Inspiration – The Dream Magazine

Dreamy Destinations for a UK Summer Staycation

Alana — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 11:18:46 +0000

Words by Priya Faith

While I’m a lover of international travel, the pandemic forced me to explore the sights of England in pursuit of a dreamy getaway. From glamping to luxe beachfront apartments, here are just six of my top picks for a summer staycation.

Kudhva, Tintagel, Cornwall

If you’re searching for an off-grid hideout by the coast, look no further than Kudhva of North Cornwall’s coast. Home to unique architectural cabins, tree tents, Shanti tipis and a Danish cabin for larger groups, you’ll truly be at one with nature at Kudhva. Zen vibes, guaranteed.

Prices start at £160 per night, book here.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kudhva/

Storrs Hall, Lake District

Located on a prime spot along Windermere, Storrs Hall is a charming Grade II* listed English country house boasting all the modern-day amenities for an indulgent stay. Thanks to top-class dining, excellent service, and plenty of things to do, you’ll never want to leave.

Prices start at £234 per night, book here.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/storrs_hall/

The Chalet Saunton, Saunton Sands, North Devon

Overlooking the beautiful beaches of Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows is the luxurious apart-hotel Chalet Saunton. Home to six luxury three-bedroom apartments and a two-bed penthouse with a private balcony, The Chalet will quickly become your home from home.

Prices start at £500 per night, book here.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/chaletsaunton/

The Edinburgh Grand, Edinburgh

Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh, you’ll find a luxury all-apartment residence, The Edinburgh Grand. From open-plan apartments ideal for solo travellers and couples to a seriously impressive three-bed penthouse, The Edinburgh Grand is city living luxury at its best.

Prices start at £326 per night, book here.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/chevalcollection/

The Headland Hotel, Newquay

Cornwall’s Headland Hotel should be on your radar if you’re looking for the ultimate Southwest spa break. Overlooking the picturesque Fistral beach, The Headland is a clifftop escape like no other. The best bit? Thanks to a £10 million renovation, you’ll have six pools to choose from before soothing your senses at the second-to-none spa.

Prices start at £390 per night, book here.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/theheadlandcornwall/

The Bird, Bath

If a city break is a bit of you, Bath’s boutique hotel, The Bird, is sure to tick some boxes. At the historic mansion, you’ll find bright, avian-themed décor, highly recommended restaurant, Plate, and unique dining domes, dubbed ‘the place to be in Bath.’

Prices start at £119 per night, book here.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebirdbath_/

While the weather can be hit and miss, the UK is most definitely home to some dreamy destinations for your next staycation. The best bit? No airport chaos.

What I Learned From Surrendering Into My Sensitivity

Alana — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 13:46:35 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I declared that I thought I was ‘too sensitive for this shit’. This shit being business.

A series of unfortunate events tested me, stretched me, and made me more uncomfortable than I have ever felt. But, it turns out it’s a little something called growth, and hey, if the universe is planning a breakthrough for me, at least I can see the path that I needed to walk to get there.

So yes, I am sensitive, but I am choosing to surrender into it.

I’ve been told over the years that I am too loud, too emotional, too much, so too sensitive is just another to add to the list. But, the truth is, I am not too much of anything, and neither are you. So, if this resonates then this piece is for you, and, not as though you need one, but it is also your permission slip to do business exactly how you want to.

It has become the social norm that to succeed, we need to have a thick skin and to toughen up, to be hardy and able to withstand these gusts of wind that come our way. I get it, I do, but there is room for both, the duality of being soft and sensitive while being someone in business who knows what they want.

You can be both.

But, you don’t get told this, and working in spaces and places with strong masculine energies – think sales and media, fast-paced and ever-changing environments – leads you to believe that you have to hide those sensitivities, and become a version of yourself that is tougher, bolder, bigger, and sturdier.

I believed this for such a long time, ten years in fact, and it wasn’t until I got more curious about who I was and how I worked as a person that I realised that I could decide. There is so much power in that. And, the sad thing is that it takes so long to undo those thoughts and those feelings – shout out to two weeks ago and my business wobbles.

