September 2018 / Gaps Between the Stories

Sunday 23 September 2018

When the World is Swallowing You Up...

Do you ever feel on the verge of a mini meltdown?

Because I do. I always feel as though I have an endless list of things to do and not enough time in the day to do it. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one in the world who feels this way.

Today I'm going to be sharing with you my top tips for time management; the things that keep me on top of my day and even allow me some (well-earned, no doubt) chill time.

To give you some insight into my day-to-day schedule:

- I am a final year student in university, studying English and Drama (so lots of reading to do, essays to write, and rehearsals to attend!)

- I work part-time in retail

- I am a co editor-in-chief of my university newspaper (love you @mi1lie #milliemaxwell #spreadthespots #ThePrintQMUL)

- I run my blog!

By no means do I wish I was any less busy - I've gone over this previously: I am the QUEEN of keeping busy! But I do sometimes feel like the world is swallowing me up. This is where my little list comes into play.

1. Be Kind to Your Future Self.

I like to help 'Future Kerry' out by getting things done now. If I'm dreading doing something - even when I know I should get it done asap - I'm often tempted to put it off until the last minute. I tell myself it's not that urgent and that it can wait. So what I'm trying to do is getting into the habit of thinking about how I'll feel in the future if I leave the task until then. How stressed I will feel writing 2500 words in 24 hours, how embarrassed I will be replying to that email at the last minute. 'Future Kerry' is often very grateful for tasks being completed in the moment and for getting an extra hour of sleep at night ; I'm sure you will feel the same way!

I also am a huge fan of scheduling time. I'm unashamedly motivated by beautiful stationary: if it keeps me organised, I'm a fan. I've started physically writing out my deadlines in order to motivate me to complete them. I also have blog content ready to go at the drop of a hat when the time comes and so if something comes up, my work doesn't stop when I do. Sure, it requires discipline but it definitely minimises stress in the long-term. It also is a great excuse to invest in pretty highlighters and a nice planner.

2. Get Organised.

An efficient diary system will save your life. Whether you prefer using your phone, a calendar stuck up on your wall or a pocket notebook, getting organised will no doubt save you plenty of time and energy. I'm a huge fan of a good, old-fashioned pen and paper. This year I invested in a kikki.K (marked-down) study planner which I love. I can view my schedule both weekly and monthly, and have tonnes of room for extra notes and lists. Lists...my favourite thing in the world (just call me Kris Jenner :) )

3. Be Realistic.

There's only so much you can do in one day. Some days are more productive than others. There's no point trying to complete a massively unrealistic to-do list, only to feel pressured and a failure for not getting through it. A really long, unachievable list is only going to result in you feeling overwhelmed and unsatisfied if you can't get it all done...this is me speaking from experience here! This includes scheduling your day correctly in accordance to your internal clock. If you're a morning person, centre your work around that time to ensure maximum productivity throughout the day. If you're most efficient, inspired and motivated at 1 am, do the same thing! If you prioritise simply and smartly, you'll be your most efficient self.

4. Say "No." The World Won't Stop Turning (probably.)

Know your limits. We can't always do everything; we can't always be 100% on the go 100% of the time (try as we might!) I'm all for progressing, working hard and keeping yourself as occupied as possible, but risking burning yourself out by trying to juggle too many things at once is just not worth it. Sometimes the world just has to wait :)

5. Take Time For Yourself.

Always set some time aside. Literally. Like, write it down. Take an hour or two for yourself. Schedule it like an appointment if you have to. Taking time to yourself and having a break really helps your productivity. If you're overworked and exhausted, you won't be on your A-Game and then the work your trying to do just becomes pointless! Watch Netflix, go to the gym, have a bath, shop...anything which helps you relax. Like I said in my first point: "Future You" will love you for it!

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Friday 14 September 2018

A Letter to the NHS

To the NHS,

Hi! It's little old me...again. We're kind of familiar at this point; we've bumped* into each other quite a lot over the years. I know that you come under a lot of criticism for pretty much anything and everything: from the amount of money you swallow to your lengthy appointment waiting times and everything in between. But I don't see that side of things. I only see how you've helped me and those I love.
*not an intentional pun.

I'm extremely fortunate and am proud to say that I have grown up in a country where medical care is free. It's a given for those around my age. We've only ever really known free healthcare. Got a bad cut? Nip up to the walk-in centre for some stitches...for free! Had a nasty cough for a while? Give your local GP a call and book an appointment...for free! I'm kind of embarrassed to say that I have taken it for granted. However, over the course of this month in particular, I've gained insight into the world in which you work. You do amazing things for so many people. Sooooo, I thought I would write you a quick thankyou letter for everything you have done and continue to do.

I'll start from the beginning.

Thankyou to those wonderful midwives who helped my mum on that hot June day in 1998. Thankyou for sitting with her through a long, traumatic labour, comforting her and encouraging her to keep going. I was clearly in no rush to meet you all but you were pretty happy to welcome me into the world and take care of us both.

