Just like that, the first month of the year is nearly complete! This is an unpopular opinion, but I love January. It fills me with motivation and this new-found energy to try new things. This is what has inspired the monthly favourites series. Here is a list of all the things I have been loving this month. Let me know in the comments below, what have been some of your favourites this month.
p.s. where relevant, the recommendations are hyperlinked (shown in red) so you can have a look at them after reading this blog.
Reading
Fiction Book: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A beautiful story that begins in Afghanistan and divulges into different characters. A book described as painfully sad but radiant with love. If you have read Hosseini’s other books, you know that his work will not disappoint. The writing style of this one is a little different as it deviates from focusing on just one character and jumps from decade to decade. I truly could not put this book down. I recommend it to all.
Non-Fiction Book: The Road Less Travelled and Beyond by Scott Peck ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Written by a psychiatrist, and a sequel to his infamous ‘Road Less Travelled’ explores what it means to live a meaningful life. To live a life-affirming life, one where you make the choices and feel in control. It is a journey into spirituality in an age of anxiety. It has some references to Christianity and the author's own faith but this doesn’t dominate the lesson in this book.
Favourite Quote:
The healthy spiritual life consists of progressively growing out of narcissism - Scott Peck in The Road Less Travelled and Beyond
Peck in his book describes narcissism as the precursor to psychospiritual illness. I would agree with him in saying that often the obsession with ourselves, and how we perform in life, overtakes all consciousnesses. Self-awareness is great. But, self-obsession is debilitating. The moment we take a step back and remove those layers of hyper-expectations, the more we see ourselves as members of a community, and that we live in a world where there are many people who share similar life experiences as us. This continuing practice means that we are able to detach from our narcissistic selves. It becomes easier to live in the moment and enjoy the present. We become more compassionate and are able to identify our anxieties as normal human experiences and go through them than avoid them.
Health Article: How to keep a sharper mind by Dr Sanjay Gupta ⭐️⭐️⭐️
With new year goals, the most common one I hear about is physical fitness. Yet, we often forget to keep our minds in shape. In an effort to find ways to keep your brain lean, these were some of my favourite tips from Dr Sanjay Gupta:
Don't sit still for more than an hour to improve your brain function as daily moderate movement is a reliable way to release a protein substance known as BDNF [brain-derived neurotrophic factor] — “Miracle-Gro” for your brain.
Try analytical meditation, inspired by Dalai Lama, it helps to sit with your thoughts and think about them. Find ways to process them, and create that internal dialogue.
Use your non-dominant hand to write or paint once in a while, as this helps with cognitive stimulation which increases the density of neurons, synapses and dendrites, building a brain more resistant to disease.
Political Article: In Washington, Zelensky seeks to rally support for grueling war with Russia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reviewed by Anoushka Dutta (Social Battle Columnist): As the war continues to unfold, we see President Zelenskly from Ukraine seeking support from the west. "Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” This quote from Zelensky in this article was a good summary of why Western countries, ones with greater economic power and military capacity, should invest money in not just helping Ukraine but for the wider protection of other countries and ensuring global security.
Lifestyle Article: How to read more. Tips by someone who doesn’t read much
Whether it's #booktok or #bookstagram, I have seen the social media scene filled with readers talking about how they have read more than 300 books in the last year. My little brain can't compute when people can read that much, and if you do PLEASE share your superhuman tips! Please tell me how you are processing that much content because I am really nowhere near that point. More often than not, if I love what I am reading, I purposely read much slower to savour it as much as possible. The worst part of it all is when I see the comment section with people saying 'this is why I can't read', or 'I could never reach that goal'. People feel so defeated and that's not the point at all. I wrote a blog on liking reading and enjoying the process. Even if you read one book in 2 months, how to still feel like a part of the reading community.
Watching
New Series: Heartbreak High (set in Australia) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This show is fun, spontaneous and plot-driven. Episode to episode, I don't know where it's going and that's what I absolutely love about this show! It's an easy watch, a comedy-drama that is worth binging.
Series Rewatching: The Office US ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't have to explain this one.
Film: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Available on Netflix) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quentin Tarantino’s 9th film with an amazing cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Austin Butler and more. An homage to Hollywood, the struggle and success it brings. Set in the late 1960s Los Angeles, this comedy-drama is colourful, eclectic and odd.
