S.T.R.E.S.S.

Hello lovelies,

Long time no see. Is it because you're busy and oh so stressed? This month has been so busy for so many people that I'm starting to think it should be renamed to Stressuary. Yet there are still people just don't seem to get stressed. Yes, you know who you are. But for the rest of us who are beginning to crack under the pressure of endless work and life commitments, I've decided to write 3 simple tips on how to avoid burnout and breakdowns.

1. Eat well, rest well. Forget about the whole work hard, play hard mantra. That's for superbeings not for us, mere mortals. First of all, don't forget to eat. Fuel your body with loads of proteins and fibre and give yourselves a boost with a bit of sugar and caffeine (don't overdo it). Second, make sure you get adequate rest. Sleep as much as you can, whenever you can. Remember, you don't need to follow a regular sleep pattern - naps can be lifesaving during very stressful periods of time.
2. Exercise. Once your body is fuelled you might want to burn all the adrenalin rushing through your body. To avoid punching the person next to you, simply try doing as much or as little exercise as you can on a daily basis. Even a brisk walk would do. And don't forget to take deep breaths - it really works (as many yoga fanatics would tell you - breathing is the secret of super health [perhaps because it keeps us alive?])
3. Talk it through. Would you believe it that moaning and complaining and telling everyone what you have and haven't done so far is a great stress buster? It may not work for everyone, but telling someone what is bothering you or going over your next plan of action can have a calming effect. It helps you put things into perspective and see things from a different point of view.

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So there you go folks. I hope these tips will be useful and if you've got any of your own that you would like to share don't be afraid to post a comment below.

All together now: inhale, exhale.

All the best!

A History Lesson

Hello hello busy bees,

During this month filled with pink hearts, most of us will be busy working towards some goal. As I'm working [hard] towards finishing my dissertation, I've just decided to take a short break and give you all a reason to procrastinate for a few minutes.

You see, it's not only Valentine's Day that is the highlight of February. The A/W fashion weeks around the world have kicked off and soon you'll see a media frenzy around these events. Did you ever wonder how [and why] this started?

Well, I'm proud to say it is the brainchild of a public relations person. And originally Fashion Week was called Press Week. Oh the contributions PR makes to society... And then they say degrees in media are useless. The truth is media is the driving force of many aspects of our lives - including the economic and cultural spheres.

So if you are still wondering how Fashion Week grew up to become the monster it is today, this lovely infographic sums it up well:

The History of Fashion Week infographic

And if you are interested to know the full story with all the nitty gritty details of how the World Wars and Vogue editors shaped fashion as we know it today, then you can read my full article here.

Alright, now that you have learned something new [and procrastinated a bit], may be it's time to get back to work?

Until next time,

Miranda

University support

OK usually I just complain about university life but for once I'm going to say something nice.

Throughout this week my university organised Health and Wellbeing events. Considering the stressful situation that I am in, I wasted no time getting involved. From free treats to a head and neck massage and body fat testing, the events motivated me to take better care of myself.

And most importantly to relax, give myself time to rest and think positive.

I hope that you too will have the chance to refocus and give yourself the rewards you deserve. If you are looking for motivation to make changes in your lifestyle, you can start by reading my article on alcohol awareness here.

Have a lovely week and don't forget to smile!