It’s been 10 years since I moved away from home. I was 18, leaving for university, and it broke my heart. My whole identity was wrapped up in being my parent’s daughter, my brother’s sister, my cousins’ cousin, a Switzer, a Reid – an islander. I didn’t know how my life would change by leaving, but I knew it would.
I know how to move. In the past 10 years, I’ve lived in 4 Canadian cities, as well as Boston and LA. Not to toot my own horn, but people have said I know my way around a packing supply store. As a result of these moves, I have learned some strategies to get established in a new place.
My dad was in an 80’s Canadian rock band called Haywire (and yes, he had ‘the hair’). Dad toured until I was 7 years old, which included a stint in Japan and 6 months in Norway – and this was before the days of Skype. Even with two young kids at home, my mom made it look easy; she helped me put together these tips for making a long distance relationship work.
I’ve been described, rather diplomatically, as having “a bias toward action.” From age 12-22, my most valuable possession was my agenda… and it wasn’t being used to keep track of all the super cool parties I was definitely invited to. I scheduled every free moment and I wasn’t able to turn off the organizing, regimented part of my brain. It was a struggle because I always felt pressure to be doing or achieving something, and I felt guilty when I wasn’t maximizing my time. Trying to relax was actually a stressful experience. Then I took a giant chill pill, just like everyone told me to do, and I was cured! Just kidding. The changes have been super gradual, but I have learned how to relax. Below I’ve shared five self-care practices that have helped me discover the art of relaxation.
I have never been the kind of person you would call ‘domestic.’ Put it this way – at age 21, I called home to get specific instructions on how to boil carrots.
I have been ‘goal-oriented’ since elementary school. Most likely, I started goal-setting because a character in The Baby-Sitter’s Club made it seem fun, but 20 years later, it is still something I do regularly. I’ve been using the below process since high school – it’s basic, but it works for me.
I used to describe myself as a creative and artistic person. In high school, I was always writing songs and unabashedly sharing them. Somewhere, between 17 and 27, I stopped.
Do you have an overflowing, stuffed to the brim, cluttered closet? These are my tips for keeping my closet organized.
young, wild, and tidy. 