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I don’t know about you, but October felt… a bit heavy this year. The days got shorter, the sun became a shy visitor, and the first hint of winter crept in. As a Portuguese woman living in the UK, the lack of sunshine always gets me — it’s like someone dims the lights in my mood too.
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For a while, I felt flat and drained. Normally, my instinct would be to push through it — tick every box, get things done, keep going no matter what. But this time, I realised that path only leads to one destination: Exhaustion and Burnout Street.
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So, I did something different.
I paused.
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Instead of bulldozing through my days, I started showing myself the same compassion I usually reserve for others. On days when I finished work, I skipped the frenzy of chores and went for quiet walks by the river. I practiced mindful breathing, soaking up the last few rays of sun. I even sat on “my bench” for 15 or 20 minutes, doing absolutely nothing except being.
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And it worked. My energy shifted. My mindset softened. My focus sharpened.
The chores? Still got done — just with intention instead of annoyance.
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I finally learned that sometimes slowing down is the quickest way to move forward.
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Now here we are in November (how on earth is 2025 flying by so fast?), and the Christmas nutter in me is slowly waking up. I’m already making lists of all the places I want to see once London’s Christmas lights go on (cue an excited shriek). I’ll probably start decorating the house later this month — tree, twinkly lights, the whole lot.
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And because life always finds ways to make me laugh at myself, here’s a little behind-the-scenes moment from last week.
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For three days, I was convinced my eyesight was deteriorating. Driving home after work felt darker than usual, and I kept thinking, “Right, I must book an eye test, this midlife thing is getting real.”
Then on Friday, after visiting my partner’s elderly parents, he was driving in front of me. When we got home, he said, “I need to fix your car — your right headlight’s out.”
Oh.
Turns out, I wasn’t going blind. Just one-eyed driving my way through the week! The look on his face when I told him what I’d been thinking… let’s just say he’s still laughing about it.
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So here’s to November — to slowing down, finding humour in the little things, and welcoming the season ahead with gentleness, light, and maybe a few fairy lights too.
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I’d love to hear from you — what’s happening in your world this month? Small joys, challenges, or funny moments — drop me a line and share a little of your November with me.
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With love, laughter, and a touch of shenanigans,
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