Time for Spring cleaning
Finding alignment amidst seasonal changes and chaos.
Hello, and welcome to The Pause,
I was on a short walk between writing sprints the other day when I noticed the abundance of tiny yellow and purple flowers suddenly spotting the greening grass.
The bees buzzed around me, hopping from tiny flower to tiny flower. The birds, singing lively melodies, fluttered across the blue sky, joyful and free.
Spring is undeniably here.
March Recap
March was a month of preparation for me; as the weather got warmer, I started to feel more excited about working on my projects, prepared to blossom.
Most of my daily work blocks have been spent doing some of the following:
Outlining and world-building my second novel.
Translating ‘Saber tornar’ from Catalan to English
Writing new yoga and wellness pieces for Yoga Journal
Writing, editing, and translating articles for The Pause
Recording new meditations for Insight Timer
Hosting Creative Focus Livestreams
The joys of being a multi-hyphenate, what can I say?
📖What I’ve been reading
One of my favourite ways to get inspired for the day or relax after a long one is by reading a good book.
I try to be an intentional reader, not concerned with how many books I read each year, but with how much I can learn from each story, how much I can enjoy it.
I tend to read multiple books at once, so I rarely finish more than one or two books in a month, which works for me.
This month of March, however, since some of my books were library borrows, I had to read at a faster pace than I’m used to, which was a fun challenge:
Finished reading ‘If I Ruled the World’ by Amy DuBois Barnett , ‘Gel a 40 Graus’ de Laura Cera Brisa, and ‘Es Lloga Habitació’ de Carlota Font Castelló. (And returned them all on time).
Kept reading The Select Works of Audre Lorde and Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo.
Started reading Crispetes de Matinada de Regina Rodríguez Sirvent.
So many books to read, so little time. 😭
📺What I’ve been watching
I wasn’t introduced to the Star Trek universe growing up, or to much Sci-fi beyond Isaac Asimov’s book series, so I’ve had some catching up to do the last decade or so.
I’ve seen all the newer movies now, and I have watched Star Trek Enterprise from beginning to end a couple of times, quickly becoming one of my favourite shows ever.
This year, I’ve been introduced to the magnificent stories of Captain Janeway and the crew of the starship Voyager for the first time, and I am hooked.
The Star Trek Voyager series is an absolute gem. I highly recommend it if you like good storytelling, fun adventures, and strong character development.
🎧What I’ve been listening to
Music is the ultimate mood-shifter for me.
I have playlists for writing, for different yoga practices, to cheer myself up, and to help me ground when I’m disregulated.
This month, instead of making new playlists (since I have hundreds of them), I’ve been using some older ones that had gotten buried, and I’ve been really loving revisiting songs I had on repeat, carrying me through certain moments of my life.
For yoga and movement:
For writing and working:
When doing chores:
Another one of my favourite ways to relax while I’m cooking or doing housework is listening to podcasts.
Here are my current go-tos:
The Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin for some creativity inspo.
The Hidden Rabbits with Lindsey Beth Meyers and Connor, when I want to learn something random and have some fun.
Que No Surti D’Aquí if I want to listen to something silly and entertaining in Catalan.
Entering April
Before we enter April, the next quarter, and the most wonderful time of the year, I wanted to take a few moments to reflect on the things that have supported me through the winter season.
It’s a time to be grateful for the road travelled, and to pause so that you can discern between what you can let go of, what you want to carry forward, and if there is anything you want to make space for as we move into a new season.
It’s time for Spring cleaning.
April will be quite a busy and exciting month for me, as a person and especially as a newly published author.
It will be exactly six months since my first novel came out, and with Sant Jordi around the corner, I’ll be participating in several in-person events, all new to me, at least from the author’s side.
This is why I find it important to take a few moments to pause and evaluate what I need in the weeks coming up, and I invite you to do the same.
So, grab your coffee or tea, pen and paper, and find a cozy spot.
✍🏾Journaling for the change of season
Settle in, take a deep breath, and ask yourself one or any of the following questions:
What is one thing I learned this past month/season?
What is one thing I want to let go of, or put down for now?
What habit, resource or tool has served me and I want to continue fostering? And why?
What are my top three priorities this coming month/season?
What is something I want to explore or learn?
How do I plan to make time for self-care, rest, and fun this month/season?
Try to be as honest and as compassionate with yourself as you can, utilizing all this as information to sustain what you want and change what you don’t, not as judgment of your success or worth.
Consider creating a simple intention to guide you and remind you of what returns you to yourself when you feel misaligned.
My intention for this month is to stay grounded, intentional, and curious. To take good care of myself as I travel and move through new spaces and experiences.
What’s yours? Feel free to share in the comments.
To Close
Just like nature shifts and evolves with the seasons, so do we.
When we remember to move intentionally with these shifts, we grow and feel more aligned with our own rhythm and values.
So, as a way of Spring cleaning, may you take the time to pause and reevaluate your habits, priorities, and needs, helping you live in more alignment amidst so much chaos.
Thank you for reading The Pause.
Until we meet again, pause often, breathe deeply, and be kind, especially to yourself.
Much love,
Laia. 💛