From real-life stories to daily hobbies and rants, our lifestyle section will give you your daily dose of giggles.
Some say that spooky season starts on July 23rd — the 100-day mark to Halloween. Others say that that date is criminally early to start thinking about banshees, goblins and ghosts (and drinking a flagon of pumpkin spice latte).
But, whatever your stance, we can all agree that the spooky season is the perfect time of year to sink your teeth into a thrilling read.
Continue reading “Curating a collection of books for the spooky season”
Humans are like clocks: we follow a rhythm. Often we sleep, eat and work at the same time of day; the same goes for healthy habits.
Think of habits as deliberately setting yourself on autopilot: deliberately setting cues to you can carry out activities–like household chores, exercise, healthy eating, and work–with relative ease.
Although it might seem difficult at first, establishing a healthy habit routine is simple with a small amount of initial discipline. If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your best self.
For many people, music and literature sit at the opposite ends of the creative world. With one art form based around the creation of sound and the other often enjoyed in complete silence, it can be easy to think of music and literature as two creative processes completely unrelated to one another.
A closer inspection into both worlds, however, and you’ll quickly find that the two art forms are deeply intertwined. From the storytelling components of the greatest lyrics to the musical references that colour many of our favourite novels, there’s no doubt that music and literature have been natural bedfellows for generations.
There have been some instances in music where an artist has taken direct influence from a piece of literature in their lyrics. From quoting iconic authors like George Orwell and J.G. Ballard to basing entire songs around the narrative theme of a classic novel, there are some musicians who’ve taken pride in wearing their literary influences on their sleeves.
With this in mind, we’ve made a list of classic songs that were directly inspired by famous literary works.
Continue reading “Readers & Writers: Songs by Famous Artists That Were Inspired by Literature”
(IFeature image credit: GoodStudio/Shutterstock)
This piece is part of our Readers and Writers series, where each of our content writers chooses an aspect of the written word that excites them.
The older I get, the harder it becomes to vividly remember my childhood. But one thing that does stand out are the books that I used to read as a child.
One of my earliest childhood memories with books would be the annual summer reading task run by the local library.
Nothing was more exhilarating than going to the library, choosing a book and taking it out, only to read it and return it a week later. By telling the librarian what the book was about, and why you enjoyed it, you then earnt a sticker. Do this another five times, and you could complete the summer reading challenge.
Who would have thought that such a simple reward policy could bring so much joy?!
And it was this that really cemented my love of reading growing up as a child. The library became a literary haven; a labyrinth of stories to enjoy, make-believe worlds to immerse yourself in and wonderful characters you aspired to be.
With this in mind, I have decided to take a trip down memory lane, and revisit the 10 most memorable books from my childhood that have helped shape the passion for reading I have today as an adult.
Continue reading “Readers & Writers: My Favourite Childhood Books”
We all want to perform our best, both physically and mentally. Whether it’s getting in shape, boosting memory or improving overall health, we love trying to better ourselves.
Self-improvement is the basis of biohacking: a means of becoming the best possible version of yourself by manipulating your own biology. But the scope of biohacking has grown over the years and the lengths individuals will take to “improve” themselves seem boundless.
So, what does “biohacking” really mean? Is it safe to practice and how can you apply its principles to upgrade your own life?
Continue reading “What is Biohacking? How to Become Your Best Self Using Biology”
We all know the importance of exercise—the means of moving your body to improve blood flow, concentration and overall health. But few of us consider how important it is to also exercise our brains.
As we age, our cognitive skills and memory dwindle and even thinking becomes harder. But, by exercising our brain regularly, we can improve both our mental capacity and memory as well as delay cognitive decline.
Known as neuroplasticity, your brain has the ability to learn and grow throughout your life by reorganising its structure and creating new neural pathways. But to achieve this you need to be training and ‘exercising’ your brain regularly.
Continue reading “5 Free Ways to Train Your Brain and Improve Your Mental Capacity”
When it comes to ski holidays, we tend to be creatures of habit. We’ve danced on tables in St Anton’s Krazy Kanguruh bar, dared to ski ‘The Wall’ straddling the French and Swiss borders and bombed it down La Vallée Blanche in Chamonix. But have you ever skied in the Southern Hemisphere, or seen the snowy mountains of Montenegro?
In the UK we’re so focused on hopping over to the same European ski destinations (with Austria, France and Switzerland among the most popular destinations) that we’re missing out on other hidden alpine gems around the world.
It’s time to skip the queues and try somewhere new. Here are seven secret ski resorts you’ve never heard of and need to visit.
Continue reading “From Cyprus to Japan: 7 Secret Ski Resorts You’ve Never Heard of”
Houseplants have soared in popularity in recent years, due perhaps to the increase in people working from home and wanting something to spruce up their offices. That’s not to mention the rise in houseplant-themed TikTok and Youtube accounts. No longer just the dusty spider plant clinging to life on your aunt’s window sill, houseplants have become a must-have household accessory.
Houseplants come in all shapes, sizes, and even colours. Taking up room that used to be dominated by flowers in supermarkets, you can pick up your first houseplant as easily and as cheaply as you would milk. But while they often look pristine and perfect in the shop, they can begin to look a bit peaky once they’ve been in our homes for a while.
There are many mistakes beginners make when keeping houseplants, but don’t fret. In this short guide, we cover the most common issues and how to resolve them so you can create the jungle home you’ve dreamed of.
With TikTok videos, Instagram posts and your friends telling you to jump on the crystal trend, you may start to feel overwhelmed when you start doing a bit of research of your own. There is so much information online about them but knowing what crystals are and how they can help you is the first step to utilising their power.
So, whether you’re looking to build up your confidence, overcome obstacles, give a boost to your love life and even attract wealth, there’s sure to be a crystal out there to help you.
Continue reading “Crystals: What They Are and How They Can Help You”
It’s no secret that social media puts pressure on users to look, act, and live in a specific manner. Other than buying clothes that fit in with the new trend or visiting a restaurant that has been posted constantly on Instagram, how can you achieve the “perfect” look you see as you scroll through countless posts. Going abroad for cheap operations isn’t a new fad, but is social media growing cosmetic tourism?
Continue reading “Is Social Media Growing Cosmetic Tourism?”
