Anxiety affects people in many different ways, and anyone who suffers, or has suffered, with anxiety in the past will know what a troubling time it can be. Fortunately, with awareness increasing and the wellness industry booming, many people can find ways to help reduce the impact of anxiety on their daily lives.

We all want to be happy and healthy, which ties in wonderfully with much of the advice that surrounds tips on how to reduce those anxious feelings and worries. Here are some healthy lifestyle choices you can make to help.

Mindfulness is one of those things that many of us do without even realising it. If you’ve ever taken a minute to enjoy the moment, be that in nature or with friends and family, that’s you being mindful. To use mindfulness as a tool to reduce anxiety, you need to use it regularly to connect with your body, thoughts and emotions. By taking the time to get to know yourself, you can begin to understand what may be causing your worries and anxieties.

It is also becoming more and more popular to apply mindfulness to exercise; this is a brilliant double-up as exercise can help to reduce the body’s levels of cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for feeling stressed. Win-win.

Practising self-care can be beneficial to anybody, but those suffering from mental health issues may find it particularly helpful in providing a much-needed mood boost. Self-care is defined uniquely by each individual as it is simply a broad term used to cover any activity that makes you feel happy and calm. This can be treating yourself to something new, having a relaxing soak or just chilling out doing nothing.

The trick to self-care is ensuring that you make time as it is often something that gets left at the wayside when our schedules get hectic. It is important reflection time, and a little self-indulgence is perfectly okay.

While on the one hand, social media is a fantastic way to stay connected with friends and family, on the other, too much of it can be damaging to our productivity and self-esteem. Furthermore, studies have shown that too much time spent on our favourite platforms can promote feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety.

If you feel as though you’ve been scrolling too much, put down your tablet or phone and tell yourself you are not going to use it again for an allotted time, an hour for example. Use this time instead to take a walk, watch some TV or a film you love or do something creative. Remember that the way that people portray their lives on social media is not reality.

Hemp oil is having a bit of a moment, and the general consensus is that it is for a good reason. There are several reasons that hemp is used for anxiety. Firstly, multiple studies have shown that hemp can help to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety in sufferers, as it is thought that hemp may help to boost serotonin production.

Secondly, hemp is also known to regulate sleep cycles and improve the quality of sleep. Sleep is so important when it comes to both mental and physical health, and sleep troubles are often a prevalent symptom displayed when people are suffering from mental health problems. Using hemp oil regularly before bed can help you to drift off into a peaceful sleep.

Anxious feelings may tempt us to reach for a comfort snack or a cigarette, but it’s actually better to avoid stimulants during this time. Caffeine is also best avoided as research shows that stimulants can worsen the symptoms of anxiety and even trigger them.

What are your best anxiety-busting tips? Share the love in the comments!

During my two month trip at the beginning of the year, Kuala Lumpur was the only place I actually ended up travelling to by myself. I knew I was going to have some time to do solo travelling, and KL seemed like a relatively safe place to do this (more on that later). When I arrived at the end of January, there wasn't really much talk on the coronavirus, and there was 1 case in Malaysia. I still run to 5 different stores before I was finally able to get my hands on a face mask.

If you're looking to get a peaceful night sleep then this probably won't be the hostel for you, as they have a rooftop bar that goes off every weekend. Their shard hostel rooms still give you a sense of privacy as you get a curtain in your bunk, although getting to the (very high) top bunk whilst also trying to carry my laptop, water and book up the ladder wasn't the easiest. The rooms come with lockers and you also get complimentary basic breakfast in the morning. Rooms were priced at £5 per night.

At £25 a night it's slightly more pricey for Asia, but still pretty cheap in comparison to other places. I was going to spend a night here to get one of those iconic photos in their rooftop pool with the KL skyline but alas, it was going to be too much effort to change accommodation for 1 night and well, I didn't have anyone travelling with me to take photos for me. 

