Inspire: Be Inspired

The reason I created Habits of a Homebird was because I felt there was an audience out there that didn’t quite fit with the typical “country girl” persona. I’m a horsey girl who has evolved into a country bumpkin; something that has happened organically through my lifestyle choices, environment and the people I surround myself with.

I am actually sat here editing this post at 7:30am on a very drizzly and grey Monday morning; yet, I know that this is the time I am most inspired.

My goal for this article is to reach out and help my readers figure out when they’re most productive. My homebird community is all about bringing likeminded people together and I truly believe your most productive time should be used to invest in yourself. I’d love to hear your thoughts so comment, share and tag me in! 


To inspire, you must first be inspired, a circular idea that always starts with you putting down your own ideas and somebody taking initiative from what you’ve written. You may then read somebody else’s ideas and be inspired to create your own and so it goes. Surrounding yourselves with people who inspire you frequently is so important for self-development and it will motivate you. So start putting your ideas down on paper and slowly build up the courage to share them with others.


Another thing you should know is that to write blog articles, one doesn’t sit down only once and a perfectly formed piece will emerge. I’m always jotting down notes on my iPhone and usually in the morning before work, I will sit at my laptop with a cuppa and start putting down my ideas. The first draft will often take a couple of days and then editing a few more days if I am concentrating solely on that creative task. If I am juggling multiple projects then this often takes longer. So don’t be put off if your own creativity takes time – you’re not on your own!


Anything can be an idea! If I go out for the day with my camera, I will often write about my adventures. If I have a eureka moment in my equestrian training, I will most likely write about it. But also, if I come across some handy tips that I feel could benefit those around me, I will share those as well. I take inspiration from everything around me so making sure my surroundings are interesting and positive is crucial. If you’re stuck with your own creativity, I urge you to look at your circle and make edits. Hopefully, your creativity will then blossom.


Pony, practical and personal goals to achieve in 2020

Every year I set myself a resolution. To be fair to myself, I do stick to it for a few months but then lapse and fall back into my previous ways.

This cycle of negativity is not something I want to repeat so this year I’ve followed an example set by somebody I follow on Instagram. Rather than the “join a gym”, “lose weight”, “travel more” resolutions, I have instead set myself 24 goals. One goal for each of my 24 years.

When I started brainstorming, I quickly realised that I had a lot of things I wanted to achieve, some of which pleasantly surprised me. They’re all achievable goals that I’ve started laying the groundwork for and they’ll help me to progress in my hobby, my career and in my personal life.

I’ve decided to share them so I can constantly look to close friends and family for support and also, putting them in the public domain holds me accountable!

So watch out, 2020 is going to be my year.

  1. Complete a sponsored ride on Hartley
  2. Run a 5k race for charity
  3. Complete a hunt ride on Hartley towards the end of Summer
  4. Read at least 1 book a month that isn’t related to work
  5. Enter our first dressage competition together
  6. Try making 2 new food dishes every month
  7. Jump a course of show jumps with confidence – tiny jumps count!
  8. Take Hartley on an overnight holiday
  9. Get back to working on some art
  10. Publish more magazine articles in my own name
  11. Use my position at work to fundraise £5000 for charity over the course of the year
  12. Start volunteering
  13. Start writing a children’s book
  14. Setup and successfully stick to a monthly budget
  15. Finish Christmas shopping by November – avoid the rush!
  16. Learn a new skill or language
  17. Grow a fruit and vegetable garden in pots
  18. Visit Scotland
  19. Write monthly articles on my own blog
  20. Don’t use my credit card for the whole year
  21. Go litter picking at least once
  22. Host a Summer party
  23. Successfully complete my level 6 marketing diploma
  24. Only buy secondhand clothes