*This TEFL certificate post is an AD
Getting my TEFL certificate had been a goal since before I ever started travelling. I actually wanted to be an English teacher when I went to university and I always knew it could be a super helpful way to keep travelling. But it was only in lockdown this year that I finally got round to completing it. I'm now a fully qualified TEFL teacher and have the option to teach and live abroad in the future, or even teach English online. As someone who plans to live abroad and travel in the future – having my TEFL certificate provides such security in finding work no matter what visas are available. It opens up the world and ensures I will always be able to find work no matter where I go, because there will always be demand for English teachers.
A TEFL certificate is an accreditation that qualifies you for teaching English as a foreign language. Completing the course allows you to provide non-native speakers with English language instruction. There are slight variations of the course available including TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) ELT (English language teaching), or teaching ESL (English as a second language). If you are a native or fluent English speaker, holding the TEFL qualification opens up a world of opportunities to live and work abroad worldwide.
Absolutely yes. If you are someone who dreams of travelling and working abroad – it can provide you with so many opportunities. Not only does it give you a sustainable way to work and travel, but it allows you to work in countries without worry over visas. For instance, I know a lot of friends who have worked in countries across Europe, Asia, South & Central America and even Dubai. Many of these jobs have either paid well, or have included free accommodation.
If you are someone who is going away on an open-ended trip, I would advise you to get a TEFL certificate before you go. You may never need it, but most travellers at some point will be running low on funds. It makes it easy to pick up work wherever you go which means you can travel for longer and top up your money along the way. While teaching abroad isn't always the best money, it can often mean getting free accommodation or other bonuses that can help you save. However, if you are just taking a few months to travel and know you plan to return home to work – it's probably not worth it to do a course.
This is another really great way to earn money while you are travelling or even when you are back home. It can be a full-time job earning $2500+ per month, or also works well as a side-gig. With a TEFL qualification, you can also teach online so you are not tied to a location. It means you can always be earning alongside your travels simply by teaching conversation. Check out Cassie the Hag's great post on Earn Money by Teaching English Online (with and without a TEFL)
Make sure the course you choose is officially accredited otherwise your qualification may not be recognised. There should be information provided on the provider's website that you can check. You can also find more information in this Guide to TEFL Accrediting Bodies.
The standard course length is 120 hours, but there are extensions or longer versions such as the 140 hour, 150 hour, 170 hour or even 220 hour courses. Don't go for any course shorter than 120 hours unless it is a full-time course. It won't go in-depth enough to prepare you for teaching and likely won't provide you with the certificate you need. Longer courses offer slightly more detailed and specialised training, including practical teacher training. These are not necessary if you simply want to teach a bit while travelling. But if you decide you want to develop your skills or turn TEFL into a career, it may be worth looking into the options available.
You can find more detailed information about course costs below. But make sure you don't just choose a course because it is cheap without doing your research. There are often courses advertised at crazy cheap prices via Groupon – but I've checked the accreditation of some of these and it's non-existent. Do your research and read more in my costs section below.
Check how long you have to complete the course and whether you will have access to the materials beyond completion. Is this a realistic timeframe for you and will you need to refer back to your learning? Is there any online support available? What about after you finish the course – does the provider offer any support for finding jobs?
You will get access to all of the course materials – this may include written material, quizzes, video units, tests and more. My course allows me lifetime access to these materials. I studied a 120 hour course which included 13 modules, plus a bonus video unit. These covered a range of topics including lesson planning, grammatical awareness, lexis, phonology and classroom survival tips. Each module contained reading on the topic, plus exercises, quizzes and then a final module test. You also have the option to retake the module test if you don't get it right the first time, and you can refer back to the materials any time you need.
This can vary hugely, so always do your research before purchasing a course. I have seen costs vary from £99 up to £500+ – a huge difference. Use the tips above so you know what you need to look for from your course and provider. You should look out for special offers and discounts – some providers offer these.
The average 120 hour TEFL certificate can take anywhere between 1 month and 6 months to complete. The time it takes can depend on how the company structures the learning. It also depends on whether you are studying alongside work, or if you study full-time. My 120 hour course took me around 4-5 weeks to complete, but I wasn't studying every day, you could easily complete it in less time. Likewise, it could take you a lot longer if you're working and busy. There may be a time limit to complete your hours – again this depends on which course you do – but I had a year to complete the course.
No – the great thing about having a TEFL certificate is that it is valid for LIFE. That means that if you have a bit of spare time in lockdown, it could be a perfect time to get your certificate. You don't have to use it straight away, but it could really come in handy at a later date. Plus, if your course is like mine, you get lifetime access to the materials so you can brush up on your skills. I'm so glad that I completed the course because it's also helped me to get work during the pandemic by finding teaching English work online. Plus I know it will be super helpful in the future when I can get back to travel.
Absolutely not! Remember lessons will always be conducted in English so you won't be expected to know the local language. If there are problems with communicating meaning in English, often students will differ in ability in classes and others will be able to help you explain. Don't let this stand in the way of you becoming a teacher abroad.
The TEFL Org 120-hour Premier Online TEFL Course is the most accredited TEFL certificate as recognised by employers worldwide. Created by experienced teachers, the course includes the following:
The course comes with lifetime access to the materials plus extra access to to job vacancies and free TEFL careers advice available throughout your career. You also get a personal online TEFL tutor who can offer advice or assistance throughout from their years of experience. An online discussion forum is available where you can speak with other students and share resources. Finally, once you complete the course you will get an internationally recognised TEFL certificate in both digital and hard copy posted direct to your door.
You can start the course at any time by buying it online – at full price the course is £319. TEFL Org regularly hold sales and discounts, including a 50% off sale for the 120 hour course which finished on Sunday. So it's worth keeping an eye on the website for special offers.
If you are planning to work as an English teacher in another English speaking country such as Australia, you may want to consider a Cambridge CELTA. This and the Trinity CertTESOL are the most recognised qualifications worldwide and in English speaking countries, these are likely preferred. However, if you are simply wanting to teach while travelling in areas like Asia, South America or Europe – usually a TEFL course will be enough. It is also much cheaper to do a TEFL, and it can all be done online.
If you love heading off the beaten track for some real, wild adventure travel – this Guatemala travel itinerary will be just what you need to feed your wanderlust. Guatemala might not be one of the top places on your bucket-list right now. But rest assured, by the end of this blog post, you'll be desperate to jump on the next plane. Even a seasoned traveller like myself, I only knew one person who had been to Guatemala. But from the second I landed in Central America it was the only place anyone could talk about. After spending 3-4 weeks there – I absolutely fell in love with the country, the people, the nature and the memories I have from there. It's a place I already can't wait to return to, and that will always hold a piece of my heart. A real highlight of my time in Central America.
From the lush green jungles to the ancient Mayan temples and wild spring festivals. To swimming through waterfalls in caves with a candle between your teeth for light. Channeling the spiritual healing powers of nature at crystal clear lakes surrounded by volcanoes, and climbing 4000m volcanoes for sunrise above the clouds. There was not a single moment of my Guatemala travels that were average – everything blew me away! I'm typing this with the biggest smile on my face as I relive some of my most special travelling memories from the last 6+ years. In this post I will not only cover the highlights and must-sees. But I'll break them down into an easy Guatemala travel itinerary that you can adapt whether you have 1, 2 or 3+ weeks to explore.
View from Volcano Pacaya – of Volcanoes Acatenango and Fuego
Guatemala is located in Central America, nestled between four different countries and two oceans. It's bordered by Mexico and Belize in the North and El Salvador and Honduras in the South. It also has coastline on the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. It's home to 17.95 million people and covers an area of 108.890 sq km. Interestingly, the UK is about 124% bigger than Guatemala. However, due to the roads and transport there, the journeys take a LOT longer.
The Guatemalan quetzal is the currency of Guatemala. It is named after the national bird, the resplendent quetzal. In Mayan times, the bird's feathers were actually used as the currency! At the time of writing this post 1 quetzal was equivalent to 9p (GBP) or 0.13 USD.
Yes! I spent 3+ weeks travelling Guatemala as a solo female traveller and found it to be the safest country in Central America. I never once felt unsafe, threatened or vulnerable during my time there. The local people were friendly, kind and welcoming. Even speaking limited Spanish, I was still able to communicate with ease. Always read up on the latest travel advice for the region before you go. And always use your common sense – hide your valuables, don't take unnecessary risks or drink too much alcohol/take drugs that leave you unable to fend for yourself. Generally be a responsible traveller and it's entirely safe.
One great thing about Guatemala is that it's perfect for travel all year round. It has a warm climate that does vary slightly due to altitude and volcanic areas – but generally the temperature ranges between 22ºc and 32ºc. In the North, the climate is far more tropical, while the South can be cooler. From November to April is the dry season, and between May and October is the wet season. But during the wet season rainfall usually only lasts a max of a few hours per day in the main visitor areas.
Zephyr Lodge Hostel – the best hostel in Central America
The country's most Northern town lies close to the Belize border. It is the arrival/departure for many travellers who are keen to visit nearby UNESCO World Heritage site, Tikal National Park. It is one of the major sites of Mayan civilisation which dates back to 6th century BC. Flores is a colourful town and the Island of Flores is a beautiful place to start, or end your time in the country. Surrounded by lush, green, vegetation and with a tropical feel. Flores is surrounded by amazing Mayan history including sites such as Yaxha and El Mirador.
You can also take boat taxis across the water, explore the lake. Or even visit Jorge's Rope Swing to cool off in the hot sun. There are plenty of places to swim, shops to browse and amazing local food stalls. If you visit during the first two weeks of January, you will get to join a brilliant and unique local festival. The Dance of the Chotona (doll) is the centre of the occasion. But expect daily parades, live music, shows, dancing, firecrackers and fireworks and some amazing costumes!
One of the most spectacular hidden natural wonders that separates the backpacker from the adventure traveller in Guatemala. Diving deep into the Guatemalan jungle, you'll find a turquoise paradise awaiting you. With stunning natural limestone pools, waterfalls and caves to explore. The best way to explore Semuc Champey is by hiking the steep 45m upward jungle climb to the El Mirador viewpoint. Then head back down and go swimming and water sliding down the natural pools. You can also take cave tours where you swim through waterfalls by the light of a candle you hold between your teeth.
Located near the Maya town of Lanquin – it's a serious journey to reach the pools. We were told the bus ride would be 10 hours from Flores but it actually took us around 14 hours. When you reach Lanquin, it's all off-road 4WD and seriously rough roads. If you're someone who struggles with travel sickness you will want to come prepared. BUT, it is 100% worth it to visit! I stayed at Zephyr Lodge which is undoubtably one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in. It even has an infinity pool and hot tub with views over the jungle. And don't get me started on the amazing shower views!
The view from El Mirador viewpoint at Semuc Champey
When planning your Guatemala travel itinerary, you can't miss one of the most spiritual places I have ever been. Imagine sparkling water that stretches for miles and the endless volcanic views. The deepest lake in Central America, Lake Atitlan is an enormous body of water in a massive volcanic crater. Located in the Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierra Madre mountain range. The lake is surrounded by Mayan villages and even more volcanoes.
You arrive to the busy town of Panajachel which is the main port for vendors and trade. But the true magic lies in visiting and staying at one of the many other towns. Popular stops include backpacker haven San Pedro La Laguna which is home to a few hostels, hotels, bars and restaurants. Nearby San Juan La Laguna is a real cultural hub. It's colourful and full of street art, markets, local weavers, coffee tours and healing centres. Hippy favourite, San Marcos La Laguna is the tiny centre for all things yoga, meditation, healing, ecstatic dance and endless amazing vegan cafés and jewellery stores. There are many other towns to visit, but these are the most popular with travellers.
A real favourite among backpackers – Antigua is the place that so many visit and then "get stuck". It has a thriving expat community and the perfect balance of colonial architecture, rich culture and also a really lively party scene. This candy-coloured city is one of the prettiest I have ever visited and you will never be lost for things to do. It's a popular place for travellers to stick around to study Spanish, or even teach English. There's local markets, cute shops, museums, architectural sites and spas to visit. Plus countless impressive churches, cathedrals and convents to explore.
Don't forget to take a 20 minute walk up to Cerro de la Cruz for the sunset, or sunrise. Enjoy views across the whole city with the volcanoes as a background. It's an incredible sight especially when the church bells toll. For the more adventurous types – there are loads of activities to keep you busy. Check out the 2-day sunrise hike of Volcano Acatenango – one of the best things I have ever done! And other easier volcano trips including Volcano Pacaya. And for the party animals, check out Hostel Tropicana for rooftop party vibes (or stay somewhere quieter and just head there to party!). Lucky Rabbit and Café No Sé are popular haunts filled with DJ sets, pool tables, games and a thriving mass of bodies. Or head to the infamous pool party rave.