One of my favourite things about travelling in Asia is the amount of good food I can get for less than £10. The first thing I googled when I got to my hotel room is what dishes I needed to try, and where to try them. I had wandered to the KLCC Mall and stopped by the food court for lunch. I went to the Malaysian stall and didn't know what anything on the menu was, so I googled Nasi Lemak and though that was a safe option. It's a dish cooked in coconut milk and it usually comes with a bunch of extras like fried anchovies, a boiled egg etc. There was something on the plate that was a bit spicy, so the cucumber was useful! 

This night market was a 15 minute walk from the Reggae Mansion hostel so I actually ended up here twice. Here you can find stalls serving snacks and treats that range between £2 - £5 or a range of Chinese, Malaysian and Indian restaurants where plates are around £10. I saw a very aesthetically pleasing wheel of dumplings when I was walking through the market, and the lady working there said she'd pick a selection of 10 for me for £4. Half the time I didn't know what I was biting into but it was a range of chicken, pork and fish.

If you're looking for a unique experience then definitely make time for this! Like the name suggests you're immersed in a dining experience in complete darkness. I went with some people I met at my hostel and it's interesting to see how people communicate when you can't see each other, and eating without seeing what's in front of you also heightens your senses. 

Another food market that has a more international focus and various food trucks. Just make sure you come here with an appetite because I was lying like a potato in bed for hours after I left because I was so full. I bought the mac & cheese burger from 8th Street Cafe and wow, for £2.50! I also saw stalls selling Mexican food, churros and some Malaysian dishes. 

I was actually looking for a different restaurant that turned out to be closed, and I spotted a lot of people in this one next door so stopped here for lunch. It seemed to be popular with the locals and I decided to have another plate of nasi lemak. I also spotted a durian tart at the counter and decided to try that too, although I must say that wasn't really for me and you've probably heard about the potent taste and smell of the fruit.

It's relatively to get around KL with their metro system, but because I was only there for a weekend I hopped from place to place using Gojek (Asia's version of Uber) as it was cheap and would get me there quicker, and less chance of me getting lost. 

Probably the most popular thing to in KL. I'd seen many colourful pictures of what the Batu Caves looked like from the outside, but I was intrigued to see what it would look like inside. The caves are a 30 minute drive from the city centre, and a grab there cost me around £6.

 I wanted to get there by 9am to avoid the crowds but travelling alone also means it can be harder to get out of bed when you're running on your own schedule. I got there around 11am and it was packed. Make sure you don't skip breakfast as to get to the temple you'll have to climb up 272 colourful steps, and in hot humid weather. 

TIP: You'll have to have your legs and shoulders covered to enter the temple, there are sarongs to rent at the entrance for £1. 

If you're into checking out impressive buildings then you'll love this one. The towers stand at 1,483 feet and they're pretty easy to spot, so you won't have to rely much on google maps when making your way there. Luckily when I was trying to figure out how to get a picture with them, a woman asked if I wanted my picture taken, as she understood the struggle! I recommend visiting at night too as it looks beautiful when it's lit up. 

If you're not looking to shop on your trip, you might just want to pop in for the air con or a bite to eat. You'll find this mall at the foot of the Petronas Towers and it features a range of luxury and high street international brands,  a cinema, an art gallery and a concert hall. 

This is also in walking distance from the towers so you can get a lot done in a day! It's free to do and you'll get some great photos as you walk along the suspension bridges between the trees, with the contrast of skyscrapers in the background. 

This is Kuala Lumpur's fashion and entertainment district and it's pretty easy to spend an afternoon here, especially if you're travelling with friends as there are quite a few popular bars and restaurants along Changkat so it's a great place to start your night. Some of the recommended ones are Havana, The Rabbit Hole and Pisco Bar. 

Some other places of interest to check out are Berjaya Times Square, where you will find Asia's largest indoor theme park. Central Market where you'll find a range of boutiques, handmade crafts and souvenir stalls. Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the Chan See Shu Yuen Temple can also be found here. 

