Here in NZ we come out of level 3 and go to Covid level 2 tomorrow, meaning all retail is open again, though with restrictions such as limited entry to stores, contact tracing etc etc.Yayyyyyy. We can drive freely without the chance of being stopped to account for our movements, can dine out (within restrictions), have up to 50 people at funerals and 100 in restaurants ... Most exciting is I have managed to get a hair appointment on Wednesday next week. (First World, eh?)
I have been fortunate to have kept my job and to been able to have worked from home for six weeks but am THRILLED to be returning to my office workplace on Monday. I'm just not cut out for working at the dining room table. Partner and I have chugged along amiably but it will be good for me to go to work and for him to be able to work from home alone once more. We'll have more to talk about in the evenings.
On the basis of the time in lockdown I've made some beauty and style resolutions and, to keep myself accountable, am listing them here.
What I am stopping:
- Buying fast fashion, often for the sake of it or because I need something to perk up a particular outfit. From here on in I want my clothing buys to be considered and planned with my entire wardrobe in mind.
- Using the clothes dryer as much. Given I haven't been spending up to two hours a working day travelling and our usual weekend activities have been gazumped, I have used the clothesline much more during lockdown. The real issue is my work clothes. I tend to use the dryer for them in order to avoid the need for ironing. I hate/loathe/despise ironing. However, I'm thinking I could park myself in front of the tele for half an hour on a Sunday while ironing a week's worth.
- Having gel nails or any variation. I was a nail biter for decades, starting with wearing stick-ons, then acrylics in the 90s and have worn gels, SNS and various iterations for most of the time since. Every so often I would have a break and nurse my poor nails back to health. I removed the remains of my last set of gels about three weeks ago and have been gently caring for my short clear-polished nails since. Must resist the temptation to ever succumb to fake nails again. Will also save about $40 a month.
- Wasting money on take-out coffees. We have a pod machine at home (I know, don't shoot me) and I have in the last month switched from white to black coffee. There's no way I am now going to pay for coffee and water.
- Since I have been working from home I have been able to reduce the need for heavy-duty painkillers. If my need for them returns as I transition back to work with the walking etc it entails, I resolve to at least space them further apart.
- The damn snacking entailed at working in the dining room each day!!!
What I'm starting:
- This isn't a start, it's a continuation. I will continue to have my hair low-lighted. My once-blonde hair is now silvery white. While I am in paid work ~ perhaps 3-5 years ~ I will continue to go to a salon to have three shades of low lights put in because it makes me feel good.
- Washing some of my upper clothes less often. My habit has always been to wash every garment after wearing it once - obviously not structured items like jackets, but blouses, knitwear etc. Where an item is still fresh but can simply be aired by hanging up, I'm going to do that to lessen the wear and tear on the garment.
- Accept that my default footwear is (styley) leather sneakers. Orthopeadic adventures in the past mean that I just cannot do even 3cm heels or wedges. I do wear more classy brogues when the occasion calls for it but I just need to accept that full-on-black sneakers are what I am now destined to wear.
- (not exactly style, but well-being!) Continue with the habit of grocery shopping only once a week, therefore do daily meal planning. I've tended to do a "main" (as I kidded myself) shop once a week but actually drop into a supermarket to top up every few nights. No more. The covid habit of shopping once and mindfully is going to continue.
- (again, well-being, also fun) My partner who Does Not Cook ~ but that's fine as he is semi-retired and does Everything Housework and Garden-related ~ has always accepted my mantra that my cooking apparatus only works five nights a week. On a Thursday we have a meal out at a shopping centre, local cafe or somewhere else that is low-key. One night on the weekend we dine out, not necessarily expensively, but more upmarket than the Thursday. That is not going to change, particularly as I have cooked every night without fail for seven weeks !!!! [Sorry to the MNers who have done this forever for a whole family. I know I am lucky.]
- Stop drinking wine during the week. It's been a lockdown thing but life returns to normal starting Monday morning. My health and skin will thank me for that.
- Related to that ... Get up an hour earlier each workday to try to avoid the worst of the traffic and also to be able to finish earlier. And of course I won't be visiting the supermarket :) so will have more time at home for ... Potential is endless.
Sorry for this self-indulgent rant. Tonight, being the brink of level 3/2 feels a bit like New Year's Eve so it's a sort of resolution making time.