five ways to keep a clearer mind

I've been finding myself getting more and more stressed recently, mostly due to the job hunt seemingly being never-ending as a recent graduate and the anxiety setting in that I may not be in permanent employment for a while yet (which is a truly terrifying prospect when you are really really super duper keen in getting down and dirty in a role). I spent a few weeks letting the anxiety get the better of me, thinking that I had to spend every hour of every day applying, but found this was doing no good for my mental health. I decided that in order to create the best applications and to be able to prep for interviews and conduct them effectively, that I would need to be looking after my mental health- after all, who can prove that they're the perfect candidate for a job when they are feeling entirely crap about themselves?  

I have compiled a list of five things that I do to help keep my mind clear, and balance my "me-time" and work time. I hope that some of my readers can implement these in your lives, whether you're applying for jobs, working from home, or trying to de-stress after work. So please read on to find out how to keep a clearer mind.

1. Go on a walk

Recently I've been joining my parents on their walks with the dog and have found that being out in the open for an hour or so does wonders for your mental health (I often document my walks over on my Instagram). It really helps just to leave the stress behind and escape to a field or a local forest and enjoy the nature around you. A couple of my recent escapades have been visiting Jeskyns Country Park, surrounded by sheep and moo-cows and a few hidden gems such as the wooden sculptures among the stunning acres of grass fields.

Yesterday we also discovered Trosley Country Park which had the most amazing views of the North Downs as you can see from the photo! We also had good fun with a rope swing which was hung on a tree- my dad actually tripped and fell multiple times whilst swinging and we were all in hysterics. I'm fortunate enough to live in Kent which offers many countryside walks that are very local to us and I've found that joining the dog walks once in a while has really helped to alleviate my stress and is probably the best way I've found for an immediate fix to clear your mind. 

2. Light some candles 

With the darker Autumn evenings creeping in, I've been making good use of all my candles that I've been storing for the past few years. When I was at university we (myself and my boyfriend) weren't allowed any candles at all in our accommodation, both when we lived in halls and when we rented our student house, so I have loadsssss of candles that have been bought for me over the years as gifts that I can finally use now that we are back at home. I absolutely love the glow they let off in these darker evenings and, of course, as any blogger is, I am obsessed with Yankee candles and they smell soooo good! Tom bought me these "G & T" candles from Next for Christmas a few years ago and I've recently cleared the old wax out of them so they are sparkly clean again and have loved lighting Yankee candle tea lights in them which I think look really cool. I only tend to light candles when I am truly able to relax or as a way to help keep myself calm when I am stressed (such as when I have a telephone interview!) and have found that, although only simple, they have been helping to keep my home environment stress-free. 

3. Write a blog post

Almost like writing a diary (that everyone can read!) I find blogging helps a lot in clearing your mind. I have several blog posts in my personal category that example myself trying to translate my feelings/emotions into written words that would make sense to others. People feel much better and more supported when they know others are feeling a similar way they do. I find that when people branch out and reveal how they are really feeling without hiding behind a facade shown on social media, that you realise no one's life is entirely perfect so you can stop feeling so terrible that yours isn't either. I've always tried to be truthful on my blog, without the risk of sounding like I am forever moaning, so that I retain normality and this is something I definitely want to maintain even if my blog takes off. Life is not always perfect and it is good to write about the bad days as well as the good. And if you don't have a blog- why not start one up and see where it takes you? If anything I find it therapeutic and it also feels great to take a quiet moment to sit down and write about something less formal than job applications or work life offers you. 

4. Indulge in some great TV or watch some vlogs on YouTube

I'm not the sort of person that needs telling twice when it comes to procrastinating and watching TV or YouTube... but it's to help clear my mind I swear!... Now I don't do this one everyday, but if I do it's usually in the evening time or because I'm watching something in the background whilst I work on my laptop, but throwing yourself into a great TV series or watching a vlog or two can really help take your mind off the stress. I'm a great lover of TV (you can check out my "What to Watch?" series here!) and find that watching a show that really makes you think helps you forget your own stress. A good crime/murder/mystery series is good at helping you clear your mind as you almost step into an alternative universe and can focus on something else other than something you are finding stressful. I've also been de-stressing by watching YouTube on my iPad after dinner- I usually take all my makeup off and put some comfy pyjamas on, light my candles and get into bed to watch some vlogs on YouTube. Recently I've been absolutely loving watching family YouTubers such as Mrs Meldrum, the SacconeJolys, as well as Nadia Sawalha's family channel. I find it really interesting to see what other people's day-to-day lives look like and watching vlogs is something I do that really signifies to me that I am winding down for the evening.

5. Have a cup of tea

There is nothing important enough that can't wait until after you've had a cup of tea, especially when you are finding yourself glued to a laptop screen, typing endless formal dialogue about yourself. I usually have a few cups of English breakfast tea throughout the day- milk, two sugars pleeeeease- although sometimes I treat myself to a Cadbury hot chocolate, but any kind of hot beverage will do the trick- coffee, chai, herbal, whatever you fancy. Take the time to stop what you are doing to have a hot drink and I promise you will return to your work with rejuvenated energy after taking a little calm break to drink it. 

Definitely give some of these things a go if you're finding that your mind is becoming clogged with stress- although they are only simple and small things, I've found that making sure I implement self care day-to-day that my mind is becoming much clearer and I am feeling much less stressed. 

Please feel free to comment if you try out any of these things (or are already doing them!) and leave more suggestions below of ways to keep a clear mind! 

Bye for now x