A few of my Favourite Things
This blog post is a little different than usual.
It’s a gratitude list, it’s a list of useful links, it’s a jumble of things that make me feel good feelings and sharing some of the stuff that has helped me and my business in 2019.
I’m very nearly all finished for Christmas (just a few final emails to send, drawings to do, then i’m turning the house into a hibernation station.
**Out of office, ON**
Out Of Office Goodness
I highly recommend setting an out of office for this time of year, and managing expectations of anybody you might be working with. It takes a few minutes to set up, and it will save you loads of time, mental space and relieve any anxiety.
More time for mince-pie eating. Hooray.
This time of year is perfect for winding down, cosying up and taking stock of the year to come.
Getting Ready For a New Decade
I thought I’d share a few of my favourite things, with which I am feathering my festive nest.
Lighting the fire every night
The giant stack of books beside my bed. Everything I’ve been meaning to read all year. I AM GOING TO READ THEM ALL, bwahahaha.
Warm cosy socks
Seeing friends & family. Christmas meals, Christmas coffees, other-people’s-office-parties.
Yoga. Last week I went to an amazing restorative yoga and soundbath workshop by my good friend Lizi Dorney AKA The Ginger Yogi and it was life-changingly good. If there are restorative yoga things happening near you, GO!
Journals and writing for online writing (and capturing ideas, receipts and notes) I love Evernote and Google Docs. For ye olde pen and paper writing I love the dotted Moleskine notepads. Stone Gift kindly gave me a dotted Moleskin so I have my next bujo lined up for the new year. Perfect for bullet journalling and project planning.
Fairy lights on our Christmas twig
A 2020 planning party. A shameless plug for my free January workshop.
Sometimes it’s *just* the thing we need, to have somebody hold space for us to get something done. In this case, it’ll be you, me and a cup of tea and your notebook/diary/wall planner. It’ll be an hour to set goals, review 2019, and get revved up for a crackin’ year of independent, creative bad-assery.
Click here and I’ll save you a seat at my planning party.
It’s on the 2nd of January at 10am GMT, but there will be a replay available if you’re still partying at that point in the festive calendar.Batch cooking!
I am obsessed. I discovered The Batch Lady recently and i’ve been stocking the freezer with fish pies, tomatoey sauces, soups and stews. I know when I get busy again in the new year I will be on my knees in the kitchen crying with gratitude like “THANK YOU, KATIE FROM THE PAST”. Cooking is boring, but somehow doing it in industrial quantities to freeze, while dancing around the kitchen to Robyn makes it much more enjoyable.
Tonight’s dinner = fishcakes Katie-from-the-past made. Yissss, thanks Katie.
Currently reading:
Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem AKA The London Mudlark. (I drew her at the TedXNewcastle earlier this year.) I love reading this book in the evening when I’m curled up on the sofa. It’s very soothing to think about old things buried in mud, and people finding them and peicing together history and creating little collections.
There’s a story in there about Dove’s typeface which is really proper fascinating.
The Desire Map by Danielle La Porte. Interesting. It sort of pokes you into waking up and thinking about your life. Are you enjoying yourself? Why are you setting the goals you’re setting? A good reminder to check whether you’re enjoying things the way they’re going. Some of it gets a bit repetitive but it makes wonderful train-listening when you’re drawing or staring out of the window. Also great for drawing. (Can you tell I have this as an audiobook?)
Business Stuff:
Leonie Dawson
I recently did a course called ‘40 Days to create and sell your e Course’ (so watch this space for online courses!) and it was SO helpful. Here’s a link if you fancy making and selling an online course too. Highly recommend.
For the new year I have signed up to the Goal Getter course, also with Leonie Dawson. She makes me laugh, and she is a great inspiration to just get on a do stuff, and not worry about everything being perfect. She’s a lovely balance of hippie and business woman. I’m ready for 2020 to be a SMASHIN’ year. You too?
This link is for the 3 month mastermind. I’ve never been in a mastermind before. I’m excited! Let me know if you join too and we can be business budz.
Decluttering
I am really feeling some tidying up energy. I have already started with my website, and I sorted out the resources page, so if you’re looking for my freebies those are here. I’m adding to it all the time.
In the studio today i’m getting rid of scraps of paper, donating books I’ve read, and giving the place a bit of a scrub.
Anyways, thus endeth my favourite things 2019 blog post.
Thanks for helping to make 2019 the best year ever!
Are you carving out planning time for the year/decade ahead? DO IT! (And make sure you write down your goals.)
x Katie