t hardly seems fair we spend all week looking forward to our weekends and with a blink of an eye it time to go back to work.
Making the most of these precious days can take effort, but by structuring the weekend more efficiently, you can get so much more out your free time
Make the Most of Your Mornings
It is always lovely to have a lazy morning in which you can enjoy a lazy cup of tea in bed, while watching YouTube videos (guilty as charged), but don’t let your entire weekend morning slip away from you! Waking up the same time every day has been proven to be better for your sleep, so if your internal alarm clock naturally wakes you the best thing to do is get up and make use of the time. Get out of bed use and the time to prepare a lovely breakfast for yourself, and then make a list of the chores and errands you would like to achieve for the day, it will be satisfying as you tick them off
Don’t Put Everything Off Until the Weekend
If you are a person that saves all of their chores for the weekend, those two days will quickly get swallowed up! However, if you tried breaking up some of your weekly duties throughout the week into bite-sized tasks. Then you will find that you have more time for more enriching activities
You could also apply the principle to the fun commitments like t catching up with friends and loved ones which can easily take up the majority of your Saturday or Sunday, causing your weekend to feel frenetic. Why not try meeting friends for Thursday night cocktails when many restraints offer discounts such a 2-4-1 drinks restaurants are less crowded.
Use Timers for Key Tasks
Stop putting off projects or hobbies because you think you need to devote the whole weekend to it? Try scheduling set times to start and complete tasks; you will be surprised at how productive you can be when you have a deadline. try setting two alarms — one to remind you to start your task and one 30 minutes to one hour later. That time will fly by, and once you build up momentum, you may not want to stop! For less desirable tasks such as cleaning the oven or ironing set a timer 30- 45 minutes and promise yourself and promise yourself that if you hard until the alarm you will reward yourself with a rest break for something fun and then come back to it the next day if need be.
Meal prep is another way to ensure you have a productive weekend, don’t be scared! It doesn’t have to mean hours of working away in the kitchen. Assign yourself one hour to chop, prep, grocery plan, and make snacks for the week. Again you are likely to be more productive with a clear deadline.
Don’t Check Out On Fridays
Fridays are the best! However, it can be easy to check out after 3 pm, making it unlikely that you will adequately wrap up your week, allowing outstanding tasks trickle into the weekend.
Think of Friday afternoons as your weekend power hours! Before you duck out o the office, take some time to prep for Monday morning. Clean up your desk, leave yourself a to-do list for Monday morning. Productively concluding your Friday sets you up for a more productive weekend!
Weekend Work-Life Balance
Nowadays, it is almost expected that we check in with work over the weekend. Whether it is responding to a cheeky email or making headway on that significant project with the looming deadline, unfortunately, some things can’t get done during 9-5.
If this sounds familiar, try give your weekend work some structure.
Set yourself a target of how much work you would like to get completed, set your timer and power through.
If your emails are coming in in floods, turn on your out of office informing colleagues that you intend to review emails at a set time, for example, 1-3 on Sunday afternoon and you will only check and respond to emails during that time.
What's a nice girl like you doing in place like this?
Me
being the traditionalist that I am, I look at Halloween as a day for the kids,
paint their faces and chuck some sweets at them happy days, another job done,
every bodies happy.
Other
than attending Halloween parties my mum used to enjoy hosting (I think she may
have enjoyed it more than the children actually did) and the few times I was
roped into taking my brothers or my nephew trick or treating as an adult I have
never celebrated the utterly Instagram able day.
Just
remembering as I'm writing this, that last statement isn't actually true. The
first year I moved into my apartment, feeling all grown up and homeowner, i.e.
I decided to put up a few decorations, purchase some sweets and wait for some
adorable trick or treaters to come a knocking.
Well…
my door didn't knock once.
I
guess that what's what happens when you live in an apartment block 2 floors up
and you have to go through two security doors lol
The
ultimate playground SFG Club in Stratford will be hosting atmospherically
frightfully spooky Halloween experience evening complete spine chilling Zombie
cocktails
Lets party!
There
will also be zombies hordes and face painters on deck to really get attendees
into the fantastically ghastly swing of things.
Everybody say ZOMBIE SELFIE!
SFG
Club's classic rooftop games will still be on offer so you could even try
challenging the zombies to a set of crazy golf in exchange for not eating your
brains or event take a cheeky selfie, that sounds like a night out to me I
wont forget in a hurry.
For me going on holidays provide me with a much-needed break from everyday life and my chance switch off and recharge my batteries.
Unfortunately, before I can enjoy the sun, seafood delicious exotic foods, there is that part which I often describe as ""Going through hell to get to heaven.""
