self help Archives

bloomzy / February 23, 2017

A Self Help Guide for Taking Better Care of You

Things are changing. We’re only two months into 2017, and I’ve already come across a pretty big road block. And at a time when there’s lots for me to think about, I’m being extra mindful of my mental and physical health. This means thinking about myself for once – something most of us neglect – and it isn’t easy. For me that might mean shutting myself away for a few hours to watch my favourite Let’s Plays on YouTube, or spending an afternoon in my favourite cafe with friends. Truth be told there are many ways to take better care of yourself, and that’s why I wanted to write up a mini self help guide for those who might also be in need.

A Self Help Guide

Now I’m not a doctor, and of course I’m not about to start sprouting silly advice left right and centre. Instead I’m going to offer up a few tips and tricks that I’ve tried and tested myself. My aim here is to help people take some time out of their busy schedule and take a moment to relax. This isn’t anything life changing. However if done often, it really can make a difference. Life can be stressful, and sometimes being able to take the time to look after YOU can really help.

Relax Yourself

Treat yourself to some good food
Take some time out with a friend to talk about how you’re doing
Read a book and transport yourself into another world
Have a hot drink (they’re scientifically proven to reduce stress)
Get outside and go for a walk
Meditate (if you can/enjoy it)
Exercise
Take a day off

Have some ‘Me Time’

Have some ‘me time’
- Spend some time by yourself, doing what you love
Sit down and watch a silly movie
- Laughing is good for the soul, and your body
Listen to your favourite music
- For me it’s a remixed track from the Hannibal soundtrack
On that note, listen to some natural sounds
- Whether it’s the pitter patter of rain, bird song, or the gushing of the sea etc
Allow yourself a guilty pleasure every now and again
- For me it’s a square (or two) of chocolate in the evening

Please note that you don’t have to do all of these at once (or at all if you don’t fancy it). Just doing one or two can often help bring your stress levels down. Remember, what de-stresses one person may not work for another. It’s all about finding what fits into your lifestyle, and makes you happy. Because at the end of the day, what’s most important is your health and happiness.

Check out more of my self help articles.

bloomzy / January 17, 2017

2017: A Year of Self Help & Making Big Decisions?

A Year of Self Help & Making Big Decisions

2017 has started a little differently than 2016. Last year I decided I wanted to say “yes” to as many things as possible. That actually went pretty well…well, in the sense that I did it. Unfortunately it also meant my social calendar became pretty hectic. I had to balance my social life and work. And I burnt myself out. So 2017 has seen me saying “no” to things instead.

Why? Because I soon learnt that saying yes, and wanting to please everyone was really not the way to go. Unless of course I wanted to stress myself out to the point where I knocked 10 years off my life.

A Year of Self Help

You see, I’m highly susceptible to stress. The last few years have seen me manage it relatively well, but sadly last year I didn’t give myself the time to re-energise. Something which is extremely important when it comes to keeping my sanity. Because of this, at the end of 2016 I saw my mental and physical health plummet. This isn’t entirely to do with my social life, of course. There was a death in my family, a close family member was taken ill, and other factors came in to play (again, thanks Trump/Brexit).

So I decided that this year I want to make some big changes, and some bigger decisions:

Take better care of myself
- Both my mental & physical health
- Be happier
Travel more
- Because it makes us happy (already working on #1)
Seriously consider moving abroad
- London life is a big contributor to stress
- It’s something I’ve been considering for a couple of years
- Amsterdam & Copenhagen are on the table
Think about buying a house
- Ben and I have been wanting to buy somewhere for a while
- It would give us a project to work on
- No noisy upstairs-neighbours

I might mess up a little along the way. In fact I can almost definitely say I will. But if I keep my main goal in mind – take better care of myself – then I believe I can make a difference in 2017. And at least I can say I had good intentions.

bloomzy / November 26, 2016

How to Create a Hygge Home – In a Nutshell

How to Create a Hygge Home

What is a Hygge Home?

