Launching then leaving!!

Hey there, yeah it's been a wee while hasn't it! There were loads of attempted blogs on all sorts of interesting topics like angels, affirmations, pivoting and finally embracing my "niche" which are all very likely to be revisited at some time in the future but for now I want to share about something very recent that became a passion project and that snowballed to completion at a very unplanned time!

If you follow the Butterfly Room social media (why am I saying if...of course you do!! Right??) then you hopefully saw that at the end of October I launched a new journal "self care isn't selfish" aimed at encouraging and supporting those with chronic illness, neurodivergence, or just those who suck at managing their wellbeing, to manage their self care.

It was a really strange and beautiful project in that it literally popped in to my head from nowhere during an online session on goal setting with the amazing David R Hamilton PhD (the sessions are part of his personal development club which I HIGHLY recommend joining) and then came together REALLY quickly.

I didn't even skimp on stages...I did proper research and development stuff like a full survey on what people would want/need in the journal, info gathering chats, I looked into comparable products already on the market, sourced print options (because my go to KDP didn't offer the spiral bound option I had decided I HAD to have) and devoted proper time to cover design and content creation too...including colouring pages! I even managed to sort a "press release" to mail out for a bit of help work promoting it (have to drop in a massive thanks to Mill renfrewshire and paisley first for picking up on it and sharing a bit of space on socials )

With all that "proper" stages it's still a little mindblowing for me that it was just over a month from idea to having a "proof"copy in my hand and just 6 weeks in total from that flash of inspiration to being ready to share it with the world.

It's probably also mindblowing to some people that the very week I went public with it was the same week that I finished up and took a two week holiday! (Five days in Liverpool and a week in krakow) BUT it kindof makes sense when you think of if....there I was releasing something that advocated heavily on the benefits and need for self care and time to do things that bring joy and that was exactly what the time off was all about! I was walking the talk and taking time for me.

The only break in to that time was when I got a notification that the episode I'd recorded of the fabulous "Scotlands women" podcast and I did a bit of sharing to help with promo (incidentally if you didn't see that promo and want to listen you can do that here

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FLDYpXXp3MRbp2udXjPwu?si=us9NIhwHTuOjE6FrxfCXJg

Other than that my time off was exactly that....off! No socials page postings, no emails dealt with, no bookings....just lots of fun stuff, sightseeing, time with people I care about and generally just experiencing wonderful things . Time for me that was most definitely needed. I mean I love what I do and it brings me SO much joy BUT a break every now and then helps to reinforce the love AND time for me ensures that I stay mentally, emotionally and physically well and capable to keep doing it…I mean who’s going to listen to a unwell wellbeing coach!

At the time of writing this ive been back at work for 3 weeks and we are rapidly galloping towards Christmas ( and wouldn’t a journal make a lovely gift!! ), a new year (the perfect time to start a new journal!!) and also, for me, feel good February (which includes the fair….where you can buy the journal!! Is this subliminal advertising working? 🤣 ) I hope in this season of shopping, soirées and Santa you can find, or make, a little time for you and that in this season of giving you remember to give to yourself too.

Have a wonderful festive season, if I can be of service (you know like if you’re looking for a journal or something….ok I’ll stop the plugs now) then please get in touch. Otherwise I’ll catch up with you soon for a little new year natter and a chat about 2026 plans (though with the regularity I actually achieve with these blogs it may well be an Easter one! )