Pottering: A Cure for Modern Life

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Keep moving. The present participle of the infinitive ‘to potter’ implies continuity, seamlessly going from one activity to another. By being completely absorbed in rummaging, sorting and re-arranging objects, you achieve flow. You are never still. If you have an idle hour to while away, you might like this book, especially if you are an Anglophile like I am. On my pottering days, I like to keep away from my car and use my bike and legs as transport. This helps me feel more connected to my local community. With the car off limits, this means I can’t travel very far. When I’m in full pottering mode, an epic journey is the local library. This isn’t a huge book and it’s an easy read, but it does make you think, if you go into it with an open mind. There is an element of mindfulness, of slow living, of paying attention but it is also a manifesto to take a hard look at what you spend your time on and consider if just pausing and having a potter won’t actually improve your health.

Making do with what you’ve got inevitably anchors pottering to the home. That said, pottering is not the same as carrying out household chores. “The distinguishing feature of pottering as opposed to ‘jobs around the house’ is the slow pace at which you do it,” claims McGovern. There is also a lot to be said for the satisfaction you gain from pottering. (Compare hoovering the carpet, say, to hoovering the crumbs out of a cutlery drawer and you’ll begin to see the distinction.)Pottering is a book that really examines what it means to potter and the benefits of pottering. It also encourages you to potter in ways you might not have thought of before. It's a kind of celebration of resourcefulness and the stepping away from perfectionism. PS - Sitting down for 10 minutes, drinking a cup of tea and reading a book in between tasks is a valid pottering action! 😉 The first chapter explains the basics: Making do with what you've got, don't try too hard, movement, keeping it local and keeping it digital free. In the book Pottering: A cure for modern life author Anna McGovern describes pottering in the following way:

Consider the words that define pottering ‘without definite plan or purpose’. Let those words really sink in . . . You have the freedom to make tea any way you like. You be you. No one is going to judge. It’s just you and the tea.” Now, that "gem" I mentioned earlier. Accessed either from the parking area or one of the balconies is a self contained one bedroom "annexe". This adjacent extension has a large double bedroom with bathroom off, fully equipped kitchen and a balcony! Perfect for those with older relatives needing a home so that they can live independently but close enough to keep an eye on!

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Pottering is exactly what you would expect from a book of that title. It is gentle and refreshing, lovely to look at it with its simple and expressive illustrations and unhurried. It is an antidote to the rush and expectation of modern life where there is simply too much all the time, a bombardment of stimuli most of which are too distant to be acted upon and merely create frustration and anxiety. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.

For McGovern, the final fundamental of pottering is that it is, on the whole, digital-free. “Ignoring digital devices means you are not bombarded with messages, information, unrealistic images of perfection…” she says. “Without witnessing all that, you can have some time that is your own.” I find I'm happiest and more relaxed when I've spent a day pottering around the house so I guess my take away from reading this book is I need to switch off the electronics a little more often and just potter! I'd be happier and more content for doing so. This book talks us through how to Potter while making a cup of tea and also how to return to a more analogue life. Seeing this book for the first time did cause some concern for this reader. Is it another self help thing? Will it be embarassing? For instance, instead of buying takeaway for lunch, you challenge yourself to pull together a meal with what you’ve got in your fridge and pantry. In some ways, pottering can be a very creative practice.The key principles of pottering include making “do with what you’ve got,” not trying too hard, movement, staying local, and keeping it digital-free. Such techniques foster contentment and effortless living, focused on single tasks that embrace experimentation over excellence and are often, but not always, solitary pursuits. One chapter includes seasonal ideas to prime one’s mind for living at a slower pace year round, including spring cleaning, making popsicles in the summer, planting bulbs in the fall, and snuggling in the winter. When you potter, there’s no where to get to. Nothing to achieve. The aim of the game is to slow down and enjoy doing one activity at a time. I discovered this book at a time life was running over. I am constantly reminded these days "What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare'? Pottering allows you to recalibrate to a saner and healthier pace of life. It reminds you that there’s so much more to life than being productive.

Pottering is not about pressure, it's not supposed to be stressful, it's a productive calming activity.DETACHED THREE BEDROOM HOME TWO MINUTES FROM EASNEY SEAFRONT WITH SELF CONTAINED ONE BEDROOM ANNEXE!! All that being said, it’s also totally fine to plonk yourself down in a cosy chair and enjoy a cup of tea.