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For the first time in two years, I managed to have a bank holiday weekend off, which means no work, no deadlines, no nothing and let me tell you, it’s so refreshing!
A lot has happened over the past 3 days but I’m going to highlight the 3 main things; I tried to utilize as much of the free time I had over the weekend before the 9 – 5 routine starts again this week!
1. Second Retail XP
Around this time last year, I wrote a post about my first retail experience and if you remember, it wasn’t exactly the best time of my life. Despite the negative working environment that I put up with that whole year, I entered my second retail job with a fresh open mind.
Unlike previously, I was welcomed and integrated into the team from day one. Managers were always supportive and the rest of the team always had a positive energy that rubbed onto me whilst I was working.
For me it wasn’t about earning extra cash on the side of my studies (although that was great!) instead, the company culture that encouraged personal and professional growth. I have most certainly seen the benefits long-term. In fact, most recently the experience has already proven to be useful, I use certain aspects of my time at my part-time job in my current placement. Everybody has to start somewhere.
I believe that everything I learnt will continue to be useful in my growth whichever industry I end up in.
I’m thankful for my time there, I was actually a little emotional leaving and handing in my notice took a whole week because I love it there too much! Although, I was sad for it to come to an end, I’m excited to have weekends free to have some quality me-time!
2. Trip to York
Oh how I wish that said New York…
I spent Sunday at the cute little city of York. Previously, I went to the designer outlet in York, but never the city centre itself. It’s always such a thrill to me to visit new cities in England so as usual, I had to take photos of all the pretty corners and spots.
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The medieval castle walls that surround the city made me feel like I was a walking in a fairytale.
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I even managed to squeeze some time in to meet up with my long-time school friend at the chocolate shop she works at in the York Shambles. Although it was quite a short catch-up, it was so lovely to see her after such a lengthly amount of time and of course, get that double scoop of ice cream that she served me.
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The York Shambles heavily reminded me of Fable. If you’ve ever played it, the style of the houses and shops (especially Little Shambles which I didn’t get a photo of because it was so crowded ?) are too alike to the towns on Fable. I did wonder for a minute as I ate that delicious double scoop ice cream, that if I was in the real life version of the game, would the ice cream would give me bad points?
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I also made a quick video of my short time in York. Check it out below:
3. The Gym
After a series of events that happened this month with anxieties rocking upwards more than ever, one of my managers at my part-time job had recommended me to go running to release the negative energy.
I took her advice and ran every day for 2 weeks, the running turned into “I want to do something else” which then turned into buying a gym membership and committing to attending the gym. I can now say that I’m a little obsessed with working out that I’ve dedicated weekends for the last month (after work/early before work) to spending time doing high intensity workouts as well as home exercises from a series of YouTube videos and the 30 days fitness challenge app.
It burns so good, but I find it so much fun!
Not to mention buying gym clothes and equipment has reached a new satisfactory level in my shopping addiction.
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Working out has made it into my routine along with meditation (which by the way, I’ve been doing for 77 days straight! ?) Excited to see results and get fitter – maybe I can start taking the stairs rather than the elevator to the office work soon!
How’s your bank holiday weekend been?
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