Small lifestyle changes I have started making in 2025

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GOAL:

To research and understand how food additives and non-organic products can affect our health and to combat this by starting to make more food where possible and eating organically/whole

When I go food shopping now I’ve started making switches to organic produce where available. For examples I’ve recently picked up organic lettuces and organic Scottish porridge oats. I’ve also made switches with our pasta choices to wholewheat varieties.

I’ve also started making some sauces from scratch and I’m about to prepare some cereal bars!

GOAL:

To implement ‘slow living’ strategies to make my brain calm down and focus on the ‘here and now’

I’ve started a daily sensory activity with my toddler whilst I’m in the kitchen cooking dinner. We have so far tried sponge painting and also breaking his Lego animals out of a block of ice.

I’ve got a few more ideas up my sleeve to try!

2025 Goals

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1) To implement ‘slow living’ strategies to make my brain calm down and focus on the ‘here and now’

My brain is always going at 100mph. I think my past jobs have conditioned me into thinking that the busier I am the better employee I must be. Which has always fulfilled my people pleasing tendencies. I’m battling this and trying not to flick between too many tasks or have an insane amount of mental tabs open at once. 

Plus with the constant access to social media, I sit and doom scroll. So I struggle to slow down and switch off which is why I’m making a conscious effort to disconnect and be present more. 

2) To not buy any more books and get through my To Be Read box!

Very self explanatory – I’ve got about 50 books to read so not buying any new ones until I’ve got through this lot! And then will hit up the secondhand shops.

3) To be financially comfortable by the end of the year – I don’t need to have tens of thousands of pounds behind me, but to have a buffer in my normal account so I don’t have to go to 0 every month

This is the year we get married so to be comfortable financially by the end of it would be a great milestone to hit. We have a lot of bills to pay but we will get there! 

4) To research and understand how food additives and non-organic products can affect our health and to combat this by starting to make more food where possible and eating organically/whole

I’ve gone down a rabbit hole and now I can’t escape. I read every food packaging label now to see what I am actually eating and there are so many chemicals that we don’t need to be putting into our bodies! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a busy working mum with a Fiancé who typically works 80 hour weeks so I really can’t go too hard with prepping everything. But I’m starting small and buying organic and whole foods where possible, and trying to make more snacks and things. 

    5) To fall back in love with looking after my animals again rather than viewing them as ‘the next job to do’

    I love my animals and it’s always been a dream to have them. But it’s hard, and even harder when you’re tired and run down. 

    Making a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy them again this year, it’s what they deserve and I need to do this for my soul. They’re my happy place. 

    Creating health

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    I’m overweight. I love food – I love cooking it, eating it, baking it for others.

    I know I’m carrying too much weight on my frame right now. I’m a work in progress.

    I’m fairly active and I love being outside. But I also love snacks and treats.

    I’ve decided that rather than ‘lose weight’ I’m going to start living in the mindset of the woman I want to be in a years time. I always get so down on myself if I diet or restrict myself. So this time I’m going to try and glow up.

    I don’t know if I will stick with it – I really hope I do.

    I’ve booked a hot yoga class this Sunday and plan to do another one this Thursday whilst Bertie is at nursery. If I can stick with it and keep trying I will take out an off-peak membership with the studio near me so I go regularly.

    I’ve started healing my gut health with a daily superfood supplement. I’ve also purchased an intolerance test to see what foods and environmental allergens are affecting my body as there is definitely something affecting my eczema.

    I now drink a lot of lemon water and buy my vegetables seasonally and locally which makes them taste so much better.

    I aim for 7,000-10,000 steps a day. Attainable on my office days and my non-working days.

    Let’s see what tomorrow brings!

    Slow Living

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    If you read my previous post, you’d understand that right now I am in a period of change.

    I’m making an effort to live in the moment and reduce my social media exposure. So far, so good! I’ve been offline for over a week now and feel pretty positive about it.

    So to extend this good feeling, I want to try and slow down in everyday life.

    I’ve been doing some research and would like to implement elements of hygge into my lifestyle. To begin with, just slowing down and simplifying my days will be enough. It’s a big change – jumping off the hamster wheel and deciding to slow down and go against everything we are told is true. Such as chasing the career, having the modern home, the best clothes and possessions.

    I’m stepping away from this. I’m buying secondhand, cooking local food from scratch, reading more, scenting my home and spending quality time with my family and friends.

    I want my boy to grow up living in the moment and not always being glued to a screen. Once he is old enough, I want him to choose a lifestyle that has a healthy balance of work/life, indoors/outdoors – and my lifestyle will hopefully be a positive influence on his own.

    One quick and easy element of hygge I’m trying to incorporate is to connect with friends and family more. Making time for good conversation and not just a quick text here or there.

    Let’s see how this next week develops.

    Maternity money and future planning

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    Anybody that knows me, truly appreciates how much I love saving money.

    Growing up I struggled to make any savings. However, when I met Dan and realised how I wanted to build a future with him, I started my saving journey and changed my perception of money. Long gone were the credit card shopping sprees to Bicester Village and now I view the cost of items in comparison to how many hours I would need to work to afford it.