There is another thing I want to mention; about 18 months ago, someone told me about Human Design. A theory and a methodology rooted in astrology and the type of person we are and the traits that we hold. I started to learn more about it – I am a 5/1 Generator if you’re interested – and I began to write my own rules. Rules about how I operated, the processes in my business, how I interacted with clients, and the pace at which this all happens.

Setting up my own company gave me the autonomy I needed to work with my energy, my sensitivity, and use it to my advantage. I truly believe it is just that, an advantage.

My business is built around comms and copy, and developing this business has been a journey. Effable started as me freelancing alongside a job, getting clients and building up a portfolio outside of the worlds I had worked in. When I finally took the plunge to take it full time, it was exhilarating, but it was easy to fall into those hard- skinned habits.

It’s a work in progress, and it is something I have to make a conscious effort to change and choose every single day. Being sensitive allows me to connect with my clients on a deeper level, it means I get to feel into their brand and how they operate, and it means I get to choose. I choose who I work with based on energy and alignment. Instead of working with outdated agency models and impossible deadlines, I set the pace, and I get to use my emotions and my intuition to work with brands that care and understand the importance of emotion and depth and feeling.

I am still working on it, but what a wonder and what a privilege.

My sensitivity is no longer something I have to hide or mask; it is something that I can surrender into, and that I can use within the work I do and the things I create. Don’t get me wrong; I am still learning, or rather, unlearning, and changing the habits of a lifetime isn’t something that can be done overnight, but I am enjoying leaning into the softer sides and creating a business that goes against the grain of the
industry.

Alongside that, it’s things like crafting my own schedule, taking time out to go for a walk instead of working solidly for eight hours in a room with no windows, and allowing myself time for reading, for self-development, for moving my body.

The clients I work with are impact-driven, and I think that helps. I work with people who value people and the planet over profit, which facilitates a more human approach.

Surrendering into sensitivity looks like slowness, softness, and holding space for clients. It is a relationship and a partnership, rather than me working for them, and this is something I have craved for so long.

I will always be sensitive, and I will always be soft, but I am also loud and bold, I am creative, and I can be impulsive.

There are so many sides to me and my business, and I am unapologetic.

Check out Effable’s Instagram here and head to their website at https://www.itiseffable.com/

Dopamine Dressing – How to Dress for Happiness

Lucy — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 15:54:44 +0000

Can one piece of clothing change your whole mood? Mary Mandefield explores the dopamine dressing trend - dressing to boost your happiness.

I’ve never been that interested in fashion. As a kid I would wear baggy jeans and oversized shirts. My priority was getting messy and as long as I was comfortable enough to climb a tree, I was happy.

As I reached adulthood and entered more corporate settings, H&M, Topshop and M&S seemed to be the go-to high street shops to create a more image conscious wardrobe. I reluctantly wore blouses and straight leg trousers. Trainers were swapped with smart shoes and rucksacks were replaced with over the shoulder bags. As my jobbs changed from office led marketing roles to working on more creative projects, I found my taste in clothes did too. Becoming more aware of the effects of fast fashion, I jumped into the world of styling myself with just second hand gems.

I trailed charity shops for the brightest jumpsuits, I’d scroll on eBay for hours to scour out pre-loved designer coats and shoes and I’d find myself checking depop more than instagram. I was hooked.

I saw a quote that said ‘my life is a simulation, I’m just in charge of the outfits’, and do you know what, I get it. I’m now a presenter and speaker, and the industry can be really tough and unpredictable. It’s hard to feel like you have a grasp on what you’ll be working on next, but one of the things I take pleasure in is the fact that 99% of the time, I get to choose what I’m wearing. I am in control of how I can express myself that way – I know that my choices are sustainable and can lift my mood. My love for bright colours and OTT textures means I usually leave the house looking like a kids entertainer, and I’m never mad about it.

Here’s some of the pieces which I know I can throw on an instantly feel the most ‘me’

THE purple jacket. A drunk Glastonbury purchase which was created for an attention seeker like me. It kept me warm for the rest of the festival and it meant £80 went to Oxfam for the great work they do. They know me so well on site because I shop at all their festival stores. Have you ever worn a jacket that has almost transformed you into a more vibrant character? If not, come over to mine and borrow the coat for the day.

