In many different ways March has been a month of transformation – but a bit more on that a little later on…
First thing’s first: my March travels!
My Travels
As part of my 25th birthday celebrations I travelled to Budapest and Prague with my lovely boyfriend (via a train journey through Slovakia…definitely need to return there at some point to see more than just fields and train tracks). Both Budapest and Prague were cities I’d wanted to visit for so long, so it made sense to combine them.
Oh, and we also got delayed on the way out there because of all the fog. But it was OK in the end – the Easyjet pilots opened up the flight deck for everyone! *excited squeal*
Ever since I’ve been back, people have been asking me which city I prefer. And that’s such an impossible question to answer, mainly due to the fact they both felt so different. Budapest felt a little more off the beaten track, while Prague was full of large groups of tourists at every corner. But then again, Prague was a lot more charming than Budapest thanks to its quaint cobbled streets and colourful medieval buildings. I can’t choose, I loved them both!
One thing I will say though – we were spoilt with our choice of accommodation in both cities!
In Budapest I popped my Airbnb cherry – and what an apartment to have on my first booking! Seriously, if I could move in to this apartment I would.
And in Prague we Czech-ed (sorry) into Residence Agnes, a hotel currently sitting at the top of TripAdvisor. It’s a small, friendly hotel where the staff can’t help you enough. It was also painfully romantic – just look at our gorgeous room! (It later transpired we had been given the honeymoon suite, win!)
A month of transformation
I said up above that March has been a month of transformation, and I meant it!
I’ve gone from a couch-loving, microwave meal-eating exercise-a-phobe, to someone who goes running four times a week and makes healthy nutritious meals from scratch.
Seriously. What has happened to me?!
It’s obviously paying off as I’ve already lost a stone, and I’m feeling much more energetic! I’ve also lost about £100 thanks to having to buy fancy trainers to support my weird flat feet. Oh, and a bright pink jacket. Just because.
There are a few reasons for this big change: firstly, I’m the first to admit I’ve put on a few stone over the last few years. Plus, while hiking up Budapest’s Citadella I realised just how unfit I really was…! My friend offered to help by putting together some meal plans for me. As the weight started to drop off, I’ve taken up exercising to get myself moving a bit more, and to help improve various health conditions.
(Not related, but I realised this post didn’t have a picture of a cat in it. So meet one of the cats from the Budapest cat cafe!)
Side note: if you too have a tendency to suffer from bouts of anxiety/depression, I cannot recommend exercise enough! It feels great to just get outside, on your own, with nothing to do other than focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
This change has spread into other parts of my life too, where I’ve endeavoured to declutter my digital and physical lifestyle. I’ve been sorting out my room, attempting to chuck away anything that I never use. And I’ve also cleaned up my personal Facebook page, deleting people that I’ve barely spoken to or who just don’t bring anything to my life – I’m now all about surrounding myself with the people that matter!
I’ve also started to put my phone away more often and read a lot more. In the last week I’ve finished reading Man’s Search For Meaning, a book written by a prisoner of Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII. I’ve really missed that feeling of looking forward to a good sit down and a long read!
It may all found a bit drastic, but seriously – I feel much better for doing all of this!
Has anyone else done a life detox? I’d love to know how yours went!
What I’ve Been Writing
10 of my favourite snapshots from Copenhagen
It’s my birthday! My 25 most memorable travel experiences
How to spend a weekend in Copenhagen
A birthday breakfast at Duck and Waffle
Superhero cinema night with #GamesOnTheBgo
7 tips and tricks for a comfortable hostel stay
Across the Peruniverse: Walking the Inca trail
Did you fall for my April Fools’ joke?
My phone kept buzzing on April 1 with notifications from people who had fallen for my April Fools’ joke…
https://twitter.com/emilyraylondon/status/715817647733084160
Alas, I am not moving to Australia for a “special project” (which in my head I had dreamt up to be some sort of koala cuddling exercise!). But I have got an exciting April ahead of me nonetheless….
What’s happening in April
At the end of the month I’m flying out to my 4th country of the year – Monaco! I’ll be heading out for a few nights with my best mate. We’re hoping for beautiful weather, but hey – as long as the casinos are open we’ll be happy. (Yeah, may have got a bit obsessed with casinos in Vegas…)
Love these monthly round-up posts. I must try to do more of them. Congrats on the detox. I’ve been thinking of doing all of the things you’re doing so it’s encouraging to learn you’re benefiting from it.
And yes, I did fall for your tweet. Awkward.
I loved your April fools tweet, it was so convincing (clearly, as I fell for it!) and that AirBnB apartment looks lovely, I’m trying out AirBnB for the first time when I go to Lisbon next month 🙂 And I’ve just very recently started going to the gym and make lifestyle choices to improve my mental health/health so very good luck to you! 🙂
Spring has certainly sprung for you in your month of transformation, dearest Emily, and I deeply admire everything that you’ve achieved – running, eating healthily, dieting digitally, decluttering, and putting you feet up for some good long reads. This all adds up to a sparkling spring clean, and is definitely the pathway to wellness for members of the Cranky Club like you and me. In the words of one of my favourite sayings, you now have two doctors – your left leg and your right.
Congratulations on the weight loss. I totally agree that exercise is the cure for so many things aside from weight loss and cardio health. It really helps to clear my head too.
Congrats on the healthy lifestyle changes love, it can be hard, but you definitely feel better for it, I agree! I’ve slipped back into eating too much chocolate again though (damn that Easter!) but now the sun’s out I plan to start getting out more again and eating better. Maybe we should find a healthy afternoon tea to meet up and do (does such a thing exist?!)K x
Yay for your running! I’m so proud/impressed by it! And I totally agree about exercise being good for anxiety, running has really helped me worry less about my long distance relationship. So jealous of your travels this month they sound great. We must catch up soon!
Well done on the health kick Emily – you’re putting me to shame since I can’t even remember the last time I made it to my exercise class & eating far too much chocolate of late! Need to work on it like you’ve been doing. And I still feel like a right numpty for falling for the April Fool but seriously how cool would a koala cuddling mission be?!
I do love reading your round up posts and well done on the running! I’m hoping to go to Monaco soon so can’t wait to read all about it!
Ar wow that’s amazing you’ve lost a stone already, I need to get on that lifestyle. Sounds like you’ve got yourself in a good routine. Glad you like Budapest – one of my favourite cities.