Lifestyle

The university life which many of us were sold towards the end of A-Levels was one of partying, fun, laughter, and memories. Whilst this has been true for some and they were able to experience some degree of normality before the pandemic, this was not the case for many. Adapting and adjusting our lives at university has been difficult. Many were thrown into the deep end, going from partying and socialising every night of the week to being limited to the house in which you live. The impact has been tremendous and we have all been expected to just go along with it. But how have students adapted to the new university life and what has changed?  Education: University education has been taken and flipped upside down. At the beginning of the pandemic there was a lack of communication wi...

In the lead up to February 14th, i.e. as soon as New Year’s festivities finish, shops are usually filled with all things glittery and fluffy in all shades of pink and red, with the price of chocolates and flowers increasing before your very eyes. Though I have not seen the inside of a shop in goodness knows how long, it is basically impossible to forget what lengths people go to in preparation for Valentine’s Day. Though I am writing this before the 14th, I am already expecting my social media pages to be flooded with couples in complete and utter love with each other as they share the various gifts and treats they have exchanged. I don’t mean that in a bitter way at all – I think it’s rather heart-warming. But, if it does make you bitter, there is an alternative “holiday,” . This one is ...

With snow falling recently, the usual seasonal strangeness of a chilly spring encroaches. I’m sure meteorologists could explain the reason behind the cold snap of February, but throughout this Baltic lockdown I have been busy perfecting the art of the ‘cose-a-thon’, ie. a marathon of cosiness. What follows is my ultimate guide for snuggling up and getting cosy for the evening. 1.   Blankets – these are integral to any snuggle session. Grab a fluffy blanket, duvet or throw and hunker down. Recently I have invested in a weighted blanket – gaining notoriety lately as an anxiety reliever, the added weight does quite literally ‘ground’ you! They can be a little pricey, so you can experiment with piling blankets up to see whether you think the extra weight would suit you. 2.   A hot drink...

A relationship is based on a foundation of equality, trust, love, and commitment. Once these foundations begin to break away, the relationship is in jeopardy of becoming unhealthy and unsafe. Spotting abuse and getting out of an abusive relationship is never easy, particularly when you are being controlled and manipulated emotionally. Gaslighting can destroy your sense of reality and a narcissist enjoys nothing more than to tear away your sense of self and identity.  The real truth is that once you have spotted these signs of abuse, your abuser makes it virtually impossible for you to leave as an attachment has formed between the both of you. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone, and that you can get out and find yourself again. Here are a few signs to look ...

I sat down with Jack, former president of The University of Exeter Meditation Society and co-founder of ComingUp festival - which explores meditation and psychedelics, over FaceTime to gain some insights into his mediation practice.  E: When did you begin to meditate? J: I was first introduced to meditation around 5 years ago when I was in sixth form after my mental health had deteriorated and I’d been struggling with anxiety and low mood. My GP recommended a 6-week mindfulness course which ultimately is why we’re having this conversation, though I would like to avoid a framing of meditation that focuses solely on what we might typically understand as mental health. E: Did it click for you straight away? J: My practice didn’t really click until I joined my university’s meditat...

Lately it’s been tough dealing with a difficult virus, an incompetent government and yet another lockdown. However, the relative isolation has led me to a certain amount of introspection, soul-searching, philosophy, and self-help books. I wouldn’t say that I have undergone an existential ‘crisis’ so to speak, but rather simply an existential realisation – my conclusions may seem bleak to begin with, but thankfully they did not lead to a crisis and should instead be thought of as a message of hope. My journey began with skepticism. This concept is difficult to explain fully, but a good place to start is René Descartes’ Meditations. One of his theories is that there is an evil demon of ‘utmost power and cunning [who] has employed all his energies in order to deceive’ (René Descartes, Med...

It’s that time again. The age-old spiel of ‘New year, new me’ is back out in full force. I can’t tell you how many fitness adverts I’ve seen, Instagram posts telling me how to eat well and exercise better, influencers pushing a new diet regime that makes you lose more weight in less time during this first week in January. Even the News app on my phone is full of ‘health tips’, and frankly I am sick of it. We’re constantly being told to Do More!, Be Better!, achieve greater things, never stop hustling, always be grinding blah blah blah. It is becoming increasingly clear that we live in a society that values productivity and productivity only. Well, I’m here to say no more! Living in such a way can invariably cause burn-out, stress and anxiety – which are not the ideal. A more balanced form...

Every year starts out the same: it’s January 1st and you’ve promised yourself that this is your year to lose weight, get into fitness and eat healthy. You wake up ridiculously hungover the morning after New Year’s Eve and the thought of all that seems impossible, so you swear you’ll start properly tomorrow. 10 days into the new year, you’ve made a solid attempt but can already feel yourself slipping up, asking why you did not just set some more achievable, realistic goals. It is believed that only 8% of people who set out resolutions at the start of the year still continue to accomplish them in December. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t manage to stick with yours, we’ve all been there. In today’s world, the focus on the idea of hustle culture has created a toxic concept of working ...

Lockdown got you feeling meh about love? Have no fear. This is a time for you to take it old school with your love affairs. Tinder dating culture has left us rushing into rather disappointing one-night stands, dates that make us feel a bit nervy, and tiresome ghosting. It’s time to re-think how we date. I find online dating an absolute minefield. There is so much unspoken pressure to design a profile that draws someone in. Then begins the trial of sorting through mind-numbing conversations to find someone interesting. The exciting part is next, interesting conversations and compliments, but some tend to disappear after a half-arsed shag.  After this cycle I normally delete the app because I find it emotionally draining. But, sooner or later boredom creeps in, my need for valida...

Over the last few decades, concerns about the carbon footprint we leave on this earth has become prevalent and has taken space at the forefront of our minds. We have seen recently what happens when we stop moving and focus on where we are, what occurs when air and car traffic is reduced, how clear the sea truly is, how bright the sky is meant to be and how clean the air feels. But how can we sustain this feeling and outcome? We have become more mindful of which bin a piece of wrapping should be put in or whether the piece of clothing we are wearing is environmentally friendly. Millions of questions around this continue to race through our minds, and as students we are becoming more aware of the future and what we can do to contribute to the welfare of the planet. Here are a few ways in wh...