Platforms. To walk a little taller and to make sure you can see the stage at a gig. No, but in all seriousness, platforms are the ultimate confidence booster for me.

An initial on your jumper so no one forgets your name. Wearing something with your name or initial on is a great conversation starter. In my industry you’re a small fish in a big pond and you want everyone to remember your name. I also love that this jumper reminds me of the type Molly Weasley would knit for the family in the Harry Potter films. Magical!

Always looking for inspiration for the next items I want to find, I chatted to some of my favourite creative thinkers, makers and doers. I asked ‘what piece of clothing changes your whole mood’.

Meet Jazmin, she loves to look sexy but with an edge. She shares that ‘I feel most myself when I mix contrasting prints, textures and cuts – it mirrors different sides to my personality. Silk slips with chunky leather accessories means I can play around with both feminine and masculine energies.’

For Kasia, it’s all about lifting her mood with bright colours – her ever changing hair colour reflects that too. She says ‘These jeans are 100% me. I hand painted them with all my favourite colours, and I purchased them second hand, so they’re sustainable too!’ Kind to the planet and one of a kind.

Musician Kenan shared a look which represents their vulnerability being their power. Spending a lot of time on stage means making an impression before the audience has even heard you sing. ‘My ‘No Tears Just Pearls’ look is about looking delicate & poised but also striking & captivating. In this outfit it reminds me that I’m here & whoever will witness me will have no option but to accept me for me!’

‘Confidence comes from within but the right outfit can make it come out!’ After knowing Ge to rock everything from band tees and skinny jeans to dressy dresses, seeing her in a suit made me stop my scrolling. We’ve been friends since we were teens and there was something I really love about this gorgeous green suit. She shares ‘I was once told that “you have to wear the suit – the suit can’t wear you”. And when I put this outfit on I feel like a boss woman.’

Mary Mandefield is a presenter, writer and content creator. Connect with her @mary.mandefield

How to Break Out of the 9-5 Mindset

Lucy — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:40:13 +0000

You’ve been staring out of your office window for months now, dreaming of the day you hand your notice in. You know you’re made for more. You know there must be more to life than your 9-5 job, your Pret tuna sandwich, and your Friday night trip to All Bar One.

The day comes. You’ve decided. “I’m going to quit my job and go out on my own”.

You work hard for a few months and get your first clients (woohoo!!)

But a few months in, you catch yourself staring out the window wanting more. You realise you’re basically working EXACTLY the same way you did at your 9-5, but with more responsibility, and fewer lunch breaks! It is SO easy to find yourself reverting back to your safe way of working when you go out on your own. I know. I used to do the same.

In 2018 I quit my corp. marketing role and travelled to India to do my teacher training. I then trained as a coach and built up my own successful 6-fig online business in the years following. I wasn’t used to working for myself, but I loved it. I loved the freedom I felt to choose what I put into my calendar and when. I loved the feeling of seeing money coming into my bank account, knowing I had only to thank me, myself, and I.

But still I found myself chained to my desk Monday to Friday. Subconciously arriving around 9/10am and leaving around 5/6pm…. Even though I know I am more productive in the afternoons, and that on some period weeks I am basically useless.

Still I carried on. As usual. 9-5 (ish) Monday – Friday. And then I had one of those lightbulb moments, which has now formed a core part of my teachings – “I get to run my business however the fuck I want to”. Seems simple right? And yet so many of my clients have struggled with similar issues. They leave their jobs for more freedom and abundance, and end up working more, and feeling less satisfied because they don’t switch off (ever) from their biz.

Running a biz is hard. Yep. Ignore the IG fallacy that all you have to do is writhe around on a beach in Mexico, have an orgasm, set up a £10k coaching program, and boom you’re successful.

It requires a lot. You have to juggle multiple roles and hats, but most importantly you have to be your own boss. Which involves setting boundaries and sticking to them, setting a work schedule, making tough decisions.

But the silver lining to all of this, despite it being hard work: YOU MAKE THE RULES.

Wanna work 4 hours a day? Great. You’re the boss!

