this is a follow up post to the last article that i shared on Wednesday and if you didn’t get chance to read it, no worries, here’s the details if you want to catch up:

don’t you just love how when you slowly introduce your mindset to a new way of thinking or an idea or concept, that you start to notice the theme all around you? for me (if you’re new round here 👋🏻) improving my health has been my focus.

the wellness industry is hot and buzzing right now and with myself being a postpartum, 41 year old mother, who wants to feel stronger and get in the best shape of her life, there’s a lot of shiny objects and information out there. so i want to make sure i’m only taking what i truly need and leaving the rest behind.

so here’s how it’s currently going:

1. strength training - the substack account that i finally paid for

i’m a newbie to strength training and i have absolutely no idea where to begin…

since joining substack i have been loving who is a personal trainer and writes about getting stronger and wellness. so naturally it felt right to go all in, pay and upgrade to receive all of Glicia’s knowledge and expertise.

this week, i have read and re-read her post, How to program your workouts the smart way (beginner friendly) to get me started for my first session this upcoming week, which i can’t wait for, and will continue to read and research the other posts that she has written.

the other points i need to research are: whether i need to eat additional food now that i’m strength training and, how heavy should the weights be.

i’ll keep you posted with how i get on : )

2. the skincare im actually using

when i found out i was pregnant, i cut right back on skincare products. pre-pregnancy i would officially say i was a skincare savage (you can ask anyone who knows me ☺️) who was always looking for her next fix in a bottle of cream or foundation.

im not sure if my skin cleared up because i was pregnant, but as of now, it’s still in a really good place with me being 10 months postpartum. apart from some rosacea on my cheeks, i don’t feel like i’m dealing with much at all and i’ve realised that my skin probably didn’t need half the things i was putting on it before.

so now my routine is really simple:

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

Byoma Moisturising Rich Cream or Weleda Skin Food

Hello Sunday SPF 50 Mineral One

Skin + Me Pro Treatment, evening only for Rosacea - just started this week

Biodance Collagen Peptide Eye Patches, usually twice a week (as a little treat ♥️)

and that is honestly it. nothing fancy, just cleansing, moisturising, protecting and treating the things that actually need treating. i think pregnancy accidentally taught me that my skin does a lot better when i stop slathering it all on!

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3. my ridiculously basic water soultion

this one almost feels a bit of a cop out to share, but it’s working, so here we are.

fill up my water bottle and keep it close. no drinking coffee until i’ve drunk half a litre of water before hand, the coffee is the reward but only AFTER ive chugged the water. the water bottle follows me room to room and comes with me in the bottom of the pushchair, that’s the deal - the end!

4. the free things

it’s still summer, the days are warm and sunny and i’m putting my trainers on and i’m walking DAILY.

i need the fresh air, and my little ones need to get out of the house, its a no brainer.

walking has helped me feel great after giving birth and, not to boast, my legs have never looked so good!

i move my body in my home as much as possible but also resting when I feel the need. like going to bed when my children do, not necessarily always to sleep but to recover, especially my right hip which is hurting from carrying my ten month old around lately.

i think that’s something i’m learning too. feeling great isn’t always about doing more all the time. sometimes it’s just recognising that your body has already done enough for the day.

5. one thing i’m still figuring out…

the thing i’m still trying to work out is how to incorporate wellness around my children because oh my gosh, it can be a struggle at times.

so where possible, i’m including them because realistically, that’s probably how i’m going to stay consistent with my health goals.

walking together, eating healthier food as a family, letting them see me exercise, stretching on the floor while they play, reading and researching things when i get a few minutes to my self and playing Uno on the rug with my eldest to recover.

im never going to find HUGE chunks of uninterrupted time away from my children, (haha) it’s just not happening!! but i’m starting to realise i don’t actually need to.

there’s usually a way to make these things fit, i just have to be willing to figure out what that looks like in this season of my life. right now, that means weaving healthier habits into the life i already have instead of waiting for the perfect routine to magically appear.

my health is super important to me, i’m getting older day by day, and i don’t want wellness to become another thing on my never ending list of things to keep up with.

i want it to make my everyday life feel better and so far, keeping it simple and basic seems to be working.

thank you so much for your precious time.

with love always,

Jo ♥️

(All photos are courtesy of Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creators.)

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everyone was asleep.

but me, of course…

i was in bed, headphones in, watching a youtube video of a gorgeous woman who was living her best life. she was sharing how she does facial massage, doesn’t drink caffeine, what she eats in a day… her list was endless and i was mesmerised and envious all at the same time.

before i knew it, i had my notes app open and was frantically writing my own life overhaul list, which i’d titled very creatively - wellness ideas.

it was created on july 13th at 22:10 and let’s be honest… it’s a lot!

over the last few weeks i’ve been on a bit of a wellness journey which has included researching, trying new things and sleeping on ideas, only to wake up the next morning and think, yeah, that’s a big no.

my list is full of lovely ideas to become that woman, but there are a few issues which consist of

money,

time,

and whether i actually need to do all of these things.

some things i already do, some things i genuinely want to change and some are basically thoughts i’ve dumped into my notes app, like postpartum, my age and what i want this next part of my life to look and feel like.

being a mother doesn’t leave me with endless amounts of spare time, but i’m also not willing to put my own health and wellness somewhere at the bottom of the washing basket - no way!!

because i’ve noticed something about myself mentally - when i make an effort with myself, i feel amazing.

some days i love wearing no make up at all and barely giving my appearance a second thought. other days i catch my face in the mirror and it makes me jump, or I want full war paint slathered on because that’s what makes me feel good that particular day - there isn’t a right or wrong version of me, i’m ALL of the above.

i’m beginning to realise that wellness should probably work the same way because i don’t need to become a carbon copy of the woman on youtube. i just need to work out what actually makes me feel my best.

so i’m taking that enormous list and narrowing it down to five things i’m going to focus on between now and january 1st 2027, because i will definitely be coming back to review this year.

with just over four months to get stuck in, live with them and see what (if anything) changes, im super excited!!!

getting stronger and moving more

i walk daily but i’m currently trying to create a weekly exercise schedule that takes both my children and my own needs into account.

i want to feel stronger and improve my posture, and i miss yoga a lot. so over the next few months, my goal is to bring yoga back in to my week and add some weights in.

the biggest thing i need to work out is when. like what part of the day…

i need to find a part of the day that genuinely works for the life i have now, but type A me, also needs a plan b for the days when it doesn’t happen because if motherhood has taught me anything, it’s that a beautifully organised schedule can fall apart very quickly!

i’m not looking for perfection here at all, i just want to find a way of moving my body that i can actually keep doing every week.

more water, less caffeine

i’ve been wanting to cut down, or possibly even stop drinking caffeine for a while, but i’m really struggling!!

i feel like i’ve become too reliant on it to get me going and i’ve also noticed that i can’t wake up properly until i’ve had my first coffee…sometimes i’m already thinking about when i can have the next one, or rewarding myself with a coffee if i get a task completed!!!

there’s something about that feeling of needing it that reminds me of the relationship i once had with alcohol, which i gave up in october 2024, and i don’t particularly like that feeling of being so dependent on something.

i bought some herbal teas a few weeks ago and i want to start a daily witchy ritual with them. i’d also really like to get my water intake back to where it was when i was pregnant.

i’m not declaring that coffee will never pass my lips again. i know myself better than that, especially with cozy colder months coming up - pumpkin spice latte, yes please!

I just want it to become something i choose to have rather than something i always need.

looking after my postpartum body

i am currently ten months postpartum and breastfeeding.

i want a pelvic floor as strong as steel and i want my hair to feel like a lush, shiny mane again. i want to actually remember to take my vitamins every day instead of suddenly realising i’ve forgotten them when i’m lying in bed.

i’m still very much postpartum. i don’t want to rush myself out of that stage just because ten months have passed, but on the other hand i want myself back, like yesterday!

taking my skincare seriously

i have rosacea and the redness can be frustrating at times, especially when somebody helpfully points it out to me as though i have an infectious disease.

i’m 41 and i have a few little happy lines around my eyes, which honestly don’t bother me but i do want to do more face yoga and lymphatic drainage because i enjoy how they both make my face feel afterwards.

this is proper me time and i look forward to these five minutes alone once the little ones are asleep, and that is enough of a reason to keep doing it.

eating to actually fuel myself

okay, i skip breakfast.

often.

and it’s got to stop right now.

if the little ones are settled eating theirs, i need to be doing the same, i’m just as important - the washing and housework can wait for a few minutes.

i’m trying to add more fruit and vegetables to my plate for fibre, and i genuinely don’t care how weird the combination looks, my future self will thank me for it!

i’m researching protein now that i’m thinking more seriously about strength training, along with calcium and what looking after my bones as i get older actually involves.

but one thing i do know is that i don’t want to rely entirely on vitamins and supplements to make me feel well. where i can, i want the food i’m eating every day to be doing the hard work.

perhaps the biggest change is simply remembering to feed myself properly in the first place because making breakfast for everybody else and then running around surviving on coffee until lunchtime is a recipe for disaster.

five wellness habits are plenty

maybe in four months i’ll be drinking herbal tea, lifting weights, remembering my vitamins and eating breakfast every morning or maybe half of this will have gone completely in the bin.

i’m not interested in creating another ridiculous list that looks beautiful in my notes app but becomes impossible to do in my real life.

wellness for me isn’t about fully copying the pretty woman on youtube (i might borrow some of her tips) it’s actually about working out which things actually excite me and make my body and mind work cohesively and beautifully together.

i’m 41, ten months postpartum, raising two children and living a life that is already properly full… i don’t want wellness to become another thing i’m failing to keep up with.

so here i am, raring to go and already sooo excited to report back in january 2027!!!

thank you so much for your precious time.

with love always,

Jo ♥️

(All photos are courtesy of Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creators.)

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i hope you’re having a great weekend so far, or weekday, whenever you’ve chosen to read my post!

i’ve been thinking about how i want the rest of my 2026 to look, so i decided to ask myself seven questions…fancy answering them with me? ♥️

1. choose three words for how you want the next season to feel

okay, my three words for this upcoming season or final quarter, however you want to look at it, are delusional, authentic and creative.

i’ve always treated september like the month of january (a fresh start) and as much as i want to get my cozy on this year as we enter the ‘ber’ months, i don’t want to take my foot off the gas for the last quarter.

i want to go into september being a fully delusional mother.

i want to be the person i’ve envisioned with ridiculous goals. i want to wear the jumper that i’ve saved for a special occasion, use the eye masks before i go to bed and actually go after my dream goals rather than endlessly thinking about them.

being authentic goes nicely with being delusional.

i want to follow my own north star with no regrets. i want to feel fully myself in how i look and dress, but more importantly, i want to make sure i’m forming and voicing my own thoughts before everybody else’s words and opinions can influence me.

i find it quite hard sometimes with so much information everywhere and consuming other people’s thoughts and opinions, it eventually leaves you wondering what you actually think and believe.

and finally there’s being creative.

being creative not only ties nicely into my ridiculous goals, it’s also part of who i authentically am.

creativity soothes me, from writing and designing, to projects around our home, and my absolute favourite is doing arts and crafts with my eldest.

being creative is part of my big dream, and it’s really important that i start making time for it daily.

