app!!)
In the evening I would watch a little bit of TV or a film. I often find that the evenings can be a more productive time for me so I might spend time making notes or journaling a little more if I’ve got something I want to plan or think about. I would probably spend time scrolling on Pinterest or Facebook or Substack notes too.
It’s not a very exciting day but it’s a day that helps me to relax and feel ready for a new week. I like to have time at home at the weekend, particularly after a busy or stressful week.
What would your ideal Saturday/weekend look like?