• SELF LOVE & BODY IMAGE
  • MOTHERHOOD
    • Pregnancy
    • Babies
    • Kids
  • ADVENTURE
  • STYLE
    • Interiors
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • FOOD

Mother's Always Right

Mum life, body image, style

  • ABOUT
  • PRESS
  • Podcast
  • Public Speaking
  • YOUTUBE
  • WORK WITH ME
  • #FreeFromDiets campaign
You are here: Home / STYLE / How to be happy in February

How to be happy in February

February 2, 2017 by Molly 3 Comments

Nathalie Bond Organics

Everywhere I look at the moment it seems there’s relief at seeing the back of January. For us, weirdly, January wasn’t too bad. In fact, I always find February a trickier month. The weather is often dismal, spring still feels so far away, and the initial burst of enthusiasm over new year’s goals has disappeared into the distance. However, I reckon if I stick on the right track then February could go the same way as January and not end as a total write-off. Here’s how to be happy in February, according to the rules of my January survival experience:

1. Give yourself things to look forward to

The reason everyone hates Mondays is because the weekend still feels so far away. And why do we love the weekend? Because we treat ourselves, do fun things and relax the rigorous routines. The same is true of January. The summer is months in the future and without little things and experiences to look forward to, life is dull.

Last month, we had a great weekend away in Bristol, which was the perfect antidote to the January blues. For February, the NLM and I have a child-free night away planned, which we’re both really looking forward to. This week we also booked our flights to Paris for a weekend away just the two of us in April (I owe my parents serious favours for all the childcare help!), and I’m currently knee deep in summer holiday planning too. 

Working from home

You might say this is a distraction from the everyday grind of life, but I think having things to look forward to is a much-needed pick-me-up and solution to feeling frazzled, especially when the weather’s awful. It doesn’t have to be a weekend away, though. It could be something as simple as a special Friday night meal, or a session of binge watching on Netflix. These little things buoy us along and are vital in the search for how to be happy.

2. Stay organised

Having kids has forced me to relax my inner Monica to a certain extent, but I always know I’m heading for a mini meltdown if I start to feel overwhelmed by my To Do list. For me, there’s nothing worse than having a huge list of work deadlines and no time to do them. I feel panicked and anxious, snappy with the kids and am probably not the most fun person to be around. Staying organised is the key to happiness. This month I was sent a beautiful organiser from Pen Heaven and it’s proven really helpful in keeping track of my many deadlines, kids’ school and club commitments and family weekend plans. Ultimately, this makes me feel more in control and less like I’m hurtling toward some kind of life crisis.

Pen Heaven organiser

3. Pamper pamper pamper

There’s nothing more indulgent than a long soak in a hot bath and then taking the time to massage in a load of fancy creams afterwards, is there? There have been a couple of evenings in the last few weeks where I’ve gone to town with the pampering and done the whole shebang – face mask, hair mask, detoxing bath salts, candles – the works.

Nathalie Bond Organics 2

I was sent a sample of the newly repackaged Nathalie Bond Organics skin balm which is just the thing to put on after a long soak. Made with rose geranium, patchouli and calendula it smells good enough to eat and glides over your skin in meltingly smooth fashion. I’ve used it on my face, after my regular moisturiser, as a night cream, smothered it all over my dry lips and even rubbed it into dry spots on my knees and ankles (all the glamour).

4. Exercise

I have a real love-hate relationship with exercise. As a kid and teenager I did loads of dance and swimming, but then I grew up and discovered wine and the joy of hangover junk food. I’ve always dabbled in yoga and gone through phases of shifting my backside on some sort of exercise fad (there was a Zumba phase, an aqua-aerobics phase and even a boot camp phase), but nothing – except for yoga – has really stuck.

Recently, though, I’ve had a bit more time to myself as Baby Girl started pre-school a couple of mornings a week. So I’ve taken up running two mornings a week, before getting home to do some work. And I’ve found a trampoline interval training class at a local trampoline park which is horrendous and strangely satisfying in equal measure. I think the fact I’m starting to see results is helping to spur me on and actually begin to enjoy the exercise (I’ve lost 7lbs this month and my jeans no longer feel like they’re cutting off the blood circulation in my waist). So I’m keen to continue with it and keep going through to the summer. (Please remind me of this if I start flagging over the next month.)

Tired mum face

Other vital ingredients in the search for how to be happy include: giving yourself a break (early nights to bed, read a book, carve out time to slob out on the sofa and watch your favourite box set etc), making the most in a break in bad weather and getting outdoors – even if it’s only a local walk – and, most importantly, CLEAN SHEETS! I can not stress enough the simple “Aaaaaah” moment I feel when I slide between my fresh sheets every Sunday evening. It makes saying goodbye to the weekend that bit easier.

What things helped you get through January? 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Beauty, STYLE Tagged With: exercise, happiness, happy, me time, mindfulness, motherhood, mum me time, pampering, self care

« Eating well on a budget: a January update
7 lessons Donald Trump could learn from Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom »

Comments

  1. Carie @ Space for the Butterflies says

    February 5, 2017 at 9:16 am

    I was glad to move into February mostly because January was always going to be insanely busy with work things, and it duly was! February means we survived (and we’re one step nearer to March when two of my team come back to work!) Your Paris trip sounds very exciting – we’re hoping to have a kid free night during half term and I can’t wait, even without such a lovely destination!!