2. make your take/ leave list

three things i’m taking into autumn are belief, space and creativity.

and unfortunately the three things i’m leaving behind in summer are, scrolling, spending and perfectionism.

If you’d like to know why, here’s wednesday’s article to find out more:

3. clear one frustrating space

we moved into our new home in july 2024 and whilst unpacking boxes and doing all the things you do when you’re settling into a new home, my husband received a call from the hospital to say that his previously postponed heart surgery was now taking place within the next few weeks…

it was one of the most stressful periods of my life, so stressful, in fact, that i got shingles and wasn’t allowed into the hospital before or after his surgery.

i’ve never felt in all my life felt so helpless.

thankfully, the surgery went extremely well and i was so grateful for all of the doctors and nurses who looked after and helped him. he was back home seven days later, although his recovery was hard and really took its toll on him physically and mentally.

later the following year, i unexpectedly fell pregnant after believing it was never going to happen.

we’d had two miscarriages after my first son and our hopes of having a second child had slowly disappeared, so seeing that positive sign on the pregnancy test (which my husband originally thought was a covid test! Haha!) was an absolute blessing.

so life was lifing i guess you could say.

our home understandably went onto the back burner. we made do with what we needed and quite a few things stayed in boxes…but most importantly, everyone was healthy.

we currently still have a spare room full of those boxes and i’m fully ready to tackle them.

a lot of the boxes contain books, so i think i can solve two problems at once. i’d really like to create half a wall of bookcases in our living room, with plenty of storage underneath for some of the kid’s toys.

it would make a lovely feature, give all those books a proper home and help us to finally be able to use the spare room.

it also ties in rather nicely with getting my creative head on because i’ve already been pinning ideas away on Pinterest!!

i can’t wait to get going with the project and for you to follow along.

you definitely don’t need to overhaul your entire house before september. what is the one space in your home that’s irritating you every time you look at it? start there.

my bookcase space (above) one idea from the courtesy of Pinterest (below)

4. remove one source of digital noise

i’m relatively new to social media. i only joined instagram about four years ago…i know, right?!

it’s the aquarius in my sun sign, i like to do things differently!

so with that in mind, i don’t actually have loads of social media apps to clear.

i’ve also recently cleared my phone of general apps i wasn’t using and cut right back on scrolling the news, which wasn’t great for my nervous system.

but one thing i really want to get on top of is my dreaded emails…

specifically, unsubscribing from every retailer that seems determined to separate me from my money…yep, i know what your trying to get me to do!!

because if i’m actively trying to spend less, why am i allowing companies into my inbox every day to tell me about something i apparently desperately need, it makes absolutely no sense.

so starting tomorrow, guess what, i’m unsubscribing.

so much less temptation, less digital noise and hopefully a lot less spending - the relief!!

5. put one thing you keep saying matters into the diary

something that matters most to me right now is having real, valuable time with my children…so i’m putting it in the diary as a non negotiable.

i want to drop my phone in it’s night night box and go into my evenings from 4.00pm until 8.00pm without ANY distractions.

i want to have dinner, enjoy time with the little ones, cozy up and read stories, catch up with my eldest after school, go for a walk after dinner and watch the seasons change in nature.

just four hours where i’m actually present and listening because that’s how i want our evenings together to feel.

this precious time is going into my calendar and i’m going to protect it at all costs, because if i keep saying something matters to me, surely my diary should reflect that, right??

6. choose one tiny wellness investment for future you

i will be 42 in february (eek) and my health and wellness has always been extremely important to me.

i also have two young children relying on me and i want to feel my best for them, and for myself.

there are quite a few things i want to work on here.

i’m currently 10 months postpartum and still breastfeeding, and i’m making sure i’m properly fuelling my body rather than grabbing whatever food falls out the cupboard first.

i desperately want to get back into yoga too, and eventually i’d like to work on my cardio fitness, but if i’m choosing one investment for future Jo, it’s going to be strength.

i want to build muscle, i want better posture and i want to feel physically strong because i keep thinking about 80 year old Jo, as crazy as that might sound.

if i’m lucky enough to make it there, i want to be fully independent. i want to be able to get up, move around, carry things and live my life without having to rely on somebody else to do everything for me.

obviously i can’t control what happens between now and then, but i can start putting in some time and reps now.

hopefully future Jo will be extremely grateful that i did : )

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7. decide what you’re NOT doing

i’m not going to waste my own time and instead, i’m going to protect it.

my time is expensive and there are only so many hours in the day and in my life.

i'm going to protect my time from my own excuses, from things that continually drain my energy, from pointless scrolling, from perfectionism and from spending too much of my precious time watching other people live their lives online.

because if i hold myself accountable and start treating my time like a business would treat its resources (because my resources aren’t unlimited) i can spend more of it on the things that truly matter to me… my ridiculous goals, my creativity, my health and, most importantly, my children.

that’s my seven answers and none involve me becoming a completely different person by september. they are just ideas and decisions as to how i want the remainder of my year to go as the colder months draw in.

with just over 2 weeks of august left, why not give this exercise a go yourself?

here’s the prompts to get you going:

1. my three words:

2. three things i’m taking:

3. three things i’m leaving:

4. one space i’m sorting:

5. one source of digital noise i’m removing:

6. something i’m protecting in my diary:

7. one investment i’m making for future me:

8. something that no longer deserves my time

and i want to leave you with one final question:

9. how do you want the final months of 2026 to feel?

my answer?? magical and busy.

we’re about to enter my favourite and probably the most busiest part of the year, and i literally want both.

i want ridiculous goals and creative projects. i want evenings with my children, crunchy autumn walks, things scribbled into my diary that i’m so ridiculously excited about and that buzzy feeling that i’m really living my life rather than watching it disappear from behind a screen.

i’ve realised i don’t actually want less from my life…i want so much more.

more of the things that make it feel rich, exciting, meaningful and exclusivly mine and that’s what this september is really about.

i’m not trying to make my life smaller by any means, i’m actually clearing out the things that don’t matter so i have more room for everything that really does.

thank you so much for your precious time.

with love always,

Jo ♥️

(All photos are courtesy of Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creators.)

if you’re in the mood to keep going…

this time of year always inspires me to become a new person with exciting goals and rituals, a bit like the first day of january… however, september 2026, to be honest, feels unusually different and i’m ready to say my thoughts out loud…

i don’t think i want the full reinvention this season.

as much as filling an entire a4 piece of paper, front and back, bursting with structured habits gives me the utmost delicious pleasure, it isn’t going to cut it this year.

nor is a complicated morning routine or a sleepy-eyed, grumpy jo getting out of bed at 5am to do an intense yoga session, as much as it would thrill me to be that woman.

instead, i’m asking myself what it would look like if i didn’t pile so much pressure onto my shoulders. maybe i take a few things into autumn and, in the same breath, some can stay exactly where they belong, in summer.

1.) i’m taking more belief and leaving perfection behind…🍁

a few weeks ago, i decided i wanted to become a little more delusional.

not the kind of delusional where i ignore reality and assume i’m going to wake up a millionaire tomorrow — although that would be amazing!! i digress…

it’s kind of more like, what would happen if i stopped needing quite so much proof before i made a decision?

what if i…

● posted the vulnerable thought

● started the project i couldn’t stop thinking about

● looked after myself like the woman i aspire to be in my mind

● made a crazy big plan that gave me goosebumps

● wore the dress i was saving for some special occasion that never seems to arrive

● did something simply because i wanted to see what might happen

i’m a planner, an over-analyser and i spend way too much of my time believing i MUST get everything right before i do anything. motherhood has heightened that a little too.

as of right this second, there are probably more than 1,225 things i feel guilty about before i pour my first coffee of the day and i haven’t even put enough stats behind that number.

so i’m taking my slightly delusional mother era into autumn, which is where i think she belongs, and i can’t wait to hold her hand and kick some crunchy leaves because i’m beginning to realise it isn’t really about being delusional at all.

it’s about having enough belief in the woman i’m becoming to start behaving like her right this second, in august. that means looking after myself properly, making room for things that excite me and having ambitions alongside motherhood, which is really important to me and, of course, being willing to do all of these things imperfectly.

so, more belief is coming with me and less perfection is staying in summer.

2.) i’m taking more space and leaving unnecessary spending behind…🎃

if you’ve seen a couple of my latest notes recently, you’ll know i’m clearing out my home.

the majority of the rooms in my home are frustrating me because i just feel like we’ve accumulated too much stuff that we don’t use or need.

there are objects tucked into cupboards that we haven’t seen for years, unworn clothes that never see daylight and drawers stuffed full of things because they were on offer or because i liked the idea of the product for five minutes.

the best part is that the more i clear, the less interested i am in buying even more things. and the even funnier part is that i’m finally using the fancy soap instead of saving it for the special guest!!

i want to open a cupboard without six bottles of vitamins, i haven’t even used, fall out and hit me on top of my head - that’s what i keep reminding myself with the brain cells i have left.

and this is super important to me: i want to become much more intentional about what i bring into our home. i’m going to sleep on a purchase for several nights before i click the buy button in my brain, you mark my words.

how often do we buy something for instant gratification, only to be filled with regret the moment it is in our possession?!

● the latest trending brown barrel trousers

● another wrinkle busting retinol cream that you never knew you needed

● a spooky season treat that cleverly lured you in through social media

the feeling i’m actually looking for to fill this void is space. space to finally breathe without things grabbing and tugging on my clothes as i walk past them in my cluttered hallway.

this autumn, i’m welcoming big, beautiful space and saying goodbye to unnecessary consumption, which is staying where it belongs, in august.

3.) i’ll be getting more creative and popping my phone in it’s very own box…🍂

this one is going to be really hard….

(when i just wrote that sentence, i actually wanted to shake myself — like, really Jo, get a grip!!!)

i keep saying that i want more time to be creative. it’s my passion, but do i make the effort? no, not really.

● i want to write more to explore and find my voice

● i want to make things, from cakes to crocheting, drawing and designing

● i want to read every day with no excuses

● i want to form ideas and really daydream because that’s how i find my inspiration

and then somehow i find myself holding my phone annoyingly… again and again and again!! i worry that as i age, my hands are going to be stuck in a phone grip, honest...

i have an internal battle and mixed feelings about my phone, which i’ve written about before.

i love the internet. it has introduced me to ideas, people and opportunities, but let’s not kid ourselves, there’s a difference between using it and disappearing from your body like a mother zombie.

then there’s all the time adding up from ten minutes here and fifteen minutes there.

how about if i used that time to:

● write half a page right here on Substack for ten minutes

● read a chapter of one of my many books gathering dust for fifteen minutes

● scribble an idea into a notebook for just five short minutes

creativity doesn’t need the most perfect moment i’ve been envisioning, it just needs me to stop giving every spare second i have to a device.

so i’m not dramatically throwing my phone in the bin — plot twist!! i’m actually going to get my eldest, as a summer project, to turn an old shoebox into a bed so that my phone can go night nights, daily.

because if i say creativity matters to me and i keep harping on about it, my days need to reflect just that and, more importantly, i need to keep that promise to myself.

september will be filled with more creating and less scrolling. beddie byes, sweet hibernating phone, your days are numbered…

i want this autumn to be more about belief, space and creativity, and not about becoming an entirely different woman or that woman, or adding hundreds of new things to my already overflowing cup of freshly squeezed orange juice.

reinvention is fun and thrilling, but sometimes it isn’t about lots of shiny newness. sometimes, it’s deciding what doesn’t get packed in your seasonal suitcase for the journey ahead.

if you fancy doing this with me before september, take a piece of paper or your notes app and write down:

● 3 things you’re taking with you into autumn

● 3 things you’re leaving behind in summer

and then one final question:

how do i want the next season of my life to feel?

i don’t know exactly what my autumn will look and feel like yet, and that kind of excites me in itself, but i think i know what i want to make room for…

and that definitely feels like a pretty good place to begin a new season <3

thank you so much for your precious time.

with love,

Jo from your precious seconds ♥️

(All photos are courtesy of Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creators.)