This started me on a mini Brad Pitt obsession, and I am watching every film with Mr Pitt that I can humanly binge. This is very healthy behaviour.
In the Cinema: Babylon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A very similar vibe to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, now focused on the development of cinema in late 1920 from silent films to the ‘talkies’. A film I recognise may not be for all, but I personally loved it. More than the plot, a well-written development and destruction of characters. I went to see Brad Pitt and stayed for Margot Robbie. A loud, theatrical film created to be experienced in the cinema. The film is a poignant reminder of how amazing the cinema-going experience is, and how much it has evolved over the last century.
Actress of the month: Margot Robbie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything I have watched that she is in has been spectacular. This woman is my girl crush. A talented actress who plays characters with such deep soul and empathy. I am excited to see her future projects.
This video inspired the blog ‘How to Read More’. Content creator, Max Joseph, goes to some of the world’s best bookstores and speaks to ‘pro readers’ from around the globe. In an age, where there are a million distractions including Netflix, podcasts, social media, and news, Joseph presents his audience with effective ways to read more.
Vlog: North Devon Vlog
From the travel segment of Ensemble, I shared with you a quick vlog from my time in North Devon as I explore some of the hidden gems of England- from the Valley of Rocks to quaint seaside towns.
Listening
Podcast: Work Life with Adam Grant ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A variety of episodes delve into different aspects of work life. From episodes on turning imposter syndrome to confidence and a 'how to' for pitching your best ideas. This podcast is filled with thoughtful discussions.
Song: Flowers by Miley Cyrus. Do I need to say more? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Playlist: This is Tom Misch. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Perfect to work to, read to, and walk to.
Movie Soundtrack: Babylon, especially love the track 'Coke Room'. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Partly because it reminds me of the cinema experience this film gave me. I am only a little obsessed.
Mindfulness:
Move: Running ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have been trying to get into running. Mainly because if I do get into it, it will be such an easy way to stay fit. It’s free and you can do it anywhere. I have assigned Friday afternoons for my weekly run. It is a great way to blow off some steam, and rid of the stresses of the working week. However, I am a terrible runner. To stay consistent, I only run for 20-30 minutes. Rather than trying to run hard or long, I am aiming to just show up. I am so finding ways to get excited about running. To do that, I make it an ordeal. I get into my nicest fitness wear. I put on a hair mask (for that clean girl aesthetic!). I have been using the Nike Run Club app, and they have some amazing guided running courses which have kept me going.
Night time routine: Reading before bed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This sounds boringly obvious. But it is an activity that really helped to improve my relationship with sleep. It helps to tune out the world. To wind down, and detox from social media. Some nights it's just before bed, and others it's my evening activity. One thing is for sure, I try to leave my phone in a different room after 6 pm.
Way to relax: Films. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have been watching so many films recently. I think as I stay away from my phone as much as possible in the evenings, I have been loving cosying up in the evening with a cup of tea (herbal of course) and watching a new film. Two streaming channels, I am subscribed to are Netflix and Sky. If the odd film isn't on these streamers and I am desperate to watch, I will rent it on Youtube.
Control: Social media. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Again BORING! But, so incredibly important. The average screen time for adults has been recorded as somewhere around 7-8 hours a day. That to me is pure madness. Going on our phones has become a full-time job, and I don’t think that’s entirely fair to me. Personally, my screen time was averaging around 4-5 hours. At least 80% of that time is spent on non-essential scrolling. My aim is to bring that down to 2-3 hours. One way I am doing that is by adding a 30-45 minute time cap to Instagram and TikTok.
Treating myself: Getting my hair done! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This month, I treated myself by getting my hair done! A few therapeutic hours were spent getting a head massage, treatment, a splash of colour and a cut. I left feeling like a new woman. Beauty/ hair treatments are not something I ever spend much money or time on. But, this month I splurged. It was a very rewarding treat. Few hours relaxing and playing makeover.
I hope enjoyed this month's favourites. If you are looking for some inspiration on how to spend your time, I hope some of these recommendations have inspired you. I will be back next month with another list of favourites. If you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to Ensemble. It's free, and means you get these articles delivered straight into your inbox.
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