    Fast forward 6 years and throw in becoming a mother and running a house, I now ensure I have an emergency fund, savings for any car bills (insurance, MOTs, servicing etc.), a joint savings account with the OH to make sure we can afford our home renovations as and when they are needed, a ‘rainy day’ fund which tops up automatically whenever we spend money from the savings account, cash put aside for Christmas/birthdays and also a child savings account for our 9 week old son. On top of this I follow a whole heap of budgeting accounts on Instagram and Tiktok which constantly inspire and keep me motivated to continue saving.

    Well now my maternity pay is due to decrease for the next 6 months with it completely stopping for the following 3 months, I welcome the challenge of working harder to save even more money and doing what I can to ensure my family are well-cared for. Here are some things I will be implementing over the next 9 months to try and stay ahead of the curve with my maternity finances:

    1.Using my credit card

    Yes, you read that bit right! I love having my credit card. Whenever I have a big bill to pay (car insurance, vet bill etc.) I always use my credit card to pay it off and then clear it as soon as the statement comes through. That way you don’t accrue any interest on your spending but it does give you a bit of extra time to get your finances for the month in order.

    My credit card statement comes through on the 15th of every month and is due for the minimum payment by the 10th of the following month. I get paid on the 27th every month so can budget to pay off the statement from two months of pay. Or if it is a planned bill, then take it from my dedicated savings fund and clear straight away.

    That way, I can usually get an extra 2 weeks of savings put aside before the payment is due so my account never falls to zero – something that mentally makes me feel a lot better! Just make sure, if you plan to try this, that you keep an eye on when your credit card is due to be paid and that you don’t miss any payment dates.

    2. Monitoring bills and checking for cheaper options

    I’ve recently reduced my phone bill to a sim-only contract for 24 months, costing £23 a month through EE. This in comparison to the £65 I have been spending to pay off the phone means an extra £40 saved a month. We also have Sky TV and Broadband and after a conversation recently with one of their advisors, our monthly costs for everything have reduced from £112 to £91 (still a lot of money but we do consider this a necessity!). Also, my horse insurance renewal came through and for the first time I ever I shopped around for a better deal. Now rather than sticking with the company I was with for 7 years who were trying to charge me £119 a month, I have moved to a new company who charge £75 and gave me a month’s cover free of charge. Almost £45 saved! I also plan to shop around for car insurance renewals when they are due which should hopefully save us a chunk of money.

    3. Cash is making a comeback!

    I miss the time when I used to receive my weekly pay in a small brown cash envelope from my weekend job. When did we stop using actual cash? I love having a wad of notes or handful of coins – it feels much more tangible than the digital numbers we see on our banking app. So I am making a cash comeback – I have purchased a terramundi pot with the idea of saving my spare £1 and £2 coins and I also withdraw cash every month from my account to use when out and about. Any leftover notes at the end of the month I will put in my savings envelope for Christmas. I also find it so much easier to stick to a budget if you have only a certain amount of cash in front of you.

    4. Weekly savings instead of monthly – easier to stomach!

    Following on from the weekly pay idea above, I have changed my automated savings from monthly to weekly, to ensure that I pay myself in a manageable way. When my maternity pay reduces, I can pull these savings right back if I need to and then build them back up once I know what money I have to work with. I use Lloyds bank and they predict your future outgoings based on your direct debits and standing orders. So, if like me, your bills are all automated, this feature allows you to see what is yet to leave your account before your next payday.

    5. Ensure savings are only used for their intended purpose

    I am a bit of a bore when it comes to my savings and will only now use them for their intended purpose. My emergency account will only be used for actual emergencies or larger, unanticipated bills. My car savings account will only be used for my insurance, tax or MOT/servicing costs. My Christmas envelope is solidly for Christmas – you get the idea. I’ve even renamed them on my banking app! Be strict with yourself and watch your savings grow.

    6. Free activities where I can

    Having a baby opens up a whole new world of friendship with fellow Mums and Dads. You want to go out and show your baby the world, treat them to new outfits and experiences, yet your bank account holds you back. I’ve really got into reading with Albert and currently read him a kiddies book a day, plus a little bit of Harry Potter to stimulate his brain with the tone of my voice and more complex language. I also get him outdoors as much as the weather allows, and sometimes even then wrap him up warm and put his pram’s rain cover on. The fresh air seems to work wonders for him and he always has the best naps either in the baby carrier or in the pram. Often I will try and time his nap to then go for a nice dog walk with a travel mug of coffee, just for a little bit of me time. However, I will also allocate money monthly to take him out to sensory experiences or to meet up with other children. It doesn’t have to be expensive but the stimulation they get will be invaluable for their brain development!

    7. Little treats

    Sometimes you just need to think ‘TREAT YOURSELF’ and do it. Get your nails done, go for a nice lunch, purchase a new outfit that makes you feel good. Whatever it is I try my best to NOT feel mum guilt. My whole purpose has shifted to not only look after me, my animals and Dan but now solely to keep my baby fed, happy and healthy. So a little treat every now and then is 100% deserved.