It may seem mellow dramatic, but for me navigating around busy airports with luggage, dealing with flight delays, waiting for luggage, transfers to and from the hotel/resort can be super stressful and overwhelming then add an invisible illness to the pile
Now can you understand why to some it might seem like hell?
Not to say that people with disability or conditions cannot travel comfortably it just takes a bit of organisation to ensure that the trip to heaven 'doesn't end up ruining your holiday or putting you off from going altogether.
Over the years, I have combed through the internet, spoken to various people and noticed things that I have made my life easier while and have found that a little bit of organisation goes a long way.
It 'wasn't until I recently went to Denmark with a colleague that I realised how much my coping mechanisms had helped me during my previous travels.
I had gone on several long haul trips, at times by myself and come back relatively unscathed while a mingy 1.5-hour flight nearly took me out of circulation simply because I was too embarrassed to use my tried and tested methods in front of a colleague that I did not know very well.
Anyone that knows about Lupus knows that the symptoms can widely vary as can other invisible illnesses, If me like me and you suffer from joint pain, pain or weakness in your muscles, fatigue or anything else that affects your mobility I have a few tips that you can use in order to help make your travels less stressful or taxing on your body.
Don't be afraid to ask for what you need
This starts from the booking process, when I am selecting hotels I make sure to check if they have lifts and if so how many, and try to gauge how far I would need to walk to get to the common areas such as the pool, restaurants etc.
I also check if the airline offers support for travellers with mobility issues, such as extra legroom or bulkhead seats, or help getting around the airport of late I have found that osme airlines now prefer to charge for extras, and generally I 'don't mind paying as it can make the difference between me having a good time or me being stuck in the bedroom for the beginning of my holiday.
I have found that a quick call or email to the resort and airline company before booking gives me the peace of mind I need to part with my well-earned pounds. Once I have completed my booking I then make contact again with my booking references and to confirm that my requirements have indeed been recorded in the system – it is important to log the date and the name of the person you spoke to.
Provide Yourself With A Peaceful Place
Airports can be busy, hectic pieces and with hundreds or maybe thousands of people coming and going you 'can't guarantee to sit down and rest while waiting for your flight,
Airport lounges like the No1 lounge or the Clubhouse can provide a much-needed oasis of calm from the craziness of the terminals, plus they tend to offer free Wi-Fi, food and drinks into the price, and you can stay in them for up to three hours before your flight.
Prices tend to start from around £20 (But if you search the internet you are sure to find cheap deals.
Between you and me I have also been know use the plastic bags from security to take pastries and fruit out of the lounges and bring them on to the plane in case I get hungry during the flight.
I always try to get to the airport at the time check-in opens and to allow myself the maximum amount of time to go through security possibly look around the shops and then chill out in the lounge until it is Time to board the plane, again leaving plenty of Time so I 'don't get stressed or overwhelmed.
Communication Is Key
If I am travelling with someone I make sure to have a talk with them before we go during which I explain how my condition affects me and what I need to be comfortable, it is super important that your travel companion is understanding and is willing to potentially do extra work to support you or be flexible with their plans, i.e. may have to go alone to that excursion or maybe not go at it could also mean paying aside extra funds to buy direct flights or upgrade seats on the plane, meet and greet parking etc. If I can, I will try to surprise them by paying for such upgrades. A lot of the tie when I have assistance through the airport we get to jump the lines which my travel companions seem to enjoy.
Keep It Clean
A few weeks ago a video of Naomi Campbell when viral; in the video, Naomi showed her flying routine which included which she documented what she does when she travels, part of which included wiping down all of the surfaces with antibacterial wipes. While some felt that Naomi was slightly over the top or OCD while I was disappointed at myself for not going to her extremes. Think about it the people that clean the planes only have a short amount of time to clean before you board which basically gives them enough time to pick up rubbish and surfaces food then they are on to the next, so of course, surfaced are not adequately disinfected.
While I yet to wipe down everything that I may possibly touch, I always pack a bottle of hand sanitiser and wet wipes in my carry on ( TSA standard sizes of course).
Also considering the air on planes are recycled one 'person's germs could potentially make or breaks my holiday and with hundreds of people breathing in the same recycled air the face mask probably 'doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
Pack It In
· Carry any medications you require in your hand luggage along with your prescription never in your checked baggage, in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed in transit. Also, make sure you have any mobility aids that you may require. Even if you 'don't need it at that moment as the high altitudes during flying can also take their toll on your body.