If you're after some great views of the city at night, whilst enjoying a few cocktails then head to Heli Lounge Bar. It costs £10 to get to the top of the 38 floor building, which also includes a drink with the ticket. Drinks there also cost £10 so will be slightly pricier than in other bars, but in the end you are paying for the view and the experience. 

[this blog post is written in collaboration with GuestReady but all words and opinions are my own]

Nowadays there are so many choices when it comes to booking accommodation for your trip - booking.com, villas, apartments, Airbnb rentals and even bungalows in the middle of the jungle. As a traveller, this gives you a world of choice, but if you're trying to book out your private accommodation it can be a bit harder to stand out from the crowd. A lot of people who either have second homes or travel a lot, have been able to make another income through renting out their spaces, which is a great way to make money if you're continuously travelling. Airbnb makes it really easy to do this, but as with everything there are always a few ways to better market your property. 

Social media has made marketing cheaper than ever. One of the strategies many hotels and property owners use is influencer marketing, where a content creator is offered a discounted or complimentary stay in exchange for coverage and review. I even wrote a blog post on why hotels should be working with bloggers. This is a good way to get your property out there because you can reach a large amount of people in whatever niche you want to focus on. If you want to target young travellers, then seek out young content creators, or post your listing in backpacker groups or on Instagram. If you want to target business travellers, then publishing some articles on LinkedIn with reference to your Airbnb can help you reach the right people. 

Using an Airbnb management service like GuestReady takes out all the hassle of making sure your accommodation is ready for your guests and that everything is running smoothly, especially if you are out of the country! They operate all over Europe, from London to Bordeaux. They offer a range of services depending on how much you want them to be involved. This includes writing a listing for your apartment, professional photography, listing and price optimisation, house-keeping, guest approval and check-in and key exchange. 

When I'm searching for an Airbnb to stay in, if the listing only has a couple of lines and a long list of 'NO's' then I'm instantly drawn away. You're more likely to catch people's interest if you go beyond a description of the apartment and also include recommendations of things to do in the area, transport options etc. 

Adding little touches that you wouldn't normally find in a hotel is always great. I stayed at an Airbnb in Australia where the owner left us several packs of Tim Tams (aussie biscuits), another in London that had a whole shelf of books for us to borrow, and an apartment in Spain that came with a bottle of wine and a cheese selection for us. They all make for memorable stays and your guests are much more likely to write you a better and more detailed review. 

You don't want to sell yourself short, but you don't want to put the price point so high that your only guests are business travellers in peak season. Do some research into what your competitors are charging per night, and maybe offer discounts for long-term stays or during low seasons. Normally prices will rise around holidays and special events, so that's also something to take into account. 

If like me you are daydreaming about the days you'll get to travel again, then why not start planning your trips for 2021? Although I would advise against actually booking anything yet because of the current situation, unless it's through booking.com and it comes with free cancellation. So in January I finally got round to visiting Bali, and it was just as I expected it to be - hot, vibrant and full of tourists. I had a great time and we had a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure and cheap cocktails. I spent 9 days in the area - staying in Ubud, Gili Trawangan and Seminyak. If you're a first time visiter to Bali, these are some experiences I recommend.

If waking up at 2am is out of the question then skip to the next point, but it's definitely worth it! We got picked up and then had a 2 hour drive to the start of the hike. The climb is 1717m and takes around 2 hours to reach the top. In terms of difficulty I would say 6/10, I think I found the way down harder as there were so many small rocks and I fell on my bum within 5 minutes of our descend *face palm*. The view is 100% worth it though. 