    8. Homemade gifts 

    This year I will attempt to gift a homemade item for every occasion for family members and friends. Fudge, biscuits, a cake, photo collections – the ideas go on. They are fun to make, will fulfil my creativity and will hopefully save us some money in the long run!

    9. Becoming self-employed and claiming child benefit

    Most recently, I have managed to get myself some freelance writing work to help alleviate the pressure financially. Plus, I LOVE writing. It’s my hobby and the chance to earn money from it is something I am jumping at! Legally, whilst on maternity leave in the UK, you can earn an income if you are also self-employed – you just need to ensure you complete your tax self-assessment to appease the HMRC. Also, make sure you fill in and submit the child benefit application – every mother in the UK is entitled to it and you get £21.80 a week.

    10. Growing food

    I am really going to put effort into gardening this year to ‘grow-our-own’ and plan for winter food. Potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, salad leaves and lettuces, beetroot, peas, various different berries, rhubarb and also use as many of the apples off of the established trees as possible. I am also going to revamp the kitchen garden to make the whole process a bit easier. So rather than an allotment, create a variety of raised beds and large containers to reduce the need for weeding and use the compost I have been adding to over the last year!

    11. Picking up bits throughout the year for birthdays/Christmas

    Would it surprise you to know that I have purchased the majority of Albert’s birthday and Christmas presents already for 2023? I hit the sales and took advantage of deals on – for example, Aldi had a Nuby ball pit in their ‘middle aisle’ reduced to £39.99 (RRP approx. £80), I’ve bought clothes from the Next sale and also books from The Works in their 10 for £10 deal. I’ve picked up a few more bits as well that keep that I know my family will like for Christmas and put them into storage in our spare room.

    12. Selling second-hand items

    I want to cut down on clutter as much as possible so I am putting things to one side that I plan to sell. I will list them on Ebay or Facebook marketplace when I get round to it but do not plan to do this until my maternity pay is coming to an end! I won’t be selling all of Albert’s baby clothes though as I will potentially reuse them if we are lucky enough to one day have another baby or I will donate them to my sister if she plans to!

    5 warming winter recipes

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    I’d definitely recommend investing in a soup maker or slow cooker to get you through winter. They’re both so easy to use and you can cook virtually anything in them!  I love taking healthy food to work and anything warming always fills me up more than a boring sandwich. Plus, when you’re out in the cold all day the best feeling is to come home to a warm house smelling of good food. Take a look at the recipes below and let me know if there is anything delicious I should try.

    1. Tomato, red pepper and chorizo soup

    500g vine tomatoes, 150g chorizo, 1 red pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, sprinkle of mixed herbs, 300ml vegetable stock and a drizzle of lemon juice.

    Chop it all up, click the smooth option on your soup maker and 30 minutes later you’ll have the BEST soup ready to eat!

    2. Chilli con carne

    1 tin of red kidney beans, 1 tin chopped tomatoes, 3 small chillis, 250g mince, half an onion, a handful of chopped cherry tomatoes, one third of green pepper, table spoon of gravy granules, 1 x beef stock cube, smoked paprika, some crushed chilli seeds, salt and pepper.

    Throw all this in the slow cooker and heat on the low setting for 6 hours. I always end up throwing more gravy granules in but pair this with either a quick cook rice packet or tortillas and it’s a CRACKING winter meal.

    3. Beef stew

    500g chopped beef (you can often pick this up cheap reduced in Supermarkets- just pop it in the freezer if you don’t plan on using it straight away) 1 x beef stock cube, 300ml boiling water, gravy granules and whatever veg you have leftover in the fridge! Carrots, potatoes and suede are good choices but I personally also like adding mushrooms and peas.

    Again, a similar technique to above – throw it all in the slow cooker and put it on a low heat for approximately 8 hours. If you wanted to add dumplings to the mix then you need to prepare these first. It’s just 150g self-raising flour and 70g of suet mixed together and rolled into golf ball sized dumplings. When you’re coming to the end of the 8 hours, turn the heat up high and put the dumplings in the stew mix after stirring. After 30 minutes you’re winter feast will be ready and your house will smell AMAZING.

    4. Honey roasted gammon

    1 x joint of gammon, honey, salt and 100ml of water.

    Pour the water in the slow cooker, place the joint in the centre of the cooker and drizzle with honey. Then place on a low heat for 8 hours. This is a great one for a Sunday! I will usually sort the horses, throw this together and then by the time Dan and I are home in the evening, we will have a delicious gammon joint to have with either vegetables, fresh bread or chips.

    5. Root vegetable soup

    2 x potatoes, handful of leeks, 1 carrot, 100ml double cream, 100ml milk, 500ml vegetable stock, salt and pepper.

    Peel and chop the potatoes, chop the carrot and also the leeks. Throw them all in the soup maker along with all the stock, milk and cream and put it on the smooth setting. This makes 3 portions of soup and is a great one for the weekends ahead of a week at work.