Time has been weird for me in 2019. Being at home on maternity leave, my days just seem to go SO fast. Weeks too. It’s actually terrifying that I go back to work soon because I have no idea where those months went.
But at the same time it feels like Indiana has been in my life a lot longer than 5 months. I think motherhood has changed me a bit too, so 2018 Kara feels quite removed from 2019 me. Like I said, it’s all a bit weird.
But alas, here we are, in the middle of the year. Only 6 months away from 2020, how crazy is that?!
I didn’t set myself any monumental, ambitious goals this year, I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. But I did jot down a few intentions for 2019 at the beginning of the year and thought it might be worth revisiting them. Just to see how I’m getting on, y’know?
2019 Update
Motherhood
I think I write about my motherhood experience quite a lot, both on here and my Instagram. And I think you’ll agree it is certainly the biggest change that has happened in my life in 2019. Probably ever.
Well, I anticipated that fact beforehand and wanted my number one priority for 2019 to be about learning the ropes as a new mum. And yes, that is definitely what has taken up most of my time and energy this year.
But I’ll be honest, it’s a LOT more challenging than I expected it to be. You spend the first few months exhausted, feeling as though your entire personality had disappeared and been replaced with a 24 hour concierge to a guest that can’t tell you what they want. Then when you think you’ve figured it out, the goal posts change. It’s knackering.
Now I’m almost halfway through Indi’s first year, things have settled down and I’m feeling much more like me again. But motherhood is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I don’t think I quite anticipated exactly how much becoming a mum would change my life. We made it out the other end of the newborn tunnel but now have weaning and crawling and going back to work to contend with. Wish me luck.
Self-Care
After learning to look after myself a bit more in 2018, I wanted to continue the whole ‘self-care’ thing into 2019. And well, it didn’t exactly work out how I wanted it to.
My lovely daily skincare regime gets done maybe twice a week if I’m lucky. It totally depends on how long Indi’s morning nap lasts (usually not long). And I’m normally too tired to even take my minimal make-up off in the evenings.
I did take time to have a lavender oil bath in the early days after giving birth, as it helps with the healing. And I think this kind of self-care is what kept me sane back then!
But otherwise, I’ve not been great at this goal.
Once I’m back to work in August though (and I’m not on statutory maternity pay anymore), I’m going to make sure I go to a nice yoga class one evening a week. I really liked going when I was pregnant and I think it would be good for me to have some solid “me-time” scheduled in the week. If that’s not self-care, I don’t know what is.
Family Travel
I haven’t tackled this one yet. The whole travelling with a baby thing. I thought I would have done it by now but the purse strings are pretty tight so we’ve decided our first family holiday will be around October time. We’re currently looking at either Valencia, Bologna or Lyon, so watch this space!
We did have an overnight stay at the seaside last month though and it showed me just how much stuff you need to pack for a baby!! No idea how I’m going to get it all in a suitcase. Any tips appreciated, lads.
This family travel thing is going to be a challenge but I’m up for it. LET’S GO.
Budgeting
The plan was to save some money in 2019 so that maybe by 2020 we would have a deposit to buy a house.
But actually we found an amazing deal and saved more than we anticipated at the beginning of the year and we bought a house ahead of schedule! We move in August/September and I am beyond excited to have Indi’s first Christmas in our very own house!
We still need to be strict with money so that we can afford the move and the new furniture we need. And the holiday we want to book for October. And the wedding we will eventually start planning. UGH.
But still, I’m really happy that we managed to buy our first home, so I’d say that’s a win.
I think this exercise has actually been really good for me. It’s always useful to look back at your goals and see how you’re doing. To reassess and refocus your energy on what you want to achieve.
But for me personally, I’ve felt like I’ve not really achieved much this year. It’s the weird maternity leave bubble and lack of blogging and the feeling that I just need to make it though each day. Yet on reflection, I’ve achieved loads already in 2019 and I’m exactly where I wanted to be. It’s made me confident that I’m doing ok, y’know?
I also think I’d like to add a new intention for the rest of the year, and that’s REST.
I’ve had a few years of constant travels and events and house moves and jobs and HAVING A BABY and you know what? I’m knackered. I haven’t spent maternity leave how I would have liked, I haven’t been productive, but I need to just chill. This time is for recovery and REST as well as raising a tiny human. So that’s what I’m going to focus on, for the next couple of months at least. Before the mayhem of the house move and going back to work ensues.
How are you getting on with your 2019 goals? Now is the perfect time to stop and assess, pal.
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