Lake Atitlan from the jetty by San Juan La Laguna
If you're squeezing just a week in Guatemala as part of a larger trip – or just can't get anymore time off. Don't worry – you can still squeeze a lot into a week! My best advice? Plan the top things you want to do before you arrive and either arrange as soon as you arrive, or even book on to a tour. However, it is very easy to do things independently and to solo travel Guatemala. I have two Guatemala travel itinerary options that would help you make the most of your time in the country:
View of Volcano Fuego from base camp on Volcano Acatenango
Sunrise at Tikal
Exploring Antigua, at the Santa Catalina Arch
This Guatemala travel itinerary is the absolute ideal because it allows for the long travel times and gives you time to relax instead of constantly rushing to the next place. You can definitely enjoy your trip with a two week itinerary, but you'll have more time to connect with the country in 3+ weeks. I spent around 3-4 weeks exploring Guatemala but there is still so much I have to see and so much I would love to go back and explore.
Each Guatemala travel itinerary is completely adaptable depending on the exact length of your trip. You can easily add a day here or there if you feel you want to spend longer in a place. My best advice? Have a rough guide of what you want to do and where you want to go. But always allow a great deal of flexibility. One thing you will learn about travel in Central America is that it is never predictable – buses break down, trips run late and generally you'll be on Guatemalan time! Relax, go with the flow and don't worry if things don't go to plan. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Have you been to Guatemala? Would you like to go? What would be your highlight from these itineraries?
*This boost your energy levels blog post is in partnership with BetterYou [ad]
If there's one thing I've learned from my years of travel – it's that finding ways to boost your energy levels can really transform your experience of the world. In the last decade, I've been on a real journey with wellbeing that has led me to entirely change my diet, my lifestyle and even my exercise routine. I certainly won't claim to be perfect – after all, this is a journey and it's one I'll be on for the rest of my life. But I have invested my time and energy into researching and trialling different lifestyle choices to really see how they can improve my quality of life.
During lockdown, it has become more important than ever to me to keep up this new routine. You should be doing everything in your power to boost your energy levels. After all, I'm sure we've all had those horrible low mood days where we feel the anxiety creeping in and we just can't seem to shake that lack of energy. We all suffer those days. But I believe that the ability to shake off these feelings starts with understanding the processes your body goes through, and making them work in your favour.
*Disclaimer: I am not medically trained, I am simply sharing what has worked for me. For any health concerns, please contact a medical professional.
For years, I've been a big believer in lifestyle medicine and choosing preventative healthcare where possible. Traditional medicine has it's place. But so many of today's health problems could be dramatically reduced if we simply looked after our health and made the right choices before we get sick. So much of the healthcare system in the UK and US seems to involve throwing pill packets at everything to ease the symptoms, instead of tackling the deeper lifestyle issues.
Over the years, I've struggled with various minor health issues such as eczema, skin reactions and hives, tinea versicolour. I went through years of appointments with GPs and skin specialists who never managed to cure the problems. As soon as I stopped the medications and treatments, they always came back. As I got older and spent more time researching, I realised the huge impact lifestyle choices could have. I started to make a combination of lifestyle changes and to really focus on my gut health and diet. Now my skin is the best it has ever been. Making lifestyle changes meant it was easier for me to maintain them with a busy lifestyle and throughout travelling as I wasn't reliant on doctors and medication.
This one is so important and yet is so easily forgotten. If you're ever feeling drained and your brain starts to feel foggy, your first reaction should always be to drink more water. When you live a busy lifestyle, it can be easy to forget. But even if you're just at home in lockdown – your lack of routine might mean you don't remember. Or you might be relying on too many cups of tea and coffee which dehydrate you further. If you travel a lot like I do, between the air conditioning and the hot, humid weather, you can quickly feel the effects of dehydration.
TOP TIP: Get a large reusable water bottle to carry with you so you can track how much you have had to drink. Aim to finish 2-3 litres a day (women) or 3-4 litres a day (men).
I don't know about you guys, but I remember a time when I could go days without a proper night's sleep. I was great at functioning on the absolute minimum and could maintain it for a week or more. When you're in your teens and twenties, it's so easy to get into bad sleep patterns. Especially with university and living away from home for the first time. But sleep is so vital for your whole body. There are so many of your body's natural processes that only happen when you sleep. So if you're not sleeping, you body can't complete these processes and if it continues over time your body will really struggle.
Travelling can be really draining, as with any busy lifestyle – so it's important to ensure you're allowing yourself time to really rest. That doesn't just mean getting your eight hours in each night – but also reducing the time you spend in bed. By not allowing yourself to watch TV or play video games in your bed, you allow it to remain a relaxing and peaceful place for you.
TOP TIP: Try lavender sleep sprays or a diffuser with essential oils. You can also use magnesium-rich foods like spinach and whole grains, or magnesium products to help relax your body.
Stress comes in many forms and can prevent you from being able to boost your energy levels. Think of stress as a road block to you living your best life. It can leave you feeling anxious and on-edge, or lethargic and lacking any real drive when there are constant road blocks in your way. When you let outside factors affect your stress levels, you lose control and routine, which your body normally thrives on. As humans we love structure, but there is so much in this world that can disrupt us and leave us feeling helpless.
Your stress might come in the form of rush hour traffic making you late, it might be your children screaming in the supermarket, or it might be worries about the future. Key to lowering your stress levels is being able to mentally remove yourself from the situation, even if you can't physically. This can be done through breath work and meditation which are really great for helping you accept that you have control over nothing but your breath.
TOP TIP: Read A beginner's guide to mindfulness and meditation
We live in a society that sets productivity at a higher value than mental health. We're all guilty – myself included – of continually giving in to this idea that we need to be busy 24/7. Unfortunately often this can translate into overworking and not allowing our bodies to rest and truly recuperate. Hands up if you've ever worked on a day off – or if you're guilty of cramming your days off full of activities so you start the week exhausted. If either of these apply to you, it's no wonder you're struggling to boost your energy levels. Cut back your work to allotted and paid hours, if you're taking on a lot of extra activities outside of work. Ask yourself whether you can keep this up long-term and whether you actually enjoy it, or whether you just feel you "ought to".
TOP TIP: Read – How to become your most productive self and get shit done
I'm not here to tell you to become a vegetarian or go vegan overnight. But if you're struggling with feeling lethargic and lacklustre – it's worth looking at what you're putting into your body. After all, our energy comes from the food that we eat. If you're filling yourself with sugary treats, it's likely your body is going on a rollercoaster with huge highs and lows.
Also, if you're eating food with high fat content, you'll get that instant release of energy but are more likely to hit an afternoon slump. Instead it's worth focusing on lots of fruits and veggies for natural sugars, complex carbohydrates that will last you much longer, and protein that will give you that full feeling. Going for whole grains and more plant-based food will make it easier to digest and will give you that longer-lasting energy. Dairy and meat products are more likely to cause bloating and that over-full feeling.
TOP TIP: If you have a meat/dairy heavy diet, why not only have these at dinner time. For breakfast and lunch, switch to plant-based options. Or try having one meat/dairy free day a week and see the results.
If you're concerned and want to boost your energy levels, it's worth seeing a nutritionist or GP so that they have run blood tests. These can tell you where you might be deficient in certain nutrients. Perhaps you might not be getting enough in your diet, or maybe some nutrients are only available in certain foods that you can't eat. For instance – iron deficiency can be a big one for women and can have a huge impact on your energy levels. Lacking magnesium in your diet can affect your sleep which will cause reduced energy levels. There are lots of different nutrients that could be affecting you overall energy and health if you are deficient in them. You can also boost your energy levels with NAD, a natural coenzyme that supports cell health and metabolic function. A NAD drip in Jacksonville can help restore your energy levels and fully rehydrate your body.
TOP TIP: Do your research first – there is so much information available online that could help you. If you think you might be deficient in a nutrient, look at foods you can introduce to your diet to replenish your body.
If you find it difficult to introduce more of certain nutrients to your body via food – you could consider taking supplements. For example, vegans and vegetarians might find they are particularly low in vitamin B12 which is mostly found in meat, fish, cheese and eggs. However, it is a far more widespread issue with most people being deficient in the nutrient these days. Vitamin B12 helps to reduce fatigue and to increase concentration levels so to boost your energy levels could completely transform your day-to-day life. I switched to a predominantly plant-based lifestyle a few years ago and since have experimented with supplements to find the best ones.
I'm currently loving the Boost B12 Daily Oral Spray from BetterYou. Instead of taking pills each day, it's a vegan-friendly apricot flavoured spray. It's so convenient and perfect for those who live a busy lifestyle, or travel a lot as the one spray contains 48 daily doses. After just a few weeks of using it daily, I'm already noticing how it boosts my energy levels and stops my brain feeling foggy. During lockdown, I had noticed days where I felt so drained and lacking in energy, but since taking this supplement, this has completely changed. I can't believe the transformation I've noticed simply from an oral spray. Vitamin B12 is also vital for supporting your normal psychological functions. During a time when we've all been struggling with our mental health, it's important to support our brain functions in any way we can.
TOP TIP: If you're passionate about cutting back on waste, BetterYou have an amazing Better Planet Project. All of their packaging is manufactured under eco-friendly initiatives, with many of them recycling ocean plastic.
Movement is hugely important – not just physically but for our mental health. But it's important to strike that balance of healthy movement. It's about finding ways to naturally incorporate movement into our day – perhaps by taking the stairs or walking to work. But also finding time in the day to introduce higher intensity workouts that raise the heart rate and help the release of endorphins. I've always found that the more active I am, the more energy I have and I crave those endorphins. Over the years I've gone through phases where I was loving higher impact workouts such as HIIT and running, and other times I've preferred lower impact yoga and walking. What's important is to listen to your body. If you're tired and aching, your body needs rest not a high impact workout. Likewise, if you wake up full of beans, it's good to release that energy somehow.
TOP TIP: If you think you hate working out, it's simply because you haven't found the right exercise for you. Get creative and find fun ways to get your heart rate up! Don't force yourself to do exercise that you hate.
Sugar is one of the biggest demons when it comes to energy levels and fatigue. While you may love that sugar buzz when you're indulging, don't forget what goes up must come down! Your blood sugar soars and then crashes in record time which often leaves you feeling sluggish and lazy. This can be a big one for those who work in offices and are partial to a mid-morning treat. Add that to sugary coffees and lunch, and no wonder you're struggling by the afternoon. Remember, sugar is addictive so it will be hard at first and you will get cravings – you have to stay strong! Make good food choices to help boost your energy levels.
TOP TIP: Try replacing your sweet treats with snacks that will give you longer lasting energy like nuts, fruit or even homemade healthy snacks or bakes.
Just like sugar, caffeine takes you on a wild ride and it also comes with a real addictive quality. If you've ever been someone who craves a coffee, or can't function without it – it's likely you have a dependency on it. Caffeine comes in various forms from coffee and various teas including green and matcha, to fizzy drinks including Diet Coke, lots of chocolate products including some cereals, plus painkillers, yoghurt, Oreos, ice cream – the list goes on!
You could be getting a LOT more caffeine daily than you realise so start looking closer at what you consume and at what time in the day. I know that I can only have one coffee max a day and it must be before 11am or I won't sleep that night. Some people are more sensitive to others than caffeine and this is important to note because it can cause anxiety and jittery feelings in some. This can lead to lack of sleep and exhaustion the next day.
TOP TIP: Try an have a week off from coffee and see how you feel – often it's the routine of "getting a coffee" that makes us develop a dependency but the only way to know how it affects you is to go without.
Similar to caffeine – did you know that nicotine is a stimulant? It can lead to insomnia or disturbed sleep due to cravings. Smoking affects your lungs which causes them to work less efficiently – this means a decreased amount of oxygen reaching your brain. No wonder you're feeling drained or tired. The best thing for your health is to quit smoking – it comes with much worse health problems than less energy.
TOP TIP: If you decide to quit, don't do it alone. See your GP who will be able to offer support to help you achieve your goal.
It can be difficult when you live in a society that advertises alcohol and drinking at every turn. But the amount of alcohol you drink can have a huge impact on the quality and amount you sleep. It can also cause you to feel hungover and tired the next day. While you may think that "nightcap" will help you drift off to sleep, acting as a sedative, alcohol can make you feel more drowsy. But it also works as diuretic which makes you need to get up and pee during the night. If you're drinking a lot at weekends, you'll know that feeling of exhaustion after a night out. This is because your whole body is under strain as your kidneys and liver attempt to filter out the toxins in the alcohol.
TOP TIP: Try cutting back on nights out – drink water in-between each alcoholic drink. Or if at home, try having your "nightcap" as a drink with dinner so your body has time to process before you sleep.
If there's one thing we've realised in lockdown – it's that we rely on our social connections more than we ever realised. They make us feel happy, positive, loved and motivated. So when those are taken away, many of us are left feeling lethargic, fatigued and unmotivated. I really struggled to not have contact with friends and family during this time and missed that rush of endorphins I get from seeing a friendly face or hugging. These feelings of isolation from your support network can leave you struggling with tiredness and low mood. If you're feeling like this, try organising to see friends in person or via Zoom to boost your energy levels.
