How to build more downtime into a busy lifestyle

This is a collaborative post

If you’re a busy person, then you might struggle to find the time for relaxation. For some, relaxation might not even be a priority, especially when it comes at the expense of short-term productivity.

But human beings are not built for relentless work. Finding the time for relaxation is therefore crucial if we want our working lives to be sustainable over the coming months and years.

This is an economic problem as well as a personal one. According to recent data from the Health and Safety Executive, around 964,000 workers each year report that they feel stressed, anxious or depressed as a result of work. This costs around twenty-two million working days each year.

Finding a solution to this means finding time for relaxation. But exactly how might this be done?

Make downtime a regular part of your schedule

If you fail to protect your downtime, then you can be fairly sure that your other commitments will swallow it up. This goes especially if you’re a busy person, with work that spreads into the evening and weekends.

When you treat your breaks like any work-related commitment, you make it much less likely that they’ll be interrupted. Get into the habit of taking an hour off at lunchtime, every day, and you’ll be much less likely to find yourself still at your desk when the appointed hour arrives.

Rediscover activities that help you switch off

You might be unsure of exactly what you’re going to do with your downtime. This can be dangerous, too, as you might find yourself reverting to ingrained habits. The first instinct that many of us have, during spare moments, is to reach for our phones.

Photo credit Franciele da Silva via Unsplash

But of course, screen time can be a source of stress, as much as it can be a relief for it. It’s better therefore to identify a different activity. Perhaps one that you’ve abandoned in recent years.

For example, if you used to be an avid reader, it might be time to rediscover the habit. Whether you’re into fantasy epics, whodunnits, or graphic novels, reading can be a perfect way to fill those quieter moments in a way that isn’t going to inflict more stress.

Create an evening routine that encourages you to slow down

Among the more important parts of every working day are the ones that don’t involve working. During the evening, you might provide your mind with the soft reset that it needs to deal with the challenges of the following day.

Making the best use of this time might mean a little bit of planning. Scheduling exercise, meditation, or journalling might be helpful. Five minutes spent composing a to-do list for the following day might be all that’s required.

Take your downtime away from the usual routine

You might find that you take quick breaks beside your desk, and even longer ones, too. But this might be undermining your downtime, a little. Break time spent in this way might not provide your mind with the cues it needs to really switch off. Taking breaks in a different (ideally outdoor and natural) environment might help you get a little more from them.

The little luxuries that can brighten an ordinary day

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Most of our time passes in the quiet rhythm of weekday mornings and domestic chores, yet a mundane Tuesday holds just as much potential for joy as a bank holiday weekend. You don’t need a lottery win to feel good. You simply need to spot the opportunities for comfort already hidden within your schedule.

Turn your coffee break into a little ritual

People often consume caffeine while staring at a screen or hurrying to catch a train. You can reclaim this daily habit by giving it your full attention for ten minutes. 

The UK has cultivated a brilliant café culture that thrives on customisation, meaning you can choose exactly what suits your mood on any given morning. Take a seat in a quiet corner with one of your favourite coffee drinks and simply watch the world go by. 

You might opt for a rich flat white in winter or a sweet iced latte during warmer months. Paying attention to these seasonal variations turns a mindless caffeine fix into a deliberate, comforting event.

Photo credit Engin Akyurt via Unsplash

Make time for something you enjoy

Real luxury often involves giving yourself permission to stop working and step away from your responsibilities. Many people feel guilty when they sit down to read a chapter of a new book or listen to an album without multitasking. 

You can overcome this guilt by scheduling a proper, non-negotiable break in your calendar, just as you would a business meeting. Block out thirty minutes this afternoon to do nothing but read or listen to music. 

Claiming this uninterrupted time allows your brain to rest and reminds you that your wellbeing matters just as much as your productivity.

Treat yourself without waiting for a special occasion

Society often conditions us to save our indulgences for birthdays or annual holidays. However, holding out for a major celebration leaves the rest of the year feeling quite barren. 

