Why hello there! I just found this post in my drafts and it's slightly outdated (the exhibition is closed rip) but the sentiment is the same so I thought I'd share it! Congratulations on making it through January, now have a rest!
The importance of self care is nothing new, but I don't think there's any issue with being reminded every so often to love yourself and take time for you. Looking after your mental health takes a lot of work, life is busy and fast paced and living in London (or another city) especially, can make you feel overwhelmed just by walking around. Of course the city is amazing and there are always things to do and see, but you do get the sense that everyone has somewhere to be and something to aim for, which is great, but doesn't leave much time to just chill and be content with yourself for a little while.
We all get stressed and overwhelmed for different reasons, but I think we can all agree that escaping your routine and having some time to centre and ground yourself is really crucial is this mile a minute world.
This week I had a day where I was just not feeling great. I went to my classes and did what I had to do but was not in a good headspace at all. There wasn't a reason I could pinpoint but I was on the brink of tears all day and knew I needed to have a breather and reset. I hopped on the tube to head into central but in a semi-out-of-body experience, ended up hopping off at South Kensington and heading to the V&A museum. I've been wanting to visit the new Dior exhibition since it opened and I think my body knew that I needed to be in a calm environment as opposed to the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Circus where I was originally headed. So long story short, I went to the exhibition and had an amazing time. It's one of the most magical ones I've seen and I would 100% recommend. I may do a post all about it if anyone is interested?!
Whilst I was queuing to go in, I had a little time to calm myself down and distract myself for a while. I know it's not always easy to find a moment of peace but caring or your mental health is so important. There's not some big moral or story arch to this blog post, but my moment of calm has really made me evaluate how I live my life and I just wanted to share the self care love with anyone reading this.
If you're struggling or feeling a little down, I hope this post reminds you to take a moment and do something that makes you happy. Here are a couple of ways you can get stared on your relaxation:
-Go for a walk: it sounds basic and silly but the air and alone time with your thoughts can be really beneficial.
-Pamper yourself: pamper evenings are one of the best ways to focus on yourself. Whack on a face mask, a rom-com, grab your favourite snacks and have a night just for you.
-Watch Greys Anatomy: other tv programmes will have the same effect but Greys is perfect for any mood and the drama will certainly distract you from a host of issues your mind is throwing you.
-Go to a museum: museums are calming places simply because of their layout and the fluidity of following one round is the perfect way to calm yourself.
-Have a chat: venting has got to be one of the best ways to make yourself feel better. Whether you're chatting to a friend or writing your feelings down, getting your thoughts and issues out will help allow you to put things into perspective and centre yourself.
-Read a book: Whilst only being a temporary distraction, escaping our world for the world of a dramatic novel is a way to pass time, focus on something else and relax.
It’s all well and good highlighting this, but you can put on a face mask, drink boatloads of tea and go to a museum and still feel lame because life. is. hard.
However much we try and lift ourselves up, there’s always going to be times when we are feeling way under our best, but let’s try and remember that things can always get better and we’re all on this rollercoaster of life together. If anyone reading this needs to chat to an impartial person, my dm's are open.
Feel free to comment your self care tips,
Until next time,
Olivia xoxo