Start Spreading The News...New York, New York!

Start spreading the news…
I’m leaving todayyyyy….

Ok, full transparency - at the point of writing this it is 6pm on Friday the 20th and I am mid-flight, currently somewhere between Manchester and New York (I hope!).

So far, I am six hours into the flight with zero WiFi - my only entertainment being my books, my notepad, and the hourly shuffle to the loo as I endure the repercussions of going above and beyond in my quest to stay hydrated.

And I feel marvellous.

Even though I am a slightly nervous flyer and we have experienced several bouts of turbulence, I feel a sense of content calm and peace just sitting here - which, in the interest of honesty, hasn’t exactly been the narrative for the past week or so.

February has been an absolute whirlwind of a month for me, both professionally and personally. In my personal life, February saw a wholesome family celebration that took a fair bit of organisation, as well as other wonderful events, moments and memories.

Professionally - well - quite a few of the seeds I planted back in 2025 decided to germinate this month. Alongside existing plants (projects) growing new leaves, some needing tending, and some fantastic events, it’s been a brilliant month - one I am unbelievably grateful to be able to enjoy.

And with that intensity has come the inevitable stress (not a bad thing), a bit of pressure, and a sprinkling of overwhelm - all part and parcel of the self-employed game, right?

But it’s not until I’ve been forced into stillness (ironically, on a moving aeroplane) that I’ve come to the realisation that I maaayyyyyy have been adding a little self-sabotage into the mix… and I migghhhttt be partly responsible for adding unnecessary stress to an already rather full bucket.

I don’t mean responsibilities, tasks or expectations. I mean my bloody iPhone.

With all the moving parts of the past four weeks, my phone usage has skyrocketed. What started as an increase in checking the family WhatsApp group and quickly checking Amazon delivery dates, suddenly turned into this subconscious need for control via incessant email refreshing… and a re-download of Instagram. Nooooo!

Any spare moment, I could be found - phone in hand - scrolling. For what, I’m not entirely sure. But the need for updates slowly turned into a dopamine diet of reels and posts.

And honestly, I don’t know who the hell I think I am refreshing my emails literally every ten minutes. Get over yourself, Kathy - you really aren’t that important. It’s farcically embarrassing.

It’s taken an eight-hour flight and being fleeced £6 in WHSmith for a bottle of water for me to recognise that social media is a big, app-shaped stressor that has been feeding into my rising threat-response state.

For me, I see it a bit like sport. If an athlete has five events in a day, in between those events I don’t imagine they are maxing out lifts for fun, trying to run PBs with mates, or learning new skills. I imagine they are focusing on rest, recovery and preparation to ensure they are in peak condition going into the next event.

Famously, Lando Norris (2025 Grand Prix champion) spoke openly about removing all social media during the F1 season to ensure his focus could be channelled effectively and maximise his performance on and off the track.

Now, I am not comparing myself to an F1 driver - I stay a solid 3-5mph below the speed limit because I’m too scared of getting in trouble with the law - however, I can 100% notice the difference in myself: my stress tolerance, my focus, and even how I show up in my relationship when I am busy with work and using social media excessively.

So this week, as my husband and I enjoy a working trip (the joys of being able to work online), I am committing to limiting my social media use.

I would love to say I can delete it all. However, some of the reservations and events we’re interested in while we’re in NYC are annoyingly bookable or communicated via Instagram only. So I am going to ensure that my social media is used for that - and that only.

And… not to wish my life and travels away, I am actually excited to delete the app upon our return home and adopt my old habit of re-downloading it only as and when I want to use it. Historically, this has created a healthy boundary and a conscious thought process before I end up in a mindless scrolling sinkhole.

Right, that’s all from me. Apparently, a member of the cabin crew has started the water refill rounds and I’ve got a hydration goal to complete.