Scared of change? No worries – look at change like planning a trip, and the process becomes a whole lot easier to take (and much more fun)!
Taking a step in the opposite direction, whether that be career, relationships or life in general can often feel like a difficult thing but it really doesn’t have to be and we can learn a lot about the similarities between planning a trip to changing the direction of our life.
The first thing, and perhaps the easiest thing to do (for most people) is to decide where to go and this is where the fun starts…
Ten steps to making amazing, memorable and achievable change in your life
How are you going to get there? There are many ways to achieve the same objective, for example – if you want more money you have two options – earn more or spend less, which one works for you ?
Who are you going to take with you? Sadly not everyone will make the trip with you, they may have other destinations they want to visit and that is ok – it is their passport and they can get it stamped anywhere they want to. On the flip side, you will meet some wonderful people in the new place you get to, so bid your buddy farewell before you get to the gate.
What do you need to leave behind? When you are in busy work-mode, you don’t take that with you on a trip and you don’t take your schedule with you either. What behaviours and attitudes have you created in your current life that you don’t want to pack to take with you for your change of direction? There are always costs for excess baggage!
What do you need to take with you? Optimistically you arrive at your destination determined to have a good time. Get your head space right for your transition. HOPE for the better will be the critical travel companion, anything else you can pick up at the lobby shop.
What are the minimum entry requirements? You wouldn’t arrive at the airport to board a plane for far off destinations without checking to see if you need a visa to get into the country. Why would you expect to take a major change of direction and not consider what are some of the criteria for the new path you are taking. Does the new life require you to be fitter, healthier, more focused, less distracted? Work on those things before you go because if you haven’t already started, chances are you will be turned around at the gate.
Do you need to learn a new language? Change the way you speak to yourself about change, doubt, fear, success and getting to where you need to go. Leave the should, can’t and other restricting language behind.
Does the location fit with your needs? I don’t sleep a lot, not a big fan of the heat and I like to be up late. A sleepy little hollow in a hot climate is not the best place for me to go for a holiday, I need activity till dawn and reasonable temperatures even cold temps. Is the change you are seeking going to give you what you need on a very basic level? If you don’t enjoy high pace competition or a spotlight, don’t take a new role that is going to constantly have you outside of your comfort zone. Every now and again is fine – but not every day, you will just burn out.
Is there a stop-over on the way? The longer the distance the greater number of stop-overs you need, the longer the trip time. Be realistic; don’t expect to make huge changes in a short space of time without incremental transitions.
Is there a TAX? There is always a tax. There will be good things, things that you love that may not make it to the new you status – and that is ok, you never lose them you just don’t focus on them as much anymore.
What are some of the things you want to see when you get there? You have to be clear about what you expect to see as a result of the ‘new you’ status. Be clear, very very clear because it is only with clarity that you can truly transition.
About the author Cheryl Daley is an internationally-known writer, speaker, mentor and coach in change management, leadership, team dynamics and empowerment.
We’re about to do something insane – again! It’s the same crazy manoeuvre which actually brought to life this space, originally named, “Sarah’s blog: Cool Britannia”, launched to share our expat experiences in London. For the past few months I’ve been bursting to announce something but needed to wait for one piece of paper – a very important document – the visa. It FINALLY came, and so here we go on another life-changing adventure. Honestly, it is overwhelming and not a decision we take lightly; but our hearts are in this big move, and the approval of my visa sparked a happy dance in the front yard. Fortunately the neighbours already know I’m a “unique character”.
We’re going back to England! Yay! And it’s no insignificant “yay” either, but a, “I’ve-been-waiting-since-the-day-we-left-London-to-go-back” kind of “yay”.
The move this time isn’t so straightforward though, with a more specialised visa requirement which had to be fulfilled (rather than the youth mobility visa which is fairly accessible if you’re under 31). My head’s already there, and my heart never left, but there’s been an anxious period this year – while this is what we want, it’s still really difficult telling loved ones and nice employers/clients/friends that you’re leaving. We’re so lucky to have people who don’t want us to go, but even though I feared the worst prior to each of these conversations, everyone’s proven to be supportive and kind. Not to mention most were not surprised – it seems my unconventional reputation precedes me.
It’s not so easy having your dream be so far away (“home” being Australia), and pursuing our various goals does come at a cost, which at times causes me quite a bit of anxiety, and even guilt. It’s a tough decision to move so far away – it’s not like a move from Cairns to Sydney, Edinburgh to London or even Vancouver to New York, for that matter (and they are big changes); there’s a reason people carefully consider trips to and from Australia – it’s a bloody long way from anything! It would be remiss however, to not follow the advice that I give others every day – life’s too short to not do what’s in your heart, particularly if you have the opportunity to do it, and with the support and companionship of your best friend. I’m lucky and extremely grateful.
