My Completely Unremarkable Perimenopausal Daily Wins

In my twenties, I was convinced that by the time I reached my forties, I would have everything impressively figured out and be firmly in control of my life.

Instead, I generally live a daily life of small, deeply unexciting victories that only make sense if you are also a grown perimenopausal adult with a body that complains more frequently than you’re used to and some sort of vague sense of responsibility.

When the hormones are raging, some days my biggest win is remembering why I have walked into a room without having to completely retrace my steps. On others, it is putting clean washing away instead of creating yet another ‘clean but not put away’ chair situation. Yesterday, I made a meal that wasn’t completely beige, and even better, I did not burst into tears over something objectively minor. On another day, I did cry, but I correctly identified why, rather than getting upset about not being able to find my keys like last time. I woke up last week at 3am and resisted the urge to mentally rewrite my entire life. I repeatedly choose comfort over aesthetics (my sweatpants, hoodies and fluffy socks make up about 90% of my wardrobe), I can’t remember the last time I bothered to put makeup on when I left the house… and I feel zero shame about any of it. At this point, it all counts as progress.

Royalty free image credit: FotoRieth on Pixabay

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How to Do a Slow Declutter of Your Home and Life

While the Christmas decorations were taken down and packed away before New Year’s Eve, it quickly became obvious that every single room in the house was still in a bit of a mess. Nothing was falling apart and there were no piles of old newspapers or broken coat hangers lurking in corners, but there was clutter. Lots and lots of clutter. 

The Bloke and I are not hoarders in the traditional sense, but we do have a tendency to soothe ourselves with things when we are feeling low: a book here, a small Lego set there, stationery, candles… Over time, those small comforts accumulate, and suddenly drawers are full and surfaces are much busier than they should be.

How to do a slow declutter of your home and life, with tips for a more gentle way to clear your space, by removing just five things a day.

Royalty-free Image credit: manbob86 from Pixabay

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A Change of Routine: Rethinking Productivity and Pressure

Like many, today is the final day before I return to work after the holidays. There is a mixture of anticipation and excitement of the potential of the next twelve months, and an underlying feeling of unease, which makes me a little uncomfortable. 

At the beginning of the holidays, it took longer than I expected to properly decompress. My mind stayed busy, running through lists even though there was nowhere I needed to be and nothing I needed to do. It was only after about a week that I truly began to relax. 

Now that I have reached a place of rest, the thought of going from 0-100 overnight and switching straight back into work mode feels more than a little challenging. Time away has been a reminder of how important rest and space are and how easily work can expand if boundaries are not actively maintained.

Royalty-free image credit: Peter Olexa from Pixabay

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The No Spend January 2026 Challenge

In January 2022 I made one financial goal for the year, and kicked it off in a big way by committing to a month-long No Spend Challenge.

A No Spend challenge is choosing a specific period of time to spend as little money as possible, limiting purchases to just essentials such as bills and groceries. Some people try a no spend weekend or even a year, but I chose January because it is usually a quieter month socially and a good time to reset after Christmas and the New Year.

How to Do a No Spend Challenge in January 2026: A fresh financial reset to start the year with clarity, intention, and control over your money
A weekly food shop from my No Spend Challenge in January 2022

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2026: The Big One

Happy New Year!

The Bloke and I kept things very quiet, exactly how we wanted it. Snacky treats ready to go, the first of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (ready to do the next two today), the London fireworks on the TV, and no pressure to be anywhere or do anything more than that. It was low-key, comfortable, and a really nice way to see the year. Long gone are the days of fighting for breathing space in nightclubs, wearing eye-wateringly high-heels and spending a fortune on just a few drinks. 

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2025: A Year in Review

Over the last few years, I’ve added a Memories & Highlights double page spread to my Bullet Journal. It’s a simple way of capturing the positive moments from the past twelve months, and I’ve found it especially helpful when things feel heavy or overwhelming.

It’s not always easy to stay positive when the news and the cost of living are relentlessly bleak, and this year has been challenging in plenty of ways for most people, myself included. However, I think it matters to notice the good with gratitude, while also acknowledging the more difficult moments so you can move forward. 2025 hasn’t been perfect, but compared to recent years (like 2023, which was particularly brutal) it has actually been a year to look back on and being incredibly grateful for.

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Christmas, Twixmas and New Year

I had every intention of blogging about my Christmas prep several weeks ago.

Because this year, I was ridiculously prepared.

The tree was up and decorated by the first weekend of December. It looked as drunk as ever, with additional decorations from Fortnum & Mason after our recent Christmas trip, and a Jellycat Pear from my mum that looked a bit testicle-esque, which then was referred to as a ‘festicle’ for the rest of the month. I also added a tree topper after watching – a picture of Michelle Pfeiffer as Stephanie Zinone from Grease 2 that I stuck onto a piece of card and perched it precariously at the top. If you know, you know. 

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A Last Minute Escape to Dubrovnik: Sunshine, Hidden Corners and a Perfect Birthday for The Bloke


At the end of October we booked a very last minute trip to Dubrovnik. It served two purposes: a chance to celebrate The Bloke’s birthday somewhere a little different, and it gave us the break we desperately needed after our disastrous trip to Scotland in August. I have been to Dubrovnik before, but he hadn’t, and the idea of showing him around the city while also getting some proper rest felt like fun.

At the end of October we booked a very last minute trip to Dubrovnik. It served two purposes. First, it was a chance to celebrate The Bloke’s birthday somewhere a little different. Second, it gave us the break we desperately needed after our disastrous trip to Scotland earlier in the month. I had been to Dubrovnik before, but he had not, and the idea of showing him around the city while also getting some proper rest felt ideal.

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Creating My 45 Before 45 List: A Year to Look Forward To

Back in October, I had a simple realisation: in November 2026 I will celebrate my 45th birthday. The thought didn’t bother me in the slightest – as I have aged my mindset has very much become that ageing is a privilege, and despite having my ass kicked by perimenopause I actually really enjoy being in my 40s. What it did make me think about, however, was how I wanted the coming year ahead to feel. I know myself well enough to recognise that I function best when I have goals and the sense that I am moving forwards and making progress. The problem is that for the last few years, most of my goals have been professional ones, focusing on work, productivity and getting things done, rather than about doing things simply because they matter to me as a person. 

So, I feel it is a good time to shift the balance.

Image credit: Royalty-free image karolinagrabowska (Pixabay)

I decided that I wanted things to look forward to, things that would make the next twelve months a bit more intentional and a bit more enjoyable. Turning 45 doesn’t feel like a big dramatic milestone, but it is a good moment to check in with myself and decide what I want the year to be about.

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When a Holiday Doesn’t Quite Go to Plan

Or… I got Covid. Yay.

There is something about arriving in Johnshaven that always feels like coming home. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since the last visit; as soon as we see the sea and the harbour, it all feels familiar again. That is exactly what I like about it… every visit feels like we are picking up where we left off. The village had grown slightly, with some new houses that had been built since our last visit a year ago, but not enough to see a huge difference. 

I was looking forward to seeing my favourite place in the world: Dunnottar Castle, and we decided that at the first opportunity we would go there to see the sunrise. As luck would have it we were able to do this within the first 24 hours of arriving. The castle looked as striking as ever and I sat on the clifftop for several hours, just taking it all in. It’s difficult to describe – I have never felt as connected to a place as I do there, and if given the opportunity I would just set up a tent and move in. 

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