Why hello there! Today is a special day for me as I turn 29 on the 29th! It’s a number that I’ve generally considered to be good luck, it’s also my anniversary with The Man (though that is the 29th of September, not November). Anyhoo, I hope you’re having a lovely day; please take this blog post as an excuse to grab some cake and reminisce with me on the past year.
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December 2018
Wins & accomplishments
- Recovering from knee injury and getting back to running.
- Leaving Rio de Janeiro with my fieldwork deliverables: contacts, interviews and partnership.
- Sharing photos on Instagram.
- Nice social times: farewells in Brazil and Christmas time.
Blog post published
Want to walk and read more? Try book hopping!: do you want to read more, but canβt seem to have the time? Or do you find going for a walk a bit frivolous when there are many things on your to-do list? I am sure that you are aware that both reading and walking are highly beneficial activities. Easy to do, but also easy not to do. So hereβs a quick recipe to combine them and make it feel like a better use of your time!
January 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Went for runs in the cold, walked to campus regularly and got a personal best at the 10km distance.
- Completed and sent off my PhD confirmation of registration report.
- Set up a Ko-fi account, did some demonstrating (i.e. helping students in seminars) and marking work.
- Saw parents, siblings, Granny and Jeff, went to a Vegan Runners meetup and to a games night.
Blog post published
How I am setting goals for the year ahead: it is always a good time to pause and reflect on what you want to achieve this year. Click to read advice on how to set goals, and for my 2019 goals! β¨
Books read
- The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks;
- Run the World: My 3,500-Mile Journey through Running Cultures around the Globe by Becky Wade.
February 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Went running in a variety of weathers, switched to No Meat Athlete training plan and took steps to prevent injury (foam-rolling and rest).
- Passed my PhD confirmation of registration and prepared for next round of fieldwork.
- Did demonstrating, shared on Instagram and scheduled a blog post.
- Went to the man’s birthday shave-off and a few other social events.
Books read
- No Meat Athlete: Run on Plants and Discover Your Fittest, Fastest, Happiest Self by Matt Frazier and Matt Ruscigno;
- Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds by Carmine Gallo.
March 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Stayed active, while not pushing myself too much (ingrown toenail and pregnancy!).
- Typed up phase one fieldwork notes and started conducting participant observation in Rio.
- Posted several photos to Instagram.
- Moved to Brazil, found a flat in Urca and discovered I’m pregnant!!!
Blog post published
Books Iβm reading this quarter #1: Iβm aiming to read 52 books this year. So Iβm trying a little experiment to ensure that happensβ¦ For more details and my list of books, click through! π
Books read
- Participant Observation: A Guide for Fieldworkers by Kathleen and Billie DeWalt;
- O Alquimista by Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist in English);
- How To Get A Phd: A Handbook For Students And Their Supervisors by Estelle Phillips and Derek Pugh
April 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Went to medical appointments and started prenatal yoga.
- Went to Catalytic Communities meetings and told PhD supervisors I’m pregnant.
- Shared photos on Instagram.
- Told people I’m pregnant and went to social things in Rio.
May 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Started Health Made Simple meal plan [not currently available, but check out other No Meat Athlete nutrition and fitness plans here], went running and did yoga.
- Focused on conducting interviews: contacted people and conducted an interview.
- Posted pregnancy announcement blog post (see below!).
- Skyped with family, including telling grannies about the baby.
Blog post published
Big update on a little project: soβ¦ the man and I are having a baby! I am currently 12 weeks pregnant and on PhD fieldwork in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read on for more info on Pip and how my pregnancy is going. π€°πΌπΆπ»π§π·
June 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Did prenatal yoga, went running and did some walking.
- Published a RioOnWatch article, went to meetings and a conference, and contacted potential interviewees.
- Planned colours and editing for social media and blog, shared some photos.
- Visited Rio with aunt and uncle, met up with friends.
July 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Did some cycling, running and strength training, then decided to prioritise walking and swimming.
- Conducted two interviews, enriched data collection table and contacted people, attended two Sustainable Favela Indicator meetings.
- Shared two blog posts and set up Linktree.