· I also tend to get anxious during flights so I like to bring a few home comforts such as a blanket, some lavender oil or spray some slippers or slipper socks so I can talk my shoes off but still walk around the plane
· Decent headphones and downloads of shows or movies that I excided to watch or relaxing to help pass the time or even sleep · These items will also come in handy throughout your holiday also
· miniature-sized versions of my favourite skincare products so that I can take off my makeup and feel abet more comfortable throughout the flight or even give myself a put on a cheeky face mask to offset the drying effect of the air conditioning. I have found that eve I have also found that a spritz of Dermalogica spray toner is fantastic for refreshing my skin throughout the flight
· And of course as I mentioned earlier wet wipes and hand sanitiser.
· While I have never really had to show it to anyone I bring my blue badge (Or a photocopy) with me as I do worry that someone will not believe I have an invisible illness because I, of course, do not look like 'anything's wrong with me
· Last but not least, pack some of your favourited snacks for the hotel in case you 'don't feel up to going out. Not all hotels offer room service and the meals in the hotel shops can be super expensive, or you may not be able to find you got to snacks from home. I like to have my favourite cookies, some crackers and perhaps a multi back of crisp space allowing
I 'can't count the number of times I have up in the night or even early in the morning before the canteens open starving and unable to go out and pick up food.
'It's worth picking up a few extra zip lock bags when you go through security to ensure your room stays crumb-free.
Park It
Although a lot of people preferred to book cabs or have someone drop then to the airport, I have been burned using both of these methods, so I prefer to drive my own car and park at the airport.
However long gone are the days of leaving my car in an offsite carpark and getting on a shuttle, once I learnt about the Meet and Greet parking service that has been my service of choice
You simply rock up to your terminal where a uniformed driver will greet you and take your car simples, and once you are back from your holiday you will also be greeted by a driver who will give you your car back
This is not the cheapest of the services however I have been able to find some fantastic deals when I look early enough
When I am flying at unsocial hours (especially with large groups), I have been known to opt for a Hotel & Parking Package which again 'aren't always the cheapest but cannot only elevate a lot of last-minute stress but be an excellent way to kick off your holiday
If you can afford it - 'Don't be afraid to pay
A few of the things mentioned my list, unfortunately, come at an extra cost, and you could find that abled-bodied travel companions do not want to contribute to the charges, this can seem quite hurtful, but please remember if it were personal, they 'wouldn't have chosen to go on holiday with you. Discuss your requirements before you book and maybe offer to cover the costs if you can afford it, yes they will also benefit from the convenience however it is an expense they would not even have to consider if they were travelling alone or with another companion.
Know where to go
These websites have been an absolute godsend:
Seat guru – simply type in your flight number and not only does it show you the seat map for your flight, but it will also tell you important facts like which seats do not go back and which places give you extra legroom
TripAdvisor – full of tips from fellow travellers that have been there for I have gotten handy information such as which hotels do not have lifts, which rooms are closest to the action and even maps of the resort. On the rare occasion when I have not found an answer to a query, there is always the option of asking the question in one of the forums
Do You Boo
The whole point of going on holiday is to yourself to relax and rest however there can often be pressured to go on excursions, 'dinner's walks or even sticking to the hotel's schedules of activities and meals.
'It's especially frustrating when I hear statements like:
""You come all this way just to take a nap/ lay by the pool/go to bed early? What a waste of money!""
""If you aren't leaving the resort you should have just stayed home!""
""You can sleep when 'you're dead!""
""You will feel better when you get some fresh air.""
""I have to go to breakfast/lunch/dinner by myself?""
'Don't let anyone dictate to you what you can handle) only you know your body best.
I used to let other people pressure me into doing more and more activities when my body was telling me that it needed rest leaving me tired, cranky and miserable but could also push me to have a flare. I now prioritise the things that I would like to accomplish through out my holiday and i don't beat myself up if I 'don't get to do or see all of the items listed on my bucket list, I also offer to meet up with my travel companions or even people who I meet in my own time when I am well rested .
Pamper yourself
Go treat yourself to a spa treatment, you deserve it!
Plus lot of countries have such surprisingly affordable spa treatments available, so why not try them out?
Remember that Travel can be stressful and overtaxing even for healthy people, but if you have an invisible illness that can go double for you.
I genuinely believe that travelling is a beautiful and enriching experience and I wish I did more of it before I was diagnosed with Lupus, however I refuse to let it stop me (even though it might slow me down lol); and it 'shouldn't stop you either now go see some of the places on your bucket list and good time also if you would like to visit one of the airport lounges or try Meet and greet parking check out for great deals
Well
into October and officially summer being over, the festive season is quickly
approaching guys.