TOP TIP: Try to organise at least one social activity per week that doesn't centre around work. It gives you motivation and something to look forward to, and gives those precious endorphins.
Positivity can completely transform your outlook on life and the energy you have. If you want to boost your energy levels, the first thing to look at is your attitude and how you are feeling. I love the saying "be the energy you want to attract". If you're full of negative thoughts they weigh you down and leave you feeling sad, tired and lacklustre which may only attract more negativity. If you refuse to let things affect you and start your day with a positive outlook, you feel energetic and friendly.
TOP TIP: Read – How the power of positivity can change your life
Do your struggle with low energy levels? Have you tried changing any of these factors in your life?
*This UK road trip blog post is a collaboration
With international travel looking a bit unpredictable for 2020 – it's no wonder we're all excited for a UK road trip this year. Now that lockdown is over and we're free to travel (safely) again. I'm planning lots of lovely domestic trips to explore the best of what the UK has to offer. I see this as a great opportunity to explore more of the UK while I'm here for a while, and a chance to appreciate what we're so lucky to have on our doorstep. I'm definitely guilty of always choosing international travel and not seeing as much of the UK as I would have liked. So now is the time to really make the most of the UK.
Growing up on the North Norfolk coast, I've aways felt that it remained one of the UK's best kept secrets. This hidden gem has some of the most pristine and untouched coastline and yet is still the perfect place to escape the crowds. I've been loving taking these last few weeks to get out and explore the beaches, nature parks and stately homes. But I've been dreaming of getting away and seeing more of the UK. My dream would be to spend a few weeks on an ultimate road trip – perhaps from North to South along the coast from the East of England, where I live, to the south-west. With the weather as good as it has been lately, it's the perfect time to slap on some sunscreen and hit the road.
They say there's no place like home, but when you're from North Norfolk, there truly isn't. It's such a beautiful part of the world and truly has some of the best of what the UK has to offer. From white sandy beaches that stretch for miles without crowds, towering red cliffs and wild coastline. Better yet, so much of Norfolk is protected, so you can be sure you're going to see absolute perfection. Amazing nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, woodlands, marshes and much more.
There are so many amazing beachy stop-offs in North Norfolk, you could pass through for a day or easily spend a week here. Don't miss Old Hunstanton and Brancaster Beach for huge empty beaches and cute beach huts. Then head to Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea for raw natural beauty and old seaside town charm. If you plan to visit Norfolk, don't forget to pick up fish & chips or go crabbing at Cromer and Sheringham.
Get an early start to beat the traffic for four-hour drive to the next stop on your UK road trip. It's time to head to Brighton, one of my favourite UK cities and where I almost went to university. Such a vibrant seaside city with all the old-world charm and the the more modern, quirky personality. You can't visit Brighton without an ice cream and a stick of rock as you walk along the pier – just watch out for the huge seagulls! Head to the Lanes for a day of shopping or browsing the cute boutiques. There's so much amazing live music to enjoy, and if you visit in the summer – don't miss popular music festivals like The Great Escape. Best of all, there are some really adorable B&B's available right on the seafront, just be sure to book in advance to secure the one you want.
Less than two hours drive and the next stop on this UK road trip. Southampton is the cruise capital of Europe and a bit of a change from the beaches of the previous locations. Head to Southampton for the bustling port and pop over to the shingle beach on the Weston Shore for a walk along the water's edge as you spot tiny boats, huge ships and cruise liners floating by. This is the place to plan some time for shopping, dining out, live music and theatre. Visit Southampton to walk the medieval walls and discover the city's maritime heritage, or visit one of the many art galleries to get your culture fix. Or visit during Music in the City for the city's largest free music festival featuring over 1700 acts.
A short 45 minute cruise down the road, you have Bournemouth right on your doorstep and this is one you'll want to save your energy for. With huge endless beaches and stunning coastline, this is the perfect place to get outdoors and get active. There is no end of action-packed pursuits, from walking, cycling and even surfing along the coastline, exploring the historic parks and gardens or even catching a sunrise over the award-winning coastline. Don't forget to check what big events might be taking place when you visit – you could plan your UK road trip around them. There are food, drink and live music events throughout the year, with the Bournemouth Air Festival in the summer. Visit Bournemouth for a great stop-off in Dorset – there's so much to explore in this area whether you stay on the coast or head inland.
By now we're in the south-west of England and after a 2.5 hour drive you pull up in Torquay, nicknamed the English Riviera. Now in Devon, it's a great place to pause on your UK road trip to really enjoy the UK's coastline. Head to the harbour for the marina, shops and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy a glass of wine as you watch the boats bob past. Explore Paignton, Hollicombe, Goodrington and Breakwater beaches, Fairy Cove, Preston Sands and Saltern Cove. Visit Torquay for sea kayak adventure tours, or head to The Lucky 7 Club for cabaret and burlesque show. Take long dog walks on the stunning beaches, or head to Dartmouth Castle to explore the 600 year old ruins. Try the three-day Dart Music Festival if you fancy some entertainment.
Head down the South Devon Highway and Plymouth is waiting for you. This port city is known for its maritime heritage and historic Barbican district with narrow, cobbled streets.Expect breath-taking views and plenty to keep you active with lots of hiking, mountain biking, fishing and water sports. Fresh sea air and lots of great dog walks. Visit the lighthouses set on the cliffs, explore the Royal Citadel and explore the historic fortress. Head inland to one of Britain's largest national parks – Dartmoor – perfect for walks, hikes and trails. Or learn more about the city's history and heritage by visiting the local sites. Visit Plymouth as a perfect stop-off between Devon and Cornwall and enjoy the coastline and romantic hidden coves.
It wouldn't be right to finish the trip without taking in some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. Head just 45 minutes down the road to Visit Cornwall where you will find sandy beaches and wild moorland on the south-western tip of the UK. By now you've covered the whole of the North to South route at 360miles from your starting point and just a six hour drive from home. From iconic sandy beaches to intimate sheltered coves, Cornwall boasts 300+ beaches. They have everything you could want and more. From the surf at Fistral Beach, the turquoise waters at Porthcurno or crabbing at Treyarnon Bay. Make time for this spot, there is a lot to enjoy down in Cornwall and you'll want to make the most of your time there. If you visit in the summer – check out some of the epic festivals down there including Boardmasters.
Getting all that car maintenance done before you travel can be the difference between the road trip of a lifetime and getting stuck on the M25 when you break down in rush hour. Trust me, do the checks. When planning a UK road trip, you'll want to take into account the traffic and heat you may be travelling in. Plan ahead and be sure your car is up to the journey. Simple things like tyre pressure, water coolant and brake fluid. Make sure you know how to check your vehicle's levels en route if you come into any difficulties.
This one is especially important this year as international travel is limited which means more people than ever will be travelling the UK instead. Planning your route and the times you choose to travel could really help you avoid the traffic. Even more important, make sure you have a place lined up to camp, stay or park for the night. A lot of accommodations have reduced their capacity to ensure safety during Coronavirus which means they are getting booked up much faster. Don't risk it and turn up, make sure you book ahead so you can ensure your safety during your stay.
If you're planning to travel a lot this summer and want to stretch your £££ on your UK road trip. Why not look into fuel cards as a way of saving money or getting discounts on travel? There are so many available on the market and if you require fuel cards for business anyway, it could be a great way to utilise them during your holidays. There are also fuel cards available for sole traders so if you're a freelancer or independent business owner, you could be saving money on travel.
Getting the right soundtrack is a really important part of the road trip. After all, our memories are tied to the songs that we hear, the smells, tastes and sights we experience. You know that feeling when you hear a song and it instantly transports you back to a moment? That's the feeling you want for years to come after this trip. Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap is one of my absolute favourite UK road trip songs and it always takes me back to amazing times.
The number one thing to remember when planning a trip. Road trips make us all want to snack so make sure you do a big shop before. Or even home make a picnic for the car. It will save you a fortune on stopping at expensive service stations. Instead you can find a nicer place to stop off on the journey. The best snacks have to be chips & dip, and one of my healthy favourites is getting a bag of carrots!
Have you planned a UK road trip this summer? Would you love to visit any of these destinations?
If you're desperate to travel this summer but don't want to risk going abroad, why not explore these Norfolk nature reserves? I'm lucky enough to have grown up with the whole of beautiful, wild Norfolk on my doorstep. Everything from those famous red cliffs and endless empty beaches, to the marshes, forests and of course, all that wildlife. With social distancing more important than ever – it's understandable that you might want to plan your UK travels and staycations around the countryside. Norfolk is such an underrated county and honestly, I think it's been the best place in the UK to spend lockdown. I could walk miles from my house and not see another soul if I didn't want to.
Whether you're hoping for a family holiday or a romantic weekend away, North Norfolk has everything you could want. From log cabins and luxury glamping, to self-catering cottages and holiday homes. Spend your days building sandcastles on the beach, or on long walks through the woodlands. Or take a boat trip to see the seals, go birdwatching or walk among the butterflies at the best stately homes and gardens in the area. Don't forget to check out my previous blog posts on Norfolk before you visit – they'll tell you all the best things to do and see, from a Norfolk native!
Brancaster Beach, North Norfolk Coast
If you're planning to visit any of the following Norfolk nature reserves, parks or gardens – make sure you check online before you go. While some of them are always open to the public, there are some that require entry or even time slots to be booked ahead of your visit. With social distancing measures across the UK constantly changing and being updated. I recommend checking the websites provided for the most up-to-date information regarding opening times, admission prices and to find out what exactly is open within the grounds.
This National Trust landscape park and woodland garden boasts panoramic coastal views around the family home. Plus you will traces of the rich industrial history and military archaeology including extensive fortifications dating back to World War 2. The Park was designed by Humphrey Repton in 1812 and remains the best preserved example of his work. It was commissioned by Abbot Upcher to change the Sheringham landscape and has been further developed by later generations. Expect extensive woodlands and gardens overlooking the coastal views, and lots of walks and trails to explore.
Pensthorpe Natural Park is an absolute goldmine for anyone who is looking for somewhere to take the whole family this summer. Located near Fakenham, the park was voted Norfolk's Best Large Attraction 2014 & 2015. The 700-acre woodland conservation park and nature reserve has plenty to keep the kids entertained with interactive trails and eco-play areas. In the heart of the Wensum Valley, expect wildlife sightings, beautiful gardens, a sculpture trail, courtyard cafe and shop. Plus the Pensthorpe Explorer, Wildrootz and Hootz House.
There are lots of fun trails to explore and for over 30 years Pensthorpe Natural Park has held lots of events, talks and even a bird and wildlife fair. They also hold lots of fun activities during school holidays to help inspire budding young conservationists and wildlife lovers.
Stretching over 300km across both Norfolk and Suffolk, Broads National Park is one of the top attractions to the area. Huge blue skies meet endless horizons, explore raw natural beauty and epic landscapes. Did you know the Broads are actually man-made? They were created by the flooding of peat workings but over the years have become a protected landscape. These days they provide a home for more than a quarter of Britain's rarest plants and wildlife. This water playground is a fantastic place to spend the summer – with 125 waterways to explore at your own pace. It's easy to hire a cruiser for the day, or larger boats for the weekend or longer. For group holidays or family trips – it's a great way to explore Norfolk.
Norfolk Lavender
Now a bog may not be your idea of a fun day out – but trust me when I recommend a visit to Dersingham Bog. It's just across the road from the Sandringham Estate which is packed full of fab trails and walks, plus an enormous children's play area. The Sandringham Estate is truly beautiful and you could easily spend all day there – take a picnic! But across the road you go from the manicured beauty of Sandringham to the wild, untamed mire, heath and woodland of Dersingham Bog.
Stretching over 150 hectares, there is a circular walk which connects the two car parks. For wheelchair users, there is an easy access path which leads from the Wolverton car park to a viewpoint. Dersingham Bog is one of my favourite walks in the whole of Norfolk – plus it's always super quiet. It's also gorgeous in the winter, especially when there's frost on the ground.
Visit Dersingham Bog or Visit Sandringham Estate
Sitting on the North Norfolk coast, the Brancaster Estate is made up of Brancaster Beach, Brancaster Staithe's busy harbour, and Branodunum, a roman fort site. Managed by the National Trust, it has a rich history and the beach was even used in preparations for the D-Day Landings. One thing to note if you're visiting – the tide changes very rapidly at the beach. Don't walk out to the shipwreck of the SS Vina. Many have found themselves cut off due to the fast-changing tides and have required rescuing. But do enjoy this iconic sandy beach. It's perfect for long dog walks and you will often see kite surfers.
Find great walking trails at nearby Brancaster Staithe for the wildlife walk. It gives views of Barrow Common and Branodunum Fort. There is also the beautiful Burnham Overy Staithe Circular Walk which is around 2 hours and gives you a view of the National Trust Tower Mill.