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you’d probably say i was being delusional, right?

well... maybe i am.

and i’m intentionally trying to be just that.

i came across a youtube video a few days ago about the power of being delusional, and it found me at exactly a point in my life when i didn’t know i needed it.

afterwards, i put my phone down feeling excited and raring to go. a stagnant grey cloud had lifted, and suddenly i wanted that main character energy for myself.

but there was also this one teenie, tiny voice that was shouting loudly in my mind...

i had absolutely no idea how i was supposed to bring that kind of mindset into my everyday life, when every day looks different as a mother to two young children.

my days need planning. they need structure, and they also require a healthy dose of mental flexibility for the moments when shit hits the fan, excuse my language.

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so you want us to become a crazy delusional woman, i hear you say…

errrr, yes and no.

what if i told you it’s more about choosing to believe that the things you want are possible… before you have all the evidence to prove it?

hear me out with a few examples…

• it’s having the audacity to just post that note on Substack without fear or that inner voice telling you not to

• it’s wearing that beautiful top today that you always put back in the wardrobe because you’re saving it for a special occasion

• it’s doing the steps to build that big dream you can’t stop thinking about when your lying awake at two in the morning

• it’s living a life that ticks all your boxes, instead of being sensible by other people’s standards

• and most importantly, this is a big one, it’s showing doubt the front door first thing in the morning before you start your day.

Okay, I can hear you loud and clear, that all sounds lovely…but…

…how do you set self up for success, when your day does not begin at 5am with journalling in a sunlit apartment…or a piping hot coffee but instead…. with a little person asking for breakfast while another, is crying loudly and needs their nappy changing??

when your big dreams have to fit around school runs, cleaning, work, meals and the endless to do list it…it feels like someone else’s dream!

your mindset has also been conditioned to believe that everything will not happen simply because you want it to.

i spend a lot of my time looking for evidence before I do absolutely anything in life…honestly, i kid you not.

evidence that my side hustle is going to work. evidence that my writing is going somewhere and evidence that the effort i am putting in will eventually turn into the results i want.

i look at sales, followers, subscribers, views and numbers all the time, running stats and calculations in my head.

i look at what happened last week and use it to predict what will happen next the week, and i tell myself i am simply being sensible.

because when the evidence is good, i feel hopeful and when the evidence is disappointing, i start questioning everything in my life…

but the truth is, i can’t live like this any more…i’m so done!

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i’ve decided for the month of august and it’s remaining few weeks im going to be delusional.

so when september arrives, which i like to think of as our second fresh start of the year after january, i want to feel ready for it.

not because i’ve completely transformed my life (sadly i’m not a miracle worker) but because i’ve started proving to myself, that i can think differently, act differently and stop waiting for little bits of evidence before i believe something is possible.

so, for the rest of august, these are the ten things i’m going to focus on…

1. make decisions as the woman you’re becoming.

before saying yes or even no, or talking yourself out of something, ask yourself: what would this version of me who already believes in herself, do here?

2. wear the things you keep saving.

put on the beautiful top, dress, shoes, for the school run. wear the perfume at home. use the lipstick on a thursday.

stop waiting for a special occasion to feel like your beautiful self.

3. give your dream twenty minutes.

use nap time, bedtime, the school day or any small pocket of time you can find available - scrolling can wait please!

twenty minutes may not feel life changing, but repeated often enough, it can build something really big.

4. make your home feel good now.

clear the corner that is driving you mad, light the candle, put fresh sheets on the bed, hang the picture you have been meaning to hang.

you do not need a perfect house to create a life that feels amazing.

5. make room for something that belongs only to you.

read the book, start that crafty hobby, take the class, plant the herbs, finally pick up the camera.

you are allowed to enjoy something that has nothing to do with being productive or looking after somebody else, period.

6. stop waiting to feel confident.

wear the outfit, speak up, post the thing, go somewhere alone and try something new.

confidence usually arrives literally after you do the scary part, not before friend.

7. look after yourself before everything is finished.

wash your hair, move your body, book the hair appointment, sit down with your drink while it is still piping hot.

you do not need to complete the entire to do list before you are allowed to care for yourself.

8. set one goal that feels slightly ridiculous.

being ridiculous rules here - it could be a money goal, a fitness goal, a creative dream, a home project or something you have wanted for years.

stop shrinking it into something more sensible just because you are a mother - write this on a bright post it note and stick it somewhere where you will read it everyday!

9. let your children see you dreaming too.

let them see you trying, learning, creating, failing and beginning again.

perhaps watching you believe in yourself, will teach them to believe in themselves too.

10. expect your ordinary life to become bigger.

make plans, try lots of new things, leave room for opportunities, adventures and ideas you cannot see yet.

being a mother does not mean your life has stopped growing.

now i’m handing this over to you…

so, which one are you going to choose from the list??

pick one thing from the list and try it out for the rest of august.

would you finally wear the outfit?

start the hobby that’s got you all excited?

give your dream the twenty minutes it deserves?

set the goal that feels slightly ridiculous?

because becoming a delusional mother is not about ignoring the life you already have…

it’s about refusing to believe that motherhood is where your own story ends.

thanks for your time lovely reader,

jo from your precious seconds ♥️

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

I was secretly dreading the school summer holidays but also couldn’t wait for them to start.

I was worried that we would have too many lazy days at home but on the other hand, that I would schedule too many activities.

Part of me would like to go back to work full time but part of me also wants to be at home with my children.

I love a full face of makeup but some days I just want to see my own skin.

I want to be on all of the social media platforms but I also want to protect my peace.

I like being on my own but I love a cozy film night with my whole family around me.

I want to set trends, not follow them, but then I feel like I’m missing out.

A big group of girlfriends scares me but I still long for that close knit friendship that only women seem to understand.

I’m a homebody, I never want to leave my house but sometimes I get cabin fever when I’ve seen the same four walls for too long.

Summer will always have my heart through and through, but this heat!! How much longer until autumn?!

I want to share all my thoughts when writing but I also don’t want to.

Last week, Substack Notes felt too much, this week I miss them.

When I was younger I was told that I was too indecisive.

Am I really, or has that person’s words outstayed their welcome.

I think the latter.

I’m allowed to change my mind,

I’m also allowed to want both.

And so are you.

Holidays have always brought out this side of me…I think that’s why my husband gets a bit nervous when I even say the sentence, let’s book a holiday.

In my early twenties, I was planning to sell everything I owned and move to Goa and soak up the warmth of everything this amazing place had to offer.

A few years later, I was certain I’d end up in St Tropez, living a chic life by the beautiful turquoise sea.

So as you can see from a couple of holidays I’ve mentioned, there’s definitely some kind of prolific pattern…

But this trip in 2015, was different.

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I wanted to move out of London, quit my job as soon as possible and start my own business. That was the plan, no matter what.

We landed back home on a Friday and the jet lag was unreal. I hadn’t slept an ounce on the plane and a had a slight hangover after visiting the Comedy Store the night before we flew home. Silly idea possibly, but I didn’t regret a second of it - It’s in my top ten of best nights out, ever.

As soon as I got home, I made myself a coffee, popped the contents of my suitcase in the washing machine, opened my laptop and researched until four o’clock in the morning.

How could I start my own business?

How could we move abroad?

The anxiety was real, I was back at work on Monday, so I needed an escape plan…like yesterday.

Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

I went to work on the Monday with crazy jet lag, I didn’t quit my job and I didn’t move abroad, as much as I had hoped, but i did make it back to Los Angeles a few years later… but that’s a story, for another day.

Even though nothing changed overnight, something shifted deep inside me and it’s hard to describe.

I don’t know whether it was Los Angeles, or turning thirty or simply feeling ready for a different chapter. Whatever it was, I started paying attention to a hungry little voice I’d never really listened to before and the timing couldn’t have been better.

Podcasts suddenly seemed to be everywhere. Audiobooks became part of my daily commute. Morning routines, personal development and wellness no longer felt like they were unobtainable for me, they were accessible and the information was endless. Every rabbit hole led to another idea, another book and another possibility.

Looking back, I can trace so much of who I have become back to those extremely long drives that I used to hate with a passion.

Instead of listening to the radio with the same annoying songs, I filled my car with ideas and stories that made my mind thirsty for more knowledge. I couldn’t wait to get in my car and drive home. Nobody else was talking about these unheard of wellness ideas around the coffee machine or the obscene idea of even thinking or starting a business - it wasn’t for people like us.

Some books came into my life for a brief season and sit a little dusty on my book shelf, whilst others, have stayed in my memories ever since.

What I love most, is that each one seemed to arrive exactly when I needed it. Some encouraged me to dream bigger and others helped me to navigate becoming a mother.

A few remind me of who I was, when I felt I’d lost myself a little.

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These aren’t just my favourite audiobooks, these are reminders of who I was and memories of certain struggles I overcame, they are like sweet little bookmarks in my life.

In no particular order, here are the ones I still recommend today.

You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero

One of the very first audio books that made me believe I was capable of more. It’s funny, honest and gave me the confidence I needed to hear when I felt like I was in a bit of a rut.

#Girlboss – Sophia Amoruso

I listened to this book over and over again, I was so fascinated by Sophia and in awe of her persistence. She made entrepreneurship feel exciting, creative and genuinely possible.

Unleash the Power Within – Tony Robbins

I found this during a period when I was trying to find myself again after becoming a mum. It reminded me that even though life had changed, I hadn’t disappeared. It encouraged me to think bigger and take responsibility for creating what I wanted.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway – Susan Jeffers

I can’t recommend this book enough. I was so nervous about giving birth, the fear and anxiety were unreal. I found this book and listened to it several times before giving birth and it made me realise that I, me, Jo, was in control of the fear.

Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert

Oh now this is one of my favourites, I love it a lot.Whenever I start overthinking or doubting myself creatively, I come back to this book and it helps initiate a spark. It reminds me that creating should feel joyful, curious and a little bit magical.

She Means Business – Carrie Green

Another book I have listened to on repeat! If you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own business but don’t know where to begin, this book is a fab place to start. It combines practical advice with the reassurance that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin.