You can inject excitement into a standard week by introducing manageable treats on random days. Meeting a friend for a quick drink on a Wednesday evening or buying a luxury snack on a Tuesday lunchtime provides a brilliant psychological boost. Buy that nice pastry from the local bakery today just because you want it. 

These modest purchases fit easily into a normal budget while breaking up the monotony of the working week.

Find more enjoyment in familiar routines

You don't need to invent new activities to feel happy all the time. Existing habits hold plenty of joy if you make a few small tweaks. 

A standard afternoon walk around the neighbourhood might feel tedious until you download a bird identification app on your phone. Suddenly, that familiar path becomes an active search for local wildlife, keeping your mind engaged. Similarly, spending a few quiet minutes away from digital screens before bed creates a peaceful transition into sleep. Look for one small way to upgrade a habit you already perform daily. 

Review - Christmas Polaris Post miniature house kit from Rolife

I was sent this miniature Rolife craft kit in exchange for a review

Today I'm sharing another gorgeous miniature house kit from Rolife - the Christmas themed Polaris Post craft set. It's a glimpse inside Santa's post office, where we can see him reading letters, writing his lists, and gathering together tempting little parcels ready to send to children across the world. Polaris is the name for the bright star also known as the North Star which sits almost perfectly above the North Pole - the home of Father Christmas.

This miniature kit has a 3 star (medium) difficulty level, with an average assembly time of approximately six hours. It's a set which has some involved crafting and very few plastic components. Instead most of the pieces are carefully assembled by hand from wooden press out pieces, paper and a few stickers.

Here you can see the contents of the kit, with many wooden sheets in different coloured wood. There is a lighting kit with two lamps, and of course a fully detailed instruction booklet.

Like many Rolife kits, the first steps are to assemble the larger components which will fit inside the model. In this case you begin with a conveyor belt, shelves, and a table and chairs, along with Santa himself. 

Then the part of the kit that took me the most time - putting together a whole host of tiny parcels and envelopes! These are assembled in a variety of ways. Some of them are simple cardboard cutouts which slot together. Some have a small wooden block inside which is covered with a patterned sticker. Finally, for the larger parcels you need to build a small wooden box which is covered with a coloured sticker. These are wrapped with gold twist ties which is also used to form bows for the top.

Some of these parcels were fiddly to put together but I managed without too much trouble. The kit is designed to be completed without glue, and you are provided with small double-sided sticky tape pieces for assembly. However I did use a spot of glue here and there just to make sure that everything remained firmly stuck.

These completed parcels are used to fill the numbered boxes on the large shelving unit, and you can see how it looks when complete below. Hopefully the picture with my fingers helps give some scale as to how tiny these little pieces are!

Then comes my favourite part of any Rolife miniature kit build - putting together the main structure! I love this because you can start to see how the finished piece will look, and it's really satisfying to start getting some of these larger pieces into place. This section took quite a while as there are a number of different areas to work on. You have to be very organised when it comes to pressing out the different pieces and keeping them all together!

This is also the stage where you assemble the lighting kit. The two lamps slot into place and then the wires run out across the back and to the battery box which is hidden to the side of the main building.

The main structure is assembled one side at a time. There's a little shed to one side where some extra parcels are stored, and on the other a festive red door complete with Christmas wreath.

When the structure is complete it's time to add the final details. This doesn't take too long, because most of the components have already been put together and are waiting to be put in place. Everything can be stuck in place using the provided sticky tape, but I used some glue in places just because I want this kit to remain firmly glued for many years to come.

There are so many lovely parts to this kit. I love the large clock in the background which has a sweet little reindeer cutout, and all the gorgeous Christmas ornaments. I just want to sit at Santa's desk with a hot drink and a vintage typewriter to carry out my festive correspondence!

This is yet another gorgous kit from Rolife. It's the perfect craft to work on in the run up to Christmas, and the finished piece can be brought out year after year to admire as part of your festive decor.