Wanna work 3 weeks on, one week off? Amazing.

Wanna sleep in till 11am and start work at 3pm? Go get it.

The point here is you, and only you, can decide how, when, and where you work.

Here are some things to consider and explore to help you lose your 9-5 mindset:

CREATE YOUR DREAM SCHEDULE… Allow yourself to daydream and write out exactly how you want to spend your week. When do you want clients? When do you want to show up? What days do you want to have meetings? Is each week the same as the last? Allow yourself to dream big rather than practical and you’ll be able to quickly see the gaps between how you currently work and how you want to work.

CHANGE LOCATION – Maybe you try a co-working spot, maybe you move to Mexico. Whatever floats your boat, just don’t forget that the biz you started in your bedroom during the pandemic doesn’t have to be run from your bedroom forever. Mix up where you work and gain fresh perspectives, have fewer distractions like doing the laundry, and meet new and interesting people that spark creativity within you

REMEMBER, YOU’RE THE BOSS – Your biz, your rules. You really do get to decide how and when you work; something I like to do is give myself full permission to put that into action on a weekly basis. For example, sometimes I like to take a day off (just because I can) even when I have no reason to – this trains my brain to remember I am in full control. Do something that reminds you you’re the boss and you’ll soon find yourself ditching the 9-5 mindset for good!

DELETE, DELEGATE, AUTOMATE – Finally for you to truly step into your biz role and shed the 9-5 mindset it’s time for you to work smarter not harder and be in your zone of genius more often. DELETE any task that is unnecessary (I see you email scrollers), DELEGATE when you can (start by outsourcing recurring tasks to experts like a VA) and AUTOMATE anything you do on repeat. Save yourself time so the hours you spend in your biz are actually productive, and you’ll feel more able to take time off!

When I fully embraced these new work mantras my whole working experience changed. I finally felt the freedom I craved and sought out from starting my own biz. These days, I do still tend to have weekends off – but I also sometimes have a random mid week day off and work a full Saturday – I listen to my body and pay attention to when I’m creative. If creativity strikes, fuck it. I’ll go with it. And equally if my body, mind, and energy is like “NOPE” I give myself permission to cancel everything and take a ME day! I am also working more in alignment with my hormonal cycle, taking time off over my period and I’ve even asked my VA to block out certain days when I’m bleeding as ‘no work days’ and that to me is what freedom is all about.

Connect with Em Huckstep at www.emhuckstep.com/

Coppa Club Brighton Review – Remote Working or Remotely Working

Lucy — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:42:38 +0000

The location
If you’re visiting Brighton for the day you might need to whip out google maps to find Coppa Club Brighton. Located in Brighton Square within the heart of the Iconique Brighton Lanes, it’s pretty tucked away from the main bustling streets. A bit of a hidden gem you might say.

The vibe
It’s sister branches are dotted across London, and as soon as you walk in, the brand has a bit of a London hotel or private members’ club feel (think Hoxton Hotel) – without any members club fees, and with a more relaxed vibe, win-win. Coppa Club is huge inside, and actively welcomes laptop users, so there’s none of the ‘feeling awkward and like you need to keep buying 10,000 things’ that you sometimes get when you sit in smaller cafes.

The decor is gorgeous and bright with lots of seating areas to choose from, cosy booths to hunker down in, and armchairs by the fire for the ultimate cosy winter bouji working day. They also have a pretty outdoors seating area with pop-up igloos spaces available to hire.

Because it’s so spacious, it’s nice and quiet during the daytimes to work from. Evenings get busier with people coming in for cocktails and food.

The food & drink
The European menu is split into pizzas, pastas, small plates, salads and grills. We loved the Burrata, Crab Linguine and Chicken Caesar Salad – classic dishes cooked well. Main course range from about £10 to £25 so it might not be an every-day working destination, but great for a treat-yourself day or fantastic for a lunch meeting.

Importantly – the coffees are good,

The plug socket/Wifi situation
The venue has been built with co-working in mind, so there are helpful plug sockets EVERYWHERE. Wifi was also super-fast and easy to access.

