Welcome to the latest post of The Weekly Balance. Let’s have a look back at the past seven days in my life and what I’ve learnt from it.

What I’m thinking about…

Turning 30. I’m entering the last fortnight of my 20s, and my birthday is coming up fast on the horizon. It will be my second pandemic birthday, which is a strange thing to say in and of itself. I feel both ready and a bit anxious about turning 30. The little bit of anxiousness is I think more a bit of nostalgia for my younger self. 30 to me signifies true ‘grown-up’ status – that might sound silly, but it’s just always been an age that I see in this light. I asked you guys on Instagram whether you love/loved your 30s, and why, and the answers were honestly so heart-warming. By the most common answer was a resounding yes, that one’s thirties were a decade that everyone enjoys, mostly because (in the words of you all) you reach a point where you’re simply content to be… you! And that very much resonated with me. There are MANY things I thought I would have had ‘sorted’ by the time I hit 30, and many of these I definitely will not have sorted in the next 2 weeks! Saying that, I know what I do have, and I know how very grateful I am for it all. I’ve been doing a little bit of writing over the last couple of weeks as part of reflection on the last decade, and it’s really helping me get some perspective on my twenties.

What I’m reading…

As always, let me know what you’re reading in the comments below! I’m currently reading A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles. I’m NEARLY finished it, I know it’s taken me a little bit longer than usual, but it really is a book to be savoured. I’m excited already to review it for your guys. Stay tuned for next week!

Also, for my March Book Club pick, I have chosen The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid as our book to read this coming month. If you’d like to join us, all you have to do is read along with us during March and on the 21st March at 6pm we’ll be having a discussion about the book via Zoom. More details over on my Instagram!

What I’m listening to…

This week there were a few podcast episodes I really enjoyed. I’ve listed my top two and a new audiobook below for you guys:

Sentimental Garbage:  Hosted by author Caroline O’Donoghue, the most recent episodes of this podcast are conversations with author and columnist Dolly Alderton about the infamous TV series Sex and the City, which I’ve just recently started watching again. I save this podcast for some weekend laughter, and continue to tune back in for more.

Train Happy: I’ve mentioned this podcast previously, but it’s still a weekly favourite for me, and well worth checking out. Hosted by personal trainer, author and fitness influencer Tally Rye, this podcast takes a deep dive into an intuitive approach to exercise and movement, and our relationships with our bodies and food. It’s one I come back to every Monday, and have learnt a lot from.

Audiobook: I started a new audiobook this week on Audible – Asking For A Friend by Andi Osho, her debut novel which centres on the lives of three best friends – Jamima, Simi and Meaghan – all of whom are a various states of despair and denial about their love lives. Jamima, a successful author, thinks she doesn’t need a man – or the hurt that can come from a relationship gone wrong. Simi, an aspiring actress, desperate to be in love. Meaghan, who wants love – but when it fits into her life ‘plan’. I’m only a little bit into the book, but really enjoying it so far!

What I’m watching…

This week, I plan to start a new show call The Bold Type on Netflix. I’ve heard good things so far, so I’ll be giving it a go – review to follow!

And that’s a wrap for this week gang! If you want to get in touch, you can find me @theirishbalance on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I hope you have a lovely week ahead folks – remember, stay informed with the advice from your local health authority regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance and be kind!

Ciara x