a long weekend

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.

The medieval castle walls that surround the city made me feel like I was a walking in a fairytale.

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.

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?

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.

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?