The Universe Has Your Back – Gabrielle Bernstein

I always feel calmer when I listen to this book. Whether or not you agree with every idea, it encourages me to loosen up a little, stop trying to control everything and trust that not every answer will come straight away.

Mastering Your Mean Girl – Melissa Ambrosini

Sometimes those unkind words we tell our selves aren’t the nicest or the most helpful. This book is the reminder to become your own biggest cheerleader instead of your harshest critic. It helped me notice just how powerful our inner voice really is.

The Miracle Morning – Hal Elrod

I listened to this book for the first time last year and it completely changed how I viewed my mornings. I don’t follow the routine perfectly, but it made me realise how much intention matters in those first few hours of the day.

Everything Is Figureoutable – Marie Forleo

Such a classic and a reoccurring mantra I come back to weekly - Everything is Figureoutable! Whenever something feels impossible, I think of this book. Most problems have a solution if you’re willing to stay curious and keep going.

Looking back now, I never moved to Los Angeles and I never sold everything and moved to Goa and sadly, I never packed my bags for St Tropez.

But that LA trip gave me something far more valuable. It made me question the life I was living at a certain time when I felt trapped and that life was passing me by.

It made me believe I could create something different and looking back now, I’m so very grateful.

A little thank you to whose recent book recommendation posts, reminded me just how much I love discovering new books. Books are truly magical, and just like music and certain scents, they can instantly transport us back to a memory or a time in our lives when we needed them most.

I hope this post inspires you to share one book or audiobook that’s stayed with you over the years. I would genuinely love to listen and read a few of yours so that I can add them to my ever growing list.

Oh and also, I live my life through other people’s holidays too, so feel free to share any holiday posts too!! ☺️

Thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds ♥️

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creative curators on Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning pictures.)

He’s learning, growing and changing so fast, that I feel like I’m tottering behind him, while still tightly holding his dummy and bottle of milk in both hands.

And summer, as much as I love her, she is not helping. She’s speeding up the whole process, as I’m almost sure he’s grown taller over the weekend, like the sunflower we grew for his school.

Just in the last few weeks, he’s learnt to ride his bike, lost his first tooth, and today he lost his second baby tooth. He had his first ever sports day and did amazingly in the egg and spoon race with his cool and calm demeanour.

Watching these little precious moments unfold has made me sit back and reflect internally this past week on the firsts and the lasts in life.

I really feel that we always seem to notice the firsts…

The first steps.
The first words.
The first day of school.
The first time they ride a bike.

But I don’t think we ever really realise when we’re living through a last time or moment, and that’s what’s been on my mind.

The last summer before they stop wanting to hold your hand on the way home from the park.

The last time they needed you to help them with putting their toothpaste on their tooth brush or helping them with their trainers.

The last time a moment feels ordinary before you realise it was actually something you’ll miss.

And the funny thing is that people will kindly warn you about this when your baby first arrives into the world and you will brush it off like it’s never going to happen. Like your baby has some sort of secret magical power yet to reveal itself, and that your little one will stay small forever.

But, on the other hand you want them to be independent and capable, you want them to be able to put on their own shoes because you need them to get out of the door and not fall behind their peers…

And maybe that’s the strange thing about all of this, the firsts arrive with excitement, but the lasts, often pass us by.

The last summer before secondary school.

The last summer before someone stops asking if you’ll push them on the swings.

The last summer before they decide they’re too old for splashing in a paddling pool, or building blanket forts or holding your hand in public (side note: uhhh, im emotional writing this sentence!!!)

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Right now, it’s just another July and just a week of ordinary simple days that we’re rolling with.

When I think back to my childhood, there was a summer that divided my life into a before and after, I just didn’t know it at the time.

You probably have a similar summer memory too.

It was the last summer before everything changed…

The last summer before going to a new school with new friends and even bigger worries.

The last summer before life became measured in timetables, structure and routines, instead of endless afternoons.

I didn’t wake up one morning thinking, I should definitely savour this for as long as possible because next year will be so different… Nope, I just simply lived it.

And really that’s the thing about lasts, they just end.

Now as a mum to two small children, I find myself wondering how many last summers we’re living through without knowing.

The last summer before one child becomes tall enough to walk ahead, instead of beside me, holding the side of the pushchair.

The last summer before family holidays need more persuading than planning.

It’s definitely a bittersweet thought and it does remind me to pay attention and savour the moments as much as possible.

The freshly cut grass, stuck to bare feet, all left in little clumps by the front door, the toys scattered everywhere in the living room, and the most beautiful, infectious, laughter lightening up our home.

These are the moments that become our memories and maybe that’s why I don’t want to spend this Summer rushing towards autumn, as much as I love the cozy season.

There will be time for comfy cozy evenings, fresh notebooks and warm jumpers soon enough, it’s not very far away at all.

But for right now, I want to notice the sound of my children playing, and the smell of sun cream whilst it lasts.

I want to get lost in watching the washing dancing on the washing line and the few extra hours of daylight that somehow make an ordinary weeknight, feel like a tiny holiday.

One day, this summer will become another story we tell ourselves and we’ll remember little snippets rather than whole weeks in our old memories.

So if there’s one thing I hope to carry through the rest of this summer while it’s here today, in 2026, it’s this… We don’t have to know we’re living through the good old days to treat today as if it matters. Sometimes, our most beautiful memories are the result of us carefully paying attention while we’re still living them.

Wishing you and your family, a beautiful and memorable Summer.

Thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds ♥️

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creative curators on Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning pictures.)

It all started with this one simple question.

A few weeks ago I shared this question as a Note on Substack and I can’t believe how many of you took a moment of your time to share your tips that help make your week feel a little bit more lighter.

I’ve always been fascinated by other people’s habits and routines. Not so much the really early 5 a.m. wake ups or the twenty step morning routines - those unfortunately, I don’t have time for.

I’m talking more about the ordinary, simple, little habits that make our week flow in an easier direction.

Maybe it’s making our bed before anyone else wakes up or maybe it’s planning meals on a Sunday, so that Tuesday doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming when chaos decides to strike.

I’m at a stage where I don’t want to reinvent the wheel anymore, I don’t have the time, and I definitely don’t have the patience.

I’m here for my days to feel calmer, more intentional and just a little bit more predictable.

So after reading every single response, I noticed some trends, patterns if you will, and I cannot wait to share them with you.

Without further a-do, here are the top five habits that came up, time and time again.

Habit #5 – Tiny Morning Wins

Two simple morning rituals tied for fifth place: making the bed and creating a comforting coffee ritual.

wrote, “Making my bed first thing every day. ♥️” And quite a few of you said exactly the same thing.

I now don’t think it’s really about the bed at all, I feel it’s about beginning the day with one small task that’s already done and finished, so that we can tick it off our mental to do list.

Walking back into a tidy bedroom later in the day somehow makes everything else feel a little calmer, no matter what’s going on.

Then there was coffee…

prepares coffee the night before, while slows down long enough to enjoy a favourite song with coffee - both are fabulous!

I loved reading these responses because they reminded me that coffee isn’t always about the rush of caffeine. Sometimes it’s simply about the ritual, the peace and the time we allow ourselves to be quiet for a minute before the day ahead begins.

And I’m not sure if this is the same for everyone, but is just me or does the second coffee never taste as good as the first coffee?!

Habit #4 – Plan Once, Relax All Week

A Sunday reset appeared again, and again, and again.

likes to plan for the week ahead, while finds planning out life admin, helpful. spends just fifteen minutes reviewing what’s working and what isn’t - I love a good planning session.

If my Sunday feels rushed or chaotic, those same vibes follow me for my whole week, so just taking the time to sit down with my planner, looking ahead and writing a to do list, helps my mindset immensely.

It doesn’t mean the week is going to be perfect by any means, but it does mean I don’t spend Monday wondering what I’ve forgotten, and personally, it always helps with the Sunday scaries.

Habit #3 – Decide Dinner Before Tuesday Arrives

Meal planning came up constantly and I’m still receiving daily messages with this habit being mentioned.

does a little mean planning/grocery shopping ahead of the week, chops vegetables and leaves them ready in the fridge for meals and snacks - these are organisation at its best!

plans meals and does a grocery order on a Sunday night, so the rest of the week runs on autopilot - five stars Kyra!!

As a mum who finds 5pm the hardest part of the day, I completely understand why this one is ranked so highly.

Sometimes the most frustrating part of dinner isn’t cooking, it’s deciding what to cook when everyone is already hungry and also when you’ve had an extremely busy day, you just can’t think.

I believe the best gift you can give your future self is one less decision, and that is why this beaut of a habit is number three in the list.

Habit #2 – Protect the First Hour of Your Day

starts “the day with a book instead of social media.” leaves her phone charging in the bathroom overnight - I will get there one day with this!

swapped late night scrolling for reading before bed and gets up before the baby to simply enjoy a peaceful cup of coffee.

What I’ve clearly noticed is that everyone is not following the same routine.

People are intentionally protecting a little pocket of their own peace before their day starts and before their time just runs away.

Perhaps our mornings don’t need to be more productive, we just need a tiny glimmer of self preservation to enable us to protect our peace and to show up for the day, as the best possible versions of ourselves.

Habit #1 – Get your beautiful self outside..Now!

This wasn’t even close.

Walking and getting outside was mentioned far more than any other habit listed, time and time again.

From Morning walks,

Lunchtime walks,

School-run walks,

Walks with a podcast,

Walks with a 90s playlist,

Walks with a friend,

And walks with absolutely no destination.

simply wrote, “Daily walk outside,” and at the time I replied, it felt like the habit of the moment and it turns out, she was right.

likes “the fresh air amongst the trees whatever the weather” - ohhh yes, me too!!

What I loved most was that everyone had a different reason for walking, but they all seemed to arrive at the same destination:

they all felt so much better than they did to begin with.

If you search online “why does walking outside feel so good,” there are countless articles that show up and they’re all mentioning similar things. Walking helps to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and spending time outside can help lower stress levels.

I am unfortunately not a scientist or a Doctor…but I am in tune with my body and I know the type of energy that I crave to help me flourish and get out of my own head.

If I’m spiralling, a walk in the woods or near a river or even just a gentle walk down to school will help me to come up with a solution, an idea, maybe ignite some form of creativity, or even just turn off the noise for some much needed me time.

I believe our bodies whisper to us all the time.. just go outside, move your body and don’t forget to look up from time to time….

Walking outside is a magical medicine that costs nothing. If it’s a lovely sunny day, amazing and if it’s raining, breathe deeply, and enjoy a totally different aesthetic.

I completely understand why this habit has earned a deserving number one spot on this list.

A Few Other Habits That You Should Definitely Try…

Your answers went much further than just the top five listed above. Here are some more that you should definitely check out:

• Setting boundaries with phones and social media.

• Meditation, even if it’s only five quiet minutes.

• Sunday self-care rituals.

• Laying out clothes the night before.

• Gratitude journalling.

• Getting outside for morning sunlight.

• Eating proper, nourishing meals.

• Making time to connect with family, friends and even pets.

• Keeping a small notebook to hand, to write down thoughts and ideas that pop up.

• Gardening and just being with nature.

