I need a rest.

That's one of the reasons I'm not going to the events I mentioned yesterday.

I need to relax.

So much has been going on lately, mostly good things, but they've been keeping me very busy and I'm starting to feel like I can't keep treading water.

I need to slow down.

I could feel it coming, this feeling. The one where your chest feels like it's slowly being crushed by the weight of all the things you need to do.

I need to catch my breath.

It started with little things. Like for the first time in six months not joining in this month's photo a day challenge. It seems silly but it just felt way too hard, like too much work.

I need to just stop.

I've been trying to create more valuable content for you guys. And I can see and feel the blog improving with that conent. But it takes work. And at the moment aside from working my full time job and on the blog I've been writing magazine features, copy for festival websites and press releases and going to events. Lots of events.

I need to put myself first.

And I realised the impact doing so much was having on me. It was affecting my moods and my happiness. Making me feel down, feel bad about myself. So that's when I said, hold it right there. No more. Some bad news about a family member has helped put things in perspective.

All of these things matter. But they have an order of matter. And I don't have to do it all, right now.

So if you feel like I've been a bit MIA lately, especially on social media (hello Twitter silence, hello poor neglected Instagram which I haven't posted to in almost a week) don't worry. I haven't left you. And I'm ok.

But I'm taking a step back for just a tiny little while to make sure that I can keep being ok.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will be resting and eating and drinking wine and staying warm and relaxing and being happy.

And just breathing.