Visit the Brancaster Estate or Visit Branodunum Fort
When exploring Norfolk nature reserves – Cley and Salthouse Marshes should be high on the list for keen birdwatchers. Located just on the edge of Cley-next-the-Sea, the marshes were used as a location for 2008 movie, The Duchess, starring Kiera Knightly. Managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the area covers over 300 hectares and is one of the Trust's oldest and best known nature reserves. There is a cafe at the visitor's centre which offers panoramic views of the marshes and out to sea. They also have an education centre which regularly offers performances, workshops, guided walks and seasonal festivals. If you're keen to spot some spectacular birds, they reserve also has several old-fashioned birdwatching hides so you can be right at the water's edge .
Visit Cley & Salthouse Marshes
A sanctuary for kingfishers, tawny owls and great spotted woodpeckers, plus many more of the most beloved birds in the UK. Owned by the Hawk and Owl Trust and located near Fakenham, Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve is internationally renowned for its wildlife. The reserve is also a haven for deer and butterflies. It's also the most easily accessible of Norfolk nature reserves and with all wildlife hides easily accessible by wheelchair. The 18 hectare estate incorporates fen, woodland and reedbed habitats, with boardwalks setting out the paths to follow. Dogs are not allowed onsite, but there are lots of walks available.
Visit Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve
Brancaster Beach nature reserve
The RSPB Snettisham nature reserve is made up of saltmarsh, tidal mudflats, lagoons and shingle beach. Three wildlife observation hides can be found across the site – including two that are wheelchair-accessible and suited to all weathers. Walkers and joggers enjoy the three popular trails including a circular 2km trail. There is also access available for cyclists and boating activities on the water.
Don't miss the Snettisham Spectacular – it's a real highlight for the birdwatcher's calendar. Hundreds of thousands of knot and oyster catcher wading birds are thrown from the mudflats by the fast incoming tide and they create quite a show as they swarm in the air. Although lovely in summer, the reserve comes alive in winter when up to 40,000 pink-footed geese fly migrate overhead. It's a sight, and a sound, that you won't forget.
Visit RSPB Snettisham or watch the Snettisham Spectacular
Nestled between the beautiful villages of Titchwell and Thornham, RSPB Titchwell Marsh is a real haven for bird lovers. Whether you're an expert bird-watcher or you simply love wildlife, you'll enjoy open access to the state-of-the-art modern Parrinder hide. Overlooking both freshwater and saltwater lagoons, you can expect to see huge flocks of birds flying in all day long. You can also choose the old-fashioned bird watching hides, or view wildlife from a viewing platform in the sand dunes. There is great disability access to the boardwalks and it's pushchair-friendly, dogs are only allowed on the main path. The RSPC also hold lots of events each year from wildlife talks to photography workshops.
One of my favourite family memories from when I was a child was taking a boat trip to see the seals at Blakeney Point. Near Morston, it's another National Trust favourite and offers lost of long walks around the nature reserve, or popular events. Best known for the seal trips – it's home to England's largest grey seal colony. Seal trips are running this summer, but at reduced capacity, so book online before you go. But don't worry, if boat trips aren't for you, there's plenty more wildlife worth spotting from the coastal walks and stunning views. Also known as Blakeney National Nature Reserve, visitors should head to Morston Quay for seal trips and car parks for walks.
Visit Blakeney National Nature Reserve
One of my favourite Norfolk nature reserves – Holkham is spectacular. When you picture Norfolk coastline, this really is it for me. It's actually England's largest national reserve at 3,706 hectares and stretches from Burnham Norton to Blakeney. It's probably one of the most untouched, unspoilt natural landscapes in the area with a real wilderness feel about it. Holkham Beach is just through the pine forest from the car park and offers the widest open space of all the Norfolk beaches. You may even recognise it from the closing scenes of Shakespeare in Love, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow. It's popular for those on horseback, or taking dogs for a walk. Or skirt the forest and look for the mudflats and saltmarshes for birds and wildlife.
Visit Holkham National Nature Reserve
Norfolk Lavender
The UK's leading wetland conservationist charity provides one of the best places in the area to spot birds in their natural habitat and learn more about wetlands. Covering over 1,300 acres of of wetlands, it's a perfect adventure-filled back yard. They have plenty to entertain the whole family including a Fenland Worlds exhibition, plus activity stations and wildlife films. The centre offers bird and wildlife watching hides, play areas and lots of walks. Plus they also host events and activities such as pond-dipping, walks and talks.
Head towards Swaffham to explore this six acre park at your leisure and enjoy a unique and enchanting garden. Sure to delight naturalists and photographers alike, you can explore the nature trail then enjoy some homemade cake. Watch out for kingfishers as you stroll across the bridges. You'll find a natural trout stream, waterways with 13 bridges, four ponds, a kingfisher hide, colourful borders and a tearoom.
Visit Gooderstone Water Gardens
Fill your summer with stunning parks and Norfolk nature reserves – if going abroad is not an option then Norfolk is the perfect place for a staycation. Why not book a self-catering Norfolk cottage or holiday home and enjoy a week in nature? Play games with the kids and have a competition to see who can spot the most wildlife. Or let them run wild on the huge, empty beaches while you relax. Long walks are a must in Norfolk and you won't be short of places to go – whether you prefer the beaches, the marshes or the broads!. Plan your trip to Norfolk now – you won't regret it.
Have you been to Norfolk? Which nature reserve would you love to visit?
If you're planning your social distancing staycations this summer – you'll want to bookmark this post on Norfolk stately homes and parks to visit! I'm planning on making the most of what little freedom we have this summer and using the time to explore my home county more than ever before. North Norfolk is the perfect place to visit when you want to avoid the crowds because there is so much wide open space to explore. From the beautiful beaches, to the stunning country houses and estates, to the incredible nature reserves and natural sights. If you're desperate to travel this summer, but fancy sticking to UK travel – it's a perfect place to explore and bring the whole family along.
Check out my previous blog post: Why Norfolk holidays should be on your UK bucket list
I consider myself so, so lucky to have so many beautiful places on my doorstep and I hope that this post will encourage you to not only visit Norfolk. But also to explore more of your own back garden and to discover places you never knew were right down the road! Please note that due to social distancing, many if not all of these Norfolk stately homes will only have their grounds open to the public. You will likely not be able to take tours or go inside – please always check before you visit. Some estates require you to pre-book a time slot to visit so they can keep queues to a minimum. Check the websites for the most-up-to-date information regarding opening times, admission prices and COVID-19 updates.
Expect rolling fields and woodland surrounding Holkham Hall, with stunning views across the lake. Trails and paths criss-cross around the lake, with a walled garden, obelisk and a church to visit, plus a huge cricket pitch. You can also hire bikes to cycle the estate, explore the children's play area or gift shop. Don't forget to look for the deer! Holkham Hall is known for it's deer park and you will see a huge herd of deer grazing throughout the summer days. Parking costs just £4 for the day which gives you freedom across the whole park except the walled garden which has an additional cost. They also host a Saturday afternoon street food market which still allows for social distancing. Always check their events list before you visit.
Holkham Hall & Estate is truly spectacular – the epitome of Norfolk stately homes, it looks like a scene from a movie! Actually it is a scene from a movie – it was the location for parts of Keira Knightly movie, The Duchess, and TV drama All The King's Men, starring David Jason. If you later wander down to Holkham Beach, you'll also see where Gwyneth Paltrow's character washes up on the beach at the end of Shakespeare in Love.
This hidden gem is located just slightly inland of Sheringham and is a National Trust property which boasts 520 acres of ancient woodland. Dating back to the mid-15th century, I actually visited on a Tudors school trip when I was little. You'll find rolling parkland, a lake and lots of buggy-friendly trails to explore with the family. There are beautiful gardens including the Walled Garden and West Garden which is home to the stunning 18th century Orangery. The inside of Felbrigg Hall is absolutely stunning, filled with rich, opulent decoration and a fascinating history. Felbrigg Hall is also home to one of the largest collections in the National Trust which includes architectural drawings, historic wallpaper, Boulle furniture and historic paintings.
Get a taste for royalty and visit Sandringham House this summer. The Royal family's private home and country house which has housed four generations of British monarchs since 1862. Ever since I was born my family have been taking me to the Sandringham Estate. Just a short 20 minute drive from my home, it's a perfect place for a woodland walk. There are lots of coloured trails through the woods for you to follow, plus an enormous children's play area and loads of open space for you to enjoy picnics. Normally you can take tours of Sandringham house and gardens but right now these won't be available. However, there is also a little shop, cafe, ice cream stall and plant shop to check out.
One of my favourite Norfolk stately homes in the area – I've previously attended two music and arts festivals here. It's a fabulous building dating back to the 1720's and the current owner is a direct descendent of Britain's first prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, who built the hall. It regularly hosts art exhibitions and events, including summer fairs. The grounds include a walled garden, an impressive collection of contemporary outdoor sculpture, a church, stables and a model soldier museum. There is also a deer park and lots of woodland to explore. They currently have an exhibition running by the celebrated British sculptor Anish Kapoor – it includes 24 sculptures and various smaller works. Pre-booked tickets are available online.
Head to Norfolk's Bure Meadows where you will find the breathtaking Blickling Hall. This beautiful mansion sits on a sprawling 55 acre estate which includes a Partarre, temple, orangery, lake and kitchen garden. There are lots of walks and trails, including those suitable for adapted wheelchair users. Built in 1616, the Jacobean hall is known for it's impressive history and 18th century Long Gallery Library which contains over 12,500 volumes. The Blickling Estate was also the birthplace of Anne Boleyn and is now a National Trust property. 1945 movie The Wicked Lady starring James Mason and Margaret Lockwood was also filmed here.
Another National Trust property, Oxburgh Hall has been home to the Bedingfeld family for 500 years. It comes with a fascinating history and reveals one family's unshakeable Catholic faith. Again, it was another school trip favourite – this time covering everything from Medieval times through to neo-Gothic Victorian. The building has a rich history which includes the survival of a fierce fire during the Civil War which almost destroyed it. There were times when it faced dereliction and demolition but survived all to tell its tale.
From Oxburgh Hall you get panoramic views across the Victorian French parterre, walled garden, kitchen garden and Catholic chapel. The hall is great for visiting families, with children getting access to trails, quizzes and dressing up clothes to try on, plus a woodland den building and camp area. Upon arrival, you make your way along the drive with the spectacular Oxburgh Hall surrounded by a moat in the distance. Please note that in 2020, there are currently ongoing conservation and reconstruction works. At the time of writing the hall was covered in scaffolding – you can still visit the gardens. Check the website for updates.
This moated medieval country house was first constructed in the 15th century and boasts stunning motif chimneys and gothic windows. Explore the Heritage and Modern Rose Gardens, or head to the South Lawn where a classic temple and Sensory Garden with a water feature can be found. You will also find a small chapel and folly garden dating back to the 18th century. Children will love exploring the special children's garden, playground and fairy nature trail. For families, Mannington Hall usually hosts a range of educational and children's activities. In the past these have included walks, nature games and quizzes and creative activities using natural materials. Find the latest events via the website.
A little moated manor house that has received great acclaim. It has just been shortlisted for the Historic Houses 2020 Garden of the Year award. Previous winners of the award include Blenheim Palace, Houghton and Newby Hall. Like something from a story-book, Hindringham Hall features a medieval moat, fishponds plus beautiful floral borders surrounding the Tudor hall, and a walled vegetable garden. The gardens are open to the public during summer on Wednesdays and Sundays. They normally offer guided tours of the moat, garden and ground floor of the hall. They also have 4 & 5* self-catering holiday cottages available to let by the week.
While travelling may not look quite the same right now, if anything this year has really shown us how lucky we are to have so many beautiful places in the UK. I'm as guilty as anyone of always travelling to far-off places but there is so much of the UK I still haven't seen. This year, let's focus on UK travel and staycations and start exploring our back garden. Whether you visit the wide open spaces and countryside of Norfolk, or head to the Lake District, Cotswolds, Devon or Cornwall. It's a luxury to still be able to travel, to choose self-catering or camp, and to be able to find space to enjoy ourselves without worries over social distancing. I'm planning on revisiting as many of these beautiful old stately homes and country houses around North Norfolk this summer as possible.
What are your summer plans – will you choose to travel to Norfolk? Where else are you taking a staycation this summer?
Let me start this post by fully acknowledging my white privilege. As a mixed race girl who has grown up in a very white predominant area of the UK, I have lived a sheltered life in comparison to many. I don't put my experiences on a pedestal or compare them in any way to what those growing up in the US have lived through. But I do relate to that pain and it cuts deep through my heart. Because small though my experiences have been, they have shaped every aspect of my life for my entire life. From before my earliest memory, race was already an engrained part of my life. It was in the stares, the questions – even the ones that weren't voiced.
