{"id":39502,"date":"2020-11-14T17:45:57","date_gmt":"2020-11-14T17:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevoiceoflondon.co.uk\/?p=39502"},"modified":"2020-11-14T17:45:57","modified_gmt":"2020-11-14T17:45:57","slug":"10-things-that-make-life-better-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/10-things-that-make-life-better-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things that make life better right now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Even though Oxford Street has never been emptier, life in London can still seem stressful and hectic, so here are some things that have been helping me endure the pandemic and lockdown 2.0.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Actually, appreciating parks and sunshine. Since all the shops closed I have been going out to all the green spaces in London, including Richmond Park that I had not been to yet. It was pretty cold but the sun came out and cleared up the foggy day, helping me spot some dears.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39515\" style=\"width: 4042px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39515\" class=\"size-full wp-image-39515\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/IMG_6030-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39515\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Monika Groening<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Having a bit of a lie-in. I think we can all agree that the whole home office situation has some perks, like being able to snooze the alarm a little longer in the morning because you don\u2019t have to commute.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39586\" style=\"width: 491px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39586\" class=\" wp-image-39586\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585236375981-d38ad25860d3-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"481\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585236375981-d38ad25860d3-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585236375981-d38ad25860d3-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585236375981-d38ad25860d3-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585236375981-d38ad25860d3-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39586\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @spanic | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Baking cinnamon buns &#8211; or anything comforting with lots of cinnamon, because let\u2019s be real &#8211; it\u2019s the season.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39587\" style=\"width: 507px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39587\" class=\" wp-image-39587\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1561668038-2742fcef75d7-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"497\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1561668038-2742fcef75d7-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1561668038-2742fcef75d7-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1561668038-2742fcef75d7-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1561668038-2742fcef75d7-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @themephotos | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Watching dogs in parks. Studies show that people with pets are generally 10% happier than people who don\u2019t. I\u2019m not saying violate your tenancy contract and get a dog &#8211; having a stroll through Regents Park can be enough.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39588\" style=\"width: 507px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39588\" class=\" wp-image-39588\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534361960057-19889db9621e-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"497\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534361960057-19889db9621e-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534361960057-19889db9621e-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534361960057-19889db9621e-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534361960057-19889db9621e-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39588\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @joeyc | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Doing a deep-clean of your flat. A week ago we got out gloves and all the sprays we owned and did up our house. You want to be comfortable in the place you\u2019re spending so much time in now.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39589\" style=\"width: 507px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39589\" class=\" wp-image-39589\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585421514284-efb74c2b69ba-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"497\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585421514284-efb74c2b69ba-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585421514284-efb74c2b69ba-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585421514284-efb74c2b69ba-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1585421514284-efb74c2b69ba-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39589\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @uniqueton | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Taking a bath (if you can). We all love a comforting, foamy bath from time to time, especially as it starts getting chilly out. Light a candle and pull up your favourite Netflix show!\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39590\" style=\"width: 507px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39590\" class=\" wp-image-39590\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1590079083219-5bc40d5a9d69-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"497\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1590079083219-5bc40d5a9d69-1.jpeg 833w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1590079083219-5bc40d5a9d69-1-300x282.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1590079083219-5bc40d5a9d69-1-768x722.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39590\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @ricrawfo | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Going back in your camera roll and reminiscing looking at old holiday pictures. It might be painful, but it can be sweet too.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39591\" style=\"width: 502px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39591\" class=\" wp-image-39591\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534531688091-a458257992cb-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"492\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534531688091-a458257992cb-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534531688091-a458257992cb-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534531688091-a458257992cb-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1534531688091-a458257992cb-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 492px) 100vw, 492px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39591\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @joshhild | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Calling someone you care about and telling them how you really feel. Staying positive is important now, but sometimes doing the exact opposite can help. Open up to someone you trust and have a good DMC.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39592\" style=\"width: 504px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39592\" class=\" wp-image-39592\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1543893794-bad775856414-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"494\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1543893794-bad775856414-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1543893794-bad775856414-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1543893794-bad775856414-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1543893794-bad775856414-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39592\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @guillealvarez | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>Having a board game night with your flatmates instead of watching another rom-com on Netflix. Alcohol can be involved.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39593\" style=\"width: 505px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39593\" class=\" wp-image-39593\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1591635566278-10dca0ca76ee-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"495\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1591635566278-10dca0ca76ee-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1591635566278-10dca0ca76ee-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1591635566278-10dca0ca76ee-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1591635566278-10dca0ca76ee-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39593\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @jonnybenitez | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Invest in some scented candles or incense. Fairy lights also do the trick to get some warm light into your room, making for the perfect cosy hideaway when it\u2019s rainy and miserable outside.\n<p><div id=\"attachment_39594\" style=\"width: 505px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-39594\" class=\" wp-image-39594\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1482164565953-04b62dcac1cd-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"495\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1482164565953-04b62dcac1cd-1.jpeg 1050w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1482164565953-04b62dcac1cd-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1482164565953-04b62dcac1cd-1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2020\/11\/photo-1482164565953-04b62dcac1cd-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-39594\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by: @joshboot | Unsplash<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Words: Monika Groening | Subbing: Monika Laimaite<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even though Oxford Street has never been emptier, life in London can still seem stressful and hectic, so here are some things that have been helping me endure the pandemic and lockdown 2.0.\u00a0 Actually, appreciating&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":476,"featured_media":39571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/476"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/thevoiceoflondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}