- Signed up for childbirth and parenting classes with the NCT, became the South East Network for Social Sciences Student Forum event coordinator and set up calendar blocking.
Blog posts published
- How to get out of a motivation slump: as I mentioned in my pregnancy announcement post, I experienced a bit of a βslumpβ recently. I was struggling to figure out what to do next and to motivate myself to do it, without getting overwhelmed. Does this sound familiar?
- Lessons learnt from Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine: welcome to this new experiment of mine, where I share my βlessons learntβ from the books I read. Iβm starting out with Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, which Iβve just finished reading for the second time.
Books read
- The Lonely Planet Story: Once While Travelling by Tony and Maureen Wheeler;
- Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life by Crystal Paine (see my blog post linked above for more info!).
August 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Did yoga regularly, went for walks and swam in the ocean.
- Using my calendar allowed me to be more productive and to conduct five interviews.
- Published baby steps to veganism post, started engaging more on Instagram and set up my editorial calendar for the upcoming season.
- Started to find a balance between productivity and self-care; went to the Feira de SΓ£o CristovΓ£o, Christ the Redeemer and Arpoador, and we saw the baby move through my tummy.
Blog post published
The baby steps guide to going vegan & plant-based: hereβs a step-by-step guide to easing yourself into the vegan and plant-based lifestyle β for your health, the animals and the planet! π₯π·π
Book read
Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide by Seyward Rebhal (a recap of my “lessons learnt” from this one will be available soon – make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss it!).
September 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Prenatal medical appointments went well, started doing a bit of yoga in the morning and started running again!
- Sent out some interview requests and typed up some fieldwork notes.
- Published two blog posts.
- Made it back safely to the United Kingdom and saw family, found a house we would like to buy.
Blog posts published
- My 2019 early autumn / back to university wishlist: are you a student heading back to university? Or do you just love stationery and this back-to-school period? Well hereβs your excuse to indulge in some (window) shopping!
- Pregnancy update + what not to say to a pregnant person: hello there! At the time of writing, I am 31 weeks pregnant. It seems like not much has happened since my pregnancy announcement post, but I certainly look quite different! Iβve definitely βbumpedβ and weβre past the point where the baby is βviableβ β which means that she/he would have good odds of surviving if born right now. So hereβs a bit of an update for those who are interested in Pip and my pregnancy, as well as a bonus section on what not to say to a pregnant person!
October 2019
Wins & accomplishments
- Decided to “archive” my running goals for now and focus on yoga and strength training; all my prenatal appointments went well.
- Conducted several interviews and gained more clarity on what to do for my research.
- Published autumn style post; improved newsletter and website layout and worked on opt-in freebie (get it here!).
- Our offer on the house we want to buy was accepted and we went to NCT classes.
Blog post published
Autumn style inspired by five autumnal activities: hello there! Autumn is officially upon us and with it comes some of my favourite style elements. No matter what the current trends are, autumn is always a good time for plaid, corduroy, jewel tones and coziness. Iβve put together five outfits based on these elements and inspired by typical autumnal activities. Whether youβre here for the clothes or looking for inspiration to add to your autumn bucket list, thereβs something for everyone!
Book read
The 5 A.M. Miracle: Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast by Jeff Sanders (I’m also thinking of doing a “lessons learnt” blog post about this one so make sure you subscribe to ensure you don’t miss it.)
November 2019
Wins & accomplishments
Who knows? I might have pushed a baby out by the end of the month – that would definitely count as an accomplishment! I haven’t yet reviewed November as there’s still a few days left. But if you’re interested in getting exclusive monthly updates from me, please sign up here!
Blog post published
Five ways to journal: how and why to write your thoughts down: all you need to journal is a pen & a notebook, but you could start with a random piece of paper, so no excuses! ποΈππ
Book read
Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive by Dorie Clark.
Well there you have it, a look back on being 28! When is your birthday? What have you been up to in the past year of your life?
P.S.: If you feel like time is flying past and you have no idea what you’ve been up to the past week, never mind the past year, check out my free guide to prioritising what’s important *to you* in your day-to-day life!