• Alone time, just you for a few moments.

What I loved was that none of these habits were complicated and none of them required expensive gadgets, perfect routines or waking up at silly o’clock - They are all ready and waiting, you just need to press play and commit to the habit and see if it works for you.

The Moral of the Note

After reading every single response, nobody talked about hustle or said they needed a perfectly colour coded planner and nobody mentioned about glow-up or becoming a completely new person.

Every habit was beautifully ordinary.

Making the bed.

Drinking a coffee slowly.

Planning meals.

Looking at the week before it begins.

Putting the phone down.

Going for a walk.

These are the golden habits that subtly change our lives and they don’t look impressive from the outside.

They’re just tiny things we can repeat often enough that they become part of the make-up of our days.

A huge big thank you to everyone who shared their habits and to anyone who is finding the note and still responding.

I genuinely loved reading every single response, and I have a feeling quite a few of this golden habits are about to become part of my own upcoming week, going forward.

I hope that you have the most amazing week ahead friends and I’ll leave you with one final question…

Which tiny habit are you going to borrow this week?

Thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds ♥️

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and creative curators on Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning pictures.)

It’s summer 2026 and my summer doesn’t feel like I anticipated it would…

It’s really starting to heat up. We’re set for a scorcher of a week with the temperature reaching a really hot 40 degrees. There’s no sign of it looking to cool down according to the news.

I can’t believe I checked the news this morning… I’m trying my hardest not to look at it and I always get drawn back in. I wish I could just put my phone in the bin sometimes, but I won’t. I need it incase of an emergency.

Last night I want all in on Substack and read back to back of other people’s articles. One article suggested trying an app called Freedom which I must look at today.

It will hopefully help me to block being able to look at the news on my phone but that’s only if I ever get through all the washing I have from the weekend!!

Well I guess at least it will all dry nice and quick with this hot weather!!

The air con is on in the living room and it’s not making any difference. The noise from it is driving me bananas.

The baby is warm but he’s doing ok and is currently sleeping, so I’m managing to get through a few tasks.

My eldest is at school and I really hope he remembers to top up his sunscreen at lunch time and also drink lots of water…he must be extremely hot today, bless him.

I need to remember to take a nice cold drink with me for him after school today.

I’m feeling quite inspired this morning.

I have articles to finish, designs to list on Etsy, pins to pin on Pinterest. Substack messages to get back to and I just want a minute to do some much needed planning, so I don’t feel so over loaded and I don’t want to forget ideas that I have.

I need to write down these thoughts that are swirling around in my mind.

Im really glad that im feeling more creative than i did last week.

I’m literally raring to go.

I don’t know what was going on before, I couldn’t seem to grasp any ideas and this week, I can can’t write them down quick enough! I think something has happened according to astrology and the solstice, I need to finish that article I was reading last night, maybe there’s something there…

I must hydrate properly. I have to start drinking more water, oh, and I must clean my bathroom today.

I hate cleaning the bathroom.

It’s the worst job of all the cleaning jobs but, I will say that it’s the most rewarding.

I know I’ll feel better once I’ve done it.

When did summer feel so chaotic and this hot???

I spoke to my husband this morning and he seemed to think that summers were always this hot when we were kids!

I don’t think they were…no way, he’s talking rubbish!

They were definitely warm I’ll give him that.

I used to love dipping my feet in my brother’s paddling pool and my whole body would just instantly cool down.

But not for long though, because there was always bits of grass and funny looking bugs floating around in the water.

Oh, and sitting on the grass under a tree in the shade, eating a double lemon and lime ice lolly with two sticks and watching for (again..) bugs in the grass near my bare feet. Hoping that they definitely wouldn’t touch my feet.

The sounds and scents of Charlie Red, Impulse and Lynx Africa being sprayed at school. And piles of school jumpers being used as makeshift goal posts for football, all mixed up but somehow managing to get back to their original owners.

I used to love it at primary school when they had cut the grass with the big mowers. We would all go round collecting the dry grass at lunch time making huge grass piles and once the mission had been completed, it was a grass throwing free for all on the field.

Or how about making perfume potions from flower petals in my own garden and also trying to sow flower petals together to make dresses for the fairies.

Such amazing memories. I miss these times, I sure do.

But…

I love my life now too, I love my kids and my husband - I just hate cleaning in hot weather.

I feel like today is the perfect day for a water fight, or maybe just a slow walk home after school to see what bugs we can spot, followed by a nice cold homemade ice lolly.

My eldest will love that and my baby will love the sprays of water too.

I’ll leave it here for today and will let you know how I get on tomorrow…

As always thanks for listening.

Speak soon,

Luv4eva

Jo ♥️

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

She then pointed in the direction of the local town and proceeded to tell me that there was a shop that she had ‘heard’ was open on a Sunday and that her Mum had promised to to take her there one day.

I literally gasped at the thought…

A shop open on a Sunday??!

I needed to go, I had to go. I had never seen a shop open on a Sunday before…

The shop was called Woolworths and I think I was maybe about eight years old.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I was just so excited at the thought and I think I can remember saying, do you think your Mum could take me as well!!

I’ve recently been sharing a lot on Notes about the little things I miss, and it got me wondering if what I actually miss isn’t Woolworths, cassette tapes or Blockbusters at all, maybe what I miss really is the little me that existed in and amongst it all.

The world hasn’t stopped turning by any means, it’s just simply moved on (and so have I) but every now and then, I find myself missing the things that disappeared and I didn’t even notice they had changed or had gone until it was too late.

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It’s all the small, ordinary things that felt like they would last forever at the time, maybe I was just naive.

I miss waking up super early on the weekend and watching cartoons whilst mesmerised and crunching on cereal.

I miss going to Woolworths picking a pick ‘n’ mix and some of those little mini cans of fizzy drinks and coming home with change.

I miss the pure excitement of knowing I was going to Blockbusters on a Friday night with my parents and getting lost in the wall upon wall of VHS tapes.

I miss recording my favourite songs from the radio onto cassette tapes and being so annoyed if I didn’t make it in time to catch the beginnng, or when the DJ annoyingly talked over the ending of a really good song.

I miss shop catalogs and circling everything with a pen that I was hoping would be brought for me and yes, I need therapy because I was one of those kids that never got a Mr Frosty Ice Maker…

I miss using a corded telephone, calling a friend’s house and having no idea who would answer and also having to remember the REVERSE phone box song, just incase I needed to call home.

I miss printed family photos, with the scary red eyes, that were also slightly blurry and my parents asking me to hold them in a specific way as not to get finger prints on them.

I miss the excitement of handwritten birthday cards arriving through the letterbox and penpal letters that smelled of perfume.

I miss when holidays meant disappearing completely for two weeks because nobody could contact you and going back to school with a cute multicoloured hair wrap on the side of my head.

I miss seeing children outside playing curby or playing tag until the streetlights came on, laughter filling the atmosphere.

I miss the free toy at the bottom of cereal box, which I would fight over with my siblings until my parents put in place the, ‘cereal box rules.’

I miss browsing bookshops without immediately checking reviews first, just me picking a book and trusting my own gut feeling.

I really miss the anticipation that used to exist in everyday life.

Waiting for your favourite television programme to start.

Waiting for photographs to be developed.

Waiting for a letter.

Waiting for summer.

Waiting for Christmas.

Life feels so much faster now with anything you want instantly available at your finger tips.

Don’t get me wrong, in many ways that’s pretty cool. I’m grateful for modern medicine, being able to find an answer to my child’s question in seconds and of course, shops being open on the weekends.

I’m sure you’ll agree that something disappeared when everything became instantly accessible.

We lost some anticipation, mystery and some room to daydream and I think that’s why so many of us are feeling and longing for nostalgia lately.

We’re not necessarily longing for the past, I believe that we're longing for a feeling.

From peaceful days, to being unreachable on our terms and living inside a moment instead of snapping and recording it.

Maybe that’s why old photographs make us emotional and why certain songs take us back to a very precious moment.

Why the smell of sun cream, strawberries or cut grass can transport us back twenty years in a heartbeat.

Those things remind us that life wasn’t always measured in notifications, updates and productivity, it was measured in moments and perhaps that’s the thing I miss most that no longer exists.

Not the cassette tapes, video stores or the shop catalogues, it’s the slower moments of an ordinary life and the feeling that there was nowhere else I needed to be.

Maybe that’s why nostalgia matters.

Not because it asks us to live in the past, but because it reminds us of what we want to carry into our future.

As always, thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds 🫶🏻

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

Welcome back and if you’re new, I’m so glad you’re here!!

How are you and how was your May?

It’s been a little bit of a wild ride the last couple of weeks at the Jo residence. You might have seen my note earlier in the week about my youngest who has just turned eight months old and decided to start teething…

His bottom two teeth have pushed their way through within a few days and by the end of the same week, his top two teeth decided to join the party!!

He’s coping so well (He gets that from me 😉) I’m just amazed to be honest, he’s so little. And then my eldest came down with a cold a few days afterwards, which I’m sure we will all catch in a matter of days!! It’s been real fun over here!

I hope that May was kind to you and that you’re enjoy the month of June so far. I can not believe that we are half way through the year…it scares me a little if I’m being honest.

Ok friends, let’s get into this shall we??

P.S. This May, I Loved…

Me Time

As I write this post, I’ve got a blanket snug over my legs and a coffee to my right, plus a Deliciously Ella Peanut Butter Oat bar to my left.

And my is house is quiet.

Everyone is fast asleep and this right now, is my time and I’m savouring every delicious minute of it.

I’ve noticed recently how much I need these few minutes to myself, not to do anything outlandish, just to be able to plan, write, read or sometimes just think or day dream.

And I genuinely look forward to this little ritual which gets me out of bed instantly in the morning.

It may change at some point, I’ve given myself the talking to about expectations, because I’m sure as you know, things can change at the drop of a hat with little ones…you think one thing is happening and they decide on your behalf that something else is happening instead…it’s just the way it goes, no point getting upset over it.

So as of right now, in this peaceful moment, this is my time and I’m going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

Meditation

I started meditating again within the me time, just for 5 minutes, but I can’t seem to fully let myself go.

I can’t zone out like I used to, something is holding me back, but I’m going to keep persisting and trying because it really used to work for me.

I would feel beautifully refreshed and at peace after I had done either a full body scan, breath work or visualisation.

Affirmations don’t really do anything for me, so I don’t tend to press play on these ones. I know a lot of people recommend affirmation meditations, but I just don’t feel them as I’m repeating the words during the session or even remember them through out the day, which is frustrating.

I remember Louise Hay really recommended affirmations in her book “You can heal your life,” along with a few other well known people in the wellness industry, personal growth space.

I’ve also tried writing my own affirmations to no avail and have come to the conclusion that maybe, they just aren’t for me.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Sunny days

Sunny days to me feel like hope and I am beyond excited that we are going to (hopefully🤞🏻) experience more sunny days than not, now that Summer is fast approaching.

Whether it’s a sunny morning on a frosty day, a sunlit autumnal walk in the crunchy leaves, I will take countless sunny days over, days and days of cloudy grey skies.