The verdict
Fast becoming our go-to spot for lunch meetings and cosy work-days, Coppa Club is the perfect Brighton destination for working from.

www.coppaclub.co.uk/brighton/

Moving to Bali: 3 founders share what it’s really like

Lucy — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 21:10:06 +0000

Have a couple sips of beer with a fellow freelancer and I bet you they’ll mention they’re looking to move abroad and work remotely. More often than not, to Bali. How do I know this? I am one such cliche.

To be fair, I have actually been there on a holiday about 5 years ago, and instantly fell in love with the place. I’ve always dreamed about going back, but the time difference, expensive flights and ummm, Covid always put me off.

It’s got a reputation for being ‘the dream’ place to remote work from. If you follow anyone that lives there on the gram, you’ll be able to see why. From glistening bowls of dragon-fruit smoothie, to tropical beaches, all-year-round tans and chilled out boho co-working cafes, it looks like the dream. Not to mention once you are there, prices are astonishingly cheap for food, drinks and some accommodation.

We spoke to three entrepreneurs who’ve made the move to Bali, to find out if the promised land of sea, sun and downward dogs is all it’s cracked up to

Sophie Biggerstaff, 30, Founder BYRCOLLECTIVE, www.byrcollective.com

I first came to Bali back in 2017. I started to notice lots of people working from laptops in cafes and this was when I first become aware of the “digital nomad” culture, at the time I was still working in my corporate job as a Buyer for luxury fashion brands, so never thought it would be possible to travel and work, but I made it my mission to try and work out how I could do that. Fast forward a few years later, I quit the corporate world and started my own retail consultancy business supporting start ups, I made sure the business was set up to be non-location dependent so that as soon as we were out of lockdown and travel restrictions were removed I could move around and work & Bali was my obvious choice for a first destination to live and work on my business from. I finally made the move in November 2021, Bali still wasn’t open to tourists yet, so I had to come over on a B211A visa, which allows me to be in the country for 6 months at a time. I had to quarantine for 7 days as travel was still more or less shut down in Indonesia, but when I finally made it to Bali it was a pinch me dream come true moment, and the 7 days of hotel quarantine were totally worth it for a more balanced, outdoor lifestyle.

Logistically the move was made harder due to COVID travel restrictions, visas aren’t cheap, neither was the quarantine & all the PCR tests I had to do to get in, so there were some hurdles I had to overcome, but other than that it was pretty straightforward. To apply for the B211A visa I used an agent called Bali Visas – there are a lot of scam agents out there, so my tip would be to make sure you are booking your visa with a credible agent, with this visa you are sponsored by a company to come in to the country for business purposes, you can stay for up to 6 months, renewing your visa monthly.

To begin my trip I booked a co-living & working space called Dojo in the “digital nomad hub” of Canggu for my first month. They sorted me out with a local sim card, scooter and I automatically met some new friends who had done the exact same thing as me when I arrived. My advice would be if you are travelling solo and want to make friends quickly book into a coliving or guesthouse to start your trip as these are the places you are most likely to meet people. After that you could start to look for villas or apartments to settle in for longer, but beware of what you are booking – accomodation here almost NEVER looks like how it does in the pictures so make sure you check the place out in person before booking in something long term. Accommodation pricing ranges quite widely here, but to stay somewhere basic you could expect to spend approx £300 per month, if you want something super fancy expect to spend around £700 per month.

Gyms here will be a shock to your system in terms of cost, it’s more expensive even than London, with the average membership starting at around £120 month. Eating out however is super cheap, and you are likely going to be eating out every day, local food will cost around £2.50 per meal, western food ranges from around £4-£10 per meal. In terms of actual working there are lots of coworking spaces or cafes to choose from – my favourites are Dojo & Tribal.

To get around I would strongly suggest learning how to ride a scooter, it is very difficult to get around in Bali without one, there is a ride app called Gojek and Grab from which you can order bike taxis, but for freedom it is 100x easier to jump on your own scooter and be able to go wherever you want.

One last tip – make sure you are careful with your laptops going from heat to aircon, the humidity can cause some serious damage and the last thing you want whilst you are here working is for your laptop to break.

