Congratulations, you made it through January – the most tiresome month of the year for many. Slowly but surely the days are getting lighter, things are opening up, and we can start looking forward to spring.
Want some extra ideas to help you put a fresh pep in your step? Read on for 10 feel-good things to do in February:
“You are never alone on Valentine’s Day if you’re near a lake and have bread.”
1. Look out for the first spring shoots
Winter always seems to go on forever, even though this year we’re still waiting for the weather to get properly chilly. We might not be out of the woods yet, but there’s hope when you see the first spring shoots coming through.
2. Listen to the Conversations of Inspiration podcast
This one is a recommendation from my sister, and I’m very glad I found it! In each episode, host Holly Tucker MBE explores the highs and lows of building a business with a different guest. Even if you have no entrepreneurial ambitions of your own, it’s fun to learn more about how some of our favourite independent brands and creators came into being.
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3. Make a list of things you’re grateful for
It doesn’t matter how big or small your victories, it’s always good to take a moment to be grateful. Recent additions to my list have included really good coffee, finally going to the cinema again, and having a great video chat with my family members.
4. Go to the theatre
There’s lots to see this February. In Dublin, this includes 48 in Bewleys Café Theatre – it’s based on the true story of the Stardust Nightclub fire in the 1980s; and is absolutely incredible. I’ve seen it before and can’t wait to see it again! Plus the Scene + Heard Festival is returning to Smock Alley Theatre with an exciting programme of new shows and works in progress. Book now!
5. Whip up something exciting for breakfast
A fun thing about introducing my baby to solids at the moment is it’s forcing me to up my game with food after being stuck in a rut for a while. Favourite breakfasts include porridge with pear and almond butter, and (for adults only at the moment) a ‘breakfast pizza’ with a puff pastry base, and a bacon, egg and mushroom topping.
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6. Read Dear Mrs. Bird and Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearse
If you’re looking for something fun to read, I’d highly recommend Dear Mrs. Bird and its sequel, Yours Cheerfully (which I’m reading at the moment). Set in London during WWII, it follows a young woman dreaming of being a ‘Lady War Correspondent’, who gets a job working on the problem page of a women’s magazine. Everything is ‘jolly good’, and you can practically hear the clipped RP accent coming off the page. Just my kind of thing!
7. Flex your green fingers
Whether you have a sizeable garden or no outside space at all, it’s time to get your hands dirty by repotting that swiftly growing plant, growing some seeds, cutting back the hedges before the birds start nesting, or simply adding a bit of new greenery to your home and remembering to water it. Any effort made now will quickly pay off as you watch things spring to life.
8. Make a firm date to catch up with someone you haven’t seen for a while
Unsurprisingly thanks to the pandemic, many of us have missed out on catching up properly with some of our favourite people for far longer than normal. So this month, why not make a firm plan to spend some time with a friend you haven’t seen? Ideally in person, but otherwise in a lengthy video call that will make you appreciate your broadband.
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9. Buy yourself some really good chocolate
I’m not really bothered about Valentine’s Day, but I am passionate about good chocolate. So though an excuse is never necessary, now is a particularly good time to treat yourself to your very favourite confectionery. I’m definitely a dark chocolate girl, and is there anywhere better than Butlers? Though an honourable mention must go to the classic bag (or box) of Maltesers.
10. Start a new routine
After many months of going to bed as soon as possible thanks to being woken so frequently every night by the baby, I have started stretching my evening marginally in order to fit in a cup of hot chocolate and a few pages of my current book. It’s lovely to take a moment to wind down, especially when I achieve my aim of phone-free time too. Could you find a few moments for self-care in your day?
Photo by cristina Iacoangeli on Unsplash