This is why I wanted to create this post – because I know how much of an impact racism can have on the lives of BIPOC people. I also know that I have a partially white audience through this blog and I see that as an opportunity. Over the last few weeks since Black Lives Matter hit the headlines, I've been looking for a way that I could make a difference. I have this platform for a reason and I want to use it to educate and to help my audience grow. So, I decided it was a perfect opportunity to broach the topic of racism for travellers, and specifically, BIPOC travellers. I invite you – no matter what your colour or privilege – to take moment to read the experiences of these amazing men and women.
Please note: I am very aware that travelling itself is a privilege. Those featured in this post are already more privileged than many BIPOC people out there. But as this is a travel blog – it was an important issue to raise.
Before we get into it – I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the incredible humans who have contributed their experiences to this post. Talking about racism is not easy, no matter what colour you are. But it can be especially traumatic for those BIPOC people who have experienced it first hand. This blog is all about real, raw, honest experiences and I'm so honoured that they felt they could share theirs on this platform. I hope you will all treat them with the respect they deserve for doing so. You can also click through the images in this blog post to go directly to the Instagram feeds of everyone who has contributed. I urge you to do so, as I have linked to specific posts on racism where possible.
Paki. Black bitch. Exotic. Mohammed. You look like you need a good wash. Foreigner. One for the collection. Dirty.
My young life was peppered with racial slurs and "banter", but far worse were subtler forms of institutionalised racism I experienced. As a traveller, I've had groups of men follow my family and spit at us for being a mixed race family in Morocco. I've experienced all the racial jokes in Australia – but when I've challenged them been told it doesn't include me because I'm "not as ugly as black girls". There's the guys tell me I'm "exotic" and try to "collect" me for the experience of sleeping with a brown girl – did you know Mauritian girls are sought after?
A group of racists tried to intimidate me on a train in London. I've had men wait in groups on street corners in Nicaragua and leer over me, stepping that little bit closer to intimidate me. I thought it was because I was a woman. Then they shouted racial abuse after me. I could go on and on with the attacks. But even worse are the micro-aggressions and the throwaway comments that you laugh along with because it's safer/easier. Living in northern Germany, it was easier to ignore the constant stares and attempts at intimidation on public transport than to challenge them.
Lucy is mixed-race/British – with family from the UK, and Mauritius. Going back further, from India. She is based in Norfolk, UK. Website: Absolutely Lucy
I can’t deny that I have grown up with great privilege, despite being a person of colour. Travel has always been accessible to me, but I’ve never taken it for granted. When travelling to a new destination, I always exercise my due diligence to understand the local culture and what the citizens are like towards coloured travellers. It’s a part of my travel routine that I never vocalise. I just accepted it is something I have to do for my own safety, even today.
A friend and I were returning to Pisa airport after a ski trip in the Italian Dolomites. My friend realised her documents were at the bottom of her handbag outside the entrance to the airport check-in hall. There were three armed police officers standing nearby. The older Caucasian lady of the trio requested we hand over our passports. She took them away and requested the two younger officers to stand around us, as if we were a risk.
We both stood there, completely innocent but with an overwhelming sense of humiliation. Other travellers looked over as if we were criminals. We both lost the plot – it was an outright act of racism. We started raising our voices in protest and were eventually handed back our passports, but we were still under supervision until we were out of their sight.
You can’t judge someone based on the amount of pigment in their skin. It doesn’t tell a story – it never has, and never will.
Aftab is Indian/British and lives in London, UK. He has grown up in the UK, but his parents were born in Tanzania and Uganda. Website: Fresh and Fearless
One of my most recent brushes with racism while travelling happened in Seoul, South Korea. I was walking on one of the main streets in Hongdae with a friend I’d made at the hostel. Then, I was suddenly aware of an uncomfortable presence and sure enough I turned round to see a man staring at me with disgust in his eyes. I looked away and continued walking, but still I felt his eyes on me. Once again I looked back and he’d stopped dead in the street just standing there, looking at me. So in that moment I decided to stop and stare back. He immediately looked ashamed and walked away.
There’s this pressure when travelling as a black woman that “the way I react is going to set the tone for my entire race”, but in that moment I just wanted someone to know just once how it felt to be on the other side. Sadly this was just one of a string of racist experiences around the world.
Efia is black British and comes from Scotland, UK. She's currently living in Melbourne, Australia. You can learn more about her experiences of travelling as a black woman in Asia, The US and Australia. Website: Effy Talks Life
My passion for world travel is too strong to be stunted by ignorant individuals. That said, the challenges still exist.
There’s been no better way to identify racism than by travelling abroad with white people. Just this February I was on a group trip to Moscow, and all group attendees were allowed to proceed through the border security – except me. Though I answered the same questions and my visa application was spotless like the others, I had to wait an extra 30 minutes for additional checks. It was discriminatory déjà vu, as it happened to me a few months prior with another group trip (all white) in Japan. It was only me who was presented with a poster board of 15 or so drug types, with the customs officer asking if I brought any of the listed illegal substances one-by-one. Even with all "no's", they still rummaged through my suitcase.
Being Black abroad has a presence, and I wish I could turn off that 'visibility' – along with all the pre-loaded conceptions people might have about me and my ethnicity – yet it remains.
Travis is Black American and is currently based between London and Atlanta. He works as a travel journalist and content creator. Check out one of his latest articles for CNN here.
I was first exposed when I was 12 years old, I had just moved to Genova, Italy, with my parents and 2 brothers. I picked up the language quicker than the rest of my family. My mum is British Black Caribbean and my father, white British. I would walk home with my mum from work and hear people hiss or say nasty words to us as we walked past. I was so young, I did not understand why these things were being said, I wasn't brave enough to translate to my mum.
At 21, I wanted to travel the world and trained as an air hostess, I love my job. However, on numerous occasions I have experienced racism not only in other countries but also on board too. I very often get referred to as “the black girl with the eyelashes.” My worst experiences and the ones that are most memorable to me are incidents in Moscow, Israel and Beijing. I've been called racist names whilst walking to grab breakfast, or in the supermarket and even on public transport. I then began to research these countries before I flew to know what I would be facing, something my white colleagues would never have to do.
It hasn’t put me off travelling, but it definitely is still a big issue. It has helped me become stronger and even prouder of who I am and where I come from. I just am now more prepared and educated when I travel to certain places.
Amy Jarvis is British, mixed black Caribbean & white British. She is currently based in London, UK, and runs an online business selling presets. Website: S&A Presets
Whilst travelling, whether my own trips or press trips, on a few occasions I have experienced covert racism through micro-aggressions. Examples include when meeting people for the first time:
Them: "Which part of India are you from?"
Me: "I am actually from Kenya."
Them: "Isn't that in Africa? You don't look black?"
Them: "You look exotic. Where are you from?"
Them: "I bet you eat curry everyday." or "I bet you can handle spicy food."
Them: "Your English is really good." (It's actually my first language).
The most interesting form of racism I have received though has been in India! Because I am not born in India, I once got called an 'ABCD' - An African Born Confused Desi. This was followed with a lot of mocking my accent in Gujarati, a language I understand.
Other examples of where I have felt that my colour has come in to play are when being seated at a restaurant, I tend to be shoved on a table near the back. This also happened at a press event in London too where it was obvious that I was the token person invited for 'diversity.' I always react in a calm and collected manner, but the covert racism really does need to be addressed through education and learning as it is deeply ingrained.
Binny is third generation Indian born and brought up in Kenya, and now living in London. Website: Binny's Food and Travel
Sydney, Australia
I was around 15 when this occurred. My family and I took the monorail to different parts of the cities. We sat next to a middle-aged white woman and she got up immediately. When my brother moved closer to her, she moved to the other end.
Vancouver, Canada
I was lugging around a huge suitcase on my way home from the airport. The bus that I hopped on after getting off the train was full so I just remained standing. A middle-aged white man who was about to get off the bus told me to get rid of my "stupid" luggage.
I wasn't the type of person to back down in situations like this. So I smiled at him and casually told him off by saying that he shouldn't have all that negative energy because he might, otherwise, stay single forever.
Dan is from Singapore and you can find his website: A Wanderer at Heart
Traveling as a POC often means having a very different experience compared to my white friends. Picture this – I remember it so clearly, because the pain and the embarrassment cut so deeply. I was at the Madrid airport flying home to the United States. I had just finished getting through security and was walking to my gate, when I was ushered to the side of the gate. They were performing ANOTHER security check, this time at "random".
It did not take long for me to realise that the only other travellers around me were also dark skinned. It was glaringly obvious. They began ripping apart my entire bag, going through every pocket. Determined to find something that they thought fit my “image”. No matter how educated, well-traveled, kind, or respectful I present myself, my dark complexion will always be seen as a threat to certain people.
Wunmi (Nigerian) and Sophia (Vietnamese) are BFF budget travellers from the US. Website: Thrifty with a Compass
Travelling around the world as often as we do, you’re constantly reminded that your race plays a huge factor in how people treat you.
It’s a strange thing to get used to because it was never really a thought that organically came to my mind at the start. I grew up in Nigeria which is predominantly black so race was never really a topic of conversation or a thing that crossed our minds. On our trips, however, my race has become a thing I’m constantly reminded of. Perhaps even exacerbated when travelling with Lloyd, who is white, and almost always treated differently.
I constantly get ‘randomly selected’ for extra security checks. (It happens so frequently to just me – not both of us that it’s definitely not random). We’ve been in conversations with restaurateurs and hotel owners where I’ve just been disregarded entirely. Even when I ask a question, they turn to Lloyd to answer the question I asked.
Or when I was physically blocked by airline staff while I was boarding a flight back to London from the US because the airline staff “insisted that only Business Class passengers were boarding at the time”. Except I was flying Business Class. They didn’t even bother to ask the question or check with me and just made an assumption based solely on how I look.
It’s not all been negative though – in Asia, I’ve had lots of people who’ve asked to take photos with me, which I choose to see as a positive thing, as it’s always done so politely and with a smile.
Yaya and Lloyd are from Nigeria and the UK and started their travel blog, Hand Luggage Only, while studying at Cambridge University.
I truly hope that this post made you stop and think. Most of all, I hope it made you realise how widespread racism actually is. That it's not just aggressive attacks but a constant daily bombardment of "banter", micro-aggressions and feeling on edge. This is just a tiny cross-section of people of colour from across the UK and US who have been affected when travelling. I've heard a million more stories just like this, and even worse in some cases. If you've grown up with white privilege, you may not realise the full extent of how people of colour continuously shift and change their behaviour and lives in order to put themselves at minimal risk. But it can affect every aspect of your life, from the things you wear and the way you speak, to the route you walk home and your education.
If you're white and felt angry, or attacked by any of the words in this post. Instead of contacting me in the heat of the moment, I suggest you look up the following resources and educate yourself further. Once you have done so I'd be happy to have a discussion. But I won't be entertaining conversations about this post with uninformed people. To those who have read this post with open hearts and minds – I thank you for taking the time and hope you will continue your education.
Books
Nextflix Documentaries/Dramas
*This online courses post is a brand collaboration and features affiliate links at no cost to you guys
Never did we think we would be spending several months in complete Lockdown in spring/summer 2020. But here we are – dealing with the unexpected and trying to make it through each day. There's no doubt that Coronavirus has forced a lot of us to slow down and assess our lifestyles. Whether you've been put on furlough, or are surviving on Universal Credits. Or you're continuing to work from home like normal. You can look at Covid-19 as a negative and see the way it has stopped your life in its tracks. Or you can choose to focus on the positive and welcome this opportunity with open arms.
Never before have we had time to just "be". We've had all of life's distractions taken away – from our crazy work lives, our daily commute and obsessive gym culture. To our productivity levels and overwhelming guilt that we're never quite doing enough. Now is our time to focus on what we've always wanted to do. Fancying a career change? Always wanted to learn a new skill or expand your knowledge and level up? No more excuses or saying you would do it if you had the time – now is the time! I've managed to complete 4 online courses during lockdown – my TEFL, a wellbeing course, a mental health course and a social media course. I'm not saying you need to do lots of courses – but if there's one you've always wanted to try, now is the time!
You know all those big ideas we always have about all the things we would do if we had the time? Well, we've been handed the time on a silver platter. Not everyone, but most people out there are either claiming Universal Credits or on furlough which means you're essentially being paid to stay home. You will never get a better opportunity to learn a new skill, increase your employability or even put the wheels in motion for a move to a new career.
We are so privileged to have access to such amazing online courses and resources. So many people in poorer countries would do anything for the opportunities we have. It seems such a shame to waste having both the access and the free time to learn. You can get online courses in pretty much any subject, language, level of ability – and better yet, there are so many free online courses, and extremely budget-friendly options. As a result of Coronavirus putting everyone into Lockdown – many organisations are offering either free courses or some that are government-funded for anyone who wants to learn.
Now I want to stress that I'm not in any way suggesting that you HAVE to use this time productively. I think, in the UK particularly, we are all guilty of always being "busy" and never just allowing ourselves to "be". The problem of productivity is widespread. I've been as guilty as anyone of feeling like if I'm not bettering myself in some way, or monetising every moment that I'm not working hard enough. But the truth is, no-one has to be busy – it's perfectly okay to use this time to slow down.