I love how well the Polaris Post miniature kit fits in with the other Christmas Rolife sets that I've already built. Together they make a beautiful Christmas village display.

I've have also reviewed some of the other Rolife Christmas sets, and you can see my full reviews here:

Miniature Gingerbread House (left in the picture above)

Christmas Candy Stand (centre in the picture above)

Christmas 3D miniature frames

How to introduce your children to more adventurous holidays

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Family trips can easily settle into a familiar pattern. Returning to places your children already love makes life simpler, but as they get older, they may be ready for something different. Adding a little adventure lets them test their confidence and discover new interests without pushing them too far beyond what feels comfortable.

Start with small adventures

You don't need to swap a relaxing break for a demanding expedition overnight. Instead, add one unfamiliar experience to a holiday your children already understand and enjoy.

On a beach break, for example, you might book a beginner-friendly kayaking session rather than spending every day by the pool. If you're staying in the countryside, you could tackle a short walking route with a picnic stop along the way. Choose an activity that suits your children's ages and abilities, and leave enough time for breaks.

Early experiences should ultimately feel achievable. If children finish an activity feeling pleased rather than exhausted or overwhelmed, they're more likely to approach the next opportunity with curiosity instead of nerves.

Choose activities you can learn together

Children can feel less self-conscious about trying something unfamiliar when they see you learning too. You don't have to arrive with years of experience, and making the occasional mistake can show them that getting things wrong is simply part of developing a new skill.

For example, family ski holidays can give adults and children the chance to start lessons at an appropriate level, then share what they've learnt afterwards. Even if you're progressing at different speeds, you still have common experiences to talk about over dinner. This can turn learning itself into part of the holiday rather than something children feel they have to master.

Let your children have a say

Giving children some control over the itinerary can make a new destination feel more like their trip too. Rather than presenting them with endless possibilities, offer two realistic options that you're happy to book.

At a ski resort, you could ask whether they'd prefer another morning on the slopes or an afternoon ice skating. For a summer break, the choice might be between kayaking and a gentle cycle ride. Having a genuine say can shift an activity from something you've arranged for them to something they've actively chosen.

Leave room to slow down

Don't mistake adventure for constant activity. Learning unfamiliar physical skills takes energy, particularly for younger children, and an overloaded itinerary can quickly turn enthusiasm into tiredness.

If you spend the morning skiing or exploring a walking trail, keep the afternoon flexible. You might head back to your accommodation, visit a café or simply spend some time reading and playing. 

A quieter few hours give everyone time to recover, while leaving your children with enough energy to look forward to whatever comes next.

Can you use a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser with other brands of hot chocolate?

Recently I received a wonderful gift - a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. If you are unfamiliar, the Velvetiser is a small kitchen appliance for making delicious hot chocolate. The Velvetiser is basically a Hotel Chocolat branded electric milk frother, and Hotel Chocolat sell a wide range of flavoured hot chocolate sachets and larger pouches which you can use to make both hot and cold chocolate flavoured drinks. 

I absolutely love my new Velvetiser. I drink a lot of hot chocolate, and it saves all the effort of either heating up milk in a saucepan on the hob or trying to get the timings right for the microwave. It's amazing - a perfect mug of hot chocolate ready to drink in just a few minutes. The Velvetiser is also really easy to clean afterwards and it doesn't take much space to store. 

But when I received it, one of my first thoughts was, do I really need to use the Hotel Chocolat branded sachets?! They are expensive to buy, I have other favourite brands, and I often receive hot chocolate as a gift. 

So I thought I'd try out a few different hot chocolate variations, and share my results!

Other branded chocolate flakes

There are plenty of other brands of chocolate flakes available, and many of them are cheaper and come in larger packets. Each Hotel Chocolat sachet is around 30g, so you need about six level teaspoons of flaked chocolate. But you don't even need to use that much, even half that will still make a nice chocolaty drink. 

I did sometimes find that there was a little extra residue left behind when I used the off-brand flakes. I don't know why this would be, but it wasn't a problem it just needed a bit of extra cleaning.

