5 Things that bring me joy

 Navigating redundancy, as well as the pandemic with the regular changes in the tiering systems and lockdown situations, hasn't been easy every day. But despite that, it hasn't been all doom and gloom; far from it. So I wanted to share some of the things that always bring me relief and joy. 

 Diving into a good book 

I'm not a big reader, but when I find a good book I can spend the day reading it. I love the fact that a book can transport you into a whole other world. And, unlike films, I find it stays with me a lot longer. Maybe that's because your mind is more active when reading; you have to imagine everything, whereas a film does all of that work for you so it's a more passive experience? In any case, I don't do enough reading but thoroughly enjoy it when I do. I'm also lucky that my partner reads loads and gets through books a lot faster than me - so I have a great selection available.

 Walking in the woods

There is nothing quite like a walk in the woods or countryside to lift my spirits. I find it so relaxing and calming. I had the most obvious experience of this over the summer. We had planned an all day walk that I had found on a local website. For whatever reason, I was in a foul mood that morning, and our struggle to find the starting point for the hike didn't help. In fact, I was still grumpy as we walked through the village, not really taking in all its charm. But as soon as we got into the woods, the black cloud lifted and I was calm and happy again. 

Call it what you will; mindfulness, forest bating, being at one with nature... Just being outside is sooo relaxing. Whatever the weather, just dress for it and you won't mind it.

Having a slice of freshly baked cake (that I've made)

 All though I didn't want this blog to be about baking, there is bound to be a lot of cake, just like IRL. I'm not sure what I find soothing about baking really and if it's a new or difficult recipe I do sometimes find it frustrating. Having said that, no matter the outcome I love the by-product: the smell of cake baking, not much beats that smell. And finally, the satisfaction of a slice of cake I made with a cup of tea is immense. I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I like cake (and chocolate).

Catching up with my crew

We were made redundant together and within a day or so of it happening we got a Whatsapp group going. It's been such an invaluable group from helping each other navigate all the admin, sending each other job posts we think might be relevant, to just being able to have a good old moan. Our chats and the few times we've been able to meet up always boost my morale. If you are reading this - Thank you guys xx

Making stuff with my hands

I have no artistic abilities whatsoever and am only mildly handy (I need clear instructions), but that doesn't stop me anymore. Creating something, seeing it take shape as you work, and then having something to show for at the end is so satisfying - I'm sure there is going to be a study somewhere about it releasing endorphins or whatnot. That is also why I've tried knitting, crochet, and macrame. You have a pattern to follow, so no creative mind required, and you can see it come to life at every stitch or knot.  My ultimate "craft" would be pottery, but it's not something you can really do at home. (on a side note that might be what I enjoy about baking, kneading dough is a bit like working with clay, no?)

What do you turn to? Let me know in the comments below!