Hello! How’s your 2024 going so far? Have you written a list of resolutions, or have you opted for the more palatable ‘ins and outs for 2024’? I’ve particularly enjoyed the deadpan comedy versions of ‘ins and outs’ floating around TikTok.
My 2024 so far has been a mixed bag. To be completely honest, my mental health has been somewhat poor, and I’ve had to work through things I’ve never had to before. Which seems a lot to say in the second paragraph of a post-Christmas, deep-in-the-dreary-depths-of-January post. But, being honest, losing fear from the act of writing, and sharing it with you is what this newsletter is all about. I want to be truthful in what I write. And writing has been one of a few things that has made me feel better.
But fear not! That’s not all I’m going to cover in this post - it’s not all going to be gloomy. You see, out of my struggles, I’ve been learning how to nurture myself. It’s been hard and taken a surprising amount of energy.
It’s like I’ve been playing one of those games where you have to guide a metal ring around another bit of squiggly-looking metal without setting off a buzzer when the two touch. I’ve been using all my concentration to play the game of patiently rewiring my mind. To be kind and nurturing and not constantly critical.
This work is taking up a massive part of my headspace, and my physical energy. Honestly, it’s taking me twice as long to do anything routine at the moment. Surprisingly, though, I’m not mad about it. It’s made me slow down like never before. Like reallllly slow down. Which has made me realise how much our brains have to deal with daily. We have to process so much information ALL THE TIME. It’s made me see how the inputs into our brains have grown massively over the past couple of decades. It feels like it’s happened without us really recognising and noticing it - not properly, anyway.
We have multiple screens, numerous amounts of notifications, constant checking if anyone needs us, wants us, has an update for us…diary reminders, messaging friends on three or four platforms (but never picking up the phone to speak to them), entering random people’s living rooms/kitchens/lives on TikTok for a matter of seconds, then scrolling onto the next one when we’ve had enough. World news flashes up incessantly (often packed with horrifying headlines and images), and it feels like we should know what’s happening all the time, across the world (don’t get me started on the guilt of not having a well-rounded enough opinion on all these global affairs). All while we stare disdainfully at a picture of Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at the Golden Globes for just a few seconds too long (okay, that one might be just me). It is re-lent-less. But somehow part of our habitual, day to day world.
Although overwhelming, I’m glad I’ve been able to get some perspective on this. Yes, I’m well aware that the conversation about digital overload isn’t a new one. Just the other day I saw this post from The Guardian that breaks down how our daily screen time translates to the total amount of days we lose throughout the year to our devices (if ‘fuuuuuck’ is your reaction to this, believe me, you’re not alone).
All of this has led me to an innate desire to go back to basics.
To go back to the ‘simpler times’ we all swoon over. Before screen time took up literal DAYS of our lives and the internet was in a room where the computer lived. I guess I don’t even want to ‘get back’ to these times. I want to create life that champions the basics.
I want to go back to basics.
I want to get a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans and wear them every day until they’re worn out. I want to wear them with a simple t-shirt and decorate it with inexpensive necklaces and classic hoop earrings.
I want to have friends round for dinner. Just a simple tea, no third or fourth courses or fancy cocktails. Just sitting, sharing food and thoughts for a couple of hours, then going home to our respective beds, safe in the knowledge that we’re full to the brim with food and love.
I want to sit on the floor and listen to whole albums while reading the lyrics.
I want to purposefully capture moments on a camcorder to avoid memories falling into the black hole of my iCloud.
I want to give myself time and space to feel nostalgic about things instead of filling dead air with scrolling.
I want to develop the photos from a disposable camera and print out the ones on my phone. I want to put them up around the house and in books so I can decorate my home and mind with beautiful memories.
I want to eat when I’m hungry and sleep when I’m tired.
I want to know that on Wednesdays I go to yoga. That my friends will too. Because that’s what we do on a Wednesday.
I want to romanticise simple acts of self-care, like putting socks on the radiator to warm them up before putting them on.
I want to sit on a Saturday afternoon with a brew and a book and my dog. And feel content without sharing it on Instagram.
I want to go on a long winter walk, and come back home to eat a warm bowl of soup.
I want to take my time and only hurry when absolutely necessary.
I want real-life chats, not apps.
I want community.
I want to go back to basics.
What about you? Anyone else feeling like they want to get back to basics…what does that mean to you? I’d love to know in the comments 💬 ✨
Love all your ways of going back to the basics! Particularly sitting on the floor and listening to a whole album! Every morning I write out a simple joy in my day, even if its just a warm cup of coffee. It is a daily reminder to go back to the basics and appreciate it
So many great suggestions here, thank you. I'm definitely with you on going back to basics and making more of simple pleasures. My mum used to put my PJs on the radiator for when I got out of the bath and that's something I really need to start doing for myself.