Mount Batur sunrise hike with breakfast - £23

2. Take part in a Balinese cooking class. 

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One of my favourite parts about travelling is eating, of course. So I thought it would be fun to sign up for a cooking class with a Balinese family. Our hosts were lovely and there was only 5 of us in the group (two friends and me, and a couple from Singapore) which made it more of a personal experience. We made 8 traditional dishes, sampling them as we went along and then they were placed in a buffet style for us to eat later. The samples were so filling that I struggled to finish my plate afterwards, but I still ended up eating dessert after obvs.

Balinese cooking class - £14.79

3. Bali swings and coffee tasting. 

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You'll find there are a number of 'Bali Swing' activities around the area, differentiating in price. RealBaliSwing being the most expensive. Our driver took us to 'Intan Sari Luwak Coffee & Bali Swing Bukit' which cost us a fraction of the price, and there were also some extra nests for photo spots. We also got to sample 15 different coffees and herbal teas. There's a coffee in Bali called 'Luwak coffee' which essentially, is coffee made out of the droppings of the animal.

4. Relax in a flower bath. 

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My lovely best friend Daniella booked this for me as a Christmas gift and ahhhh it was heaven. You get to soak in a warm bath full of flowers for 45 minutes. The lady was also in there for 5 minutes trying to take the perfect Instagram photo for me, and she kept insisting on taking more lol. You can do this on your own with a book like I did, or with your partner.

Flower bath at the Udaya Resort & Spa - £35 (approx)

5. Hop over to the Gili Islands. 

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So the whole idea of us travelling to the Gili Islands was to see the underwater statues, but we were so hungover the day after that we only managed a bicycle ride around Gili Trawangan and some snorkling. Even that made me feel a bit queasy.

We stayed at Mad Monkey's on Gili T and we had our own private Tipi, and the communal showers were pretty modern. The atmosphere at the hostel was great and hosted pool parties too. Only difficulty was that the clubs and bars are on the other side of the island, which you either have to get to by foot (40 minutes), by bicycle or on a horse and carriage.

TIP: The Gili Islands consist of 3 main islands - Gili Trawangan is the most popular amongst backpackers and people looking for a bit more atmosphere, whereas Gili Air is better for a relaxing stay or a family holiday. Gili Meno is where you'll find the famous underwater statues but you can also hop from another island to get here. 

Transfers to and from Gili Islands - prices starting from £20 one way depending on speed of boat you choose. 

6. Visit the monkey forest.

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If you're from Gibraltar then this probably won't impress you that much because we've got over a 100 macaques roaming around on the rock, but it was still a cute experience. You can find over 1000 monkeys here and the entry fee is around £4.

7. Swim at Banyumala Twin Waterfalls. 

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If you've got a driver in Bali then they'll probably suggest this 'lesser known' waterfall which is further up north. It wasn't too busy although you might be slightly out of breath when you're making your way back up to the carpark. Whilst you're here you can stop by the Handara Gate which is a 20 minute drive from here, and is where everyone takes the iconic photo below.

TIP: Don't let the photo fool you, the water effect is achieved by the camera man holding a mirror below the camera lens - it still looks awesome though! You can also expect to queue up for a photo here, luckily when we arrived at 9:30am there weren't many people there, but when we drove passed later in the afternoon there were at least 20 people waiting in line. 

8. Go Temple hopping.

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If you're not very religious, then I suggest picking a few you really want to see and stick to those, or else you'll be paying for entry fee every time you enter and you can end up wasting a lot of your day driving from place to place. I'd suggest visiting Pura Tirta Empul Temple and Ulun Danu Bratan. At Pura Tirta you can 'get purified' in the water, so if you plan on doing this make sure you pack a change of clothing!

TIP: I'd definitely recommend hiring a driver, it will save you a lot of money on taxis as you can usually hire a personal driver for 10 hours for around £40 a day for the whole car. We were recommended Dessy and the service was great. 

