Workaholics and overachievers are those most at risk…
You’ve heard of burnout; ‘the state of being stressed and overwhelmed whilst meeting constant demands’, but have you ever considered the opposite? A state of focus and motivation so strong that it spills into your weekends and holidays? There have been studies into Paradise Syndrome for over twenty years and most of us will probably self diagnose ourselves by the end of this article. Why isn’t it spoken about more?
This year has caused us to reevaluate our goals and ambitions. It’s left us scrambling for inspiration and heavily reliant on our own mindset. We have been inundated with ‘multiple income streams’ stories from people making thousands from their bedrooms. …
FRIENDSHIP
Playing the blame game is easy.
It isn’t always an obvious thing. Rarely do we ever want to hurt anyone — especially those closest to us? When a friendship becomes to feel toxic, it can be natural to assume that you’re on the receiving end and played no part in it becoming that way.
Have you ever looked back at a conversation with a friend and felt guilty? Perhaps, an icky feeling of: ‘I shouldn’t have brought that up’ or ‘Maybe I emphasized how well I’m doing a little too much’. …
LIFE LESSONS
An animated movie without a love story, revolutionizing our perception of life…
The new 2020 Disney Pixar movie voiced by the likes of Jaime Foxx and Tina Fey has skipped its theatrical release and headed straight for Disney+. There is a lot to learn from this inspiring animation and with its storyline centered around personal goals and life lessons, (rather than the typical love story cliché) — it’s a refreshingly motivational film for kids and adults combined.
The film sees Joe Gardner, a middle-aged music teacher feeling unfulfilled in life until he finally gets the opportunity to perform in a famed jazz quartet. Unfortunately, that same day, he dies and is forced to mentor soul number 22 — the most disobedient unborn soul in limbo. 22 hasn’t been able to get her World Pass as she hasn’t fulfilled her personality card and is missing her ‘spark’. …
TRAVEL
The CEO of Royal Cruises compares COVID will have as significant effects as 9/11
There is no doubt that we will feel the effects of COVID in years to come, and this is most true for the industry that has consequently suffered the most; travel. 174 million jobs have been lost in tourism in 2020 and there have been societal shifts identifying travel as the culprit for the spread of Covid-19. It is to no surprise then that the CEO of Royal Cruises believes that the effects of COVID will be comparable to that of 9/11 in that it will change travel forever.
I know myself, along with many others are hoping that the new year restores some type of normality back to the tourism sector. The returned ease of spontaneous European getaways for the weekend, ease to see loved ones abroad, ease for Nomads to continue discovering cultures and connecting with new people — all without the faff of quarantines or tests. Of course, over time, this will all be made possible again, however, with the addition of a few new measures that we will need to become accustomed to. …
Sometimes we don't lack motivation — we lack infatuation.
It’s been a troubling year — one that proved difficult to be inspired by. From redundancies to cabin fever, to grief, we’ve been left feeling deflated. We have reflected and overanalyzed our productivity in 2020 and our pace towards the life that we want. It may feel like the spark of inspiration that we once could feel from achieving and dreaming is far out of reach, but there are things we can do to reignite it. To find a new burning desire for life. …
SELF
Taking these into the future will mean this year wasn’t a waste.
There have been endless consequences of this grueling year. Some proved unbearable until we came out on the other side, more inspired and grounded than ever. Millions of people lost their jobs, we learned that our own values and those of our friends don’t necessarily align, and we were left with time to consider whether our lives were truly ours. Did we create them or fall into a routine that became our lives.
Many of us are looking forward to 2021 as the rainbow after the torrential downpour of this year but perhaps, we are in the midst of the rainbow? When we change our perspective we allow ourselves to truly appreciate this year for what it has shown us and the things we’ll be glad to know and change about ourselves in the long-run. …
MENTAL HEALTH
Outsmarting 2020 anxiety could be our biggest superpower yet
Whether it’s cabin fever, redundancy, loss, or general Covid anxieties, this year has caused us to be exposed to more uncertainty than ever. Uncertainty creates unease and feelings of stress. Some of us may have taken this year as one to motivate — plan dream trips, and prepare and be inspired for what the future could bring. For the rest, it has caused us to become irrational, emotional, and reserved.
I recently watched the 2013 documentary Antarctica: A Year On Ice where viewers get to watch the day-to-day of living and working during the endless months of darkness in the most isolated and cold place on Earth. Perhaps if I had watched this last year, I would have never imagined relating to any bit of what was being shown, however, something struck a chord in me. …
As 2020 comes to a close, this winter may be the toughest one yet.
1 in 3 of us suffer from SAD, and with a year behind us such as 2020, we can confidently assume that it’ll be the toughest one yet. Whether or not we directly suffer the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, we can all agree that the cold, dark and less social time of the year can play on our mood.
As I sit in my puffer jacket on the top-deck of a London bus and watch the condensation run down the window, I think of the Sydney beaches going through a 40-degree heatwave. …
FRIENDSHIP
And how you almost always play a part…
Are you blinded by toxic friends? I was. An entire group of them, including my best friend but that, isn’t to say I wasn’t to blame.
They say human skin cells die and are replaced by new ones every seven years. Well, I can confidently say that barely any of my current friends have known my previous skin. In the past decade, I have fully replenished the people around me through the means of growth, change, or simple realization.
I’ve watched as best friends became enemies and acquaintances turned into strangers. It’s sad and frustrating but as much as we can blame others for the failure of friendships, we must also recognize that we are the villains of other people’s stories. …
LIFE LESSONS
11,682 miles away…Tesco is supplying Christmas dinner this year.
I’ve come a long way. We all have. Late March marked the popping of my Zoom cherry. 9 long minutes of splendidly inappropriate chit-chat between my flatmate and I went down before my manager made me aware that I wasn’t on mute. Let me tell you, I’m glad this year is coming to a close.
If life was up to us all, and Covid wasn’t a thing, I’d be 11,682 miles from here, in New Zealand. Lounging about in my favourite swimsuit, on the glistening beaches of Wellington, soaking up the sunny southern hemisphere weather.
My boyfriend and I have been together for over a year now and it’s about time I met his family. We live in London and this was finally to be made possible (and reasonable) over the Christmas period — where we could get enough time off work that would justify the extreme jet-lag we’d face upon landing. …
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