You swap for… buying all the gear in preparation, especially the after swimming wear (Dryrobe, Wylding boiler suit, etc.), packing it all in the back of the car, and keeping an eagle eye on tides, wind etc.  

You want to… stop talking about the same old stuff for yet another year. 

Topics to be avoided will include: Is Covid or Brexit to blame? Can you get the same strain twice? When is a party a work meeting and vice versa?  

You swap for… not being the first to mention Meghan and Harry.

You want to… move out of your “tired” house

 …and into a manageable flat with Hive and underfloor heating and a utility room. 

You swap for… scrolling through Right Move properties every night in bed and buying The Week for the property spread of heaven, as you have done for years.

You want to… see A Lot More of your family in 2022 (after the many disappointments of the past couple of years) 

You swap for… texting them to say you want to see A Lot More of them this year and must get something in the diary as soon as possible. 

You want to… read a classic a week 

You swap for…listening to an audio book in the car instead of Absolute Radio 70s.

You want to… be more Beatles/wife of Beatles (thanks to seeing so much of them in 2021) 

As in look cool, wear hats and big sunglasses and swingy coats.

You swap for…getting out your mum’s pearls and a fake fur shrug and channelling Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. 

You want to… drastically reduce your screen time 

You swap for… not taking your phone into the bathroom.

Here’s to a less stressy 2022.