WEEKLY BLOG EPISODE 140 | PRODUCTIVITY VS SUCCESS

This weekly blog includes a giveaway… make sure you read to the end to find out how to win a copy of Cook Out by Harrison Ward.

For the first time this year, I’ve not been able to get my weekly blog episode drafted at the weekend, ready to publish first thing on a Tuesday morning. It’s currently 8pm on Monday evening, I’ve just eaten turkey, chickpea and sweet potato curry for dinner (courtesy of past Zoe who made extra and put it in the freezer ready for exactly a Monday such as this), and I am only now settling down to start writing this one.

Should I mention that I served Yorkshire puddings with our curry this evening? Maybe not. (Don’t knock it, they’re a most excellent accompaniment!)  

I’ve no excuses, I’ve just been a bit busy with work and home and especially my One Hour Outside daily photo challenge. When I did have time to write late on Sunday afternoon, I chose to put together my bucket list reset article rather than my weekly blog. Which, perhaps ironically, includes a promise to myself that I’ll publish two blog posts a week throughout 2024…

Anyway, after the fantastic fun of last weekend’s hike up Sugar Loaf, you’re getting another slightly more home-based weekly blog episode this time. Well, one full of some random thoughts, anyway. Over the next few hundred words, I’ll share a few snippets from my week, talk about the importance of hobbies, introduce you to the North Highland Way (have you heard of it?), and share some nice parcels I’ve received in the mail in recent days.

I’ve also got a copy of Cook Out by Harrison Ward to give away to one of you this week… keep reading this weekly blog post to find out how.

My Week

It might have been a busy week, but it has been a good one. I feel like I’ve been productive, despite that not including drafting my weekly blog episode as early as I’ve become accustomed to in recent weeks. And thanks in part to my One Hour Outside February Photo Challenge, I’ve had some really lovely purposeful walks, which has meant things have never felt too busy, even if it was a six-day working week.

I also made some more Rice Krispie treats (just like these ones in episode 136), fitted my engine bars to my motorbike (they FINALLY arrived!), pitched to a brand for a potential collaboration (we’ll see…), listened to the whole Reinvent Your Life with Mel Robbins Audible podcast (not sure about that, but it was at least uplifting), and caught up on some bits and bobs from my at-home guilt list. I’ll take it.

Productivity Versus Success

I fall into this trap all the time, and you’ll have noticed it, I’m sure. Relating how productive I feel to how successful my day or week has been is not particularly good for me. Why do those things always go together in my mind?

It comes from the same bit of my brain that associates down time with guilt, and finds it impossible to relax ‘in the right way’. I’m very good at sitting down and unintentionally falling into a YouTube hole or researching products I will never actually get or places I will never visit. Unintentionally being the important word there – I end up feeling guilty, which means I haven’t been productive and feel bad about how I did spend my time! A lovely duo of emotions.

Does anyone else get this overwhelming feeling that you’re going to waste time? I honestly get weirdly anxious about time passing, and when I try to relax, almost always end up ruining the time I do have. It’s so stupid!

Appreciating Every Day

I really liked this quote I saw earlier this year…

“You can’t live every day as if it’s your last (whatever Instagram tells you…), but you can appreciate every day like it is.”

(Sorry, I didn’t note the source, and now I can’t find it).

And that is the key, and the thing I am trying to remember. Appreciating every day – through things like getting outside every day and sharing my One Hour Outside photo challenge. I’m just trying to live life to the full, working hard and being the best I can be, being present in the things I both choose and have to do, doing my best to use time wisely, and not worrying too much if I don’t stick to the plan 100% of the time. I need to get out of the mindset that productivity equates to success, and that relaxation can only be found when guilt is attached.

Maybe I’ll just blame the time of year… I need a holiday, and am very much looking forward to a whole week off when we head to Madeira soon. We will no doubt walk thousands of steps and I will use the time to do some writing, but it will be a good opportunity to reset the body and brain. Winter is once again feeling long and dark and hard and a little bit miserable, and I honestly can’t wait to get some sunshine and some time to switch off a bit.

Getting One Hour Outside

My favourite One Hour Outside of the week has to be my Sunday afternoon bimble from my own front door, taking in some of the local countryside. Sometimes short walks really are the best – the weather was decent, the footpaths were quiet, and I really enjoyed being out. It wasn’t the walk I’d planned for Sunday, but again, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

On this occasion I chose to wander down a footpath that’s been closed off for the longest time thanks to the building of a massive housing estate. Well, it has been possible to get to it, but the site didn’t exactly make it easy – and it changed week by week. I recently noticed the original entrance to the path has been reopened, so I took to OS Maps and made myself a little 3.5-mile loop.

This will absolutely become one of my new regular local walks, it really hit the spot. It was predominantly flat farmland, but the views were great, and I got to say hi to some really inquisitive sheep.

