Hi @A_Friend    Sorry to hear that you have gone through a break-up. I think @Tay100 was spot on. Sometimes these things just take time, and it is important to allow yourself to be sad and grieve the loss of the relationship. As rough as it is, it is important to feel these sad emotions instead of trying to bury them and distract yourself because, in the long run, you will keep holding onto the sadness.    I love @wanderingwasp comment about having a glow-up post break up! I think they've described the classic break up stages where first you sit around all sad and eat icecream and then you start exercising and trying to be the best version of yourself. And it is not wrong! I think it might be great for you to reflect on the things that you absolutely love doing and make time in your day for them. Are there any activities that come to mind? For me, it would be baking and walking along the beach!   Reaching out to friends to have a chat or do an activity together could also be a great thing to get your spark back. Do you think that would help?   You said that your sadness isn't just about the break-up. Is there anything else on your mind that you feel like is holding you back from being happy?   Just remember that you are going to have sad days sometimes and that is ok because it happens to everyone!     ... View more

One of the best books I've read in 2020 is Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton. It is a bit intense and deals with some heavy themes so I wouldn't recommend if you were looking for something light-hearted or and easy read. It is also a little bit difficult to get into. BUT the reason I would like to recommend it, particularly on this thread, is because I think it is not only an interesting story but an incredibly well written and uniquely written book that might be inspiring for people who also like to write!   On the other hand, a book I would recommend if you want something easy to read to get back into reading is Little Fires Everywhere. I finished it in a weekend I was absolutely glued. It is an intriguing story and easy to follow with lots of interesting characters. ... View more

Great topic! Thanks for the tag.    Like @featuringme I am lucky enough to still be living at home and so I don't have to cover costs like rent, water, electricity, and internet, which allows me to save most of what I get paid. So my first tip would be to stay at home for as long as possible if you can (as long as your circumstances allow it and your home is a safe space). So in that respect, I am not finding it too hard to manage money at the moment!   In terms of budgeting and saving money, there are lots of different resources that are out there and it is important to find something that works for you. There are loads of different budgeting apps and planners, and lots of banks offer their own features. For example, some banks allow you to automatically split your pay each month into specific accounts for food, entertainment, house savings, holiday savings etc. or rounding up purchases and putting the extra $2-3 into your savings. These are things you could also do manually if your bank doesn't offer them.    If I'm allowed, I'd like to suggest a podcast called "She's On The Money." They have a lot of different episodes covering everything from setting a budget, to saving for a big purchase, to superannuation, and investing, so there is something for everyone no matter what stage of money managing you're at.    I think that it doesn't matter if you can save $10 at a time or $100 dollars at a time, because every little bit adds up! I hope that people can get some great tips from this thread ... View more

Hi @C888r    Thanks for sharing your experiences. I think this is something that a lot of people have felt at one time or another, especially during the pandemic when we are all staying inside and most of our socializing and entertainment is happening through our phones.    I think the fact that you have recognised that you are ignoring assignments and other responsibilities and sacrificing sleep because of your phone use means that you feel like it has become a problem. Do you think this is how you feel?   The good news is there are always strategies that you can use to help. One very drastic measure you can take is to delete any apps that you feel like are taking up too much of your time. I often delete social media apps from my phone when I have to get a lot of work done. Sometimes I just leave my phone in another room. I also use the app "Flora" that lets you set timers to block you from using your phone for 25 or 50 minutes. Do you think that is something you could try?   A great way to get things done is to set little goals and reward yourself. Maybe you could try working on an assignment for 25 minutes with a phone blocker on, rewarding yourself with 5 minutes of phone time, and then repeating. Is this something that might work for you? ... View more

Hi @BrixtonStation    This is a great question to bring to the forums and I think something that a lot of people might be able to relate to including me!   Is there any more detail you can give us about how you've been feeling? When you say switch very weirdly are you going from being happy to very sad and hopeless or anxious? Are you getting irritated easily?    It is certainly hard to navigate changing feelings when you feel like there is not an explanation for changes in mood. Have you experienced anything difficult in the last couple of months? How are you coping with the pandemic?   Is there a trusted friend, adult, or person in your life that you feel comfortable chatting to? Otherwise, another option might be to speak to your GP about how you are feeling. They are a good first point of contact and can assess if what you are experiencing might be affecting you negatively. There is also no shame in also speaking to a psychologist if you personally feel like you are experiencing changes in mood that are not normal for you. If you were having problems with a sore back you would go to a chiropractor. I think mental health should be no different, and if you are having problems with your mood you can absolutely speak to a psychologist if you feel like you need it.  ... View more

