Good morning! It is 52*F as I’m typing this post this morning. I know we haven’t seen the end of the summer weather yet but I’m relishing the crisp air while I can. So I’m wrapped up in my Ramble shawl, sipping a hot cup of coffee, and waiting for the birds to wake up. Today is the last Monday of the month (and the last day of July!) and I’m here to check in with my one little word of the year, Less. Thank you to Carolyn for hosting us all each and every month!
July — especially the last two weeks of it — has been a lesson in flexibility. It’s a long story, but it’s fair to say that our summer schedule hasn’t been what we had planned for or expected and there’s been a lot less time for the things I wanted us to get done in our homeschool and around the house.
As a result of our schedule and an awful sleeping situation right now, I have felt weary and bone tired in July, so I have lowered my expectations significantly and have chosen to do less. Last week I set up my laptop in the kitchen in the evenings and watched A Small Light on Disney+ (it is excellent, by the way) and knitted while running interference with the kids until their bedtimes. I never just watch TV in the evenings and this was a wonderful gift to myself. After the kids were all in bed, I made sure that I also went straight to sleep as comfortably as I could. And I turned off my 3:30am alarms this weekend and slept as late as Colton would allow — almost 6am both days.
So this month has had a different rhythm and focus and, despite a few challenges, it has been lovely. It’s also been a reminder about balance: some months will bring fewer opportunities for one hobby and more success with another. Allowing for less in one area of life opens us up to more in other places. This month has brought a significant boost in my knitting mojo and I am thrilled about that! I am hoping to hold on to some of this month’s lessons and allow for a little more balance between knitting and reading for the rest of the year.
We will meet again on Wednesday for some bookish chatter. Tomorrow the Booker longlist will be announced and I plan to make that the focus of my next post. I can’t wait! I hope your week gets off to a great start. Take good care!
The Cozy Burrow 
Making time to rest is so crucial, whatever that looks like for us. Sounds like you’ve done a great job of it, very admirable. Also I love the Ramble shawl!
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I am so happy that you’ve allowed yourself these little pleasures (and the extra sleep) and that you’re remembering to be flexible — because with kids, it’s really hard to stick to a rigid schedule and maintain your sanity!
I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s on the Booker list tomorrow!
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This cooler weather is wonderful, isn’t it? Yes, doing less and getting more sleep sounds exactly like the right thing to do.
Looking forward to seeing the Booker longlist.
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A 3:30 a.m. alarm just sounds cruel to me! LOL Though, I do understand if it works for you. I cherish my early morning hours (6-ish) for the peace and quiet. Your entire post reminds me that life is just full of ebbs and flows. If you can ride the waves and enjoy the lulls it makes for a lovely time. I find that all things come and go for me. Sometimes I can’t stop reading, other times I can’t find a book to enjoy. Sometimes I knit and sometimes I stitch. My mood determines it all.
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I hope that you will find ways to sleep comfortably soon. That bone weariness is hard. So good to hear how you are caring for yourself with the same love you care for your family.
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Sometimes, a break from the “normal routine” is necessary. I am glad you found some respite in your habit break! I am wondering how many Booker books you might have already read! 🙂
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52 degrees??!! Wow! We are cooler here this morning but not that cool. 72 degrees. 52 degrees would quickly make me long for Fall even more… (I already long for Fall as it is! LOL)
Oh my! I LOVED A Small Light! Such an excellent show. And when I finished the last episode, literally right after it finished I sat and just sobbed.
I really appreciated what you said about balance.
And I hope you are able to sleep more comfortably soon!
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I love it when a chosen word of the year can be applied to life in many different ways. I’m glad you’re finding joy in doing less right now.
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So glad you eased up on yourself and turned off the alarm , slept more and just chilled.
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It sounds like ‘less’ in the expectations department is making way for more grace, self-compassion, simple joys, and some flex! A month’s word work worth carrying forward, for sure.
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Less and more, ebb and flow, flexibility… these are great lessons and you are riding the waves. I wish more sleep for you all in August!
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I am glad you took some time to sleep a little later. Being that tired is so very hard. I love your comment, “Allowing for less in one area of life opens us up to more in other places.” It is a very wise point of view. I’m going to try and remember it.
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Less is proving to be the perfect word for you this year. I’m struck this month by how helpful it is for providing a frame to process changing/unmet expectations. and wishing you MORE sleep in August (Less alarms?) xxoo
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