Category: Lifestyle

Don’t make a resolution: do something fun instead

It’s a New Year and for many, a fresh start. You’ve read the articles on how to make effective resolutions and vowed to lose 10kg, be healthier or tidier around the house. But what about making promises to yourself about things you actually want to do? Not what you think you should do but what will make you feel good?

Instead of making resolutions I won’t keep, I’ve decided to give myself permission to do the following things this year.

Write letters

I used to send a lot of letters to my pen-pals. I collected them like stamps with a handful in Australia, in the US and across Europe. I used to include little stickers and photos. I would clumsily translate English into German using a phrase book. I even took advantage of this paper friendship and stayed with my German pen-pals on my first trip overseas at the age of 18. They cooked me schnitzel and I went to college with them, ate ice cream and rode bikes. So, this year I will write more correspondence. I’ll write to my grandparents and relatives overseas, and send more cards to friends.

Make more of my own things

I’ve dabbled in DIY before – making my own granola, yoghurt and soda bread. My partner makes salami, capacola and pancetta, pickles and sauce. This year we want to crack making our own bread. Paying $8 for a dense seedy organic loaf now seems a little extravagant but anything else tastes disappointing so we’ll have to make our own. As well as food items I’d like to grow more in my tiny garden and make cleaning products like washing powder.

Go camping

One of my favourite feelings is waking up with the birds at dawn, pulling on a jumper over my pajamas, crawling outside of my two-man tent and sitting in my chair with a cup of coffee. Whether it’s on a site in a caravan park or roughing it in a national park, I always feel calm and relaxed. So this year I want to go away for a couple of long weekend camping trips to experience this feeling again.

My stack of cookbooks just waiting to be used.

Use my recipe books

I have a stack of cookbooks and received two more for Christmas. This year I will actually make some recipes from them rather than just looking at the pretty pictures. My partner and I tend to rotate through the same recipes each week and while there is nothing wrong with that, it is always nice to spice things up a bit with some new menu items.

Do more things alone

As an introvert, I quite enjoy my own company. I’m quite content to read for four hours or go for a long walk. But I also enjoy dining alone and going to the movies solo. I’ve dined sans a partner out of necessity when travelling or I’ve done it because I just fancied sitting in a café for a few hours on a drizzly weekend. And going to the movies alone – especially during the day – seems luxurious. So I will give myself permission to do these things more and maybe even add an exhibition to the mix.

What will you do for yourself this year?

January 5, 2016
In defence of public holidays

Melburnians were out in force on Friday for the public holiday they were given in order to prepare for the Australian Football League Grand Final.

No one would argue that it’s a pretty ridiculous reason to be given a public holiday, but judging by the number of people I encountered on my bike ride around the city, it was evident everyone was taking full advantage of it.

Predictably, industry and business groups were not happy with decision, warning of a ghost town and productivity loss.

But Premier Daniel Andrews defended his public holiday, highlighting the positive impact the time off would have on families. I tend to agree with his reasoning.

While small businesses and some industries may have suffered and lost money in paying staff penalty rates, can a cost be placed on people’s health? Shouldn’t we place importance on work/life balance as well as the economy?

I like to think of public holidays as large-scale giant mental health days. For those who can get a day off, it provides the time to do something you enjoy, to spend time with people you care about or to just do nothing.

Research conducted to coincide with Go Home on Time Day, found that the hours Australians work in overtime in a year adds up to almost $110 billion. Not paying their employees for this extra time is surely a benefit business is already reaping.

Melbourne was glorious for the public holiday on October 2.

The sunny weather obviously has an impact on the number of people being active on the public holiday; there were groups of cyclists, joggers and couples running together. Families and groups of friends were taking up real estate on any patch of lawn available for picnics and barbecues. Others left the city for the water, the highways to the coast and river much busier than they would have been otherwise.

Watching everyone enjoying this free day made me think of how important it is to be forced to not work. Despite our image to the contrary, Australians really don’t like not working.

We are a nation of workaholics. The latest Roy Morgan figures show Australia’s full-time workforce has about 21 of days of leave accrued.

So a few forced public holidays scattered throughout the year is, in my book, a public service.

What do you like to do on a public holiday?

October 4, 2015
Bound to the big chains? Here are some alternatives

When I left Katherine in the Northern Territory I vowed to never again visit a large supermarket chain. After four years of visiting the same store I was sick of its sameness, its uniformed vegetables and gaudy promotions.

In Australia, the two largest supermarkets have a monopoly. They dominate the grocery space and convince us, the consumers, that there are only two options when it comes to deciding where to do the weekly shop. It’s worth being aware about the activities of these companies before making a decision on where to spend your money.

Luckily, there are more than just two options.

Shop local

I’m spoilt for choice with three butchers, a veg and fruit store, deli, bakery and more just a five minute walk away. Now, I know many people aren’t lucky enough to have this abundance of choice, but even travelling that little bit further is worth it. Many think individual shops will be more expensive, but often no more so than the chains. What’s more you get quality products and friendly customer service. It’s also important to support local businesses otherwise one day we won’t have the choice.

Markets

Markets are not only a treasure trove of produce, but also a great way to interact with the people who make or sell your food. My local farmers market has a particular veggie stall we love. It sells the most amazing vegetables that are the complete opposite of what you find in the supermarket; purple, white and orange carrots, juicy leeks, fresh green broccoli and beetroot of all shapes and sizes. Undercover markets are also great alternatives to the big supermarkets. We usually just buy what’s in season and then make up recipes from what’s in the fridge during the week.

Broccoli? No, a delightful green cauliflower from the veggie guy at the market

Community food groups

Community food groups are springing up everywhere – from regional towns, to inner city suburbs. Often run by a few eager volunteers, it’s a great place to pick up bulk products like rice, flour and beans, as well as veggies. Food swaps are also another great idea to get you inspired to make more of your own food and to enjoy what others have created. Find a swap meet near you using the Local Harvest map. Also check out your local council website for listings, as well as on Facebook.

Online shopping

This is a space that’s only going to keep growing. There are already plenty of companies offering to send you boxes of organic products, gourmet meals and Paleo ingredients. There are also schemes like the Goodness Me Box, which send you a surprises box of health food goodies each month for you to review. Reviews earn you reward points which then go toward your next delivery. For a more complete shopping experience, Aussie Farmers Direct will service most of Australia delivering Aussie-made products to your door.

How do you like to shop?

September 20, 2015