Grated chocolate

I had a bar of chocolate which was specifically designed for hot chocolate, but I would have thought any chocolate bar would work. I used a normal cheese grater to grate it. One tip - for some reason I thought it would be easier to grate if the chocolate was cold from the fridge but that wasn't the case, room temperature chocolate was much easier. This worked just as well as the purchased chocolate flakes!

Chocolate spoon or ball

To make hot chocolate using a solid piece of chocolate like a chunky chocolate spoon or a chocolate ball then I found that it was best to use the Velvetiser to heat the milk first and add the chocolate afterwards. This worked well, the milk wasn't as hot as it would be if you used a saucepan so the chocolate did take a little longer to melt, but it worked in the end.

Other brand powdered hot chocolate

This also worked perfectly, and I tried a variety of different brands. Again I did find that there was a little bit of residue left behind, but this wasn't a problem. I also used Ovaltine powder which worked really well and mixed well with plain hot chocolate for a Maltesers type drink. I used some brands which are designed to just be used with hot water and making them up with the milk definitely improved the taste

Just milk

You can of course just use the Velvetiser to heat and froth the milk.

What else?

I've not finished experimenting yet! 

I'm thinking about grating different types and flavours of chocolate bar, like dark chocolate or orange. I'd also like to add in some extras like crushed Maltesers or Smarties. Using some flavoured syrups would also be fun to try. 

I've also discovered that Hotel Chocolat have a variety of different recipes on their website, including this amazing Velvetised Lava Cake which I definitely want to try!

Photo credit Jana Ohajdova via Unsplash

How to plan your family's first holiday abroad

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Taking your young children abroad for the first time can feel like a big step. You may be excited about introducing them to somewhere new while quietly wondering how they will cope with the flight, unfamiliar food or a different bedtime routine. 

You don't need every detail mapped out for the trip to go smoothly. In fact, keeping your first family holiday relatively simple can make it easier for everyone to settle in. When you make decisions around your children's ages, routines and energy levels, you can spend less of your break solving practical problems and more of it enjoying being away together.

Choose a Destination That Suits Young Children

A destination you enjoyed before having children might not work quite as well when you're travelling with a toddler or preschooler. Flight length, transfer times and proximity to everyday essentials now matter much more.

For a first trip, consider somewhere that doesn't require an exhausting journey at either end. Staying within walking distance of a beach, restaurants or a supermarket can also make everyday life easier. If your child needs an afternoon nap, for example, you can return to your accommodation without turning it into a complicated journey.

Look at the practical details before becoming too attached to a particular resort. A beautiful hotel an hour and a half from the airport may be less appealing once you factor in a late flight followed by a long transfer with a tired three-year-old.

Keep Your Booking Arrangements Straightforward

Family trips involve more details than holidays you may have taken as a couple, particularly when you need to think about baggage, transfers and child-friendly accommodation.

Some parents choose holiday packages because they can arrange key parts of their trip together, leaving fewer separate bookings to keep track of before they travel. This can prove especially useful when you're preparing for your first trip abroad with children and already have passports, packing and airport logistics on your mind.

Whatever booking method you choose, keep your confirmations somewhere you can access easily from your phone. You should also check baggage allowances and transfer arrangements in advance, as knowing exactly what happens when you land can remove some uncertainty from your arrival.

Photo credit Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Make the Journey Work Around Your Children

Think about how your child normally copes with busy days before choosing flights purely around price. A departure that requires the family to leave home in the early hours could disrupt sleep before you've even reached the airport.

Pack a small travel bag around situations you're realistically likely to encounter. A change of clothes can help after a spilled drink, while familiar snacks and a favourite toy can provide some comfort in an unfamiliar setting. Keep essential medicines in the appropriate hand luggage rather than somewhere difficult to reach.

You don't need to entertain your children every second of the journey either. Walking around the airport, watching the planes and having something to eat can all break the day into manageable chunks.

