My story of surviving mental illness at Uni

Hi! I’m Jo, the new Every Day Role Model for The Need to Live. Since you’ll be hearing fairly regularly from me from now on, you should probably get to know me. So what better way than laying my cards on the table? I thought I’d share with you the mental health struggle that is […]

5 Reasons to Visit Nottingham

Have you been working really hard and are in dire need of a break? Or perhaps you’re looking for a different place to celebrate a birthday? Well look no further than my home city – Nottingham. A persistent rumour that there were 10 women to every man meant that it used to be the go-to […]

Best ways to look after yourself at Uni – for free

I don’t need to tell you that Uni can be tough – late nights, deadlines, home sickness… It can all leave you feeling exhausted, anxious and totally stressed out. So it’s really important to make the extra effort to look after yourself. But you don’t need an expensive spa weekend or wellness retreat: here are […]

How to eat healthily at Uni

There’s no denying that healthy eating as a student can be tough. You have limited money, limited cupboard/fridge space, a shared kitchen – and you might not have the most comprehensive cookery skills just yet. But, as I mentioned in a previous post, eating healthily is one of the most important things you can do […]

The best Christmas films on Netflix this year

I’m a massive fan of Christmas – my tree is up already and I’m not ashamed to admit it. So, if you’re anything like me, you’ll already be planning your festive viewing to get in the mood for the big day. On a cold, rainy Sunday, what could be better than snuggling up with a […]

6 Accounts to follow on Instagram to improve your mental Well-being

We all know that, whilst social media has many benefits, sometimes it’s not great for our mental health. Highly stylised imagery, photoshopped faces and bodies, designer bling and exotic locations – they’re not necessarily things that make us feel good as we run for the bus in the pouring rain and eat our third mince […]

How to re-think new year weight loss messaging

It’s not even Christmas yet, but already the ‘new year, new you’ messages are blaring everywhere we turn. ‘Have you overindulged this Christmas?’ ‘Feeling the bulge this January??’ There’s even a ‘drop a dress size’ weight loss board positioned strategically next to the festive food and drink offers outside my local shop. WEIGHT LOSS. The […]

5 things to start in January – that aren’t new year’s resolutions

There’s lots of debate around whether new year’s resolutions are a waste of time or the best way to revolutionise the coming year. But I have to admit, they’re not for me. The inevitable failure, the guilt, the compulsion to just say ‘screw it!’ and go completely the other way – maybe it’s that I’ve […]

Alcohol-free alternatives to your favourite cocktails

Christmas and new year can lead to some heavy celebrations. Whilst I’m sure we all have no regrets, sometimes it’s true that you can have too much of a good thing. So whether you’re doing Dry January, or whether you’re simply trying to restore balance after an indulgent December, you might be looking for some […]

Must-watch post-Christmas catch up TV

I absolutely love all the specials that are on TV over Christmas and new year. They’re usually some of the best programmes of the entire year, because the juiciest stories and highest budgets are saved for exactly this time: the most highly anticipated slots with the biggest viewing figures. But it’s also one of the […]

5 alternatives to trick or treat this halloween

Pumpkin patch photos are flooding instagram, decorations are in every window and you have to go to the supermarket blindfolded to avoid impulse buying 20 tubs of Haribo – yes, Halloween is just around the corner!

5 Beauty Products You Can Make at Home

5 Beauty Products You Can Make at Home A lovely selection of beauty products can help us to feel pampered and rejuvenated, but when you practically need a different product for every body part, the cost can really add up. But did you know that you can make a variety of products cheaply and simply […]