hello MTV and welcome to my crib

As many of you may be aware, I am a student. I know, I'm shocked too. Currently, I live away from home and share a flat with my best mates, who I have been friends since we were twelve. Although living at home rent free and having meals cooked for you is extremely appealing (whilst also seeing your dogs on a daily basis), I tend to prefer having my own space. When there can be seven of you in the house at the same time, my own space doesn't exist. This is where uni comes in handy, alongside with the degree of course.

these balloons have been our flat statement since September, unfortunately they are not for hire

The other day I was told that when things become too overwhelming, you should slowly take in your surroundings and point out three or more objects that you notice in particular. Something that has caught your eye.

Whilst doing so, you are distracting your brain by focusing on the simplest of things. Why did you notice this in particular? What colour is it? Is there any sentimental value?

I feel like it is way too tempting to climb into bed, shove on Netflix and nap away your feelings as a coping mechanism. If you are feeling down or anxious, your bed is your safety net that you can fall back into when things don't pan out how you would expect. But you don't even have to leave your bed to detach yourself from the negativity that's eating away at you, just look around your room or wherever you are in that moment. I promise you that the tension and stresses you are experiencing start to diminish the more you focus on that little something.

So I’m going to take you on a tour.

The fist thing I notice in my room are my fairy lights. They are plug in ones (don't tell our landlord as my last accommodation tried to steal them) which illuminate the room with a soft glow. With these lights delicately draped across each wall, with every intention of falling down, I focus my attention on my lamp which is in the corner of my room. Although this purchase was rather motivated by aesthetic purposes, Himalayan salt lamps have various hidden benefits which I thought may or may not be useful. If you suffer from constant headaches and fatigue like me, then these lamps help boost your energy and concentration levels. By reducing an overflow of electromagnetic radiation, they emit negative ions that neutralise the air. However, don't take my word for this though, as my headaches haven't disappeared. But that is another story in itself.

Despite all of these factors, just analysing this one object has already shifted my thoughts from one thing to another, boosting my overall mood.

[ Also, please ignore the dying cacti in the background, I tried to keep them alive but Colin and Martin sadly withered away over Christmas, which I am fully aware was a long time ago. I tried to revive them, but I am unable to look after myself nevermind plants. ]

So moving on to my favourite part of my room, my bed.

From when I can remember, I have always been enthralled by the weather and how the seasons affect your mood. Over the winter, I feel like it is persistently hard to pluck up the energy to get out of bed with the inclement weather outside, as it is so much more tempting to stay cosy for an extra hour or so. I only have three lectures a week and even I struggle to get to my 9 am's. On top of this, in the UK it tends to snow at the most inconvenient times of the year; like today. Some people cherish the snow, whereas it is my worst nightmare. Consequently, my favourite season is the Summer. Although most people prefer the summer (the sun, the holidays, beer gardens and all that jazz), I particularly like Autumn.

I'm not quite sure why, but there is something relaxing and freeing about this season. It is full of nostalgia. If I was a Pinterest board, it would consist solely of autumnal pictures, with the warm tones of the enchanting sunsets and the fallen leaves matching my aesthetic perfectly. When I get an idea into my head, it never leaves, so I went onto Amazon and purchased a string of lights entwined with orange and red leaves. As pictured above, this is the next object I notice throughout my room as they are hung directly above my bed, which is a space I spend most of my time in.

Although this all might seem pointless, but focusing on small things within your surroundings distracts you from the bigger picture. The simplest of acts sometimes have the biggest impact, as most people are consumed by every aspect of their life, ranging from relationship drama to handing in that essay you have left yourself a day to write. Nevertheless, depositing your thoughts elsewhere and focusing on something you usually wouldn't, helps you manage your stress regardless of what is going on in your life right now. If you are an avid procrastinator who gets easily distracted, this method will be perfect for you.

Here is a link for the benefits of salt lamps:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/himalayan-salt-lamp-benefits