Give Your Family Time to Settle In

It can be tempting to fill your first few days with activities because you're somewhere new, but young children may need time to adjust to different surroundings, temperatures and routines.

Keep your arrival day simple and give everyone a chance to explore the accommodation. You might find that a swim, an early dinner and some quiet time work better than heading straight out on an excursion.

Once you've settled in, choose activities according to everyone's energy levels rather than trying to squeeze everything into one trip. If you've spent the morning sightseeing, an afternoon playing by the pool may give both you and your children the downtime you need. Your first family holiday abroad doesn't have to run perfectly to become a trip you'll enjoy remembering.

How to plan a repaint while your family is still living at home

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The breakfast table is covered in homework, someone can't find their PE kit, and paint is peeling behind the kitchen door. A repaint has to fit around school runs, meals and bedtime, so the useful question is where everyone will be while each room is out of action.

Start with the rooms you can spare

A child's bedroom has to be ready for sleep, while the sitting room may be easy to give up for a day if there is somewhere else to play. Think about where the furniture can go as well. A room isn't really available if its contents are blocking the hallway.

Say you have a spare bedroom full of storage boxes and a busy kitchen that needs repainting. Doing the spare room first gives you somewhere to move the boxes before the kitchen work begins, and you can set up a temporary breakfast spot there while the kitchen is out of use. Keep access to the sink and cupboards if you will still need them.

Avoid starting several rooms at once unless the family has somewhere comfortable to spend the day. Keeping one familiar room untouched makes the disruption easier to live with. Check the family diary before you agree dates, too. A week of late school activities leaves very little energy for shifting furniture or putting a bedroom back together before bed.

Clear the space before the first coat

Move out whatever you can. Put toys and books into labelled boxes so the clear-up doesn't turn into a hunt for school things. If larger furniture has to stay, push it to the middle of the room and agree with the painter who will move it and who will cover it. Clear the window ledges as well.

Ask whether filling holes, sanding rough patches, protecting floors and painting skirting boards are part of the job. If you are painting the room yourself, plan that work before you open a tin.

Imagine a family who leaves the craft cupboard where it is because it is too heavy to move. Everything they need for an afternoon activity is now stuck behind dust sheets. It is better to take out the everyday things first and put them somewhere the children can reach without going into the work area.

Plan for drying and everyday traffic

Open the windows while you paint and follow the instructions on the tin for ventilation, drying and recoating. Leave enough time for the paint to dry before the furniture goes back, rather than promising the family a bedroom by a particular evening.

Keep children and pets out of the room while it is being painted and until it is dry. Think about the routes through the house, too. If the bathroom is beyond the room being painted, change the order of work or arrange access before anyone starts. Move the cat's food and water bowls before you shut the door.

Photo credit Andrew Itaga via Unsplash

Compare quotes against the real disruption

When you ask painters for quotes, show them the rooms and tell them the family will be staying at home. Get a fixed price in writing before work starts and check what it covers. One quote may include surface preparation while another leaves it to you. Ask which rooms will be unusable, whether the same crew will come back for each stage, and what clean-up happens before the furniture returns.

BrushUp Painting is an Australian firm in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, so it isn't an option for UK households, but its approach is a useful example of what to ask a local painter about. It quotes on site with one fixed price in writing, includes full prep, and uses the same crew from the first coat to the last. It also says furniture is moved back and the site swept afterwards. Those details matter when you are living around the work.

Say you have two quotes for the same bedrooms. The cheaper one leaves out preparation and doesn't say who moves the beds back. Ask for both points in writing before you compare the totals.

Bring each room back into use deliberately

Before the furniture goes back, check the painted surfaces and make sure the agreed clean-up has been done. Follow the tin's instructions before you hang anything on the walls. Keep the boxes for the next room together in one place, and move on only when the family has a usable space again.

A repaint around a family comes down to order: which room goes first, where things wait, and who puts them back. Settle those points before the first coat and the painting itself is much easier to schedule.