I ended up counting the number of footpath signs I saw along the way… I saw 21, of all different types. In case you needed to know, that is. I shared a photo of each and every sign on my Instagram stories on Sunday evening, which seemed to make a lot of you smile. You’re welcome!

February Photo Challenge

I must say here, I’ve been really chuffed with the reaction to this year’s One Hour Outside February Photo Challenge so far this month. There’s a whole bunch of you joining in, and it’s really fun to see your photos.

I even had a message from a Secondary School who were introduced to the challenge by a teacher friend, and some of the kids there are taking part. Very cool! A big thanks anyone who’s been promoting the challenge.

I’ve dotted a few of the photos I’ve taken so far through this weekly blog episode – do head over to Instagram to read the captions in full each day.

If you’ve not been joining in so far, it’s not too late to take part. Pick it up from now – today (Tuesday 6 February), your theme is ‘Black and White’, and tomorrow (Wednesday 7 February), your theme is ‘Cup of Tea’. Or go back and start from the beginning at any time – you can find all the themes in this post.

What’s Your Hobby?

Going back to my earlier comment about relaxing the right way, I received a very interesting press release recently with some data on the importance of hobbies and finding ways to escape the day-to-day routine and responsibilities. Even for just a few minutes each day.

Apparently, reading a book for as little as six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 60%. Which is way more than I would have guessed. Reading reduces heart rate, eases muscle tension and alters your state of mind. That’s pretty powerful stuff.

In a survey commissioned by Adobe Express (it was their press release, so I’ll share their link once!), over 35% of us turn to reading in order to relax. Reading was closely followed by walking (30% of us) which is well known for its positive mental and physical health qualities, as well as cooking and baking (30%), which is known to stimulate the senses and boost self-esteem.

Having a hobby has been proven to reduce anxiety and improve mental health, whilst also helping many manage emotions in a positive and productive manner. Fascinating – and very comforting – to know.

Find a Hobby!

Kamalyn Kaur, a Psychotherapist, says this on the topic of hobbies:

“Engaging in activities you enjoy is a great way of escaping the day-to-day routines and responsibilities. This time to switch off can help with lowering stress levels; reduces anxiety; gives you space and time to process; and also promotes mental wellbeing. Pursuing your own hobbies is crucial for personal fulfilment by giving you the opportunity to engage in something that you are passionate about or makes you happy.

“Having your own hobbies, away from family, is also a great way of introducing balance into your life as it is dedicated and protected time for you to focus on what you want to do; prioritise yourself; and think about your own emotional needs. In this respect, hobbies can be a great way of introducing self-care and preventing burnout.

“Self-identity is strengthened because hobbies allow you to engage in what you enjoy; what sparks you; and what makes you feel good. This is important especially when so many people feel they have lost themselves and who they are in the hustle and bustle of life.”

I’d say that’s pretty conclusive. And makes me feel okay about wanting to fill my down time with doing things rather than sitting still, at least most of the time. Walking and writing are at the top of my hobbies list. What’s on yours?

The North Highland Way

Have you heard of the North Highland Way? I hadn’t until recently, and thought some of my weekly blog readers who like a self-powered long-distance adventure might be interested in this one.

The North Highland Way is – well, will be – a 150-mile hiking route from John O’Groats to Durness in Scotland. There are plans to make it the only multi use route in Scotland with the whole thing being accessible to cyclists and horse riders as well as those on foot.

Some of the route is already hikeable, although other parts are quite difficult, and in places there’s a lot of road walking. Ultimately, it will link the John O’Groats Trail in the east with the Cape Wrath Trail in the west. I’m told there will be next to no climbing involved, which might make it ideal for beginner long-distance walkers or bike-packers.

This part of Scotland is beautiful. I’ve ridden this area on my motorbike extensively, and it really is some of the most spectacular scenery in the world – rugged coastline, plenty of wildlife, big and colourful skies, and huge landscapes. I can see how this long-distance trail would be very much worth a week of my time, and I’m sure there will be many people interested in following the journey of this route becoming a reality.

You can find out more about the North Highland Way, and how to support the team in getting it up and running, on the Friends of the North Highland Way website.

PS Did you know Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in mainland Great Britain (which is on the North Highland Way), is further north than Moscow?! Now that’s a fun fact for you!

In the Mail – and a Giveaway!

I’ve not done an In the Mail feature for a little while, but in the last few days I’ve had the excitement of receiving some rather nice parcels to my door. Honestly, it is one of the best things, I love receiving post!

Box of Goodies from Vertebrate Publishing

I won a competition! Vertebrate Publishing, an adventure book publisher based in Sheffield, ran a giveaway over on Instagram before Christmas, which I thought was worth a punt. I received a lovely message from the team a couple of weeks ago to say I was one of the winners – and a box of goodies arrived this week. Exciting!

