Relaxed Squirrel: The Unpolished Bits

Welcome to Relaxed Squirrel: The Unpolished Bits — the place where I share the real, everyday side of gentle living. This is the corner of the blog where I talk honestly about what’s helping, what’s slipping, and how I’m navigating life with a tender body, a busy mind, and a full workload. Think of it as the behind‑the‑scenes notes from a woman in her 40s doing her best to live gently in a world that doesn’t always feel gentle.

A New Year, A Softer Start

I’m not a “new year, new me” person, but I am someone who likes a quiet reset. This year, I’ve set myself a handful of simple, sustainable goals — nothing dramatic, nothing punishing. Just intentions that support the life I’m trying to build: more steadiness, more rest, more presence, and more space for the things that actually help.

My Goals for the Year

I’ve set a handful of broader goals for the year — not resolutions, but gentle intentions that support the kind of life I’m trying to build. They sit across different parts of my wellbeing, and each one matters for its own reason.

Spiritual — Deepen My Yoga Practice

This year, I want to deepen my yoga practice in a way that goes beyond the mat. Yoga has always helped me create space and calm, giving me an anchor in the middle of busy or unpredictable days. Now I want to explore more of the eight‑limbed path — not in a rigid or academic way, but with curiosity. That means weaving in the quieter, more reflective aspects of yoga: breathwork, mindfulness, ethical living, and the small daily choices that help me feel more grounded and connected. It’s about letting yoga support my whole life, not just my body.

Financial — Work Toward Being Mortgage Free by 2030

This is a huge stretch goal for me, especially after two failed house‑buying attempts in 2022 and 2023. I’m a renter, so I don’t even have a mortgage yet — but the intention behind this goal is about security. I want to build a future where I feel safe, stable, and less at the mercy of rising rents or unpredictable housing situations. It’s ambitious, but it gives me a direction to move toward.

Emotional — Connect With Friends More

Like so many of us, when life gets busy or stressful, friendships are often the first thing to slip. Not intentionally — just quietly, gradually, almost without noticing. This year, I want to be more intentional about reaching out, checking in, and nurturing the relationships that make life feel lighter and more meaningful.

Mental Health — Meditate Regularly

Meditation is one of those things I always feel I “don’t have time for,” yet every time I commit to it, it somehow creates time. It gives me clarity, steadiness, and a sense of spaciousness that nothing else quite does. So this year, I’m treating it as a non‑negotiable part of caring for my mind.

Environmental — Living More Gently With the Earth

This year, I want to be more mindful about where my money goes and how my choices impact the planet. One of my goals is to reduce how much I spend in big supermarkets. It’s become clear that we’re not “all in this together” — these companies are making millions while many of us are tightening our budgets. I want to shift more of my spending toward local shops, markets, and smaller businesses where I can, and be more intentional about what I buy.

I also want to reduce my plastic waste. Nothing extreme or perfectionistic — just small, practical changes like choosing loose produce, reusing containers, and avoiding unnecessary packaging. Tiny steps that add up over time and help me live in a way that feels more aligned with my values.

As grounding as these yearly intentions feel, I know real change happens in the small, everyday choices — the things I return to month after month. So alongside these bigger goals, I’m giving each month its own gentle focus. January is my chance to start slowly, reset my rhythms after a difficult winter, and choose a couple of practical shifts that support everything I’m working toward this year.

My January Focus

1. Improving My Sleep

I’m just coming out the other side of COVID, and as usual, it has completely thrown my sleep off. Every time I get ill, the same pattern appears: I crash into bed far too early, sleep deeply for about four hours, then wake for two or three in the middle of the night. Eventually I fall back asleep — right when I need to be getting up. It leaves me groggy, foggy, and out of sync with myself.

So this month, I’m focusing on one simple thing: a strict bedtime.
No going to bed before 9pm, even when I’m exhausted. It sounds small, but as a morning person who naturally wakes around 5, it’s surprisingly hard. My body wants to curl up early, especially after being unwell, but I know that resetting my rhythm starts with consistency. So 9pm it is.

2. Reducing Social Media Usage

The other thing I’m working on this month is my relationship with my phone. I’ve noticed how easily I slip into scrolling when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or avoiding something uncomfortable. So I’ve set a time limit on my social media apps — a small boundary that nudges me back into the real world when I need it.

It’s not about cutting everything out. It’s about creating space for my mind to breathe, especially when my energy is already stretched thin, and giving priority to my bigger, more important goals.

A Gentle Beginning

So that’s where I’m starting this year: sleep, presence, and small boundaries that support a calmer rhythm. If you’re also easing into the year with tiny steps, you’re in good company. Here’s to a January that feels steady, spacious, and kind.