If you’ve been around since I started on Substack, you might remember that I really struggled back in February. Looking back now, I’m putting it down to the weather. Every day of that month was dull, and it was mentioned that we hadn’t at that point, had any sun since 2026 has started…

I think this whole heartedly means that I need to live in a sunny climate for my own mental wellbeing, maybe even become a travel writer on Substack??

I’m putting this idea out there in the ethos to whoever is in charge of this kind of voodoo✨

Plants

I started adding more plants to my home a few months ago and it came after reading an article online about creating clean air in your home.

So we took a trip and brought a few snakes plants and some Ivy, after doing a bit of research, and we’ve now got to the point where the snake plants need to be repotted as we have got lots of baby ones growing in the same pots as the original ones.

In May, to my absolute amazement, one of the snake plants started flowering!!!

And my goodness it smells divine, especially at night time. All I can smell is a heady, vanilla, jasmine scent on my way to my bedroom and I just love it.

The flowers have now started to fall off as I’m writing this but I’m hoping that they come back again at some point.

Apparently it’s because the plant is root bound, so I’m not sure if I want to repot this plant for self-fish reasons even though it’s the right thing to do…

I also purchased three beautiful flowering cactus’s from our local garden centre and they are super cute. My son chose the colours and he did pretty well. They’ve made a great addition to our kitchen.

I just want my home to be filled with plants and flowers, is that too much to ask?!

Birth charts, Enneagrams & A little bit of a rabbit hole…

Ok I couldn’t think what to call this section- maybe personal growth?? Well, we’ve got the above title which I think sums it up pretty well.

I can’t quite remember how this all started, but I ended up spiralling after doing a Myers Briggs test at the beginning of May (I’m a INTJ- T, if you’re interested) which lead to me doing more online tests and then researching and reading articles.

But guess what? I finally know that my rising sign is Gemini!! Happy days.

I also put my birth chart, enneagram and Myers Briggs information into Chat GPT and that was pretty interesting. Again, another rabbit portal was opened…

The only problem is, I’m not sure about my Enneagram results…I’m getting conflicting information, one website is sure I’m a one, where as another insists I’m a four. I feel like I’m a One if I’m being honest with myself.

It all take me back to when I was younger and I used to be obsessed with reading a book called, Purple Ronnie’s star signs. (Anyone else remember Purple Ronnie from the 90s, all the cards and books and other great things???)

I was a bit shy about this interest because nobody else seemed that interested in horoscopes at school and I was (always) worried about what people thought and after a while the interest just sadly, disappeared.

I also loved doing the quizzes in Sugar and Bliss magazine when I teenager, trying to figure out who I was and what I actually liked.

So going down this rabbit hole has been quite nostalgic for me and it’s been nice to catchup and learn and understand more about who I am. I just really wish I’d ignored the pull in the opposite direction when I was younger…lesson learnt!

If you are at all interested in any of these things and have any tips, please share away, I’d love to know more.

Articles I shared in May

Well speaking of nostalgia, May definitely held so much of it for me.

I was blown away by the response from everyone around the article “I want a 90s kind of summer.” It has been phenomenal, and I’m super grateful for all of the love, messages and restacks that I received.

I really hope that you all have the summer season of your dreams, whatever that means for you and your family and before I get too emotional, here’s what you might of missed in May:

Well that was a lot, a real jam packed May edition. I’ll be back with another monthly bonus article next month and in the meantime, wishing you a real sunny June!!

Jo, Your Precious Seconds ✨

(None of the items/people mentioned in the article were endorsements and all physical items were purchased by me.)

(The banners have been created using Canva and the photos are either my own or from Pinterest (labelled). Thank you so much to Canva and Pinterest and all of the photographers, artists and team who allow me to share my words along side their stunning work.)

If you know of anyone that may be interested in this post, please feel free to share away. And just so you know, I really appreciate you 🫶🏻

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As within any new season that arrives, I have a list as long as a fence panel that grows daily of things I want to do with my children, but I also have an internal battle with a little voice whispering in my ear that I’m putting too much pressure on myself to make it magical.

Not just good enough, we’re talking real magical, a summer to beat all other summers.

Super memorable, aesthetically beautiful, nostalgic and childhood defining.

The kind of childhood that looks like a warm toned golden afternoon, homemade crafts, slow mornings, perfect little summertime traditions that my children will one day want to create for themselves.

And to be real for just one second (hand in the air) yes, sometimes the pressure comes from other external factors that I have consumed but the majority of the time, it comes from somewhere inside me.

There is some really inspiring, gorgeously aesthetic content out there, and I’m a sucker for seasonal changes and all the sparkles that come with them, they sneakily pull on my emotions and purse strings.

Right now it all perfect lighting, planned matching outfits, glowing, calm serene summers, coastal sandy beaches and without realising it, I’m spiralling into a curated version of summer.

I don’t want to end each day of summer asking myself:

• Did I make today magical enough?

• Did I do enough activities?

• Did I say yes enough times?

• Did I create a special memory that will matter later?

• Did I turn an ordinary Tuesday into something worth remembering???

These types of thoughts turn everyday motherhood into a crazy performance even if the audience is just your own children and the true reality is, that most days are just not magical.

The majority of days are quite repetitive, slightly chaotic, a little bit boring and they’re not really photo worthy.

They are made up of mornings with crunchy crumbs all over the floor, crusts of bread that don’t get eaten and sticky raspberry jam absolutely everywhere.

Moody moods that don’t shift when you want them to, no matter how many silly faces and stupid voices you do.

Frustrated days when everyone is so tired, overwhelmed, short tempered and a bit snappy and that’s just the adults.

And don’t forget the days where you have something super special planned and simply trying to get everyone out of bed, fed, dressed and out the door without anyone crying, including yourself because this isn’t how you wanted the day to go.

It’s right there, in this little moment, that you realise, that this is not magical, not even in the slightest.

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At this point I believe that maybe we have misunderstood what a magical season actually means.

It’s not these curated, forced parts of the day, instead, it’s when your child runs into a room without even thinking because they know you’re there.

Or it’s when your little one brings out their favourite book for you to read on the blanket that you’ve laid out in your garden.

What about the splashes from the paddling pool that lead to a spontaneous water fight, which has you all laughing and giggling in the warmth of the sunshine.

Maybe it’s hearing the back door slam as children run in and out of the garden all day long.

Or maybe as you put sun cream on your little one’s nose, they tell you that they love you.

Maybe this is the real magic.

When I break it down to the sweet moments, I start to feel the pressure on my chest ease, because maybe I don’t need to turn every day into a memory.

I just need to be in the day and remember that magic is not something I have to produce, it’s something that organically grows when I stop trying so hard to create it.

I just need to help my child to feel safe enough to be bored, messy, loud, quiet, difficult, joyful, all of it, without it meaning something has gone wrong.

So this summer, I’m trying to let some of that pressure go, I believe that that is what this season of summer is all about.

I’m giving myself enough room to breathe a little more inside my own day and to let ordinary moments stay ordinary and basic.

And also remembering that my children will not measure their childhood in perfect moments, instead they’ll remember it in how it felt to be with me being present and not the perfectly planned days.

That is what a magical season is really all about.

As always, thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds 🫶🏻

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

I’m talking about legs up the wall, as you stare up at the ceiling kind of bored.

Somewhere along the way, boredom became the bad guy that we needed to try to make disappear.

The very second boredom hits, we feel uncomfortable, we reach for our phone and when there is a rare quiet moment, we decide to fill it with noise.

We get stuck in a queue or are waiting for an appointment and suddenly, out comes the phone and we are fully invested watching a vlog, scrolling or listening to a podcast.

Isn’t it amazing you might be thinking?!

I’d say probably not if I’m being honest, because I most certainly remember boredom very differently….

I can vividly remember being a kid and lying on the floor for what seemed liked hours, staring at the cream textured ceiling and inventing an entire universe out of nothing.

Other memories I have are, sitting on the grass in my garden with nothing really planned and somehow it turning into an afternoon of imaginary games, scribbled doodles, trying to build a tree house with my Dad’s tools, bed sheet tents for my Barbie’s and made up stories for my stuffed toys.

Boredom used to be an open doorway to a magical place that I never wanted to leave and now, boredom feels like something we have to instantly escape.

Boredom really isn’t emptiness, it’s a space for thoughts and ideas that don’t arrive when we are overstimulated, consuming and busy, plus, it’s also a time for much needed rest.

Im not sure if you’ve noticed it too, but modern day life doesn’t really allow boredom gaps anymore, especially not in motherhood.

There’s is always this pressure that every moment should be well used…. that we should be entertaining our children, teaching them, creating memories, optimising the day, taking photos of the fun times, staying ahead of the mess, and somehow also becoming the calm, regulated version of ourselves all at the same time.

So when boredom shows up for me and my family, it can almost feel wrong, like something needs immediately fixing or that maybe I’m not doing my best as a parent…

It’s really got me thinking if boredom is actually one of the most important things we’ve lost over the years, because when children are bored, something interesting happens…

At first there’s resistance and a lot of it!! Whinging, whining, restlessness, the words I’m bored repeated every few minutes….but, if we can manage to hold out for just a little bit, just for the boredom to build…something changes…and they start to create and use their beautiful imagination.

• They find long lost toys that they’ve forgotten about and a new imaginary game begins.

• An exciting adventure story is created out of colourful drawing and stickers.

• A mysterious world builds itself out of cushions and they remember how to create and be themselves again.

We as adults are no different, we’ve just forgotten how to stay in the boredom zone long enough.

We reach for gadgets and gizmos as a way to fill the uncomfortable quiet times.

Moving from one stimulating thing to the next and just maybe, that’s why so many of us are feeling so mentally busy, as sadly we’ve left no space for anything to land.

I’ve started trying to bring boredom back in ways that make sense for me and don’t worry, I’m not about to go off grid just yet, as much as I secretly romanticise about it.

• Leaving my phone on the side and out of sight for as long as possible.

• Sitting on the sofa with a coffee and listening carefully to my inner, most random thoughts.

• Letting the house be quiet first thing in the morning and last thing at night, as I stare dreamily out of my patio window.

I’m trying my absolute hardest not to rush to fill every moment with sound or visual noise.

There are definitely times where it feels slightly uncomfortable, I’m not going to lie, and my body is itching to do something whilst I’m having an internal battle with my mind.

But as I stubbornly persist, my thoughts do eventually stop and i start to notice small things again, like the sunshine on the wooden floor, the sound of the robins outside on my neighbours fence, and my son playing with his cars.

It’s really not revolutionary, we used to do it so very long ago, we’ve just accidentally left it behind somewhere in our past alongside our pillow forts.

If you take anything away from this post today, please remember this; life doesn’t need to be constantly happening for it to be meaningful, it’s the in between moments that no one posts or talks about that truly stay with us forever in our memories.

So to wrap this up, I guess maybe boredom was never really the enemy after all.

Beneath all the chaos and crazy noise that swirls around us today, boredom might just be the hero that we actually need to lead us back to who we really are.