Thankyou to our family GP. You've watched one child after the other, after the other, wander nervously into your office as we sat awkwardly, listening to our concerns over everything from agonising stomach pains to asthma attacks. Without your years of study and experience, without your patience and your understanding, our lives would have been riddled with confusion and discomfort.

Thankyou to every paramedic that has rushed out to meet us in our time of need. You run towards the crisis, not away from it. You keep cool amidst the panic, you're efficient and you're as helpful as you possibly can be. You care. And in the moments we need you, that's simply enough.

Thankyou to every surgeon who has used your incomprehensibly massive brain to serve others. Thankyou for working 12+ hour shifts to keep people alive, working for them to open their eyes when you desperately need to shut yours for the night. Thankyou for fixing backs, legs, hearts, noses, throats, stomachs...everything we have come to you for. Thankyou for fixing us, taking away our pain, letting us put all of our trust and faith in you for a few fateful hours...only for us to never cross paths again.

Thankyou to the nurses who have comforted us in every A and E waiting room, every ward, every office we've been in. Thankyou for being friendly and always having a smile on your face - even though your pay is quite frankly shite and your working conditions are worsening by the year. I'm shocked more of you haven't rolled your eyes, stuck your finger up and turned your back on it all. But that goes to show how special you all really are. Know that you are appreciated.

Thank you to every healthcare assistant, cleaner, porter, cook, janitor, everyone who has helped run the hospitals my family and I have been in. You make the running of the wards a better place. You always have a kind word and a cheery smile for me and I have never once heard any one of you complain about the anti-social hours you work or the abuse you face each day. You make the whole operation run as smoothly as you can and you don't get nearly enough credit for it.

Each one of you staff members are something special. Our battle-weary bodies - tired, weak, vulnerable - pull through because of you: you are our personal army, unleashing everything you possibly have within you to keep us going. You affect us all in more ways than one and you aren't told that nearly enough.

Yes, it is easy to complain about the NHS. Yes, it's easy to moan that it swallows our taxes and that waiting 30 minutes for an ambulance isn't good enough. But this underfunded, blocked-bed problem of a system is being propped up on the shoulders of super-humans who, day in, day out, are blamed for a crisis that is completely out of their control. Let's think about them for a second.

And that's why I've written this letter for all those working as a part of this system. From behalf of myself, my family, and an entire nation that takes you for granted...thankyou.

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Tuesday 4 September 2018

A Few Things That Make Me Happy

Travelling around...I can't remember the last time I smiled so much.

I feel so happy and content when travelling and...well, right back at home (ironic, much?) Settled again. Going to the States was the break from my similar surroundings in London that I absolutely needed, and most definitely fueled my desire to start bringing that kind of happiness back into my life all of the time!

Here are a few things that made me very happy over the last couple of weeks of my summer.

S U N N Y C Y C L E S
My day in Central Park was bliss. With the warm sun melting into my shoulders as I steered round the green, all I can remember is feeling complete peace. I spent a super enjoyable four or five hours just pedalling round to the beat of laughter and conversation with friends, forgetting that the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps was just outside of the gates.

R O A D T R I P S
Great journeys aren't planned; they're made! And, often, the spontaneity of road trips often make for the best memories. Road trips are the best time to bond with the people you're travelling with, and there’s plenty that can be done. Moving away from steady Wi-Fi means long conversations find a place to happen; songs that stir up nostalgia get a chance to be heard (Hamilton songs BLASTING on repeat) embarrassing and funny old stories that you thought were buried deep get to relive (and admit it, you kind of like it); and more importantly, you get a chance to create new memories.

F A M I L Y T I M E
There's nothing more special than spending time with those you love and who love you too...and that's exactly what I got to do this summer! I got to see family and some of my best friends in thentire world in ACTUAL REAL LIFE AND NOT THORUGH A PHONE SCREEN! To me, family isn't just the people you see everyday. You don't even have to be related to them. Family is simply a group of people who care about each other and my time away made me realise that I am super lucky to have family who, although I rarely see them, care enough about me to make an effort to see me!

C I T Y L I F E
Though I loved my time hibernating in the woodlands, completely disconnected and isolated, we all know that I am a real city-lover at heart. I think I'd struggle to breathe smog-free, untainted oxygen these days and god knows how I'd manage without a 24/7 gym or supermarket. And that's probably why I felt completely at home on my travels this summer; I explored and got lost and immersed myself in several different cities, each one different from the last, but still just as great in its own special way.

E D U C A T I O N , E D U C A T I O N , E D U C A T I O N
Seeing all these new places has offered me the education of a lifetime. I've seen, learned, heard things I have only dreamed of - from the constitution and memorials of DC right to the histories of the backstreets and markets of Brooklyn. There's only so much the TV or a book can give. Actually experiencing these places, being there, is a whole other adventure.