You might find that career development isn't high on your list of priorities right now, but why not use the time for personal development? Perhaps there's something you've always wanted to study, or a topic that you're passionate about? I just completed a course in wellbeing purely because I was interested in the subject matter. Don't feel like online courses are only about being productive. It could be a great time to learn photography, take a creative writing course or sign up for Spanish classes.
Okay, so you've been put on furlough – it's not ideal but don't see it as a negative. This could be a great opportunity to focus on you, and your personal goals. So often when we're busy with work, it can be easy to get the goals of the company mixed up with our own. We get caught up in our job role and forget to check whether it still aligns with our own aims. Furlough could be a great time to step back and reassess where we want to be and how we're going to get there. If we're not quite where we want to be – it's a good time to look at online courses and learning opportunities to see if they might help us to get there.
Make a list of all the responsibilities you have in your role, and all the skills you have. Ask yourself whether you're utilising your skills to the best of your abilities. Are you getting a fair wage for your level of experience? And most importantly – are you still learning from your job and is there room for you to progress? If the answer to any of these questions is no – perhaps it's time to either develop your skill set so you can progress to the next level. Or, it might be time to think about either discussing your role with your boss, or moving into a new job. Obviously you might not be able to act on all of this straight away during Lockdown, but it's a good time to get your head straight before you go back to work.
We all have different priorities when it comes to work. Some people are very career-focused with defined goals, others are happier to take a slower working pace if it means a better work/life balance. Furlough is a really good time to assess your work-life balance – was it a relief to be given this breathing time? Are you spending a lot of time exhausted or stressed? If so, it might mean your balance is off and you need to reassess before you return to it. If furlough is actually boring to you, and you wish you were back at work. Perhaps it's time you focused on your life outside of work and invested some time in your own hobbies. Such a big and sudden change to your routine is perfect for highlighting where you might be going wrong in your daily life.
How far ahead are you thinking? Have you got a goal for the next five years, or the next 10 years? Think about whether you want to reach a certain position within the company. Perhaps your goal is to go freelance, or even reduce your hours so you have more time for hobbies or volunteering. Maybe you're working flat-out to save money to buy a house, move abroad or to invest in rental properties and grow your passive income. There are so many ways to live your life and grow your career to really reap the benefits in your home life. It's not always about being a high-flying business owner or getting the most money – often it's about finding the perfect balance and being comfortable.
If you really don't know where to start with online learning during Coronavirus and Lockdown, don't forget there is a lot of government advice available. If you're finding it overwhelming and don't know which websites to focus on, or which ones are accredited. Use government resources to ensure you choose the best option:
I always say that being able to speak multiple languages is one of the most valuable skills you can have. Whether it's for work, or simply for a love of language. When you open yourself up to learning to communicate in new ways, you open yourself up to new cultures. Right before lockdown started I was about to start Spanish school in Cartagena, Colombia. Sadly that partnership had to be postponed, but I've formed a new one with Whee Institute (based in Bogota, Colombia) who are now offering new online Spanish classes for students to sign up and learn online. Whether you're planning to travel, work abroad or just love the language – it's a great time to boost your CV with language learning online courses. Find out more about online Spanish classes at Whee Institute.
If Spanish isn't the language for you – try Rocket Languages for award-winning online language courses and a dynamic learning system. Basing their learning techniques on science and strategies used by those who speak multiple languages, their programmes will have you speaking and understanding a new language from your first lesson. Over 1,200,000 people have mastered a new language using their online courses. You can currently learn a wide variety of languages including French, English, Spanish, Italian. Plus more complex languages like Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Russian, sign language and Chinese.
Ever since I first started travelling over six years ago. It's been a goal of mine to complete my TEFL certificate. I wanted to have the option to be able to teach English abroad. It's something I had always put off, making excuses about not having enough time. Well, when lockdown started, I realised I would never find the time, I had to make the time. So I did and a few weeks ago, I qualified to teach English. It's not something I plan to use straight away, but it's a personal goal that I've achieved. One that has broadened my skill set and widened my opportunities to live and work abroad with ease.
I studied with TEFL UK and paid just £99 for the 120 Hour Professional TEFL Course which took me a few weeks to complete. The course materials are not too intense – other than polishing up your grammar skills – and are easy to understand. Plus TEFL UK offer great online support for this distance learning course. They also offer a range of other courses including 140, 150 and 170 hour courses plus various others. The qualification is internationally recognised and – most importantly – fully accredited. Plus, they offer great job support with an award-winning job placement team and access to jobs worldwide.
If you're on furlough with no idea how to fill your time and want to ensure you're using your skills to the best of your ability. Why not sign up for Furlonteer? I've just done this and within a week, they've already found me a suitable placement! You sign up and let them know which skills you can offer. Then they find you a suitable remote volunteering opportunity. Volunteers can choose how many hours they can spare, and it means you can use this time to support great causes. Plus an extra bonus – you get free access to Online Mental Health training (CPD accredited)! The course takes an hour to complete and is a great one to add to your CV and skill set. Become a Furlonteer today.
If you want your online learning to be community and sustainably driven – Cudoo is the eLearning platform for you. It offers courses in 160+ world languages and dialects, 1000+ soft skills and even teacher training. But what I love most about the brand is that they offer free-for-life access to non-profits, charities, and public libraries. Every course you purchase enables them to use education to break the cycle of poverty by supporting the studies of those less fortunate. The organisation is also 100% online with no printing required, which has helped eliminate their carbon footprint, and they are partnered with '1% for the Planet' to support environmental solutions.
Cudoo's courses include English, French, Japanese, as well as less common languages such as Icelandic, Maori, and Lithuanian. Plus courses in accounting and finance, marketing, management or health and safety among many others.
FutureLearn is a digital education platform offering online courses and degrees from leading universities or organisations. Jointly owned by The Open University and SEEK Ltd, the platform offers a range of short courses, microcredentials and programmes, and online degrees. Take your learning further and develop as a professional, or discover a new hobby, while meeting educators from top universities. Study entirely online, with courses from over 140 UK and international partners, and join millions of people worldwide. Courses are available on a huge range of topics including the popular Boredom-busting courses, Business & Management, Healthcare & Medicine and Teaching. There are a huge r
Also, don't forget to check out their full range of free FutureLearn online courses which includes access to the materials to study hundreds of different course topics. While you may have to pay an upfront yearly subscription fee, you get free access to a huge range of materials to study as many courses as you like.
The online learning platform with more than 50 million students, and 57,000 instructors leading courses in over 65 languages. Udemy offers over 100,000 courses in programming, marketing, data science, IT and software, design, business and many more topics. Best of all, when you purchase a course, you get lifetime access to the materials so you can learn on your schedule. There's thousands of video courses starting at £13.99 each which give you the opportunity to learn from industry experts. Build your library for your career and own personal growth, with courses on photography, music and personal development.
You'll also be happy to know Udemy have introduced a huge range of free online courses to help you find skills for a new career or to realise a lifelong passion. Find courses on personal growth and wellness, productivity and professional skills, essential tech skills and many more. Explore Udemy free online courses now.
If you're feeling like you've lost control during Lockdown, learning with Alison could be the perfect way to take back the reins. Join 15 million learners and enjoy high quality free online courses, with certificates, today. Empower yourself with study and up-skill with free online learning and training. Focusing on workplace-based skills, the Irish online education platform has over 1,500 courses available for free access. Popular courses include human resources training, data protection, project management, food hygiene and safety.
Even better – I've got a 10% discount available for my followers! By clicking the banner below and signing up for a course – if you complete the course within 30 days, you will get 10% off the overall cost.
Use Lockdown to focus on your personal and professional goals by utilising LinkedIn Learning. Learn business, creative, and technology skills through access to thousands of online courses. This includes a huge range of free courses to help grow your skills. Topics include pitching and influencing others, Excel tips, productivity tips, lead generations and selling with authenticity. There are also great courses for helping you find a job including writing a resume, digital networking strategies, video interview tips, digital body language and recession-proof career strategies.
LinkedIn Learning is currently offering a 1 month free trial to access 15,000+ expert-led courses, personalised course recommendations, certificates upon course completion and access to LinkedIn’s Premium Career features. After 1 month, the subscription goes to £24.98 per month. But there are discounts of 40% available on an annual membership.
A course that I recently completed purely for my own passion was The Science of Wellbeing by Yale University. When I heard that Yale University were offering a free course, I thought it sounded too good to be true. Wellbeing has been a huge focus of mine over recent years and I was really excited to learn that Coursera were offering a free course on The Science of Wellbeing. Unlike other online courses on wellbeing, this course focuses on the science and studies that have run over the years. Laurie Santos looks at the themes and the theories that have been developed in the field of wellbeing. The 19 hour course is really interactive with a mixture of video lectures, reading, discussion. Plus the challenge to rewire your own behaviour and improve your levels of happiness.
Coursera also offer a range of free online courses from prestigious universities around the world. These include Yale University, Stanford University, London Business School and Johns Hopkins University among many more. There are also various art, fashion and design courses with the Museum of Modern Art. Check out the full list of free online courses at Coursera here.
I've been lusting over Institute of Code's amazing courses for the last few years. They offer several bootcamps for those wanting to advance their online businesses and skills in web development and social media & content creation. But these bootcamps take place in Bali and have a larger price tag attached, so they aren't accessible for everyone and certainly not in Lockdown. However, Institute of Code have launched several free online mini-courses that are perfect for advancing your skills in Lockdown. Check out their 7 Day Instagram Challenge and their 7 Day Coding Challenge.
They've also worked closely with instagrammers Marie Fe and Jake Snow previously on promoting these courses. The couple are now offering their own free 7 Day Photography Challenge which is a great way to learn new skills.
If you've always wanted to learn how to snap epic photos. Why not try a photography course and learn a new skill just for you. It's a great skill to have and one you can easily translate to your working life – a great boost for your CV. Or it can simply be a way to indulge a passion. To learn more about how to handle a camera and take better photos. One of the fastest growing photography platforms in the world, Karl Taylor Education is now offering a free photography course.
The course covers essential concepts every photographer should know, from basics such as aperture and shutter speed. To more advanced concepts that even some professionals don’t clearly understand. So whether you already have an interest in photography or simply want to learn how to take to take better travel photos, this course is ideal for you.
If furlough has given you the time to consider higher education, OpenLearn free courses have been proven to increase confidence and develop the skills needed to progress. Some course materials are based on Open University courses and others are specifically developed for OpenLearn. Available immediately, the courses have no time limit on them so you can take as long as you need to complete them. With around 1000 courses to choose from, OpenLearn helps give you an idea of what distance learning is like so you can decide whether a higher education Open University course is for you.
Pick up nationally-recognised qualifications through a flexible learning delivery model and study entirely online with We Find Any Learner. Benefit from high quality support throughout your studies and improve, or develop new skills. Many of the courses available can be government-funded so check your eligibility. To qualify for funding so your course is free you simply need be aged 19 or over as of 31st of August 2019, reside in England and have been living in the EU for the last three years or more and not currently completing another government-funded course. Course topics include Understanding Autism, Dementia Care, Mental Health Problems, Nutrition and Health among many others. Find the full course list here.
Reed.co.uk is a great resource for finding free online courses. If you're on a tight budget, it could be a perfect way to start studying and expanding your skill set. Why not brush up on your IT skills, or up-skill with a free management course or even a free HR course. Over 50 free online courses are currently available, with plenty more at budget-friendly and affordable prices. Explore the full list of free online courses at Reed.
Have you completed any online courses during Lockdown? Would you like to study for personal or professional development?
*This ethical jewellery UK post is an AD and features GIFTED content.
It feels great to be back to blogging and even more so to be sharing such a fab ethical jewellery UK brand. My regular readers will know how important sustainability and making ethical choices is to me. From our food, to travel and even fashion. Nobody is perfect, I'm certainly still a work in progress. But as part of my work as an On a Mission charity ambassador, I really want to support brands that are making an impact and offering us sustainable choices we can trust.
Now I have an exciting opportunity for you to win your choice of gorgeous boho jewellery from Life Less Ordinary. Match my style and pick out the bracelets that mean the most to you. You can even have them engraved with words and co-ordinates that mean the most to you. Read on to the bottom of this post to find out how you could win!
Life Less Ordinary is a UK ethical jewellery brand with a great message. Set up by Brighton couple, Aimee and Joseph Cooke, the brand was inspired by travel and a longing to live differently, and with purpose. It's a brand that completely aligns with my own values. That's why I'm so proud to share them with you, and to be working with them.
Because we both love to travel, we have tried to see as much of the world as possible. On our travels we have met some incredible individuals and been inspired to take some weird and wonderful adventures. These experiences were part of what formed the idea for Life Less Ordinary. We met people who had started charities. People who had fled from terrible lives and were now safe and happy. Some who were saving elephants. Others who had given up stable jobs to go out into the wild and see where life took them.
