It's (nearly) my birthday!

I'll be turning 42 at the weekend. Another year wiser? I'd like to think so... though I certainly don't feel older!

It's been good this week to get back to my usual routine; a mix of deep work sessions, coffee with friends, appointments with the kids (both doctor and dentist), networking, training with my PT, Joe, and more. I even took a sneaky day off to get my hair done; my birthday treat to myself!

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Over on my blog I have written some reflections on 2023; it's one of my most vulnerable posts so far on my website. I used to bare my soul on my previous Glasgow Mummy blog... but then found that I wasn't able to share as authentically as I would have liked (a difficult divorce will do that) and my blog fizzled out somewhat as a consequence. I find writing therapeutic though, and so I want to find a semblance of balance between providing value but also capturing the real-life journey of managing entrepreneurship with motherhood (which I hope will also be valuable for my readers).

This week has also seen another podcast episode published on which I am a guest; I was delighted to chat with Renee and Louise from Awesome on 20 just prior to Christmas, and that's the episode, Mindful Time Management, now live.

Oh, and if you would like to sponsor this newsletter, or an upcoming Connect for a Cause networking event (there will be one in February) or blog post, then you'll find more details on my website here on how you can do this. I love working with sustainability-minded brands that align with my audience’s interests and values. Get in touch and I'll send you over my media kit.

Decluttering has been front of mind for me over the last week, and I've been ramping up my usual efforts to clean and clear my space. There is something about the New Year that is motivating, for me at least, to get my environment even more optimised for the year ahead. I'm a massive advocate of decluttering, and I'd say that my home is already fairly well organised... however, I think, as with most things, it's an ongoing process. I've started to declutter my attic, which has been avoided until now (out of sight, out of mind!); and it feels good to clear even more things that no longer serve me/us.

Here are a few things that I've done over the last week:

• Scanned some books I no longer wish to keep into Ziffit (a certified BCorp, linked with wob where I purchase most of my books) and have sold them on. It's super easy to scan your books, CDs and DVDs, then pop them in a box and drop it off at an InPost parcel locker for collection.
• Booked a slot at my local recycling centre, and started a pile in the hallway of items that I will drop off here at the weekend.
• Listed some items of clothing on Vinted, and have already made a few sales!
• Given the fridge a deep clean, and checked all the expiry dates of food items in my cupboards.

I think the key with decluttering is to start small, but to do it regularly. I've a few blog posts that I've written on the topic of decluttering; here's one to get you started: Cleared Spaces, Calm Minds: The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Physical Space.

And I've got a quick checklist that might be helpful for you; a list of things that you can declutter first. Get the checklist here >>> PMYL Declutter checklist - remove first.pdf (I hope this works... my first time sharing a document with ConvertKit!).

Best,

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Hey - I'm Sarah, your conscious time management coach.

🌱 I thrive on helping small business owners find simplicity, freedom and ease in their daily grind.

💥 My toolkit blends traditional time management principles with mindfulness, banishing overwhelm and chaos in favour of structured serenity.

🔗 Ready to dive in? Here are three ways we can work together:

• Watch my free webinar, How to Time Block, here.
• My membership programme, Project Manage Your Life, has space for new recruits; find out more here.
• I have availability for 1-to-1 time management clients; have a look here for more info.