As always, thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds 🫶🏻

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

Meanwhile, you’re somewhere in the kitchen, casually hunched over that shiny soul sucking device in the palm of your hand, whilst pulling that same zombie like expression, like you always do, whilst fully absorbed in someone else’s dreams. Your thumb as usual, getting it’s daily workout as you continue to scroll.

I don’t think phones are evil and I also don’t entirely want to disappear, to a cottage somewhere with no WiFi and a basket of sourdough. I’m realistic and totally aware that if it wasn’t for the internet, I wouldn’t be here on Substack writing this article!!

BUT…I also know I don’t want to remember this Summer through a blur of notifications, and I definitely don’t want my phone controlling my life in this upcoming season.

I often tell myself I deserve to switch off for five minutes. Suddenly my hand gets a mind of its own and I reach for my phone and consume twenty opinions, ten aesthetics, five productivity hacks and someone else’s perfect summer morning, all before I’ve even said good morning to my family.

This is the summer where it all changes, I’m holding myself accountable.

And no my friend, it’s not a dramatic detox or a throw your phone in a lake kind of reset (haha can you imagine!), it’s the kind where I slowly come back to my actual life again.

So instead of scrolling, how about I fill my time with:

• Sitting outside more, even if it’s only for ten minutes.

• Picking strawberries that taste like childhood with my children.

• Reading books without checking my phone after every chapter.

• Letting my children see my actual face rather than the back of my phone.

• Playing CD’s whilst singing and tidying the kitchen.

• Learning new hobbies that I’ve been procrastinating.

• Watching old DVD’s that make me laugh a lot.

• Putting my phone in another room, sometimes.

• And this is a biggie; what about getting bored again, and remembering what my own thoughts and opinions sound like??

The feeling of unplugging feels vulnerable, as weird as that sounds, but what’s so much worse, is how frustrating it is to continually pick up my phone to fill the gaps in my day.

I really think I forgotten what boredom actually feels like…and how important it really is.

Boredom leads to creativity, daydreaming, bike rides, sketchbooks, fun conversations and silly ideas, well it sure did in my childhood anyway.

Now the second we feel even a flicker of quiet time, we panic and reach for the phone. The stimulation, for that intoxicating dopamine hit, and when I say “we” I’m fully include myself in this!!

I’ve noticed how easy it is to become someone who documents life more than they experience it, the constant need to take a random photo or to consume other people’s routines while neglecting their own.

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Im learning as I get older, that I actually crave a quieter kind of luxury, a life that feels so full even when nobody else sees it.

I want a summer that smells like sun cream and watermelon, where the evenings stretch longer than expected and nobody is in a rush, other than to run after the ice cream van.

The most important outcome is I want my children to have memories of the season being care free and super relaxed, and summer days that are by no means perfect.

And me? I’m actually fully present, I’m home in my body and finally taking part in life.

I think a lot of us are feeling tired in a very specific way now, I see it and hear it in conversations and we’re not just physically tired, we are mentally crowded and overwhelmed.

There’s way too much information, too much comparison, too many opinions and way too many people talking all the time and for me, that’s why slow living feels like a necessity lately.

I just want to sit, notice and enjoy my summer with the grass between my toes and the grasshoppers humming beautifully in the background.

So i’ve decided I’m choosing less noise where I can and less pressure to optimise every second.

There’s no need to capture EVERY moment, instead, I’m going to enjoy the moment and store it lovingly in my memory filing cabinet.

Here’s to less endless consumption and loads more tiny real things, like:

Cold drinks,
Library trips,
Messy hobbies,
Open windows,
Long walks,
Board games,
Sunsets,
Music playing from another room,
My children asking me to watch something and me actually watching it.

That’s it!!

This is the summer I want.

The one I was truly there for and I really think, that it might end up being the most magical summer after all.

Thanks for your time today.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds 🫶🏻

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

I suddenly become convinced that I’m going to transform into the kind of woman who spends her evenings barefoot in the garden in a beautiful dress, with slightly sun-kissed skin from a day of exploring. A series of books resting on an outstretched blanket on the grass, and homemade ice lollies ready and waiting in the freezer for everyone to enjoy.

Does this ever happen?

No, not really, not ever, but this season I might actually hold myself accountable…

So this summer, I’m making a little list of hobbies and simple things I want to try, a summer bucket list, if you will.
Nothing expensive, just tiny ways to enjoy and capture a beautiful season that brings so much joy and some of the best life long memories.

1. Collecting Tiny Summer Rituals

Not routines, we’re calling them rituals because they’re the kind of little treats we look forward to and they are the things that make ordinary days feel extra dreamy.

Things like:

• iced coffee in a proper glass

• opening the windows early in the morning

• evening walks after dinner

• fresh watermelon in the fridge

• lighting candles during thunderstorms

• sitting outside for ten minutes before everyone wakes up

I spent so many years trying to create other people’s maximalist summers, when it turns out that the smallest things completely change the feeling of a season.

2. Learning Old School Hobbies Again

Give me the 90s and early millennium nostalgia all summer long. I want hobbies from before everything became digital.

Things like:

• scrapbooking

• collage making

• junk journaling

• friendship bracelets

• candle making

• pressing flowers

• pen pal letters

• rollerblading

• bike riding

• playing games in the garden

• doodling and drawing for hours

• printing photographs instead of leaving them in my camera roll forever

There’s something about creating things that don’t need to become yet more content, instead they are just little pieces of life.

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3. Having a 90s Summer Evening

You know the feeling. A warm, balmy evening. A slight electric feeling in the air. Windows open, music playing softly, and the sky still light at 8pm with no pressure to be out somewhere glamorous.

Just:

• board games with the kids

• bubbles everywhere

• ice lollies after dinner

• an unexpected water fight

• watching romcoms in the garden

• drawing on the patio with chalk

• sitting outside wrapped in a blanket once it gets chilly

• talking and reminiscing while toasting marshmallows, until the stars come out

Overcomplicated summers, see ya.

Some of my favourite childhood memories were completely free.

4. Becoming the Kind of Mum Who Enjoys Summer Too

I think mums secretly carry a lot of pressure around summer. We’re trying to make it magical, create memories, and keeping everyone entertained.

But this year, I want to experience summer too and not just organise it for everyone else.

I want my children to remember me:

• laughing more

• being present

• making things with them

• saying yes to small adventures

• laying on the grass, looking up at the stars, and sharing our wildest stories

I don’t want to be an exhausted mother on a constant clean-up mission and in countdown mode.

5. Starting a Soft Skills Hobby

Have you ever experienced that zoned-out, almost meditative state when you’re lost in a hobby and time completely disappears? I want more of that this summer.

Some hobbies I’m curious about:

• learning how to crochet

• watercolour painting

• learning calligraphy

• thrifting

• growing fruit and vegetables

• sewing simple things

• making homemade summer desserts

Little skills that make life feel slower and more inspiring.

6. Creating a Summer That Feels Like Mine

I think that’s what I’m really craving underneath all of this is not a perfect summer or an aesthetic one - Just one that actually feels like me.

Nostalgic, creative, fun, adventurous, and slow with so many memories.

The kind of summer that smells like sunscreen, tomato plants, BBQ smoke, and lavender, and ends with tired children asleep in the car after a fun day out.

Maybe this is the summer we stop trying to reinvent ourselves and simply return to the things that always made us feel alive.

Thanks for your time today 🫶🏻

Jo, Your Precious Seconds

(All photos have been taken from Pinterest. Thank you so much to all of the artists, photographers and teams at Pinterest who allow me to share my words along side their stunning photos.)

Happy May!! Hope that you’re okay.

I’m really sorry but it took a little bit longer than I had hoped to get this month’s edition out….

I think I was overthinking it if I’m being honest (imposter syndrome maybe…👀) as much as I love writing this piece every month, but we’re here now and if you’re reading this post it means I’ve pushed the button!! Woohoo!!

Spring took a hold of me in April and I surrendered to it as much as possible and went with the flow.

From embracing the flowers in my every day walk to and from school, to opening the windows and letting the spring air into my home.

And not only the spring air, but also the creatures that inhabit it as well. From bees accidentally losing their way, which was no bother as they immediately wanted to go back out again, to pesky wasps on a mission to cause havoc, darting here there and everywhere!

There’s been a few changes and projects taking shape quite nicely - all of which we’ll get into.

So before I babble on any more, let’s do this, here we go…

P.S. This April I Loved….

Family Time

Our calendar wasn’t as rammed as it had been the previous few months, which was really nice for a change.

We had the Easter holidays during April which was great as it meant my eldest was off school for two weeks, which I LOVED - He’s such a cool kid to hang out with.

It also meant no getting up early and making pack lunches, which I loathe, but it did mean I didn’t always get my morning walk in…I digress…

We had a few things planned but we mostly just did things around our home as my son was just quite excited that he had some time off to play with his toys and just be.

One of the weekends in April my son was given the class teddy bear called Fraser to look after which was the cutest. We showed Fraser around our home and took him on a walk or two which was a novelty. And then come Monday morning, I don’t think any of us were ready for Fraser to return back to school…

Spring Walks

Part of family time and with the weather being on the much nicer side, has meant lots of local walks, which is one of my favourite things to do. It’s great for my mental health and I just like being in nature.

With the daffodils long gone, the wisteria is in full force growing beautifully on the sides of people properties (manifesting this to be on my home at some point ✨) this season is in full swing and I adore it.

We have walked quite a few times over to our local woodland area near our home, to see the magnificent bluebells that are magically taking over the forest floor. You can smell the aromatic fragrance of blue underneath the tall trees from the moment you enter the forest, as the birds sing so beautifully high above.

Spring and autumn are my favourite seasons to explore, what about you?

Procreate

This has been a goal of mine for quite some time and I have finally done it. I have finally purchased procreate and have begun learning how to use it on my IPad- patting myself on the back big time!!

I’ve watch a few videos on YouTube to pick up tips here and there, and have also been trying to find anyone on Substack that might be sharing their wisdom.

The only problems is, is that I end up going down a rabbit hole each and everytime. Before I know it, I’m buying new skincare products and leaving messages on peoples notes about stationary…

So if you have any recommendations please feel free to share away and I’ll share some of my drawings in the next edition. ☺️

Food

Since giving birth last October, I don’t know what’s happened but I have a real sweet tooth.

I don’t know if it’s my hormones settling back in, but I’m just craving cakes, donuts and all the things that contain sugar.

Im usually a savoury girl, but I just can’t leave the sweet stuff alone…🧁 Even this emoji makes me want sugar!

So in April I started looking at healthier meals and trying to drink more water because I thought maybe I’m lacking something.

And then I came across these Greek style meal bowls on Pinterest which I just needed in my life…

(Pinterest)

(Pinterest)

They are super easy to make, especially when it’s crazy in the evenings and I’m just swapping and changing out the protein and the veggies to get different versions.

Also if you’re like me and get bored of the same dinners, with a little bit of reinvention here and there you have a different style each time - perfect!

The other little treasure I added in April was creating a nut jar after listening to a recent podcast by Dr Faye Bate - love her podcast, highly recommend, one of my fav 2026 discoveries.

I basically just buy whatever nuts are on offer, as Dr Faye Bate suggested, and then top the jar up.

I eat one handful a day, they make a great snack and are a good healthy fat, win, win!