A home that is inviting. Not pretentious, ostentatious, or any other kind of -ious. It’s a place you can come back to and forget all your worries. It may sound silly, but it’s about creating a space where you feel safe and comfortable. Having a space where you are able to drop all of your work and social worries is tough. But I truly believe that your home can be a safe haven from this kind of stress. After a long day at work, I look forward to coming home to a hot chocolate, a comfy sofa, and some good food…with the occasional cuddle thrown in for good measure. That’s hygge.

Interiors and design obviously play a big part in this too though. If you have a home that looks good, you feel good. And no that’s not shallow or fickle. It’s scientifically proven that pretty things make us happy. They can even de-stress us! That doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a ton of new stuff, or redecorate your entire home though. I’ve put together some some useful tips,

How to Create a Hygge Home – Tips

Functional, but stylish
Quality over quantity
Good food, good drink, good company
Craftsmanship – choose items with a story
Lots of plants – bring a little nature into the home
Lighting is very important! Keep it soft, and comfortable.
- Yes, that means lots of candles…
Natural fabrics and materials
- E.g. wood, cotton, stone, glass, wool
Soft furnishings
- Go on, go buy that cosy throw you always wanted

There you have it. My how to create a hygge home…in a nutshell! This is definitely not the be all end all of guides, but it is a handy go-to for those who want to bring a little hygge into their home. Don’t forget though, it’s as much about the ‘feeling’ as any material object. And now is the perfect time of year to invite people over, and spend more time with your loved ones.

Check out the rest of my ‘How to Hygge’

How to Hygge: Slow Yourself Down | Lifestyle

How to Hygge: Slow Yourself Down

Everywhere I look lately I see “hygge” plastered alongside articles and products that leave me imitating the thinking face emoji. I’m looking at you Deliveroo (yup, shots fired). No but seriously, this sudden trend must have a lot of Danes scratching their heads. Why has it taken us Brits so long to catch on to “hygge” and why now?

Well if I had to sum it up with an educated guess: I’d say it’s partly to do with our long relationship with our Scandinavian cousins, and a mix of people just generally needing some warmth and security in their lives right now. ~~Thanks for that Brexit/Trump.~~

Take Some Down Time

I wasn’t sure where to start my How to Hygge series. I’ve known of the concept for a while, but only started really paying attention when I realised that I was actually already living a rather hyggely (apparently that’s grammatically correct) lifestyle. One aspect that has been pretty prominent for me lately is slowing myself down. A relaxed and comfortable lifestyle is key to hygge. So I figured where better a place to start, than with some self improvement?

How to Hygge: Slow Yourself Down

London life can be pretty hectic, especially when you’re running a full-time job, and a blog on the side. I’ve discovered this first hand. My week days are made up of a 9-5 job in marketing, and then cramming in as many press events as possible in the evening. Sometimes I’d even fit them in the middle of the day! How crazy is that?!

I soon realised that I was tiring myself out. Both mentally and physically. I needed to stop, slow down, and prioritise my health, as well as my family and friends. It’s so important that we are aware of our bodies and our minds, and what we’re doing to them. I like to think I’m pretty self aware, yet I found myself still saying yes to every opportunity (I’m terrible for this).

And now?

Something had to give! So I stopped. All those amazing press event invites? I pick out my favourites, and decide on 2-3 a week, rather than 5-7. After all, what’s the point in doing something if I only feel lukewarm about it? It’s not fair on myself, or others.

I no longer stay late at work, unless it’s absolutely necessary. This may not be overly popular with my colleagues, but if I’m not being efficient with my time, that’s even worse. And instead of being busy 6-7 days a week, I have most of my evenings back. I also make sure I have at least one day of the weekend where I’m doing absolutely nothing. I save these for time with my fiancé, friends and family.

Now I only do the things I really love and want to do, rather than stretching myself thin. Slowing myself down begins now.

What is Hygge, And How Do I Get It? | Lifestyle

What is Hygge, And How Do I Get It?

I have an odd fascination with words that don’t translate. It all started years ago,with 気持ちいい (kimochi/ii); a Japanese word that relates to a particular feeling of enjoyment. So when I heard someone talking about the Danish word hygge, I knew I had to investigate further.

