August Refresh and Relax

During the summer of 2024, especially in the final weeks of August, I took a well-deserved break. I utilized three weeks of my annual leave to care for baby K and to simply relax. Stepping away from my usual routines, I spent less time exercising and more time enjoying playful moments with my baby in our garden, along with indulging in some reading. Neglecting my garden for a bit resulted in some weed overgrowth after the summer showers. However, after spending time outdoors, lying on the grass, having picnics, picking flowers, and appreciating nature’s beauty, I felt rejuvenated. The summer was a time of mindfulness, peace, focused growth, and self-improvement, allowing me to recharge my inner energy.

September Restart

Entering September, my focus shifted towards enhancing my health, fitness, and knowledge. To achieve this, I maintained a simple and minimal journal. I stuck to the same layout from August, dedicating one page per week and embellishing them with stickers. I adjusted my tracker page, set small goals to work towards my long-term objectives.

September Restart Doodle

One thing I truly missed was the joy of sketching and doodling. Towards the end of my break, I began by cleaning up my garden and weeding. During this process, I discovered that my pumpkin plant had spread throughout the garden and climbed the fence, producing tiny pumpkins along the way. Late summer flowers continued to bloom, tomatoes were ripening, and the roses were in full bloom due to the delayed summer. In my mind, I was in a garden paradise. So, one beautiful afternoon, I sat down and sketched my garden as I envisioned it, blending reality with a touch of fantasy.

The result was a delightful, enchanted page where I could jot down my to-dos. Just looking at my to-do list brings me joy and motivates me to accomplish all my daily goals, even on days when I don’t feel like ticking them off.