Hi @goldilocks  I know you posted this a few months ago so I wanted to see how you were going.  I agree with @Taylor-RO that having some positive goals is really important. Instead of "I want to lose weight" you might say "I want to cook 5 healthy meals this week" or "I want to run 5kms." This way, you are celebrating the excellent things to are achieving with your health and fitness, instead of waiting for a number on a scale to go down.  I also agree with @Lost_Space_Explorer5 suggestion that it might be important to go to a GP. If you just want to live a healthier lifestyle you can definitely do that on your own, but if you are seeking to actively lose weight or start a diest it is best to consult with your GP first so that you don't do anything that puts your health at risk. I definitely can relate when you say it is hard to eat healthy because it is so easy to go back to junk food and snacks. I have found some great recipes on the BARE Guide website. I have used lots of the free recipes and they have been really delicious and filling. Many of these recipes have been developed with the help of a dietician. You could also reach out to a dietician and make an appointment so they can give you an idea of the best type of food and meals you should be eating, especially to fuel yourself before and after playing sport.  There is no one size fits all when it comes to eating and living healthy so I hope you find something that works for you! ... View more

Hey @MoonSwirls    I'm a bit late to this post but I think it is really thoughtful that you are taking the time to find some activities to do with your dad. It can be hard when a loved one is sick and becomes withdrawn (which I saw you mention in a more recent post.) Even though he may not show it, I'm sure he appreciates the little things you do to try to make his day better, make him feel better, and keep his mind off things. I hope you've found little ways to look after yourself and your mental health too! ... View more

Hi @Survived  I just wanted to reach out and see how you have been doing since you posted a little while ago. Have you been able to use any of the services or ideas that @Janine-RO and @wanderingwasp suggested? Is there anything that you have found has been helping over the last few weeks?  We are always here to listen and support you as you try to heal from what you have been through.  ... View more

Hi @OwlsDoCry    I wanted to check-in and see how you're doing today. I think all of the previous posters have given a lot of great information and suggestions for you. Have you thought about keeping a journal of how you are feeling/what identity you are experiencing each day? From your post, it sounds like how you're feeling can change very quickly. It might be helpful to keep a record of the different "people" inside your head to help you reflect on how you're feeling and make sense of who the different people are.    It must be difficult to be worried about reaching out to your mental health team. Is there another trusted adult that you could speak to about how you're feeling? I think it is worthwhile sharing it with someone in your life so that they might be able to offer some support. Otherwise, if you choose to keep a journal or write down how you're feeling, that might be something you can share with your mental health team when you feel comfortable.  ... View more

Hi @bumblebee77    This is a really tough situation that I'm sure anyone who has been through a break up can relate to, so you are not alone in these feelings. The end of a relationship comes with its own kind of grief, which is something that definitely takes time to process and work through. I think it is very normal to have days that you feel fine and then days that you feel overwhelmed and terrible. And like @TOM-RO said, there is no timeline for when you should feel better, but it will happen.     Something that stuck out to me is when you said "everyone tells me it's better than being cheated on or ghosted." I don't think this is true. Your feelings are still valid even though this wasn't a "bad" breakup. I also really related to you saying "there are much bigger problems in the world." I think it is important to remember that just because bad things happen in the world, it doesn't make what you're going through any less difficult. You are allowed to feel sad and angry about what you're going through. I'm glad that you've shared these feelings so that you don't have to feel this way all by yourself. We are here to listen and support you.   What do you think would be helpful for you right now? Do you think it might help to talk to a trusted friend about how you're feeling, or a counsellor? Would you be open to some resources or ideas that might help with dealing with the break up, or like @Tay100 suggested, resources that might help with uni? Let us know how we can help!     ... View more

Happy to be here! I think this is an awesome way to introduce ourselves   What's your favourite type of bird? I think this must change every time I see a new bird, but I have an excellent print hanging on my wall of two red-tailed black cockatoos that I bought from a tattoo artist as part of a charity fundraiser for bushfire relief, so they are my favourite this week.  Do you ever wish you could fly? Why/why not? Definitely, what an easy way to get around and avoid traffic. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I'm not a night owl at all I think my ideal bedtime is 9.30pm, so I must be an early bird. But I will admit that sometimes I do love a sleep in. Why do you think the chicken crossed the road? Someone told them it was an eggcellent idea (ba-dum-ts) Which came first - the chicken or the egg? A dinosaur!     ... View more

My absolute favourite easy recipe are mini pizzas, because you almost don't even need a recipe!   As long as you have mini pita breads and tomato paste/tomato sauce/pasta sauce and cheese, you can add any other ingredients that you like. Pop them in the oven for 15 or so minutes and you're done!   Some examples of things you could put on top are: - ham or salami - spinach - pineapple - capsicum - olives - zucchini - mushrooms - eggplant ... View more

What an excellent thread with so many great ideas. Today I practiced self-care by going for a walk and listening to a podcast - double self-care! It was really good to stretch my legs on a walk after sitting at a desk all day and listen to a really interesting podcast that helped take my mind off work and wind down.  ... View more