Luckily enough my investigation coincided with a rather interesting email. An email asking if I would like to attend a talk with Not on The High Street and Signe Johansen – author of How to Hygge. The panellists included Skandium’s found Magnus Englund, and Not on The High Street’s director Sally Bendelow. I was eager to hear more, so I jumped at the chance. Little did I know it would lead me down a very interesting, familiar rabbit hole. One that would leave me asking ‘what is hygge?’

What is Hygge?

Hygge is not about buying a new throw for your sofa (although Wool Couture‘s is tempting). Nor is it about lighting a bunch of candles. Although both these things can contribute to a sense of hygge. Confusing, right? Well that’s because hygge is more of a concept, than an entity. It isn’t about material objects, it’s the sense of comfort you get from them. Well, amongst other things.

It’s about creating a comforting atmosphere. A place where you feel at home.

How Do I Get It?

For those that fancy a little Danish in their lives (no I’m not talking about pastries or Mads Mikkelsen), hygge is relatively easy to achieve. It’s about taking a step back from our hectic lives, and taking the time to appreciate the little things. Simple things such as spending time with our families/friends, or trying out that recipe for cinnamon rolls that you always wanted to bake. During the colder, darker months, a lot of Danes spend more time at home. They invite friends and family over, enjoy some good food and drink, and relax. And yes, there may be a candle or two involved.

Can We Really Get Hygge?

Hygge is not a new term, however it is having it’s moment in British culture right now. Autumn and Winter in the UK are characteristically dark, cold, and damp. Something our Danish cousins know about all too well. It’s at this time of year that people like to cosy up at home with their loved ones, pop on Netflix, and snuggle into the sofa with some comfort food. Not much different to what I was talking about before, right?

Denmark is well known as being the happiest country in the world. So it makes sense that us Brits would want in on it too. What with current political and economical events, we’ve all been left looking elsewhere for comfort. And I think hygge may just be it.

I’ll be writing a more in-depth guide on How to Get Hygge soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

bloomzy / October 30, 2016

Thoughts on Living Danishly | Copenhagen Travel Diary

Thoughts on Living Danishly

I’ve been staring at my screen for a while now, wondering how exactly I’d write this post. It’s pretty personal, and a tad emotional. I don’t really do that much on here, but every now and again I do indulge myself…

I kind of always knew I’d like Copenhagen. Admittedly I’m a Skandiphile. I love Scandinavia, right from the food, down to the design. But I’d never been before. My trip to Copenhagen last month was either going to make or break my love for our Northern European cousins.

Thoughts on Living Danishly

Ever since I came back from Denmark, I’ve had a bit of an ache in my chest. Falling in love with a country/city is one thing. But to fall for the culture, way of life, and people is another. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to up sticks and leave London. But Copenhagen certainly has left room for thought.

I remember a very specific moment from my trip to CPH. We were cycling back from Superkilen, and on this particular day the main road had been closed. Families had come out into the street with their children, and there were thousands of people. We had to get off our bikes at one point because there were so many people. Families, friends, all were socialising together. Children and adults alike were drawing on the street in chalk. There were drawings of Copenhagen’s skyline, pokemon, loved ones, you name it. It was so wonderful to walk through all those people, and feel the sense of community.

Personal Reflection

With everything that’s been going on lately in my life, I’ve done a lot of personal reflection. What I want in the next few years. Where I want to be.

I’ve been reading ‘The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country’ by Helen Russell. After seeing tons of people reading it in Copenhagen, I decided to give it a go myself. I was curious to learn more about Denmark, Danish people, and their way of life. Was it really as wonderful as it seemed? Well I won’t ruin the book for you, but it’s certainly opened my eyes to a new way of living.

Life can be pretty hectic in London, and whereas I love it, sometimes it can be tiring. It’s also become a little old as of late. Part of me yearns for new discoveries. New life lessons. Somewhere less hectic, and a bit happier.

Maybe living Danishly for a while wouldn’t be such a bad thing? Who’s to know. I guess for now, I’ll watch this space.