Sabbatical Diary – week 3

Hello! It’s week 3… I realise that my plan of a weekly blog post has already fallen behind with a completely missing week 2.

I’d like to have an exciting reason but the truth is, I am still getting into the swing of things on my “work” days. The concept of being at home and having to plan and organise my time is still a bit of a strange thing for me. I mentioned to a friend that I basically feel like I am just fannying about – as my mum would say – on my phone all day. Sometimes I am, to be fair.

Having said that, I have been busy too AND also recovering from Shingles! The after effects of which are still on goings and very frustrating. On a positive note, I am currently working on a campaign with a favourite brand of mine. A lot of the planning and creating is done and now it is at the stage of getting everything checked. I will hopefully get the green light to share it with you all soon.

I have also had some interesting emails from a couple of other companies… unfortunately I have turned them down because it just wasn’t the right fit for me. One had no budget for a campaign and other had some very questionable reviews. So when I say not the right fit for me I also mean for you, because I don’t want to share something that isn’t of any use or value or worse.

A small monthly job I do is also ending this month; it’s not ideal but that is always the risk with content creation. Especially for me, I have a relatively small account and I am still trying to find my way onto the radar of more companies. Still, I have the luxury of time to try to get my name and face out there.

I am reminding myself that the content creator side of things is only a small part of my year long sabbatical. The other – more important – part is about gaining some much needed work life balance and family time. Another part is getting our kitchen sorted but that is still in the planning stages after months and months of discussing ideas. More on that another time.

Now we’re a few weeks into my son attending nursery for two days a week, we have noticed he is a bit clingier at times. I completely get it as it is such a big change so I am making sure our days together are proper quality time. Next week we’re starting a new toddler music group with a bit of a twist. I think, and hope, that it is going to such a cute and wholesome experience for us both and a lovely way to kick off my favourite season of the year.

That’s it really. Life has plodded on as normal as usual which as far as updates go, isn’t really that exciting. That’s not to say I am not enjoying this time though because I absolutely am! A slower pace of life is what I have been craving. I have been reflecting on that a lot this week and feel very VERY fortunate to be in this position right now. I almost feel a bit guilty at times too.

I have to keep reminding myself that I am just seizing a bit of a once in a lifetime opportunity. One that is actually thanks to this very website. I started this blog 7 years ago as a bit of a hobby and then made an Instagram account a few months later. Ironically, it was my Instagram page that grew to a point that it provides me with work. I am very aware that Social media can be very fleeting so I am making the most of it whilst I have it. That way, I won’t ever wonder ‘what if?’ because I am doing it.

I think writing this post and putting my thoughts and feeling onto paper – or screen? – has actually made me feel a little bit more balanced about things. So if you are reading this, thank you for being on the other side reading my ramblings. It’s time for a cup of tea before doing to nursery run soon, so that’s me done for the day… apart from a £1 reel I am posting later!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend,

Thrifty Clair