🛠️ Doing

I’m writing this Now Page update on 1 June 2025, and today feels like a milestone: I’ve officially gone one whole year without drinking alcohol. (I’m mindful this section of my Now Page is about what I have been doing, as opposed to what I haven’t, but this felt important to share!). Here’s my celebratory doodle (plus words), and voice note: doodle and voice note.

I often start this update with health and wellbeing because it’s top of mind. My shoulder injury is not quite recovered. I’m about 80% there. I’ve hired a personal trainer for a couple of sessions to help me design a new training plan and check my lifting form, which should minimise the chance of further injury. Running is my exercise priority right now, and I am feeling improvements in my fitness and a positive impact on my mental health. I did my first ParkRun yesterday and have signed up for two 10K races (one in the UK). Last month, I also completed Race for Life (5K).

I’m still having fun doodling and have made some GIFs over the past month. My GIFs are now accessible on places like Instagram (to attach to stories); just search “martine ellis,” and you should find them.

I’ve worked with coaching clients this past month and delivered several training sessions and interactive talks. Focus (or the struggle to achieve it) has been a recurring theme in these sessions, so I’ll be thinking about sharing some information to help.

For fun, I’ve started crocheting again and am enjoying Murdle.

I’m on holiday towards the end of June (very excited!) so things might be a little quieter around here at that time (I’ll give my email subscribers a heads up about this, so if you are not already on my email list, you can subscribe for free here: Email Newsletter).

📺 Watching

I’ve not watched much TV this past month (perhaps due to the Grey’s Anatomy marathon finally ending!). I needed a break. That being said, I am still watching season 2 of The Last of Us, and also Lioness (not sure which season!) on Paramount Plus. I need a new TV project. Instead of regular TV, I have been watching lots of videos about Animal Crossing New Horizons on YouTube… 🤣

🧠 Learning

Outside of working on my GIFs, I’ve been focused on learning new skills to support my creative hobbies (particularly crochet).

🎧 Listening

I’ve picked up a few new (to me) podcasts this month: The Running Channel, What’s My Age Again?, and The Liz Earle Wellbeing Show. I also have Sara and Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club queued up, but have not started listening yet.

📚 Reading

Take a look at what I am reading here: Martine’s Library.