As the SO has now packed up his things and left for the next nine months (I'm being dramatic and we will get to see each other on a monthly basis just not how it has been for the last four/five months) I'm trying to focus on steps I can take to be to feel more positive about the time I have on my own. I mean, looking at the 'five-year plan' this will probably be the only time in my life that I have this much time to myself. When the SO finishes studying in 2016, we will live together permanently and then y'know babies and stuff but I will have decades (hopefully) of sharing a life with someone else, so this short-ish period is precious (even though some times I really hate it and want to shout at everybody).
So when you look at it from that perspective, these next two years is a rare opportunity for me to enjoy my own time and thoughts and do what I want to do. But how can you be content by yourself - especially when you are missing your favourite people (my family live in other cities/countries too).
So when you look at it from that perspective, these next two years is a rare opportunity for me to enjoy my own time and thoughts and do what I want to do. But how can you be content by yourself - especially when you are missing your favourite people (my family live in other cities/countries too).
Set up a routine
When the SO was here, I would go to work and he'd do stuff around the house/prepare dinner and then I'd come home and we'd watch TV all night. However, now he's gone I've found it really helpful to have more of a routine. This is probably down to my OCD/severe planning obsession, but it soothes me and gives me direction. It also helps me achieve everything that I want to do during a day, rather than just lounging on the sofa. On weekdays, I get up at 7am, drink water and get ready for work, walk to work for 8am, then leave at 5pm, go home and cook dinner, drink more water, take my make-up off and contact lenses out and then do a quick (20 mins) yoga session. I then shower and watch TV/call the SO until about 9pm and then get ready for bed. I then have around 1.5 hours to do some reading and wind down from the day.
At the weekend, I'm a little more relaxed but try and keep a little bit of a routine, which usually revolves around tidying up around the house and cleaning.
When the SO was here, I would go to work and he'd do stuff around the house/prepare dinner and then I'd come home and we'd watch TV all night. However, now he's gone I've found it really helpful to have more of a routine. This is probably down to my OCD/severe planning obsession, but it soothes me and gives me direction. It also helps me achieve everything that I want to do during a day, rather than just lounging on the sofa. On weekdays, I get up at 7am, drink water and get ready for work, walk to work for 8am, then leave at 5pm, go home and cook dinner, drink more water, take my make-up off and contact lenses out and then do a quick (20 mins) yoga session. I then shower and watch TV/call the SO until about 9pm and then get ready for bed. I then have around 1.5 hours to do some reading and wind down from the day.
At the weekend, I'm a little more relaxed but try and keep a little bit of a routine, which usually revolves around tidying up around the house and cleaning.
Find your 'treat'
As people who follow my blog will know - I love food. It's my favourite thing so this is my 'treat'. Not in the fact I eat ice cream from the tub, as that won't help my diet goals or my health, but in the way that I have the freedom to eat whatever I want, when I want. I put a lot of my money (that is spare after bills) into savings so I'm pretty frugal with the rest, but with the SO gone I make sure to allow myself a weekly/monthly food treat. It gives me something to look forward to and makes the months disappear until the SO is back. For example, my friends and I are having a 'dining club' where we try new places in Leeds once a month, and I always treat myself to the Mexican place across the road on pay day. If food doesn't excite you like it does me, find your treat elsewhere. It could be spoiling yourself with nice beauty products once a month, or taking the time to relax in a bubble bath once a week.
As people who follow my blog will know - I love food. It's my favourite thing so this is my 'treat'. Not in the fact I eat ice cream from the tub, as that won't help my diet goals or my health, but in the way that I have the freedom to eat whatever I want, when I want. I put a lot of my money (that is spare after bills) into savings so I'm pretty frugal with the rest, but with the SO gone I make sure to allow myself a weekly/monthly food treat. It gives me something to look forward to and makes the months disappear until the SO is back. For example, my friends and I are having a 'dining club' where we try new places in Leeds once a month, and I always treat myself to the Mexican place across the road on pay day. If food doesn't excite you like it does me, find your treat elsewhere. It could be spoiling yourself with nice beauty products once a month, or taking the time to relax in a bubble bath once a week.
Focus your attention elsewhere
With the SO gone, I now have the time to get everything done that I have been meaning to accomplish during 2014. I wanted to write more (voila blog and other ventures) and also have about 5,000 things I have wanted to catch on Netflix. It also means I can dedicate more time to eating well and doing my yoga sessions, which are important to me. Now I have free time, I can accomplish these things before the year is done. It's important to find the stuff that you want to achieve for yourself, outside of a couple or friendship groups, and dedicate time to achieving your goals.
I've also noticed that I've gone into a sort of 'nesting' mode since he's gone, and taking on little projects to make my flat look nicer.
With the SO gone, I now have the time to get everything done that I have been meaning to accomplish during 2014. I wanted to write more (voila blog and other ventures) and also have about 5,000 things I have wanted to catch on Netflix. It also means I can dedicate more time to eating well and doing my yoga sessions, which are important to me. Now I have free time, I can accomplish these things before the year is done. It's important to find the stuff that you want to achieve for yourself, outside of a couple or friendship groups, and dedicate time to achieving your goals.
I've also noticed that I've gone into a sort of 'nesting' mode since he's gone, and taking on little projects to make my flat look nicer.