I can’t wait to move back to London. The moving part this time is probably the easiest – we know where we want to live, what to do or not to do and with a second chance at it all, we’ll be sure to make the very best of it. We have to, you see, in honour of the goodbye tears that will be shed over the coming weeks.
On the exciting side of things, I’m looking forward to sharing it all with you too, as I secretly (or not so, now) harbour a desire to become a London expert. They say do and share something you’re passionate about – well, fellow fans and future fans of one of the greatest cities in the world – get ready to share the ride with me. It will be filled with colourful places, culture and vibrant people who also call London home; but aside from anything, the story and this space will be abundant with love and passion – for life, for opportunity and for adventure. Thanks as always for your support. Be true to yourselves regardless of how weird or unique you and your aspirations are. Remember, if you’re stuck on a life mantra, you’re free to adopt mine: Travel. Live. Learn.
Have you gone through this roller-coaster ride on your path to expat life? Or are you considering taking the leap but apprehensive? I’d love for you to drop a comment below -Sarah
If you prefer to escape the cold and holiday somewhere hot, then ditch the winter blues and pack for the sunny Whitsundays. When it comes to choosing whether to freeze or fry over winter, Aussies love a hot getaway, with 72.5 per cent preferring to head to a hot destination, according to a winter survey by travel website Wotif.com.
5 reasons to escape to the Whitsundays this winter
Soak up the Vitamin D: In the recent Wotif.com survey, 34.8 per cent of holidaymakers revealed going to the beach was their top hot activity in winter, followed by 29.2 per cent favouring to explore new cultures, 24.7 per cent relaxing by the pool, 9.3 per cent drinking cold cocktails. You can escape the cold winter days and swap them for 22 degree days relaxing on the beaches at the Whitsundays. It’s the perfect weather to go on a GoDo Whitehaven Beach sailing adventure with time to relax and roll out your beach towel on the powdery, white sand.
Swap hot chocolates for tropical cocktails: Relax on Hamilton Island and re-live your summer with refreshing cocktails by the pool or at one of the bars. The Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel has a range of refreshing cocktails on offer at the poolside Reef Terrace Restaurant.You can finish the evening with stunning sunset views sipping on a strawberry and orange ‘Summer Love’ cocktail at One Tree Hill, the Island’s hill-top lookout.
Indulge and get pampered: Relax at Airlie Beach’s Pinnacles Resort & Spa and get pampered with Endota’s weekday June spa special. After your pampering, relax on the private verandah with views over the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands.
See the underwater world: With the water temperature rarely dropping below 23 degrees, it’s just the right temperature to get up close with tropical fish and colourful coral species snorkelling or scuba diving along the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Did you know you can even spend the night out under the stars of the Reef?
Spot a whale: From July to October, whales are a common sight frolicking among the Whitsunday Islands and even occasionally out on the Great Barrier Reef. Those out on the water, the islands, or even just sitting in a café by the beach are regularly indulged by excited young calves and their mothers breaching out of the water, playing with boats and each other, and majestically gliding through the waters of the Whitsundays.
Located less than two hours from Sydney is the Blue Mountains, a stunning World-Heritage listed region attracting millions of visitors each year. Not only is it a firm favourite with international visitors but it’s a popular weekend retreat for local Aussie travellers.
With spectacular natural attractions, sights and a relaxed atmosphere – the Blue Mountains is a breath of fresh air after being consumed by Sydney’s hustle bustle lifestyle. Recently I was fortunate to escape to the Mountains for a weekend full of adventure and nature gazing.
Here are my top highlights and recommended things to experience in the Blue Mountains:
Three Sisters
One of the most famous landmarks in the Blue Mountains is the Three Sisters, an unusual rock formation towering high above the Jamison Valley. Standing over 900 metres tall, the Three Sisters is a spectacular sight and offers some beautiful and intense walking tracks. There is one trail ‘The Giant Stairway’ that takes you up close to the Three Sisters and then down to the valley floor via more than 800 steps. Learn from my mistake – be prepared and go early in the day to avoid missing out of the Scenic Railway that takes you back to the top, otherwise it’s a long thigh-burning climb.
