SLOW SLOW SLOW NOT GO GO GO & THE BEST RAINBOW TROUSERS AROUND!

Another new week, where on earth is the time going? When I think back to the beginning of the year, I find it SO damn hard to believe that we're already nearing the end of July, it's truly bonkers how fast this year is moving don't you think?
But alas, this month is always my fave of the year, aside from December and what a bloody delightful month it's been so far- what with my birthday on 4th July, George's on the 11th and of course this year being ultra special with the amazing heat wave we've had and of course the world cup bringing us all together.

July has been a busy one, it's been full of celebrations and possibly too much BBQ food, beer and Pimm's, however it's been bloody fun all the same and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

Saying that, this weekend was the first in a long time that George and I didn't have any plans. We woke, late on Saturday with the full weekend ahead of us to decide what to do together.
And you know what, we did absolutely nothing!
And I loved it!

In a world which is so GO GO GO it was nice to take it slow, to spend some time in our gorgeous home, particularly the living room which gets almost NO action during the summer months and to just completely and utterly recharge.

I woke up today, on Monday, ready and raring to go, excited to tackle the things I had written on my to-do list the night before and to get back to it once again after a full weekend of nothingness.

Despite having no plans whatsoever I still got myself ready and sat around in my make up all day... Classic Megan. I'm the type of person who enjoys being busy. I love seeing friends, having a drink or two on a sunny day and I hate feeling like I've wasted my weekends.
But as George insisted he didn't want to go out I tried to relax into things a little bit.
Fully made up I retreated to my favourite room of the house, our living room, with two books that I've been meaning to read for a while and actually RELAXED!
Sipping on team and reading Charly Cox's debut poetry book She Must Be Mad whilst the puppies slept at my feet I felt this incredible calm come over me, something I haven't felt in a long time.
And despite having to bring my thoughts back from work to Charly's poems a couple of times, it felt incredibly refreshing to be doing nothing on a sunny Saturday afternoon, so much so, inbetween naps I actually finished the ENTIRE BOOK!
And oh what a book it is; my first dabble into reading poetry but my goodness is that book beautiful, a true reflection on what it is like growing from a girl to a woman. I laughed, I cried and I really bloody LOVED it. If you have any other poetry books you'd recommend I would truly love to hear about them.

This relaxed weekend of nothingness that consisted of reading, drinking tea, eating chinese food, walking the dogs and napping, really did come at the right time as I've been thinking a lot about the fast paced nature of which we live.
There is so much emphasis on being busy, looking fulfilled and like you're having the best time ALL OF THE TIME and I am for sure guilty of just that. I've always been the kind who has suffered with "cabin fever" whenever I'm in the house for too long, or with "FOMO" even when I know my friends aren't doing anything, I always want to be busy and to be socialising, whilst often sharing the best bits online.

But the worst is when it comes to working, especially in the field that I work. We're of the mindset that is so important to be constantly sharing the best most positive and happy parts of our lives, and unfortunately that seldom includes the time we take for ourselves. Instead we share our latest outfits for exploring a new city, what we wore or ate last night, our holiday styling tips or our latest press trip adventures and of course, we shout about just how damn busy we are.

And whilst it's great to be busy and I for one am happiest when I have a heck loada stuff to be getting on with and tonnes of exciting things in the pipeline, I can't help but think that this isn't good for our soul or the soul of those viewing from the outside.
We must remember to take time out for us, to relax, to do the life things we've been putting off 'cause we're just too damn busy. Reading a book, clearing out your kitchen drawer (you know the one I'm talking about here, the one where everything that doesn't have a home finds itself...), catching up on some sleep, exercising, having a mini pamper sesh; simply just taking some time out to try and not think about work and to look after yourself.

I've spent the last month or so avoiding doing the things I love, using the excuse that I'm too busy.
And whilst I have been busy, I've neglected my body and my mind by skipping the gym for the last 5 weeks, I've disregarded how I feel about myself through not possibly having time to get my nails or my hair done. I've postponed learning to drive as I could never give up four hours a week for lessons and until this weekend I hadn't as much as touched a book since I was in the Maldives back in March.

It's time we took a grip on what makes us feel good and not neccesarily the relentless socialising *ahem drinking* and working. Whilst it's a beautiful thing to be known as a hard worker, something I'm regularly described as, if something happened tomorrow I wouldn't want to be known as the "most hard working person" I'd want to be remembered for being myself, for loving myself, for being a good friend and for having fun, all of which come when I've taken some time out for me.

I'm feeling back on top again; taking some time for me has really allowed me to prioritise what needs to be done, what needs to be factored in and that is a little more "me time"
It's amazing what a touch of relaxing on your sofa can do for your mind and soul and, even your creativity as without slowing down I wouldn't be writing this post today... Oh Megan you hypocrite you!

So let this be a lesson to us all, to focus less on how busy we're looking and more on how we are feeling as a human being. Take some time out this coming weekend to something good for your soul and in turn you'll look after your mind as well.

And another thing that helps, rainbow trousers, they're always good for the soul.

Lets go slow slow slow in-between all the GO GO GO.

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSIE BUTCHER