YEAR ABROAD SELF CARE

It's not really a secret that I seem to be struggling with my year abroad but I think that's probably because of other issues, on top of the massive amount of stress that comes with being uprooted. However, we are fortunate enough to be living in a time where mental health is becoming less and less of a taboo as days go by. At least not in the circles I'm in, both on and offline. A thing I see quite often online is the idea of self care - either things you prepare for your down days or things you do regularly to help yourself. So obviously me being me I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and write about what helps me out. Maybe if you're on a year abroad and also having a shitty time this could help.


WATER
So much water. All I ever do is drink water. Except when I drink coke but I'm trying to stop that again as it really does not help in the slightest and is so so bad. But no, agua is key. I mean you end up weeing 5748759 times a day but it's worth it.

HEADSPACE 
I only recently downloaded this meditation app and I know it sounds mega hippy dippy but I find it so helpful and relaxing. I spend so much of my time at uni or trying to do work or sitting on the tram or cooking or doing dishes or running or facetiming and they pretty much all involve having my brain engaged in several things at once because my laptop or phone or iPad are always there so taking 10 minutes of the day to just sit and do nothing but breathe is super helpful to chill out. 

RUNNING
This is so odd because had you asked me three months what I do when I feel sad there is no way I would have said to go out for a run but I did the other day and it was dark and cold and there was hardly anyone around so it was probably a bit dangerous but I was down at the beach where it's pretty well lit so I was okay. It just helps me so much. I know everyone is sick of hearing me bang on about running now but it's better this than live tweeting a tv show isn't it?

FACETIME
Honestly this helps so much when I'm away. I normally catch my brother at the worst times and he gets annoyed at me but secretly, getting to annoy him for two minutes ends up being a highlight of my day. I miss having a lil bro to wind up. Soz cjwb. U love it.

SPLURGE
This is probably really bad but sometimes if I'm sad I will just treat myself because I am worth it. Being a 20 something is pretty fab because I am the most important person in my life right now - my fam and friends are ace but they're not here, I have no significant other or children to buy stuff for and my year abroad pals have their own erasmus grant to spend so win win, my money goes on me. So if that is concert tickets or plane tickets or a new hoody or a running top or a Kindle book I've not been able to find a free download for or a 22€ steak, you best believe I'll buy it. There's not much time left for me to be an irresponsible student with a ridiculous amount of free government money and I probably should save it but then I might be run over tomorrow so why not enjoy life.

NEW PLAYLISTS
I do not understand people who aren't playing music 24/7. Or people without a favourite artist/album/500 songs to work to. When I'm sad and don't want to translate the instruction manual for a toaster, I like to create new playlists. Most recently I have a chill one full of James Bay and Hozier and Ed Sheeran and George Ezra and Ben Howard. I have a running playlist full of upbeat bouncy songs to keep me bouncy and upright and not on the floor dying. The other day I made a playlist of Robbie Williams songs to run to because he's the best and when I need inspiration he's the one. Get it? Never mind.

LIGHTING
I try not to have my 'big light' (apparently this is a Geordie thing to say) on past like 6pm and only have a lamp on to keep my room chilled out to help me sleep. I mean having the laptop on til 1am doesn't help but I'm trying.

BLOGS
Reading and writing blog posts is one of my favourite thing ever. The internet is so full of content but it's so nice to go through someone's blog because it's so personal and a glimpse into their life and I love that. I know my blog is probably boring to everyone else and also probably littered with spelling/grammar mistakes but I love reading through my old posts so I like knowing this will be around for me to read when I'm old. Unless I delete everything like I have with all my teenage blogs full of "feelings///" that got me tons of shit in high school. YAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

SPRING CLEAN
I kind of like to do this once a week, going through all my stuff and binning it all. If you've read my post about minimalism you'll remember that I just like to bin things. Tidy room tidy mind etc.

TO DO LISTS
How on earth does anyone function without a to do list? I have them everywhere but I discovered an app called Wunderlist in January and it's basically just a to do list app but it splits them into different lists and keeps me so so organised. I'll do a separate post on my Wunderlist love maybe. JUST KEEP YOURSELVES ORGANISED GUYS.

INSTAGRAM
Who doesn't love instagram? It's like a blog but quicker. At the minute I am doing the #100happydays thing where you post a photo everyday of something that makes you happy and it's supposed to make you a happier person in the long run. I don't know how much of that I believe but I'm on day 81 now and haven't had a proper sad moment yet this year soooo maybe?

CUCUMBER
This is just a daft one to stick on the end but I think cucumber is probably my favourite food ever. Crunches almost the same as crisps and full of water. THE BEST FOOD.

That's all I can think of for now. If anyone has any self care tips they can share, that'd be fab.
Until next time,
Hasta luego