Can you have Golden Hours when all hell breaks loose?

This week started off well. I sent out my first newsletter, finished off coaching a lovely cohort, and received my MSc thesis result (a 90%!). Winning, except for the cold. Which turned out to be Covid. Having been bunged up and sneezy, it seemed natural that my smell would be compromised. It was only once the sneezing had stopped, it occurred to me that we were talking ZERO smell. Taste - whatever fun little part of it is not dependent on smell - seems ok. I can still taste chocolate, coffee is barely worth pressing.

I've been trying to implement useful things to help myself and my husband: breathing exercises, vitamins and my concoctions replacing bullet proof coffees with turmeric, coconut oil, ginger, lemon, honey, cinnamon, black pepper and liquorice root. Sound tasty? It's probably disgusting but I honestly can't tell, and I feel great after drinking it.

So with any childcare bubble plans off the table, homeschooling continuing, golden hours have been stripped back to their barest minimum. But there was always some time before bed when I could plan my most important priorities for the next day. This high planning-to-work ratio is essential in getting the hard stuff done in tough weeks. I could have kept myself busy all week long but without planning I wouldn't have ticked off the big stuff.

The power of logging makes you appreciate even the more hair-raising weeks.So here's a sample of golden hours from this week, I hope their variety helps you map out some of your own golden hours:

Fri Jan 15th - A one-hour catch-up with my MSc buddies, we talked through how we were feeling intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Sat Jan 16th - 9am Reviewing a journal paper. 'stinking cold'

Sun Jan 17th - resting, sorting out newsletter in bed

Mon Jan 18th - feeling much better golden hour was with my son, doing youtube yoga videos

Tues Jan 19th - covid is dawning on me, scramble to sort out test.

Weds Jan 20th - trying to rest where possible, listening to Indistractable by Nir Eyal

Thur Jan 21st - an hour recording podcast and chatting to Nir Eyal!

Cover Pic: Prepping for my podcast interview with Nir Eyal, finally got my home podcasting game sorted, let me know if you'd like me to interview you!