My Favourite Podcasts

Last year I stumbled across the world of podcasts. 

Having recently switched jobs to one where I have to travel a lot further to get to, I needed something to entertain me on my daily commute. I thought about maybe bringing a book with me, but that didn't work, reading on buses and trains ensues terrible nausea, so I gave that idea a miss. Maybe listening to music? Nah, I get bored pretty easily shuffling through the same songs over and over on my iPod. That's when I discovered the wonderful world of podcasts. In today's post I'm going to share a couple of my trusty favourites with you which in turn may inspire you to give podcasts a go.

Stuff Mom Never Told You

Hosted by the hilarious duo Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin, this is a podcast produced by How Stuff Works that discusses the business of being women from every imaginable angle, and these girls know what they are talking about! They research each topic thoroughly before trying to decode the biology, psychology and sociology of ladies and gents alike, from past times to modern day. Each podcast takes on a different topic, trying to break down gender stereotypes that arise all too often in modern day society. This podcast is funny and informative at the same time, some of my favourite episodes are Man Caves, Single by Choice and  The Basics of Bitch. Fancy checking them out? 

You can listen here

Welcome to Night Vale

Imagine you lived in a town where all conspiracy theories were real, this is the premise of the podcast Welcome to Night Vale. Imagined up by creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, each podcasts brings a new bizarre and sometimes unsettling local news story from this imaginary town (rumored to be somewhere in Southwestern United States) Each podcast features news, daily announcements and advertisements from this strange little town. The weather, which is a feature in each episode, plays a piece of music by different independently published artists, which has led me onto discovering some great musicians! If you like the sound of this podcast, go and have a listen to it here

Sword and Scale

This podcast is not for the faint hearted. Sword and Scale is a podcast that explores non-fiction true crime stories, it features a variety of narrated true crime stories interwoven with interviews from criminal witnesses, victims and authors and recorded 911 calls. Some episodes take you through the actual court cases featuring trial audio, which makes for some gripping on the edge of your seat content!  Hosted by creator and Mike Boudet, this podcast has become one of the most popular podcasts in the social science category. If you like true life crime stories you may love this podcast. Give it a listen here

The Minimalists

This has been a recent discovery for me which I have been really enjoying listening to. This podcast is created by Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus. The minimalist duo discuss how to live a more fulfilled life, clearing the clutter from life's path to help us make room for things that are truly important and focusing on and making room for more time, more passion, more experiences, more growth and more contentment. They discuss different topics on how to lead a more fufilled life, focusing on what you already have and breaking down the common misconception that minimalists reject all forms of materialism, instead these two discuss how just owning things that serve a purpose or give us joy helps us to lead a more fulfilled and content life instead of feeling overwhelmed by the compulsion of wanting. Think you'd be interested in what these two have to say? You can listen to them here. I have also enjoyed reading some of there essays which if you can read here.

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What are your favourite podcasts?
Carly x

5 Ways to De-Stress After a Difficult Day

We all get those days where nothing seems to go right, either we are stressed out at work or just having a difficult time. For those kinds of days it's essential to set some time aside for yourself in order to relax and reboot your overloaded mind. Here are a few tips on how to spend some quality down time with yourself.

1. Have a bath

              

One of the ways I like to destress is by running myself a bath and using all my favourite products in it (usually Lush goodies!) Baths have many benefits not only in helping you unwind after a stressful day but it also can play an important role in boosting your immune system, it helps improve sleep and strengthens blood circulation! 

There are many different types of bath products that cater in helping the mind relax, but the ones I have found most beneficial are those that contain essential oils such as lavender and ylang-ylang.

2. Mediate or try yoga

You don't have to be an expert in yoga to reap the benefits of practisting it; it's a great way to start the day and wake your body up before your coffee! I have recently tried it for the first time and was amazed at how relaxed and calm I felt after just a 20 minute session. There are some great youtube tutorials out there if you don't have time to take a class or would just rather do it in the comfort of your own home. If yoga doesn't interest you mediation may! Meditation for 10 minutes every day helps clear your mind

and refocus your energy, it's quite difficult once you start to clear your mind completely and focus soley on your body but after a few sessions it gets easier! I use the Headspace app as it gives you daily mediation guidelines and is great if you are a beginner.

3. Coffee and a good book

Even the simplest things such as brewing up some delicious coffee and cosying up on the couch to read a good book is a great way to relax. Not only does reading take your mind of whatever maybe stressing you out, it's a simple and easy way to spend time with yourself.

4. Go for a walk

Yup, go for a walk! Whether it's just a short stroll around the block or to grab a coffee at your local coffee shop, going for a walk and getting some fresh air can work wonders for your mental health.

5. Watch a feel good film

There's nothing I like doing more than snuggling up with Netflix on a week night after a long day! Watching your favourite shows or film is a sure way to boost your mood. My favourites are any Wes Anderson films or my new favourite film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, if you haven't seen it, you should it is the definition of a great feel good film! So get on your comfy clothes, crack open that Ben and Jerrys ice-cream and spend a little me time! 

What are your tips for destressing?

Carly x

(All photos taken from weheartit.com)