Sunny Side Up #3: It's the little things.

Attempting to make the ordinary, extraordinary ☀️

This week was average, and I mean that in the best way possible.

I set myself the challenge of finding happiness in the simple things. Normally, I find every day blurs into one - I get up, hurry to work, go home, go to bed, and do it all again the next day. I don’t know about anyone else, but my brain tends to gravitate toward negatives more than positives, so this was going to take some effort. I would have to actively notice the things that make me happy, even if it’s just a little bit. I decided to treat everything I do like it was a mini event. It turns out that thing all the self-help books say about being grateful for the small things really works!

Embracing the quiet.

I hadn’t realised how soothing silence could be. Often I find it intimidating and my mind will fill the space with loud, dominating thoughts. I’ll turn on the television or radio for background noise.

This week was spent with just my mum and me, and I noticed that I rarely turned to my noisy comfort blankets. Instead, our evenings were soundtracked by the birds in our garden, the rain hitting the windows, and the crisp pages of novels as they turn. I think I felt present? I’m not completely confident because it’s rare that I am, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to be. I found myself sat on the sofa, scrolling through Substack or reading my book, and that’s where my thoughts stayed. It was bliss.

Get out of your joggers!

This is a pretty self-explanatory one. Anyone who knows me knows I live in my co-ords. Adanola now plant a tree every time I shop there (is this good or bad?). This week, I actually put on jeans, and I felt so much more put together!

Make time.

Sometimes I’m guilty of waiting for the next big thing to look forward to. A concert, seeing an old friend, going on holiday - whatever it is. Weekdays at work and weekends at home are just filler.

As a challenge for myself this week, I made all the little things I do into an event.

Instead of sitting on my bed with my laptop on my knees to write my last newsletter, I finally tidied my desk. I decorated, made it look like somewhere I’d actually want to be, and now it’s my haven. Sitting down to write here is a pleasure.

Every morning, I’ve been excited to get out of bed and make breakfast. Sounds pathetic seeing it written down, but sometimes we have to actively search for the good things in a day. I’d highly recommend it though - natural yogurt, raspberry granola topped with fresh berries and a drizzle (half the jar) of honey. Simple, but sooo nice.

Once a week after work, I go to my Pilates class. It's rare that I ever want to go - I’m tired, and I don’t want to hold a plank for 60 seconds. It hurts. However, I always feel better when I’ve done it. So, with that in mind, I turned my Pilates class into a ✨mindful✨ activity. I love catching up with the women there, and everyone’s shared anxiety as the instructor hands out the equipment for the session. I took care with my breathing through each pulse, attempting to smile through the pain rather than scrunching my face up like I normally do.

Taking notice of the magic in my days rather than breezing through them has made this week feel all the more special.

A Happy Mental Diet.

I love a gripping drama as much as the next person. The way they keep us teetering on the edge, holding our breath as our eyes refuse to blink out of fear of missing something important. At the start of this year I was obsessed with Slow Horses on Apple TV, and it has to be some of the best television I’ve ever seen. However, for the entirety of the last two episodes of series three I was on the brink of a full-blown panic attack. We had to pause the last episode half way through so I could catch my breath.

I’m not saying we should stop watching things that make us feel this way. After all, it’s a sign of great writing - it amazes me that a story can affect me that much! However, everything in moderation. Recently, stories that provoke an adrenaline rush have been more stress-inducing than enjoyable.

Less thrill-seeking, more chill-seeking.

This week, my comfort has been found in cosy crime novels and regency era movies. Has anyone seen Mr Malcolm’s List on Netflix? I loved it - such an uplifting and funny story. It’s also a book which I didn’t know so I’ve picked up a couple by the same author to take with me on my holidays in a few weeks.

1. Movie night 2. New bakes! 3. Pilates equipment of doom 4. Fresh veg 5. Summer breakfast of dreams 6. One scoop or two? 7. The sky is blue behind that cloud 8. A fresh blank page! 9. Big red jumper

• SMILING | I’ve had a chipped tooth for years now. It happened when I was about fourteen and eating a chocolate chip cookie (who knew something so delicious could be so dangerous?!). This week, my dentist fixed it for me and now I can’t stop marvelling at how clever dentistry is! You can’t even see where the fake bit is. Amazing.

• WEARING | My new favourite jumper from Adanola (nb - new tree planted)! Love it even more because my mum said she had one just like it in the eighties.

• EATING | Chocolate ice cream. Tis the season! It was finally warm enough on Friday to pick up a little tub of ice cream and it’s never tasted better. I also got my hands on

  Ruby Bhogal
  ’s new book which I have been eagerly awaiting, and can’t wait to dive in! My friend Garima will love this because she can’t have eggs and it can be so difficult to find good recipes.

• WATCHING | This week I revisited Not Another Happy Ending. It’s on Disney+ if you’ve not seen it. As soon as I turned it on I was swept right back to 2013 when I first watched it. Pastels, those nerd t-shirts from Topshop (RIP), the obsession with cupcakes and moustaches, those floral union jacks?! What on earth was that about?! A heck of a time to be alive.

I had a cushion with one of these on. What was the need?!

• How to Find Magic Around the Edges by

  Victoria Harrison
  - I could tell from the title that this was going to be a good’un. Aside from making me desperately miss the seaside, Victoria’s piece was incredibly fitting with my intention of finding joy in the little things this week. She’s exactly right - “in talking about, and looking for, magic we found it everywhere”.

• I’ve been loving The Quiet 20s by

  Soph Coombs
  and have binge-read her articles - such a relatable blog for anyone navigating this weird and wobbly period of life!

• This article by

  Kathleen
  at Extra Foam - made me laugh out loud and I’m alarmingly aware that my nail tech knows all my secrets. How do they do that?! Keep your friends close, and your nail tech even closer.

• Madeline Mills
  ’ journey to becoming a writer was a joy to read and something I’m sure most of you will relate to.

If you’ve read any great articles this week please leave them below!