Jenolan Caves
Now this will take your breath away. The Jenolan Caves is renowned for its spectacular limestone cave formations. Dating back to at least 340 million years, the Jenolan Caves is the world’s oldest known open cave system. Fascinating thing is the cave network is so vast – it has over 40kms of multi-level passages and it’s still undergoing active exploration today. Over 250,000 tourists visit each year to get a glimpse at the cave’s magnificent limestone formations and underground rivers. There are a number of guided tours running day or night and they even have ghost tours and adventure caving for those thrill-seekers.
Wentworth Falls
A great spot for outdoor exploring and waterfall chasing is Wentworth Falls. Suitable for all fitness levels, one of my favourite walking tacks is Fletchers Lookout– this easy graded track takes around an hour to complete (including return) and offers spanning views of Mount Solitary, Kings Tableland and Jamison Valley. During this walk you’ll comes across a lovely spot at the top of Wentworth Falls called Queen’s Cascade Falls. It’s a perfect scenic area to rest, take some photos and soak up the calming sounds of the rainforest and cascading water.
Yellow Deli, Katoomba
For a dining experience that makes you feel like you’re on the set of The Hobbit is the Yellow Deli. This venue is perfect for a winter’s lunch serving up hearty soups, burgers, sandwiches, herbal teas and delectable desserts. Inside its extremely cosy decorated with log-carved booths, a stone fireplace, hanging vines and dim lighting. It’s definitely a quirky place packed with diners. Overall my experience was good – the food was delicious and affordable however only downside was the service. It was a little slow but at the same point it was nice not to feel rushed as it was so cosy and relaxed inside.
Only thing to be aware of before visiting is to understand that the Yellow Deli is a religiously run venue. At the time I didn’t even realise it until doing research afterwards. I suppose my ignorance illustrates that it’s not in your face. If you can get past the religious factor then it’s a pretty cool spot to eat in the Blue Mountains.
Have you visited the Blue Mountains? Let us know your favourite attractions?
About the author
Danielle Muller (@stuffitgotravel) is a Sydney-based travel blogger and communications professional. Follow her travel adventures, stories and recommendations at www.stuffitgotravelling.com.
Beth England, Content Assistant at beautyheaven has a passion for writing and all things health and well being. Here, Beth shares her five ways to relax and recharge, following her recent chat with stress management expert, Carolyne Gowen.
5 simple ways to reduce your stress levels
We all experience stress at some time in our lives. According to meditation and stress management expert, Carolyne Gowen, a small amount is actually healthy as it keeps you alert and more motivated to get what you want. But there’s a limit. “If you live in a constant state of stress, it has a negative effect – physically, emotionally and mentally,” she says.
How do you know when your anxiety levels are getting out of control? Chronic stress can have serious physical consequences including, according to Carolyne, weakened immunity and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Whether you have five minutes or five days, here are our top tips for reducing your stress levels.
5 minutes: concentrate on your breathing
It doesn’t sound like much, but five minutes is often all the time you need to let go of stress. Breathing exercises are a great way to activate your body’s relaxation response, restoring calm in between meetings or after a busy day. Whenever you feel anxious, try doing a mini meditation by closing your eyes and focusing on taking deep breaths until you feel composed again.
30 mins: make time to eat well
It’s worth taking as much time as you can afford to eat your meal, as chewing slowly will aid your digestion. Eating healthily is also key to keeping your stress levels at a minimum. Where possible, choose low-GI foods such as whole grains, which will help even out your blood sugar levels and stabilise your mood.
1 hour: get active
For the ultimate stress relief, you can’t go past exercise. According to Carolyn, any form of exercise, “From a simple walk to working out in a gym” is worthwhile and effective at reducing fatigue and increasing concentration. Prefer to indulge in a more sedentary activity? A relaxation massage is another great way to release both physical and mental tension.
1 day: give yourself a day off
Taking a day off mid-week is not something many of us usually consider, but it’s actually a great way to relax, recharge and dedicate some time to yourself. Spend an afternoon watching your favourite old movies, or at the park with a good book. For the ultimate stress-buster, ensure you finish up with a good night sleep. Pillow mists, such as The Body Shop Wellbeing Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow and Body Mist, are great for relaxing the senses as you drift off.
2 days +: take a break from the routine
For a stress-free weekend, Carolyne recommends clearing your schedule of activities. Where possible, turn off the computer and, as the expert puts it, “just do what you love”. This could be reading, sleeping, gardening, cooking… the list goes on. Still feeling tense? You may wish to consider taking a holiday. It doesn’t have to be big one – a few days away may be all you need to relax and refocus.
