With everything going on in the world, I think you should put your phone down and romanticise your life in the North East. Here’s how…

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels tired. Tired of watching the news, tired of wasting away hours scrolling on social media, tired of feeling like I’m always chasing the next best thing.

I long for the days when everything felt a little bit simpler, a little bit easier and more manageable. The optimist in me thinks this kind of life is not completely out of reach. It’s just been swept away by everything going on in the world lately.

But if we can spend a day or two breaking away from the habit of comparison and complaining, and instead focus on appreciating the smaller, simpler and more joyful things in life, I truly believe we can wake up feeling brighter the next day.

I need to touch grass as much as the next person, and this is exactly why I’m urging Geordies (and everyone else who might be reading this) to try really hard to romanticise your life in the North East. Here’s how.

How to romanticise your life in the North East

Pick up a book

Someone I really admire once said that the best way to travel on a budget is to read. With so many stories out there, so many lives lived in books, there is no better way to break away from everyday routine than to read. Now, the key to enjoying a book is to find one that draws you in within the first chapter. There’s no prize for forcing yourself to read a book that doesn’t touch you, so find one you like. Even if it’s silly and not entirely deep.

Visit your local library, or, if you get a chance, Barter Books in Alnwick, which stocks many different genres at prices that certainly don’t bite.

Take yourself on a solo date

There was a time in my life when I thought doing things solo was embarrassing. What will people think? Will they think I have no friends? God forbid.

The reality is that people don’t really think about strangers they see on the street. They don’t care. Everyone’s got their own lives to think about. So, spend some time with yourself. Visit a local coffee shop (I’m currently sitting at The Whales Head in Heaton – one of my favourite spots for a good coffee with a splash of inspiration), go for brunch – I recommend Kiln in Ouseburn. Or, take yourself shopping to Flaura Rose, The Find and The Flea Circus.

Reconnect with nature

I can really vouch for mental health walks, especially now, when the weather is getting better. There is nothing more beautiful than nature, and if, like me, you need to get your spark back or are looking for a little bit of inspiration, the best way to find it is to pay attention to your surroundings. There are so many beautiful walking spots out there, with Jesmond Dene and Heaton Park being two of my personal favourites. In my student days, I used to love going to St. James Park to feed the little ducks and birds. You should try it.

Exercise a little

I’ll be the first person to tell you that I’m not very athletic. But if there are two things I love, it’s yoga and basketballl. Yoga, for its calming powers, for a moment to reconnect with yourself and your body. I used to go to Hot Yoga on Chillingham Road and really loved it. While it might not be the most budget-friendly activity, there are many other options. Try Pilates with Maisie, Community Beach Yoga, Body Image Fitness with Kim, or, if you’re lucky enough to live near a basketball court, get a ball and go out there.

Journal

If you know me, you know that I love a little journaling session. There were times when I used to do it only when I was feeling sad, lonely or upset, but now, I try to do it every day. Sometimes, when nostalgia takes over, I like to go back in time and read about the life I have already lived. There’s something beautiful about the little mundane things that we do on a daily basis, the little things that bring us joy, such as a good cup of coffee, the sunshine, or maybe a cute dog you meet at your favourite coffee shop.

My favourite journals come from Laura’s Lovendu business and I highly recommend you check them out.

The reason I’m writing this…

I guess what I’m trying to say with this round-up is that one of the easiest things our minds can do is slip into the worry of the world around us. To give in to the fear and uncertainty. That is easy. What is difficult is seeing the glass as half full. It takes effort and persistence. But if you try to romanticise your life in the North East, at least a little bit, finding joy in its details day by day, you might find that life around you is what you make of it.