After
years of being in the habit of leaving my decisions to the last minute and
having to exist vicariously through YouTube videos, I was determined to get an
order in for a beauty advent calendar so I could relive the daily excitement I
experienced as a child (Dispute not being that into chocolate).
If
you follow my social media, the intention to purchase was always there, but I
would struggle to decide what one and then before you knew it they would all
sell out.
So
while it may seem nuts to be researching advent calendars which you can count
down to Christmas 2019 in October, the early bird catches the worm or, the best
beauty advent calendar.Unfortunately in doing my research I have had to
expose myself to spoilers which is a not good, because to me being surprised is
a big part of the fund, however with prices starting from £50 I would like a
good idea of what I am getting, but hopefully everyone will not have the exact
products under the same days.
If
you like me are in the process of researching advent calendars before
committing your hard-earned coins, let me take some of the leg work out of your
research process, so that the only thing left for you to decide is if you will
stick to tradition and open each door daily or binge open all the goodies on
the first day.
The
John Lewis Beauty Advent Calendar
On
the higher end of the cost scale, the John Lewis advent calendar defiantly packs
with a beauty punch! This beauty includes hosts a wide range of beauty brands
which include Sisley, Dermatologica, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier and
Charlotte Tilbury.
Another
great thing about it is it can be reused as a jewellery box
The
Liberty London advent calendar possibly the most anticipated and expensive
calendar around
Set
to release on 16th the of October, there have been loads of discussions on
social media about what products will be included – it speculated that 18 of
the 25 drawers full-sized products, and with the expanse range of luxury beauty
products on offer at Liberty this could well be the advent calendar to invest
in
You
can't think of luxury goods and not mention Harrods! Who are also on-board to
help spread some Christmas beauty cheer with their mega beauty advent calendar.
Not
to be outdone by the competition, Harrods advent calendars will not only
include 25 full-sized products! But they will be including some mini favourites
from the Beauty Hall!
Behind
the little doors, you can expect products from the likes of BECCA and Augustinus
Bader.
Did
you know back in the 1950s, almond trees completely disappeared from the
Provence landscape? Since 2000, L'OCCITANE has helped to reintroduce these
trees again onto the hills on Provence, and today, it's full of them.
L'OCCITANE's
Christmas beauty advent calendar strays from the traditional style and will
resemble a book, which tells the story ow how the almond trees in the Provence
landscape completely disappeared and how L'occitaitne has been helping to
reintroduce them since 2000.
Every
day L'OCCITANE fans will be treated to everything from soothing hand creams to
repairing shampoos, luxurious lip balms and refreshing soaps.
Launching
their first Advent calendar Cult Beauties are defiantly leading with the big
guns! In each drawer, you can expect to find a new iconic product a day
with a super special drawer on the 25th
Countdown
to Christmas with Elemis and their 25 days of beauty advent calendar which
contains You'll find everything great from day creams to toners, face masks to
cleansing balms a few beauty surprises thrown in.
A
fave among the beauty bloggers if you blink you will defiantly miss out on this
sparkly beauty!! This year the Glossybox advent calendar is said to boast some
of the works finest brands world's finest beauty brands including Chloe,
Dermalogica, NYX and Tarte with 15 of the 25 products being full-sized
Is
there anything more to say other than it is Jo Malone? Let your days to
Christmas be fragranced with 24 surprises courtesy of Jo Malone's Christmas
offering. While at £320 the price is not very cheap, but with is terrific
range of colognes, bath and body miniatures it's the perfect early indulgence
for a real or new Jo Malone
There's
nothing quite like opening up an advent drawer and seeing what's inside, and
when candles are involved we're all in! With the Diptyque Paris, you'll be
greeted with 15 mini candles (BAIES included, woohoo!), seven personal
fragrances and two body care products, oh, and a cheeky little limited edition
surprise (eek!) but we won't spoil the secret for you!
A
real soakaholics dream! Whether you need to have a soak to relax your body
after a clast minute shopping trip or just relax in the tube with a glace of
wine and a mince pie just because one of Lush's bath fizzers will have you
covered! Look behind the doors and in the drawers of on this jazzy little
number and you will find, a deliciously wonderful selection of limited edition
bath, body and shower products which includes the cutest sparkly polar bear
After
ultimately selling out for four years in a row Look Fantastic is back better
and badder than ever! This baby is said to contain so many hot products you
waiting too long to make a decision will defiantly be to your detriment and
with hero products that include Philip Kingsley, Molton Brown, Elemis and
Morphe and said to be worth more than £400 "if you don't know you better
ask somebody."
The
generous guys at Lookfantastic are even giving their Beauty Box subscribers £15
off the calendar, now that's what I call the spirit of giving.
