Romanticising life through transition

Today's newsletter has two agendas. Firstly, to inform you that I am now on maternity leave! And secondly, to share how I am traversing this period of transition – romantically, of course.

I am 38 weeks pregnant and pretty much waiting for my baby's arrival. As I do, in a bid to not get obsessive, I am focusing on the life admin and preparation I can control through mind, body, and home. It is a strange time where I am not proactively ‘working,’ and I am subject to waves of huge hormone tsunamis that mean I must lie down immediately. Nevertheless, I continue to value consistency and romanticism in equal measure.

There is a lot to do – there always is. I have finished the nursery; the hospital bag is packed, and the car seat is installed. However, I need to write to the council about a speeding fine, email my accountant, go to a million and one appointments, and fill my freezer with both colostrum and meals! The list feels endless, and the time feels finite.

I also realize that this is the last time for a long while that I'm going to have any ‘me time’ or extended tranquility. What I do not want to do is enter labor tired! No bueno! I need to be well-rested if I am going to attempt the type of birth I have spent weeks preparing for (if not a lifetime).

So how will I get everything done and keep calm, well-regulated, and rested?

Through a combination of consistency and romanticism.

I rely greatly on my productivity practices that enable me to get things done. For example, my Notion dashboards hold everything I wish my mind could – lists, values, prompts – a mental offload that frees my mind to focus on the calm.

I also move slowly, gently, and calmly. I romanticize the small moments. That means daydreaming about meeting my baby while sipping on raspberry leaf tea between picking up prescriptions and batch cooking. It means belly laughing with my husband as we nibble on dark chocolate together after we've sorted the finances and paid the bills.

It is possible to be both productive and slow. It is how I choose to live my life. I purposefully prioritise both.

If you need to write a list that even includes ‘journal’ and ‘visualization’ – do it!

I absolutely do. I'd still be in bed without my lists. In fact, I have 'rest' on my list, so I will return to bed with thanks to my list (!!) . But the point is, I can't remember everything that needs tending to, and it is unhealthy to try. Relying on your brain alone causes stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. Get it out of your head onto a list of some sort and relax. Implement all that you know about consistency and move through it for that added sense of accomplishment. Play some music while you do it. Burn a candle. Enjoy the process. It's the only pleasant way to get through transition. Humans are change averse and yet it continues to occur beyond our control, so let's find a way to navigate it with some joy.

As for my maternity leave… I've never done this parenting thing before, so I don't know what is in store for me next in a linear timeframe. I do know that I will return, re-opening my doors to the SOAR program, hopefully before the end of the year. I encourage you to sign up for the waitlist if you are intrigued.

With deep gratitude, I look forward to reconnecting after this transition.