I received three adventure books plus some outdoor kit – a really lovely bundle of outdoor adventure bits and bobs. The Sea to Summit collapsible bowl, mug and cutlery set will be incredibly useful on hikes and road trips, I have no doubt. I know fellow outdoorsy people who swear by these products, so I’m excited to try them out. But the books are the main thing, of course, and the three titles I received are:

• Peak Bagging Wainwrights by Karen and Dan Parker, which contains 45 curated routes designed to complete all 214 of Wainwright’s Lake District fells in the most efficient way.
• The Outdoors Fix by Liv Bolton, a compendium of stories to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life.
• Cook Out by Harrison Ward, which you know I am already a fan of because I included it in my most recent currently loving post, and talked about making Welsh Cakes in episode 138 of my weekly blog series.

Win a Copy of Cook Out

So, how about I give this copy of Cook Out away and pass on the competition fun? I would love to send this new copy onto someone who fancies trying out some outdoor cooking this year.

If you fancy it, publish a comment below this post saying hello (or anything else you wish to share…), and I’ll choose one commenter and will send this to you. The odds should be pretty good, I don’t normally get many comments on my weekly blog posts, so it’s worth a go!

I’ll close the giveaway and choose the winner at 6pm on Sunday 18 February. My normal giveaway rules apply.

Mac in a Sac Waterproofs

Thanks to being an Ordnance Survey OS Champion, I recently received a set of Mac in a Sac waterproofs to test and review. I was allowed to choose what I wanted from the range, and I went for the Origin 2 Jacket and Overtrousers – the jacket in the nice and bright ocean blue, and the trousers in navy.

Mac in a Sac specialise in lightweight, portable outerwear. The main feature is that the jacket and trousers pack down really small into their own little bags, which can easily be stuffed into the smallest space in your bag, or even hung from the outside. But that’s not their only trick; both items are very waterproof (10,000mm) and breathable (8,000gsm), and so should genuinely be a useful addition to my kit.

As luck would have it (and I am certainly not complaining about this), I have had no need for a waterproof coat or pair of over trousers since these arrived a week or two ago… While I’ve tried them on to make sure they fit, they have so far been living tucked away in their cute little pouches. I will be sure to let you know how they fair in traditional British weather as soon as I’m able to. I’m sure it won’t be long!

Engine Bars

Very VERY happily, the Givi engine bars I ordered way back in early November, finally arrived this week. It has been a long wait (I first mentioned them back in weekly blog episode 132), and I’ve had to summon every ounce of patience as I waited for the factory in Italy to manufacture my bars and get them sent to me.

We wasted no time after they arrived and spent a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon fitting them to my F750GS. I’m really pleased with the way they are made and how they look, it was worth the wait. Importantly, I will now be a lot more comfortable about getting out and riding, as should I have a wobble and drop the bike (which is not out of the question… … …), there is some protection there.

There are still a few more bits to get before I have my new bike set up exactly as I want it, but these bars really were the main thing missing from the initial round of farkles. Happy Zoe.

See You Next Time…

While I started writing this blog with a belly full of homemade curry, I finished it with a belly full of homemade cottage pie. Yes, I really do work from meal to meal, and I don’t mind admitting that. I might not have had this weekly blog post written and published by 7am on Tuesday morning, but I’m not far off. Only a few hours late! And it’s still Tuesday, so I reckon that’s a win.

As always, I hope you have enjoyed reading my rambling words, and have perhaps learnt something, or been inspired in some small way.

Unfortunately, I’ve just found out the guided stargazing activity that was due to take place later this week, has been cancelled (again) due to poor weather. Which means your next weekly blog episode isn’t going to be filled with my attempts at astrophotography. Come on weather, please be kind so this can be third time lucky – I’ll get things rebooked as soon as possible.

If you haven’t already, please do consider subscribing to Splodz Blogz so you get a note when I publish something new. My aim this year (as I’ll tell you more about in this year’s bucket list reset article, due to go live later this week) is to publish twice a week on a Tuesday and a Thursday – one weekly blog and one something else. I don’t have a newsletter, so if you want me to nudge you when there’s something new to read, bung your email address in the box on the right, and you’ll get a link to your inbox.

Don’t forget, if you’d like to win a copy of Cook Out by Harrison Ward, drop a comment below so I know you want your name in the hat!

Have a great week – see you in my next weekly blog episode.

Read more Weekly Blogs.

Buy Me a Cuppa?

If you enjoyed this weekly blog episode and fancy supporting me and my mini adventures this year, you can “buy me a coffee” for £3 (well, a cup of tea, if that’s okay?). Head over to Ko-fi to find out more. Thank you.