– Aimee & Joseph Cooke
Perhaps you'll start to see a real connection between their values and my own at this stage. The couple sold their house, quit their jobs and decided to see where life took them. Deciding to give up everything at home to travel the world was a huge turning point in my life. I can really identify with how it changes a person, and their values. It opens our eyes to the world around us and shows us that we need to be the good in the world. That we must do all we can to protect our world.
While their original idea may have come to them while on the bus, it's an idea that quickly took flight around the world. It was the couple's travels that inspired them to keep charity at the heart of all they do, and to support their chosen charities by creating ethical, fair trade and cruelty-free products. Now their cotton bags are fair trade, the tagua nuts they use are cruelty free and even their business cards are made from recycled T shirts!
The couple create boho travel bracelets and donate 10% of the sales of each one to their chosen charities each quarter. They are currently supporting the following 3 charities:
Read: Why you should be investing in sustainable fashion
The bracelets come in a range of gorgeous styles to suit every traveller. Choose from the Reserva Collection to protect a classroom-sized area of the Chocó Rainforest in Ecuador. This site is home to iconic species such as the Ocelot and the Two-toed sloth, and also to a number of critically endangered species of monkeys, frogs and birds. You can personalise the front and back of the bracelets with a message or name. And the bracelets are made with tagua seeds which are also known as vegetable ivory and grow on palms in Ecuador. Even better, the materials are super durable and won't damage easily, perfect for if you're living an action-packed travel life!
You will see the bracelets I picked out in the images in this post, if you would also like to have these bracelets, they are listed as the following:
Read: Keeping travelling memories close on my next adventure
For each of these bracelets, you can choose the colour of the handcrafted band and in some cases you can combine the colours. You can also have a personalised message engraved on the back, I chose the following three words to be engraved on mine:
These were all messages that really spoke to me and since putting these bracelets on, I haven't taken them off. They're great reminders that although my path may be different to that of others, that it's the right path for me.
Okay now let's get to the really fun bit! Here's how you can WIN your own choice of bracelets! I have 4 opportunities to win – the winner will get their choice of favourite product from the store. And 3 runners up will get prizes of £10 each to shop online for their favourite products. Supporting a good cause and getting that gorgeous boho style – a perfect combination!
All you have to do is make sure you are following @absolutelylucy and @_life.less.ordinary_ on Instagram – and comment on today's competition Insta post with one sustainable change you have made. Make sure you enter by May 1st, 2020, and I will reveal the winners on Instagram! This competition is only open to those living in the UK.
*This "how to start a blog" post is an AD.
One of the questions I get asked the most is "how to start a blog?" So I thought it was time I finally wrote a post on this topic while we're all deep in lockdown and suddenly have all this time. With weeks left in isolation and potential for further extensions into the summer. It's a perfect time to start a blog. Why is that? Because starting a blog takes time, patience and a lot of learning. It's one of those jobs you could easily put off forever, but instead, why not take the opportunity you've been handed during lockdown to make the most of the time by investing in your business, or your hobby?
If you had told me six years ago when I started blogging that this website would have helped me travel the world solo for six years. That I would get to work with high profile travel and lifestyle brands and have amazing opportunities. I don't think I would have believed you. I started this blog as a hobby, something to add to my CV.
Over the years it has taken on a life of its own. Even winning highly commended in travel at the UK Blog Awards. I have had amazing opportunities like hot air balloon rides and safari camp stays in Sri Lanka, free stays in Slovenia, Romania, Thailand and Bali. I've attended music festivals in across Europe with brands like Ryanair and Debenhams. But the reason I've had these amazing opportunities is because of the work I put in from the beginning to build up Absolutely Lucy into a brand of it's own.
This is an important thing to think about when you're starting out. Whether you want to run a blog in the business sense. Or whether you simply want to write and put it out there but don't plan to grow beyond friends/family. This will dramatically affect the amount of money you spend and the time you invest into working on your blog. Be honest with yourself about how much you want to give this blog. They can easily take over your life if you give them the time. If you just want to try blogging as a hobby, or aren't sure about where it will go – you don't need to worry about following all of the points in this blog. This post is aimed more at those who want to know how to start a blog with hopes of it becoming a business.
It can be difficult at first if you want to write about ALL the things. But if you want to know how to start a blog, choosing a niche early will really help you later on to cultivate your content to really give your audience value. If you can at least narrow it down to a few things, that will really help you to stay focused. Don't forget, you can always change niche later on – just be sure that your audience will enjoy the change and keep following.
For example, I started writing a lifestyle blog, but then changed to a travel blog – and later I narrowed it down even more to adventure travel and solo female travel. I still cover other topics like fashion, sustainability and responsible travel, lifestyle, careers/blogging and wellbeing in smaller amounts. But when I do this, it's always in a way that relates it to my audience. Keep this in mind when choosing, and always choose a niche that you enjoy and can write lots of content about, otherwise it will show.
Choosing a name for your new project can be tricky. But it's important to pick something that is memorable and unique to you. Try to avoid overused and cliché phrasing – for example the word "nomad" is hugely overused in the travel blogging industry. Also you need to pick a name that can grow with you over the years as the focus of your blog might change. Don't pick anything too specific or you may find it holds you back.
For example – don't go for something like Adventures of a Teenager in Paris – why not? Because you won't be a teenager forever and it will be difficult to work around that. I was lucky and when I thought of Absolutely Lucy – it was actually one of the first names that came to me. It's also meant that the name has fit well with my full career of blogging and while I'm focused on travel, it also encompasses all topics.
This is the most important one – I get so many messages from people wanting to know how to start a blog because they want to make money easily. Let me start by telling you that nothing about blogging is easy. Blogging is time-consuming, it's complicated and the truth is, every time you think you're getting the hang of it, you'll learn about something else that you should be doing. Unless you get very lucky, it's unlikely you'll be making any money off your blog straight away or even for the first six months to a year. You have to be prepared to work a lot for free before you ever get anything back.
Don't do it for the money – it's obvious when people are just in it for the £££. Do it for the passion, for the love of the topic and that will shine through. You audience will see your passion and will engage with that. Helping you to grow a community and stand more chance of making money in the long-term. Blogging is always about the long game. I was lucky and started earning within a few months of starting my blog but that's because I took the time to build up an audience. I certainly wasn't earning enough to even justify the costs of setting this blog up for a year.
Over the last two years, the ASA have become the regulators for bloggers and influencers in any capacity. They have guidelines available for any paid work including ADs and Gifting. It's important to follow these and will make it much easier if you do it from the start instead of trying to fix issues later on. Find more about the ASA guidelines in the posts linked below:
I actually didn't even realise quite how many blogging platforms there were until I started putting this post together. You have so many to choose from so take the time to do a bit of research and compare different functionalities of each with the type of blog you want to start. I'm a lifelong WordPress girl and have been with them from the start, but you also have Blogger, Tumblr, Gator, Squarespace, Wix, Medium and Ghost. When I started out, WordPress was the only one I knew of, but it's by far the most popular. It's a great option if you have no coding experience but want to be able to set up a website in minutes. Plus free themes, plugins and full control over every aspect of your website.
Just like blogging platforms, there are loads of hosting providers to choose from. The main question here is – do you want to work with brands and make money from your blog? If the answer is YES, you need to go self-hosted. It's your choice whether you do it from the beginning or wait, I went self-hosted after 4-5 months and it was the best decision. Going self-hosted takes your website from www.wordpress.com/absolutelylucy to www.absolutelylucy.com and just means that you have full control/ownership over your website.
Brands will only want to work with self-hosted sites so if this is your goal, it's best to get set up before you start to approach them. Do your research when picking a hosting provider, I found this whole process very confusing so luckily had a good friend who helped me with the process. If you're not sure, choose a hosting provider with a migration service who can change everything over for you. I bought my domain name from GoDaddy and my website is hosted by Bravenet – I've found both great over the years and really supportive.
Increase the functionality of your website by introducing the right plugins. This can help increase the speed, the organisation and the look of your website both for your audience and Google. Plugins are kind of like an add-on which you can add to your site to help tidy it up. I used loads of plugins and find them super helpful for growing my site. These have included social media plugins which link to my social feeds, Smush which is a great one for compressing images and making your website run faster. The GDPR Compliance plugin is great if you want to ensure you're abiding by the ASA regulations. There are loads more great ones which will help if you want to know how to start a blog. The trick is, anytime you find something you can't do – research it because there's usually a plugin that can help you.
You have a choice with themes and logos – it all depends how much you want to spend. If you are setting up a new business and want it properly branded, I recommend working with a designer who have give you a branding package. These help you with a new logo, plus colour themes and a choice of fonts. You can even get a designer to create a brand new and unique website just for your business. However, this can be pricey, costing anywhere from £150+ for a branding package, to thousands for a full website redesign. It all depends on what stage your business is at and how much you wish to spend.
Another option that is more budget-friendly, is to create your own logo using Canva or another programme. Then picking a blog theme with full functionality from a website like Envato or Themeforest. You can set it all up yourself and just spend around $50-70 on a theme. Or, if you really don't want to spend any money – WordPress has a lot of free themes which, although basic, are great if you just need something simple.
If there is one tip I can give you when reading about how to start a blog – it's learn SEO. It might seem a daunting task but search engine optimisation is a huge part of blogging.Making sure your site is up-to-date helps you stand the best chance of your content being found organically. That means when people search in Google for topics you cover, that your content will actually show up in results, helping a much wider audience to find your site. There are lots of great posts explaining SEO in more detail – like the one I have linked below. You can also download great plugins that can help make SEO a lot easier, such as the Yoast SEO plugin.
It's worth getting a friend to look over your website and test it to make sure everything is working properly. Get them to check it is easy to find everything, and that all text is easy to read. If they find any text or graphics cannot be understood, it might be worth checking out these free fonts and script fonts, to see if they might be better for your site. Check out the font bundles for free and premium resources. These could be useful if you need to redesign or tweak the layout and style of your website. You can also use them for graphics, branding, invites and any marketing you might need for your website. While checking the lettering of your site – make sure you check every link in the menus and any imagery is still relevant.
Checking your blog's DA and Google positioning is really important for keeping track of your views and audience. This information is what you will present to brands when pitching to them. You can check your blog's DA using Moz and the goal is to get it as high as possible. One factor that can cause your DA to remain low is broken links which are easily fixed and can make a big difference. Checking for broken links is really easy to do by downloading the Broken Link Checker plugin from WordPress, or finding an equally good tool in your own blogging platform. You can then identify any broken links and either fix the links or remove them from your website.
This is a huge job and one I am currently working on myself by going through hundreds of old blog posts to bring them up-to-date. If there's one thing I can really advise you to learn as early as possible, it's SEO – search engine optimisation. But if you didn't learn it early on, you have a lot of work you can be doing. Make it easier on yourself by reading some blog posts about SEO and downloading the Yoast SEO plugin. It provides you with all the boxes for creating meta-titles and meta-descriptions. It can check keyword density plus readability factors which can all influence your positioning in Google and your DA. These small things can make a big difference. Plus it really helps to update your content regularly so your website stays relevant.
The links on your website are a very important factor in strengthening your website in the eyes of Google. Each blog post should have multiple links to various other blog posts relevant to the post. This helps to make the entire website stronger, but also helps to strengthen categories and individual blog posts by linking them to similar content. Links to outside sources are equally important and you should always be including links to high authority websites in your blog posts. High authority sites are ones with high DAs that appear high in Google searches, come from reputable sources and are relevant/similar to your own website. Combining the two of these is an important part of SEO optimisation of your website.
This can be done in a number of ways and just helps to keep your website as easy as possible for Google to process. So much of blogging is just keeping Google happy so that your website can be found as organically as possible. Over the last 18 months, I've been having regular clear outs of old blog posts. This is also useful to bear in mind if you're in the process of finding out how to start a blog. If content is no longer relevant or can't be brought up-to-date, I've been deleting the post and redirecting the page to a more relevant post, It helps even out the addition of new blog posts by removing older content – when you have 600+ pages on your website – this is a necessity. You can also look at shortening blog URLs and redirecting the old links, and tightening up on interlinkage.
If you're not already working with brands – what are you waiting for? There is no right time to start, there is no number you have to hit before you can. So why not start today? I was working with brands from early on in my blogging career both in a gifting and paid capacity. Make sure you read the blog post I have linked below on pitching to brands and setting your blogging rates. Always remember that if you are working with a brand and are providing a service by sharing their product with your audience. You deserve to be paid!
Create a media kit using programmes like Canva which is great for all graphic content. You can sign up for the free version of Canva here which is great for all the basics. Or get a Canva Pro subscription which gives you unlimited access to design materials, images and much more including creating your own brand kit.
Either upload it to a page on your website, or download a copy to send directly to brands in PDF format. Don't just pitch to everyone. Take the time to research brands that would be aligned with your blog's values. Choose brands you love and use all the time, brands that would resonate with your audience. Always pitch with suggestions/ideas for content. Always ask if there are any opportunities, or to let you know about future ones.