Gabby Francis, Devotional Healing and Leadership Coach, www.gabriellefrancis.co.uk

Initially I first came to visit Bali in 2016 – I had such an amazing time and it really opened my eyes to how people could make a more nomadic lifestyle work. At the time I was still living and working a 9-5 in London, but I was curious as to how I might be able to create a life with more freedom. When I returned home at the start of 2017 I went through an incredibly traumatic and life-altering year that shifted my perspective and transformed the lens in which I viewed the world. I decided I had nothing to lose after that. I had began my training as a transformational coach half way through 2017 and just decided to take the risk and leave all I had behind to see what kind of life I could create for myself. Originally I said I would move out to Bali to focus on my healing whilst I set up my Coaching business for 6 months – I never looked back, and things evolved in ways I couldn’t have even imagined. The magic of Mama Bali has a funny way of doing that.

It was actually pretty straightforward. I sorted a social visa for myself and my sister decided she wanted to move out here too, so we did it together. It was reassuring to have her by side through it all. I took 1 suitcase with me and we went for it. We initially found a place on air Bnb and then sussed some spaces out to live when we got here as the Facebook community groups are way more helpful to find longer term stays. I didn’t move out with a lot of money to support me – I just had full trust I would find a way to support myself if I was supposed to be here for a longer period of time.

I’ve been here for 4 and a bit years now. Living in Bali is an initiation. This island is incredibly powerful, sacred and spiritual – not something to take for granted, or lightly. There have been many ups and downs throughout the journey. This island holds a lot of lightness and also has capacity for the darkness too. It’s what you make out of it. I have met my soul family here,

so I’ve always felt connected to like-minded community which has been total medicine. I feel that Bali is one of the only places on earth that literally has EVERYTHING on your doorstep. In one moment you can be in a deep shamanic breathwork ceremony, healing all your past trauma, and 5 mins down the road you can be in a bouji restaurant and bar living like a Queen! There have been many times I’ve thought I’ve been complete with my chapter but she (Mama Bali) has kept me here for a reason. It’s been life-changing and has brought me home to myself. The land, the energy and the people are so special – I’ve learnt it’s important to honour the sacredness whilst you are here because you will be supported even more so. Right now I am craving a break from this island and her beautiful intensity. My friend shared an analogy with me the other day – if you eat lobster every day you stop appreciating the quality and get complacent with the gratitude you initially felt. I feel it’s the same with Bali – to appreciate the magic here, for me personally, I’m needing a little break. I’m sure I will return when I am supposed to. Bali has a piece of my heart and will always feel like home.

Stephanie Connelly, 31, founder of Rewrite, a content and strategy agency, https://www.rewritestrategy.com/

I originally moved to Bali in 2018, at the time I was 27, had come out of a long term relationship and was growing a business in Dubai that just didn’t fill me up. Before deciding on Bali I was actually sat in a hotel room in Vietnam, heartbroken, and just said out loud…’I’m going to Bali on June 5th.’

I had no idea why, but that date just felt so right — I stumbled upon an internship for a large travel page in Canggu and applied pitching my heartbreak story and the whole ‘eat, pray, love’ cliche — and bam…I decided on 2.5 months, and ended up staying 2.5 years. I left during the pandemic for 1.5 years and I have now been back here for 1 month, with my business and just bought land.

Logistically I went over solo, I had a couple of suitcases and no expectations, however, now this time round I have come over with my own business and work really well over here.

Depending on your business will depend on the move you are planning to make. If you are planning on working with the local community, you will need to look into setting up your own business here to ensure you stay above board, however if you plan to work online with your clients back in your home country, then all I can say is…embrace the time difference and create a routine and lifestyle that truly lights you up.

I personally believe that everyone should spend at least one month here, do the work, network, grow your community and leave a stronger and better business minded individual.

Bali is everything to me, its grounding, exciting and contains a whole load of growth. I have learnt more about myself here than I have in the past 31 years. I have just bought land and plan to build here in Uluwatu and am now planning on moving my business out of the UK & looking at whether to set up officially here or move it to another country. My clients are predominantly UK based, and they are all supportive of this move due to my ethos around living and breathing a life of creative freedom, but figuratively and literally.