You hardly want me to announce that 2020 hasn’t turned out the best way anybody anticipated. However for the aim of this weblog publish, I’m going to, as a result of as we speak I’m my objectives and the way lockdown has impacted them.
It’s okay, I received’t spend the entire time feeling sorry for myself. One thing I’ve realized is to solely fear about issues I’ve management over (or attempt to solely fear about issues I’ve management over. It’s a piece in progress). I can’t management the actual fact we’re in the course of a pandemic, however I can keep dwelling as a lot as attainable to maintain myself and others protected. I can’t management the actual fact my objectives is probably not achievable this 12 months, however I can regulate them or take a look at them from a distinct perspective.
Reflecting on my objectives and the way they’ll change
That is what I had deliberate for the 12 months, taken immediately from my Objectives for 2020 weblog publish.
Begin saving for a flat deposit
I’m an enormous daydreamer, so in my head my future flat is spacious and embellished within the cosy, minimal model I really like, with loads of books and crops. However then I had a gathering with a monetary advisor in February to get clued up about home looking, mortgages and all of the related prices. I knew from my dad and mom’ expertise of transferring home in 2017 that there’s extra to pay for than the home itself, what with surveyors and solicitors’ charges and many others. What I used to be bowled over by was how little lenders could be ready to place in the direction of my mortgage.
I’m a single lady who intends to dwell alone, so I knew the determine wouldn’t be as excessive as I hoped. But it surely was additionally rather a lot decrease than I anticipated. Saving for a deposit goes to take longer than anticipated, however I’ve tightened my finances and am managing to avoid wasting fairly a bit for the time being—not catching the practice or going to the pub has had an upside, though it ought to go with out saying that I’d slightly we had been all protected and properly. I may not develop into a home-owner this 12 months, however a minimum of the likelihood will get nearer.
Prepare a visit to New Zealand
Effectively, this undoubtedly isn’t taking place now. I believe it’s going to take me some time to really feel snug taking a brief practice journey, by no means thoughts flying the world over.
I might nonetheless like to discover New Zealand someday—when it’s protected to journey once more (and UK residents are allowed to go to different international locations. I wouldn’t be shocked if we weren’t capable of for some time, given our authorities’s imprecise strategy to lockdown guidelines). Nevertheless, journey is happening the backburner for a bit. I’ll admire it all of the extra after I can lastly do it.
Knuckle down and work alone writing
I’ve really been doing this! (I sound shocked as a result of I make this promise yearly and it not often occurs.) I’ve moved on from non-fiction—writing about actual life just isn’t enjoyable for the time being—to revisiting some outdated fiction I began after I was a teen. The unique items are melodramatic and skim like they had been impressed by teen dramas from the US, most likely as a result of they had been. However there’s sufficient materials to remodel it into one thing extra refined, with a distinct plot. It’ll barely be recognisable by the point I’m completed, however I wanted a springboard and there it was.
Learn 52 books
I usually learn on the practice or simply earlier than I fall asleep. Within the three weeks I used to be furloughed, I used to be capable of learn in mattress after I wakened, or whereas sitting in a patch of solar in the course of the afternoon, and it was bliss. I’m again at work now, however nonetheless making studying a precedence.
On the time of writing, I’ve learn 23 books, so I’m almost on the midway level. Highlights embrace Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams, Catch & Kill by Ronan Farrow, Regular Folks by Sally Rooney, and My Life On The Highway by Gloria Steinem.
Given all the things that’s taking place with the Black Lives Matter motion, I’m turning my consideration to books about racism, white privilege, and the best way to be anti-racist. I’ve learnt rather a lot within the final couple of weeks, however there’s a lot extra I have to know and put into motion. I’ve began Why I’m No Longer Speaking to White Folks About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, which has already completed extra to show me about Britain’s historical past of racism than 5 years of secondary training ever did, and I’ve additionally purchased White Fragility: Why It’s So Exhausting For White Folks to Speak About Racism by Robin Di Angelo, Me and White Supremacy: The right way to Recognise Your Privilege, Fight Racism and Change the World by Layla Saad, and How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. White folks have to do higher and that begins with educating ourselves so as to learn how.
Have the last word digital clear-out
I began that is January and it fizzled out… till my first week of being furloughed, after I blitzed by means of all of it. So satisfying. I daresay it’s one thing I’ll do once more in the direction of the top of the 12 months.
Keep away from shopping for new garments
Aah. This one hasn’t actually labored out; I lasted till March, after I had to purchase some shorts for a kayaking journey we had been planning for our work journey to Portugal (which was finally cancelled, the correct resolution given they closed their borders on the day we had been purported to fly again).
Whereas I haven’t gone on a spree, I’ve been dressing somewhat in a different way since we went into lockdown—I’m undecided sporting denims will ever really feel proper once more. I’ve additionally placed on somewhat weight from all of the stress-eating. So I’ve invested in two new pairs of trousers, one from Thought and one from Sisterhood, that are each extremely snug, however sensible sufficient to be worn when it’s protected to exit once more.
Kickstart 2020
Again in January I attended a workshop known as Kickstart 2020, run by life coach Sophie Cliff. I’ve learn her weblog for a very long time—it’s all the time been like sitting down for a chat with a good friend, that good friend who’s light and supportive, but in addition no-nonsense. So when Kickstart 2020 was introduced, I used to be keen to go as much as London and begin my 12 months off in a constructive, productive means.
My phrase of the 12 months
That is the primary time I’ve set a phrase for the 12 months. I selected problem, as a result of I don’t wish to be stagnant. I tend to remain in my consolation zone except I’m pushed. The challenges I’ve confronted aren’t the sort I imagined (residing by means of a world pandemic, anybody?), however they positive match the theme.
The imaginative and prescient board
I used to be so prepared to enter that workshop and get all fired up. Then we made our imaginative and prescient boards by selecting photographs we had been particularly drawn to from magazines (I’ll always remember the look on a person’s face when he wandered down into the basement and located us all chopping and sticking). To my shock, mine was telling me to decelerate: I’d chosen calm colors, numerous crops and our bodies of water, canine on walks within the woods, books, selfmade treats, blue skies and loads of sunshine.
I undoubtedly have a behavior of feeling like I’ve wasted a day if I haven’t completed one thing productive. However that got here again to chew me on the arse, as a result of I’ve discovered working in lockdown actually robust, and I’ve been arduous on myself for not getting extra completed. By the point it was introduced that somebody on my staff at work wanted to go on furlough, I used to be prepared for a while away from the laptop computer. These three weeks labored wonders for my motivation, psychological well being and vitality ranges. It seems slowing down is the reply generally.
How has lockdown modified the way you’re approaching your objectives? Have you ever acquired any e-book suggestions? Let me know within the feedback.