This ‘city by the bay’, known for its famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and cable cars offers an abundance of attractions, dining, shopping, and night life that’s are certainly less pretentious than its Los Angeles counterpart but no less indulgent or exciting. Voted the ‘Best US City by Conde Nast Traveler for 16 years running, the city has recently been named the home of the upcoming Super Bowl 50 in February 2016 for the USA‘s National Football League (NFL).
Whether you’re just passing through heading to the Napa/Sonoma wine country or staying longer in this travel hotspot, here are a few suggestions for keeping yourself entertained while enjoying the ‘fog city’ even if you’re short on time.
48 hours in San Francisco – what to do
Dining and drink
San Francisco has no shortage of culinary treats to please every palate. From slow food to street food, farm-to-fork or caviar to champagne; no matter what your taste, this city has something to match it.
The modern Urban Tavern offers fresh, seasonal produce where 80 per cent of the ingredients are sourced within 100 miles of the Bay Area. Classic items that have previously been featured on the Urban Tavern menu have included spicy beer sausage and house made pretzel, crawfish and wild mushroom turnovers, five spice braised baby back ribs; and more.
The restaurant’s wine list is focused on selections that are organic, bio dynamic and/or made from sustainably farmed grapes. The domestic list includes more than 100 local vintages and even the table water being served is filtered in-house, not obtained from a commercial source.
Step back in timewith thistribute to old San Fran glamour as John’s Grill is an iconic restaurant located near Union Square. Featuring a wall full of photo of the famous diners who’ve enjoyed this eatery over the years, this particular restaurant’s atmosphere was also once made famous by Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. The menu features a wide variety of steak, seafood and pasta options as well as a heavy serving of nostalgia.
If it’s a tasty drop you’re after, Bluxome Street Winery is the first San Franciscan winery in over a decade. While the city was once long ago full-to-the-brim with wine-makers, unfortunately, most of the wine-making facilities were destroyed due to the 1906 earthquake and its ensuing fires.
Now the Winery offers enthusiasts a way to experience some of what makes the California wine region a favourite without leaving the city. The Winery crushes and ferment its grapes on site to produce small quantities of high quality pinot noir, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc.
Often the site of special epicurean dinners, tastings and more, it’s well worth the visit.
Things to do
Geographically speaking, the city is small enough to get around in a short period of time which makes it easy to see and do a number of things in just two days, particularly if you take the iconic cable cars.
Among the quintessential San Francisco icons, the Golden Gate Bridge is said to be one of the most photographed structures in the world and still manages to impress visitors with its expansive span over the Bay. Also in the San Francisco Bay is the notorious Alcatraz prison, former home to some of the most famed ‘baddies’ in US history including Al Capone. This prison was closed in the 1960’s and remains a fascinating tour and attraction for exploration.
Fisherman’s Wharf is also home to Pier 39, an area bursting with waterfront shopping, dining and night life options. It’s also home to a large and highly photogenic community of seas lions who have taken up residence on the floats to the west of the pier.
Serious shoppers will adore Union Square with its multiple department stores, designer boutiques any so much more all within a short stroll.
Lastly, and certainly one of the city’s most underrated attractions, Beach Blanket Babylon, is a quirky comedic musical revue that’s stood the test of time for 40 years. The outrageous and elaborate costumes, irreverent humour and high calibre performances are enough to even make the toughest crowds chuckle. While much of the humour is based in American pop culture, even international guests will connect with the jokes. Performances are held at Club Fugazi in the North Beach district and are well worth booking for something out of the box.
Where we stayed
The Taj Campton Place is centrally located in Union Square and offers easy access to most anything in the city. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and in 2010, its restaurant earned one Michelin Star.
For more inspiration on this destination visit The San Francisco Travel Association at www.sanfrancisco.travel
About the author Gwen O’Toole is an accomplished writer focussing on travel, events management and food and wine. She also published a fiction novel while spending the past eight years as a magazine editor and travelling the globe before launching The Ideas Library, a creative services and event management company. She is regularly featured in a variety of travel and leisure publications and blogs.
Have you visited San Francisco recently? Do you have any extraordinary experiences you can share with us in the comments below? We’d love to hear from you!
Hi, we’re Sarah & Cooper. Welcome to Travel Live Learn! We’re Aussie expats currently living in the UK (for the third time!) with our adorable Westie, London. Our mission? To inspire you to embrace a life of adventure—whether it’s travelling longer, relocating to the UK or Europe, or exploring the freedom of remote work and digital nomadism. Enjoy your time on our site! We'd love to stay in touch: subscribe for our weekly stories, updates and remote work job opportunities direct to your inbox.
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