This is huge and something I wish I had started from the very beginning – but starting at any time is valuable. Think of a mailing list like your personal address book with direct contacts to all of your followers. If you want to make money from blogging – this is a good place to start. You can read more about affiliate marketing in the next section of this post – but think of it as a way to gain passive income 24/7. The bigger your audience, the better because you have a direct contact with them.
Even better – you have complete control over these followers. Imagine if Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook went down tomorrow, you could lose all of your followers. But you will always have your email list! And approaching brands with a solid email list can be a great way to secure work. I use MailChimp which is great and free (up to 2000 subscribers), although there are lots of other options available.
One of the main draws of blogging is being able to set yourself up to receive passive income. This can be done through affiliate marketing, or selling products online. It means that even when you're on holiday or asleep, you can be earning money. It takes time to set this up, but put the work in and grow an audience. You can make money simply off their clicks on your website! Sign up for affiliate marketing partnerships with networks such as AWIN, Impact Radius, Rakuten, CJ. Then join programmes of brands that you love so you can earn a % off any purchases made through your unique links. Read more about it to find out how to start a blog and get started with affiliate marketing.
If you've read this blog post on how to start a blog and still want to try it – I'm hoping that's because your passion for blogging far outweighs your hopes of getting paid. No blogger can honestly say they're in it for the money. Blogging is all about building a community and sharing your passion and knowledge with others who want to learn. That's the truly fun part – if you make money out of it or get to do amazing things – that's just a bonus!
Have you always wanted to start a blog? Do you still want to start a blog after reading how much work is involved? What blog would you like to start?
If ever there was a perfect blog post for complete escapism during Coronavirus, it's this one sharing my experiences at Tikal Guatemala. Watching the sunrise from Mayan ruins hidden deep in the Guatemalan jungle. I felt like I had stepped onto another planet. From the deep, guttural groans and cries of the howler monkeys (seriously, watch my Guatemala stories highlight on Insta to listen). To the panicked squawking of parrots and birds flying across the misty canopy high above the jungle. We emerged in darkness and swirling fog at the top of the 230ft Temple VI to await the sunrise. Only a small crowd make it to Tikal for sunrise. Sitting with the hushed audience behind me, it felt as though I were Queen of the Jungle.
Watching on as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, and light started to creep across the trees. Honestly? I thought the sunrise was going to be a write-off. It looked like the sunlight would never pierce the thick fog to light up the gloomy jungle. But as the jungle started to wake up. Most of the crowd left thinking the best bit was over, just minutes before beams of glorious sunshine burst through the clouds. Lighting up the jungle, piercing through the mist until we could make out various other temples in the distance poking through the canopy. Just minutes before I had written off the sunrise in my mind. But it turned out to be one of the best sunrises of my entire life.
The ancient Maya city of Tikal, Guatemala is one of the most spectacular, and the largest excavated Mayan site on the continent. Dating back to between 600BC and 900AD, the ruins of around two dozen huge pyramids and structures can be found in the rainforest of northern Guatemala. This ancient city is one of the largest archaeological sites of the pre-Colombian civilisation. Temple VI – the best spot for sunrise, was actually the largest pre-Colombian structure in the Americas.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, population estimates are at around 90,000-100,000 inhabitants, with the most likely figure being at the top end of these numbers. The dynasty who ruled over the site potentially spanned 800 years and 33 rulers in that time. The grounds of the national park span around 575 square kms, with around 16 square kms making up Tikal itself. But interestingly, just 100 years after the site was built, the Maya civilisation collapsed and the structures were left to be reclaimed by the jungle. It wasn't until 1848 that the lost city of Tikal, Guatemala was rediscovered.
Located in the Peten region of Guatemala, Tikal is a little out of the way unless you are visiting Flores or travelling overland from Belize. With most people flying into Guatemala City, further south, and the transport between places relying on slow minibus travel, your best option might be to take a domestic flight to Flores. This could also help save you a LOT of time as my bus rides from Flores–Semuc Champey–Guatemala City totalled nearly a whopping 30 hours split over different days. Luckily I had planned in some stops in other epic locations along the way. If you have unlimited time and are backpacking, this journey may not bother you so much. But if you just have a two week holiday, flying will save you a lot of time.
Because of its location, you can only really reach Tikal by shuttle bus or by car and the drive takes around 1 hr 30 from Flores. If you go by shuttle, expect to be on the road for around two hours with pick-ups. I recommend taking a tour if you plan to go for sunrise because it means you can nap on the bus and save your energy for walking around the park.
Exploring Tikal is like being lost somewhere between Jurassic Park: The Lost World and an Indiana Jones movie. With structures such as the Temple of the Great Jaguar and The Two-Headed Serpent Temple. It's easy to believe Harrison Ford will come running through the grounds, or a dinosaur will loom out of the mist. Growing up I was obsessed with these films and it was a real dream come true to get to explore such an epic location. By the time I visited, I had already visited several other Mayan ruins including Chichen Itza, Coba, Cancun and Tulum in Mexico, and Yaxha in Guatemala. Tikal blew me away and was by far my favourite of them all. Why?
Tikal was a breath of fresh air to visit. While it was a bit more expensive because of permits for early entry, it only cost around £50 total per person, this included the bus, tour and entry for both sunrise & day. This was definitely worth paying as it meant gaining access to one of the lesser known Mayan sites. After seeing how crazy busy Chichen Itza and Coba were, it was lovely to be able to walk around and explore without masses of people. It made the experience all the more spectacular and memorable.
The sunrise Tikal tour leaves at 3am from Flores and takes you by minibus to the park. There a guide will take you to Temple VI for sunrise. After sunrise, you will be given a tour of the park by the expert guide who will talk about the history and traditions. Plus the fascinating growth and disappearance of the Mayans. They'll also talk through the wildlife, the temples and much more as you explore the grounds. You have the option for how long you stay at Tikal, with staggered return times. I stayed from sunrise until around 11am. By this time we had seen all of the temples and it was getting pretty hot to walk around. (Remember: It is in the rainforest so expect high humidity and heat)
I really recommend the sunrise tour. I know some people were a bit less keen on it because of the early wake-up call. But it's really not a big deal to get up early for one day. Especially if it means a once-in-a-lifetime experience like seeing the sunrise over the Mayan ruins in the rainforest. A very small number of people make it to Tikal for this time. So it means you get a really special experience accessing the park this early. You can escape the crowds and enjoy the park before the real heat of the day hits, and trust me, it gets hot. If a 3am start really isn't for you. There are also pick-up times at 4am and 6am to reach the park, but you won't make it for sunrise with these tours.
I actually booked the Tikal Sunrise Tour through my hostel – I was staying at Tikal Backpackers Hostel in Flores and they offered a tour with a guide and travel included. I paid around £50 total – this included transport, a guide, plus my entrance tickets for sunrise and the day. If you book like I did, you will also need to pay a visit to the Banrural which is an office at the nearby shopping centre in Flores. You will need to purchase the entrance ticket for sunrise and the day ticket the day before you plan to visit Tikal. This is because the ticket office at the park will not be open at sunrise. If you book through a travel agent – you may pay a slightly higher rate from my research, but you will get all your tickets included.
Okay so you've booked your trip, but now what? What do you need to pack and prepare to take with you? It's important to pack your bag well and to be smart when choosing what to wear – this can have a big impact on how much you enjoy the trip. As I mentioned, the Mayan ruins are in the jungle and are very hot and humid, particularly if you visit on the edge of rainy season like I did. It's still epic and worthwhile visiting, but you will want to put a touch more thought into what you take with you. Here's my packing list for the day:
Please note that in the park there is nowhere to buy water/snacks, only a restaurant at the entrance. If you arrive for sunrise, nothing is open other than sometimes a coffee stand at the gate. Be prepared and shop the day before.
Flores is one of my favourite places in the whole of Central America. I loved the beautiful town set on the lake. There was so much to do there – when I visited it was actually their annual festival that happens every January. The streets were filled with music, dance, food and fireworks! This is a great time to visit, but even if you visit another month, there is plenty to keep you entertained. Check out these epic tours to other Mayan ruins nearby:
If travelling solo or backpacking independently isn't for you, there are plenty of other options. Don't let it put you off travel if your friends can't come with you, instead why not book a group trip? It's a great way to meet new people and not sacrifice adventures. Check out these epic Intrepid Travel tours for some ideas:
Have you visited Guatemala? Would you like to explore Mayan ruins in the jungle, or kayak across a lake? Do you prefer group travel or solo travel?
*This professional photoshoot blog post is a collaboration with Perfocal
We may all be cooped up inside on Lockdown at the moment – but that doesn't stop us planning for the future! Let this guide serve as some positive inspiration for what you can do when you're finally able to get back to normal. You guys are constantly asking me – "who takes your photos?" "how do you manage to get such great travel pics?". The truth is – it's all me! I've spent the last few years really working on my photography skills – it's a passion of mine and one that I love to develop. But I know that not everyone has the time, the inclination, or the equipment to be able to do this. So what happens if you just want great pics?
You might want epic travel photos or the perfect family photoshoot – but minus the selfie sticks and blurry shots that you sometimes get left with when you're doing it in a rush. Have you thought of hiring a family photographer to help create the perfect shots? We've all learned a few lessons in gratitude over the last few weeks and how important it is to hold our loved ones close. So perhaps getting some family snaps would be a lovely way to celebrate when we're finally out of quarantine? Not only is it a great way to capture happy memories, but it also gives you something fun to look forward to when this is all over.
If you're anything like me, you're living in pyjamas and loungewear right now. So why not give yourself something to look forward to and when this is all over, consider booking a future photoshoot to make you feel good. Get your hair done and feel extra glam in front of the camera. It could be the best remedy for getting back to normal. It could also be great motivation to really look after yourself during this strange lockdown time by eating healthily and working out at home.
Hands up if you've ever felt awkward in front of the camera? Yup, me too! It seems crazy to me now, but a few years ago I couldn't speak to the camera and hated Facetime. I always took photos but usually of everything else around me. Fast forward five years and I glow with confidence when I take photos and talking on Insta stories is an absolute pleasure. What's my secret? I forced myself to have more time in front of the camera. The more time I spent on camera, the more comfortable I became and the confidence built. So if you're struggling with confidence, perhaps a professional photoshoot with someone supportive is exactly what you need to kickstart your new confidence!
One of the reasons I love photography so much is because it captures memories and moments. Photographs are my souvenirs and my way of being transported back to a moment no matter where I am in the world. A family photoshoot or travel photoshoot can be the perfect way to capture your happiest times with the ones you love. Why not take the opportunity to get some gorgeous photos of your little ones before they grow up and treasure the final prints forever.
We've all got camera phones, but a professional photoshoot offers a chance to get higher quality photos and editing all included in one package. It means that for a one-off payment, you can save yourself thousands on photography equipment and countless hours learning editing skills.
Looking for the perfect gift for the person who has everything? I always love giving experiences as gifts and a photoshoot is a great way to do that! Whatever your motivation – whether that's confidence building or simply getting the perfect photos. It's a great way to spend a day and to get some great shots with your friends, family or loved one. You don't have to book straight away – why not buy a gift card and give it to someone special? If you're looking for a great gift while stuck in Lockdown – this could be a perfect treat to look forward to.
Remember the old days when we used to wait weeks or months to develop film? Isn't it crazy how times have changed? Well not only is it a much faster process these days but you could have your full-edited photos within 48 hours after a shoot. No waiting around, you could have them framed and hanging on your wall within 3 days!
Life may have slowed down lately, but we all lead busy lives and if you're struggling to find time for yourself, booking a photoshoot could be a great way to make time. As straightforward as calling an Uber, it's super easy to book photography services online and to get a fast and efficient service with high quality photos. Don't we all just want a simple and efficient service that yields great results?
Booking a photoshoot can be a perfect way to celebrate any occasion. Whether it's a new baby or birth announcement, a wedding or engagement, a new home, family photoshoot, travel photos or even a boudoir photoshoot. There's plenty of great excuses to book a professional photographer and really mark the occasion, while creating memories you can share with friends and family, and look back on years down the line.
For those on a budget – photography services don't have to be expensive. Actually they can be much more affordable than you think. Most companies/photographers will have different pricing available depending on the length of shoot and what you're looking for. If you go into it with a clear idea of what you want and plan well with the photographer, you can get maximum results for the minimal timeframe and have the smallest hit on your wallet. Plus don't forget, you're investing in photographs that you'll treasure forever.
You can learn so much with the right photographer. They know all about angles, lighting and how to make you look and feel good. Booking a photographer could be a great way to learn new skills that can inspire your future photoshoots. You might choose to book a regular professional photoshoot, or to even develop your own photography skills based on what you learn at the shoot. I actually learned a lot of what influenced my photography style today by shooting with other people.
Have you ever had a photoshoot with a professional photographer? Would you like to? How do you feel about having your photo taken? Love keeping the memories, or hate to look back?