    Reply
  2. Mel Wiggins says

    February 2, 2017 at 4:02 pm

    Good on you Molly – I love the idea of planning some special things in. Dave and I need to do that more! Paris in April (I can vouch we went that time of the year) is SO nice! I find going to bed at a decent time helps ease the winter blues – tiredness and dark days can be a troubling combo xo

    Reply
  3. Alice says

    February 2, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    I HATE January with a passion so may well bookmark this post to come back to! For me, feb is that little bit closer to spring so it makes me happier 🙂

    I really love that organizer! Great colour x

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

YOUTUBE

INSTAGRAM

If you feel bad about your body you’re less like If you feel bad about your body you’re less likely to do nice things for it, including moving in a way that feels good and eating in a way that feels good. (FYI health is about more than just exercise and nutrition, but let’s get deeper into the exercise thing for a second...)
.
Research shows kids who have low body image are less likely to get involved with sports and more likely to skip PE. 
.
Want kids to move more? Stop teaching them that one type of body is better than another - because if their body doesn’t look like your version of a healthy / beautiful / successful body not only will they be more likely to feel shame over their body, they’ll be less likely to engage with the very behaviours you want them to do more of (or be more likely to engage with them in an UNhealthy way - compulsive exercise is dangerous).
.
Instead:
💕Try talking about the intrinsic benefits of exercise over the extrinsic ones (ie. how it makes you FEEL instead of how it makes you LOOK).
✨Create opportunities for movement where ALL children feel welcome. 
💕Show children diverse representation so they can see sporting heroes with a range of body types and know that movement is for EVERYbody. 
✨Take a zero tolerance approach to appearance based bullying, body shaming and comments that perpetuate weight stigma (including even the hint that fat = bad). 
.
(If you’re a teacher or youth leader interested in knowing more about this topic, a #BodyHappyKids workshop will help - follow the link in my bio 🥰❤️)
.
.
.
.
.
[Image description: A multicoloured slide with an overlaid screenshot of tweet by Molly which reads ‘If your intention is to “get kids healthy” then you need to be aware of how weight bias, weight stigma and poor body image are active barriers to health. The end.]
Sharing this outfit pic with you because it’s a Sharing this outfit pic with you because it’s a crying shame only the piles of laundry got to see it, quite frankly. Finally, a pair of pre-loved jeans bought online that are true to size, consistent with the rest of the brand’s sizing and actually fit! 🎉 
.
PS heads up - I’ll be doing a Q&A about body image and kids in my Stories on Friday. The Q sticker is up in my Stories now if you’d like to submit a Q! 💕 #BodyHappyKids
.
.
.
.
[Image description: Molly is standing in front of the mirror looking very pleased with the fact her new jeans bought from Depop fit her. She is wearing pink patterned jeans with cherubs on them, a pink check jumper and pink trainers. There are piles of laundry on the bed behind her.]
Another photo of us on a walk, because it’s been Another photo of us on a walk, because it’s been our main form of entertainment this year. Anyone else? 
.
I honestly now get excited about putting my boots on and being outdoors, even in the rain. I’m going to start hugging trees next and going on wild camping weekends that involve doing a poo behind a tree and making my own fire. Joke.... maybe. 
.
Just another reminder that all movement is valid, exercise doesn’t need to have to be about burning calories or even tracking steps in order for it to be “worth it”. Hope everyone’s had a great weekend ❤️
#BodyHappyMum #JoyfulMovement
.
.
.
.
.
Image description: Molly and her two daughters stand on a bridge in the countryside. They are all wearing hiking boots and outdoor clothes and smiling.
My body is good and excellent and my body only bel My body is good and excellent and my body only belongs to me ✨ (Words by Effie May, age 6 💕) #BodyHappyMum
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Image description: A close up of Molly’s bare skin as she hugs herself. It’s dark and part of her body is illuminated by light. She has her eyes closed and is smiling.
“Mummy I wrote a letter to myself,” she said. “Mummy I wrote a letter to myself,” she said. And my heart swelled. Maybe I’m doing an OK job after all 🤞❤️💕 #BodyHappyKids 
.
I could leave this caption here but I need to make something clear: if you think it’s great that my daughter - a thin, white, nondisabled, cisgender kid - feels good in her body but you’re not here for the self-love of any kid who doesn’t look like her.... then you’ve missed the point.
.
ALL bodies are good bodies, and without this important piece of the puzzle ALL children will be at risk of doubting their body. And what happens when they doubt their body? Well... hating our body doesn’t make us treat it with love, and the same is true of kids. 
.
Great, now we’ve cleared that up, can we take a moment to appreciate the incredible phonetic spelling on show here?! 
.
.
.
.
Image description: Effie, age 6, stands against a white wardrobe holding up a letter she has written to herself. It is spelled phonetically and reads “My body is good and excellent and my body only belongs to me.”
I used to struggle to buy stuff for myself if I ha I used to struggle to buy stuff for myself if I had any spare cash - not just treats, but basics like pants and tights that fit properly. I’d tell myself I didn’t need it, didn’t deserve it, couldn’t justify the expense. There’s still that little voice (the habit of putting everyone else’s needs first and my own last dies hard it seems) but I’m leaning into exploring why it still sometimes rears its head, instead of always listening to it. 
. 
I’m trying to buy as much as I can from pre-loved places or small businesses these days, which is why I’m very happy to share with you some of my latest finds: a star dress from Depop (£5), earrings from @kelzojewellery by @ourtransitionallife (£12) and the comfiest tights I’ve ever owned in Raspberry Pie by @snagtights (£6.99) 💕💕💕
.
Have you found any great small brands lately? Shout them out in the comments so we can all support in the run up to Christmas. ⬇️⚡️
.
.
.
Image description: Molly is smiling and sticking out her tongue to the camera. Her hair is freshly dyed a light shade of pink. She’s wearing a pink t’shirt underneath a black and white star patterned slip dress, with bright pink tights and black and pink earrings decorated with a boob design.
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2020 · Mothers Always Right. Design by Stacey Corrin

This site uses cookies: Find out more.