Plus, I did some research after my first pregnancy when I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and discovered that Brazil nuts contain selenium. So I try to make sure I consume three Brazil nuts a day as this amount is perfect for helping an under active thyroid.

Etsy Project

I finally split my Etsy shop in two. My digital templates and printables are in one shop and PNG’s in another, which make sooo much sense.

This especially works for the Etsy algorithm which I think had a mini melt down after I mixed my whole shop up.

More on my shops very soon as I will be sharing an article (finally!!) in the next few weeks.

Notebooks

Love me a note book and some stationary ♥️ They are for sure my happy place.

I purchased four in April and I would describe them as springlicious.

All my notebooks have a purpose and these beauts will be used to write ideas that just spontaneously pop into my mind and I’m also absolutely desperate to write morning pages or do some form of journaling, both have been recommended to me several times.

I also found quite a few substackers who to my utter joy, write solely about note books (Amazing) and all the wonderful and inspiring ways they use them - I must of consumed their content for HOURS, literally.

It got to a point where I ended up creating a basket on a website, entirely full of notes books, to only wake up the next morning and delete the entire dream basket….please tell me I’m not the only one who does this kind of thing??

Articles I shared in April

Here’s what I wrote and shared about:

Substackers I’m crushing on

Drum roll please…..this is the section I know that you’ve all been waiting for (a couple of you have mentioned it 💁🏼‍♀️)

Here are the April substackers that kept me going, I learned from and was utterly inspired by:

Please find them. Read their work and be very prepared to instantly follow or subscribe to their account.

I pinky promise you, you won’t regret it.

That’s all for this edition…another one done and dusted.

Can you believe the next one will come out in June!!!

My goodness, where is this year going??!!

Any how, I’ll be back with another monthly bonus article next month and in the meantime, wishing you the best May ever!!

Jo, Your Precious Seconds ✨

(None of the items/people mentioned in the article were endorsements and all physical items were purchased by me.)

(The banners have been created using Canva and the photos are either my own or from Pinterest (labelled). Thank you so much to Canva and Pinterest and all of the photographers, artists and team who allow me to share my words along side their stunning work.)

If you know of anyone that may be interested in this post, please feel free to share away. And just so you know, I really appreciate you 🫶🏻

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From a sprinkling of a 90’s lifestyle, to a minimal skincare routine and a daily uniform to reduce decision fatigue in the mornings.

All because it feels easier.

Too many choices.
Too many opinions.
Too many voices telling me what I should be doing, buying, trying, changing.

Even the simplest parts of my day have started to feel overwhelming.

What to focus on.
What to work on.
What to prioritise.
What to ignore.

Everything feels like a decision and I think, without really realising it, I’ve been taking it all in.

Scrolling, saving, reading, thinking…and then repeating again and again.

I don’t think I need more ideas right now or more options, or even more things to try…I just need so much less.

So I’ve started going back to basics.

Choosing what actually makes sense and
sticking with what I already know works, instead of constantly looking for something better.

I’m not trying to optimise every part of my day by romanticising the mundane, some things don’t need improving, they just need doing.

And I don’t want to step away from the internet completely, it has its place (hello Substack ♥️).

I’m a millennial after all and I’ve experienced both sides, with and without it and I think they can co-exist… as long as there are boundaries.

So now I’m blending two ideals whilst being more selective about what I take in and who I take it from.

It hasn’t changed everything but there’s less second guessing and less jumping from one idea to the next because it’s on my terms.

Which gives me more space to just get on with my day…✌🏻

That’s the conclusion I came to this week.

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve got yet another cold but there are too many half-arsed projects, creative ideas I haven’t finished, jobs around the house that are neither started or completed and parenting tasks that just sit there.

Some of them are the kind of things that, once they’re done, I’d never have to think about them again and others are the kind that would make life easier in the long run.

And yet… they just sit there.

I’m talking about the draws I keep meaning to empty, bathroom cupboards that need sorting, outdated medicine that should’ve been thrown away months ago and paperwork that needs shredding or filing.

And speaking of paperwork, why am I still getting bank statements? I’ve signed up to be paperless…this is what I’m talking about!
So now I’ve got another job to add to the list..

It’s not just one thing - It’s everything.

Then there are the things that actually matter.

Making time to help my little ones move onto the next stage or ordering new shoes because they’ve suddenly gone up a size.
Realising they need shorts for school because the weather has finally decided to sort its self out.

And somewhere in the middle of all this, there’s me.

The things I want to do, such as colour my hair, do some yoga in the morning or have a bit of creative time so I feel like myself again, not just someone reacting to everything around me.

Earlier in the week, I said to myself, maybe I just need to be more organised?

…But here’s the thing, I am pretty organised. I don’t actually know how I could be any more organised than I already am.

So if I am organised… why does everything still feel unfinished?

The only answer that makes sense is, there’s too much.

Too many things in my home.
Too many small, invisible tasks attached to everything I own and everything I’ve started.

It feels like an irritating noise humming in the background of your mind constantly, reminding you of what’s not finished. It follows you from room to room and it especially loves to bother you when your trying to relax.

When all you really need is a little bit of space to think and right now that space feels… rare.

I recently stumbled across an article by and a YouTube video by Dr Faye Bate (both linked below) They’re brilliant, but more than that, they offer something actually useful.

Megan Schnarr

30 unconventional ways I regulate my nervous system (this isn’t your typical list)

I feel like nervous system regulation is being talked about a lot lately and for good reason. As a collective, I think we are all feeling that the pendulum of the boss babe, hustle culture era has swung too far and we are all craving a more slow paced lifestyle…

Read more

4 months ago · 25 likes · 20 comments

They both mention about reducing decision making and how that, in itself, makes it easier to follow through and get things done.

And I can’t stop thinking about that idea - reducing decisions.

Now, I’m not going to overhaul everything and I‘m not suddenly becoming a minimalist or begin throwing half my house away, but I am going to start noticing what’s creating work just by being there.

What’s adding another decision, task or I hate to say it, an open loop, because I need to start closing some of them.

With less decisions, fewer loose ends, and reduced things waiting in the background, I might actually finish something without ten other things pulling at me.

So this is where I’m at as we head into a new week, because right now, it feels like a good place to start.

I had no clue what I was doing. I just fell in love with the vision of writing and creating an article, like I was part of an after school newspaper club.

I had an idea in my head of what made a strong article. Firstly it should be well written (obviously) have a clear niche, be throughly researched and I should be publishing as often as possible.

Reality has been a little bit different…

There have been quite a few moments where I’ve questioned whether I’m doing it right.

There’s been more than a few times where I’ve read other people’s work and thought, what am I doing here, everyone is extremely talented and so much better than me.

There’s also been days where I’ve wondered if anyone is actually even reading what I’m writing, or maybe my writing has just lost it’s voice amongst all the other articles on the platform.

As my thoughts spiralled here and there, something deep inside has kept me showing up every single day.

As the weeks have gone on, I’ve become extremely invested and I’m a point where I don’t want to let myself or others down.

There’s also the endorphin rush of someone subscribing or taking the time to respond to a note that I’ve written, which I wasn’t even sure if I should share in the first place.

Even just the feeling of getting my whirling thoughts and words out of my head and onto the page, has been cathartic.

So instead of going in hard, I’ve taken the approach of paying attention.

Not to what everyone else is doing but to what was actually happening for me.

And here’s what I’ve learned so far.

1. I thought I needed perfect articles

Enough with the overwhelming pressure to be perfect.

When I first started, I put a lot of pressure on myself to create polished articles. I used to spend days getting them just right and then re-reading and re-reading, as well as trying to find perfect aesthetic pictures. I thought they needed to be well-structured, very insightful, and with loads of valuable take aways.

But the truth is, the things that have connected the most haven’t been the most pristine.

They have been the messy articles, the ones where I’ve just said what I was thinking aloud. The ones that felt a bit unfinished, a bit more honest, and a lot less put together.

A clear example of this is the bonus article I created and shared called P.S. This February I loved…

I had no clue what I was doing, something just came to me a few week before hand and I had to share it as soon as possible. After going live with the post, it made me realise that people aren’t looking for perfect writing, they’re looking for something real, a human connection through words.

And now, instead of trying to make everything sound impressive, I write with intent and just get the words out and down.

2. I thought I needed a clear plan

Originally my view was that I needed everything mapped out before I really started, including a clear niche with defined topics and a proper content plan.

But if I’m being honest, I didn’t have those things and plus, I don’t like the word niche, it makes me feel like I’m in a box and I can’t change direction.

The more I tried to figure it out before posting, the more stuck I felt and what actually helped was just getting stuck in and writing - This is what Substack is about after all.

Posting articles anyway, sharing thoughts as notes as they come and trying to let things feel a bit unstructured.

Over time, patterns have started to appear and I’ve also noticed what I naturally come back to, what people like and respond to, and what I actually love writing about, because that is important after all.

Subscribe now

3. I thought I needed more time

This was a big one for me, as I kept thinking I didn’t have enough time to do Substack properly.

To write longer articles, to sit down uninterrupted and to create something really good, but life doesn’t really work like that right now, real life gets in the way.

So instead of waiting for more time, I’ve had to work with the time I do have, which is usually when my children are sleeping.

That’s where things started to shift from writing shorter notes and sharing small thoughts and letting things be quick and imperfect.

And weirdly, that’s been more effective than trying to carve out big blocks of time that don’t really exist. It’s not about having more time, it’s actually about using the time you already have a little bit better.

4. I thought growth would be faster

I think I expected things to pick up quickly, from more subscribers, to more engagement, to more signs that it was working.

When this didn’t happen straight away I naturally began to question what I was doing, but what I didn’t expect is how much the slower pace would actually help me in the long run.

It’s given me space to figure things out without pressure. My account is growing organically and I have a feeling I could pivot in a new direction if it felt right.

I’ve met so many lovely writers on this platform and I also feel like I know my subscribers and the people I follow, which is something I only ever dreamed of before I started Substack.

I’m not sure if I personally would have been able to keep up, if my account would have exploded straight away. For me, my account is moving and growing in a direction that feels just right at this current moment in time.

Where I am now

It’s been 3 months since I started Substack and I definitely don’t feel like I have it all figured out…

Some days I feel clear and I’m ready to creative, whereas other days, everything feels so loud and I question absolutely everything I’m doing.

But on the other hand, I’m showing up as me, I’m writing and sharing ideas and thoughts that make me happy, which is wild!

I’m less focused on doing everything right and more focused on just continuing and staying consistent. If I can stay true to these two goals I will be over the moon as I’m not normally the most consistent person!

A final thought

If you’re at the beginning of your Substack writing journey or even just thinking about starting, as boring as it sounds, you don’t need to have it all worked out.

You definitely don’t need a perfect plan, or loads of time, or everything to make sense from the start, you just need to begin.

Start with the basics and then keep going, even when it feels a bit slow, or unclear, or not quite how you imagined.

Start, see it through and just write.

And I can’t wait to read everything you have to share. 🤍

Thank you for spending some of your precious seconds here today, I really appreciate you and your time.

Jo, Your Precious Seconds 😊