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5 things shaping my week ahead

Living with more intention is something we should all put some effort into. It helps direct us, helps us manage our time, keeps us productive, gives us meaning and purpose, and helps to clarify what and where our values lie. And they don’t have to be all serious and severe. I am trying to be more intentional, and one way I do this is by shaping my day and week ahead in line with my personal pillars and priorities, such as my career, creativity, physical health, emotional health, fragrance and fashion, finances, social life and things good for my soul (etc). Below are 5 things that I’m intentionally dedicating time and energy to this week. Most will mean nothing to you, but I hope one or two might nudge you into making some intentions of your own - your week will thank you if you do.

On July 10, Giorgio Armani celebrated his 90th Birthday. 90! And still going strong! I came across this image whilst indulging in Vogue Espana last week and haven’t stopped thinking about it. It’s from a 1980s shoot and the pull quote reads ‘He is doing for the jacket what others do for philosophy, architecture and art.’ A tribute indeed.

1. Mantra: How you start doesn’t matter, it’s what you become that counts. Nobody knows what that will look like. Especially not you.
   - You cannot predict the journey, and you cannot know your final destination, but what you do now will shape where you end up. This is terrifying for some, exhilerating for others. No matter which camp you fall into, the most important thing to remember is to start right now and keep on going.
   

2. Substack: I’m working on getting into my Substack flow, dedicating more time to the platform and to writing more for my own. I want to double my subscribers by the end of August, but the only way I will do so is by putting the work in. This week, I’m working on my Aesop fragrances piece, putting together another piece on the samples and scents I’ve been making use of recently, and communicating with other writers and readers across the platform wherever I can.
   

3. Shopping: Last week, I mentioned that I was terrible at taking aesthetically pleasing food pictures, and began to wonder if my canvas wasn’t quite right. I realised quickly that a bad workman blames his tools, and the plates I currently use are, though old, in fact, quite beautiful, but that doesn’t stop me having a browse for something new. There are plenty of neutrals and naturals if I wanted to go down the minimalist route, but I quite fancy something that delights me as much, if not more, than what I’ll be placing upon it. I don’t want anything too bold, and I’m steering clear of quirky, but I do quite like the colourful route, and green or blue seems to be my favourite at the moment…

   

   From left to right: Green garland, £38, Mrs Alice; ‘L’amore’, £42.46, Musae Studio; Blue lotus, £150, Dior Maison; Hollandia flowers in navy, £67, Seletti x Diesel Living; Spanish Maiolica multicoloured, £65, Seletti x Diesel Living; S&B White with yellow, £55, Summerhill & Bishop; Petals, £69 for two, Twig New York; Jardin de palmier, £38, Mrs Alice

   

   I also love these picnic cool boxes, new from Veuve Clicquot and available at John Lewis. If you can’t get both, then the classic orange is the way to go (£65)

4. Health: Magnesium. I don’t want (or need) to take 85 different supplements, however I do believe that ensuring our body gets enough of the good stuff to function properly should be on everybody’s to-do list. Magnesium is one mineral we all need: it is found in every cell in our body, and is essential for hundreds of biochemical reactions including energy creation, protein formation, repairing DNA, regulating neurotransmitters and helps with muscle movement. Magnesium is also celebrated for its potential to aide sleep, as it helps calm the central nervous system and relax muscles, and can help increase melatonin within the body. My diet is relatively high in magnesium-rich foods: I eat dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, wholegrains and leafy greens every single day. I have fatty fish 3x per week, legumes and beans a few times, and bananas, avocados and edamame beans sporadically. But I cook a lot of them, which can significantly deplete the magnesium content and leave my magnesium levels wanting. As I exercise most mornings and prioritise quality sleep, magnesium is one supplement that will really benefit me. This week, I am going to start supplementing with a small dose of magnesium every other day, just to nudge my body along in the right direction.
   

5. Career: I am girding my loins and getting back into the swing of pitching. I have some for Country Life, and three other media outlets I’ll be contacting. As I’ve said before, I can’t expect my horizons to expand without working on expanding them myself, so as much as it makes my palms sweat, pitching is something that needs to be done in order to do what I love. Oh, to be a writer!