My eyes are very wonky currently, and I’m struggling to focus on screens or read, hence no Curiosity Journal edition last week. I am attempting as much no-screens time as possible, which has inspired this Curiosity Catch-Up. I was going to include a book recommendation here, but some of you read on Kindle, so I wanted this to be fully no-screen. We have cocooning, nesting, gardening, and eye exercises.
👀 A quick eye exercise
We spend so much of our time looking at screens these days. You might get your screen time report on your phone every week, like I do. This doesn’t include the time I spend watching TV or on my laptop. My eyes have gone into spasm and aren’t balanced right now (not all of this is screen-related). However, my optometrist gave me an exercise to do, which I’m going to continue to do even when my eyes are back to normal. Give your eyes a break during screen time by blinking for a few seconds, then look at something else in the distance for a minute or two.
😌 Cocooning and Hygge
It is getting colder here, so it is the perfect time to do what I like to call cocooning. The idea behind it is to cut out all the noise, stay home, and just be for a few days. It is far easier to cocoon when you live alone, but sometimes cocooning could look like spending the weekend at home with your family, with all your phones and emails turned off, spending time outdoors or cooking meals together. Either way, do absolutely nothing that you don’t feel like doing. In both cases, you choose when you feel it’s right to look at that message, email, or document - no pressure.
The Danish version of this is called hygge (“hooga”), which I’m sure you’ve heard of by now. It’s actually a very simple concept based on creating cosiness, intimacy with friends and family, and enhancing well-being.
🏠 Nesting
Closely related to cocooning is organising your spaces so you can create an environment for restoration. For me, it is always my closet that bugs me. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to discover file-folding! I have freed up half my wardrobe thanks to it (as well as finally letting go of some raggedy old t-shirts and other clothes that no longer serve me). If you want some tips on folding your clothes and other space-saving techniques, follow Natasha Swingler (@effectivespaces).
👩🌾 Time in the garden
The Spring garden starts now. I’m going to spend my weekend weeding and planting some Spring bulbs. It is a good time to plant your daffodils and irises (my garden knowledge is improving).
If you’re doing any outdoor activities over the next week, try not to grab your phone and take a photo; just enjoy the moment. There was a time before screens.
Ax