Imagine you wake up to the sound of your alarm with only 4 hours of sleep - you feel horrible and tired, not ready to face the day ahead.   OR you’re awakened by the tone of your alarm and you’ve had 8 hours of restored sleep, you wake with a smile and jump out of bed ready to face the day. Which scenario best describes your usual morning awakening?   For most people in this day and age, lack of sleep is becoming popular, with all our busy lives quality of sleep is decreasing as is bad sleep hygiene practices.   Sleep is more than just a resting mechanism it is a way your body biologically repairs and prepares you for the day ahead. It is important for a number of reasons including mental sharpness, emotional stability and physical health. Many disorders and diseases are related to inefficient sleep and poor sleep quality.   Sleep involves 2 main stages, NON-REM (rapid eye movement) and REM sleep. NON-REM occurs first and involves 3 main stages, which are followed by REM stage, when dreaming occurs and your eyes are actually moving back and forth. The quality of your sleep is just as important as the quantity. One can have 8 hours of sleep but still wake feeling sleep deprived because the quality of their sleep wasn’t ideal.   Join us to discuss all things zzZzzleeep on Monday 28 th at 8pm AEST. We want to hear from you, how you feel when you’ve had a good night’s sleep or a terrible pillow-covers-the-face “I don’t want to get out of bed” sleep.    ... View more

      I powered up the slope with determination and pumping adrenaline, I reached the summit, thinking that once I was there and could see the mountain recede underneath me I would feel a sense of achievement and awe, instead I was met with the unexpected realization of how small and alone I was, standing on the stop of an snowy mountain watching the mist role around the gullies beneath me, no one in the world knew where I was or what I was doing, that was one of the most exhilarating and terrifying moments of my life”   Anyone who’s travelled knows its one of the most enriching experiences of life, full of new cultures, people, food, landscapes and climates. But you would also know its not always what you expect, social media fill ours minds with glorified photo shopped images of exotic people and places but sometimes when you step of the plane and into the unknown the world can be a damn scary place.   When we start to plan a trip a lot of questions come up:   -       Where should I go? -       Who should I go with? -       Should I travel alone, with a partner or with friends? -       How much money will I need? -       Should I plan the trip out from start to finish or wing it as I go?   Monday's getting real session will be on all things travel, from smart tips like how to budget, stay safe and avoid tourist scams, to holiday romance etiquette, partying over seas and avoiding dodgy situations/people and how to nicely tell a creep to leave you the heck alone.   Everyone has their own travel experiences and can have something to share, from horror stories to the best days of our lives we want to know! Maybe you’re planning a trip right now? Are on an adventure that isn’t going exactly to plan, or are suffering from a bout of post travel blues come join us for some chats and story telling times at the getting real session next week.   JOIN US - 8PM AEST MONDAY 10th MARCH ... View more

Browsing through search results in the early hours of the morning, my fifteen year old self was awestruck by the variety of contraceptives that weren’t known as “condoms” or “the Pill”. As I sheepishly clicked through the articles one by one, I knew that there was still quite a lot for me to learn.   During the later years of high school, people were talking about how life was going to be divine after graduation. Getting their provisional licence, going on road trips or travelling overseas, going to university – the way they spoke with such ambition and grandeur. It was all about careers; not friendships or even intimate relationships. I came from a school that although presented as open-minded, was actually very conservative. The topic of sex was always taboo – despite the fact that everyone was doing it. Whether it was embarking on your sexual awakening or continuing your sexual shenanigans, mention sex aloud and you’re in trouble. Other than learning about reproductive systems in biology or sitting through an awkward ten minute presentation for Schoolies, contraception was not covered either.  Even though we learned about a lot of methods we could use, I knew of more than a few couples that thought the ‘pull out’ method was enough (it’s really not).   I went to my local GP. Who knew there were so many forms of contraception?! Female condoms, rods, injections, rubbers, there’s even patches. I ended up getting a prescription for the contraceptive pill. With some instructions on how to take it, I was on my way. However, I must say, I did become slack (which is something you should never slack on) so I began searching for alternatives.   It was embarrassing knowing how little I knew about different contraceptives as well as the numerous sexually transmitted infections and diseases you could get without using protection. Growing up, I never had “The Talk” with the parents. My education was a mash of internet porn, word-of-mouth and Google. But going to see a general practitioner to talk about it and doing some myth-busting with me did help. As time went on, looking at websites like Better Health Victoria and reading magazines gave me reminders.   Join us in the forums this Monday (20 th  January) at 8pm AEST, to tell us what you think about safe sex! Hope to see you there :) ... View more