9. Watch the sunset at the Campuhan Ridge Walk.

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The signage for this place isn't very clear, so when you follow google maps you might still have to ask a local nearby how to start the walk. We kind of left it too late and we were only arriving as the sun was already setting, so make sure to check when sunset is so you're not stuck in the jungle in the dark! We were also sweating buckets because the jumpsuits we bought from the market weren't exactly very breathable, so our photos didn't quite turn out as planned.

10. Eat in a warung. 

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Over the last few weeks, I've had 6 friends' birthdays take place. In between me travelling and everyone self-isolating due to the coronavirus, we haven't actually got to celebrate any of them *sad times*. Luckily thanks to the internet, it's still easy to FT and say happy birthday or create a IG story post for them - who doesn't love being tagged in embarrassing old photos? It also means you don't have to physically see your friends or family to send them a present. Here are some gift ideas for any birthdays you have coming up! 

The Sims 4  - the fact we all have a lot more time on our hands now means that we can get away with wasting several hours playing this. The game is currently at 75% off (£8.74), and if your friend already plays The Sims, why not buy them an expansion pack? 

Personal Growth Book - everyone has different tastes when it comes to reading, but pretty much everyone can benefit from reading a self-help or personal growth book. Some popular ones include 'Get Sh*t Done by Jeffrey Gitomer' 'you are a badass by Jen Sincero' and 'The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle'. 

Eyeshadow Palette - my sister is the easiest person to buy for because she's very into her make-up, so every year I just buy her a new palette. The Morphe palettes are good quality for money, as you get 50 high pigmented colours in it for £24. 

An 'out out' outfit - if you know this person (and their style) pretty well, why not order one or a few items for their next night out? and we all know it's going to be a big one after the world finally defeats this virus. 

Event tickets - sadly the likelihood of attending any events over the next few months is slim, but a lot of artists are announcing tours for 2021 (a.k.a Harry Styles), so that is a safer bet. Even better if you can find something that you're both a fan of, so you can treat yourself too! 

Jewellery - if you're looking to splurge a bit more, you can never go wrong with a pair of earrings (just make sure they have their ears pierced first). I very kindly received a pair of aquamarine and diamond stud earrings (£150) from Browns jewellery and I can't wait for the day to come that I can get dressed up to wear them. They are crafted from 9ct white gold and I love how the aquamarine gemstone shines in the light, without looking too blue. 

Air-pods - so I didn't actually know these were that expensive, I thought they cost £70! Turns out they start at £159. I wasn't that bothered about these because I have wireless headphones for the gym, but I borrowed my boyfriend's and well,  I now want a pair of my own *hint hint*. 

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As some of you know, or many of you because we all know how fast rumours  news spreads in Gibraltar, I have spent the last 14 days in quarantine in my bedroom to see if I developed any corona-esque symptoms. I think if you handed me a paper with 100 shades of blue I could probably tell you which one is the same colour as my walls because I've spent so many hours looking at them. I was in this position because last month I was travelling around Vietnam, and on my flight home my 2 hour layover in Bangkok, Thailand landed me a ticket to self-isolation for being on the 'high risk countries' list. Vietnam has had a total number of 20 cases of coronavirus and Thailand has had 43, but let's not talk about how those of us with no symptoms have had to be quarantined meanwhile passengers from UK (273 cases) and Spain (430 cases) have come in and out as they please. 

Anyway, it wasn't the end of the world. I felt like I was in a VIP prison - I had unlimited Wi-Fi, home cooked food brought to my door, unlimited phone calls and wine, which doesn't sound as lonely as I made my friends have a drink with me via FaceTime. I know there are others who are currently in quarantine (thanks to the frequent updates on social media), so if you're worried about going insane or finally sick of watching Netflix, I'm here with 40 things to do to keep yourself occupied.

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NOTE: I wrote this blog post before Gibraltar went on semi-lockdown, so I have added a further 20 things to do in self-isolation/quarantine. I know being indoors sucks. A lot of my joy comes from having trips, festivals and social activities to look forward to, but this is not the time to be selfish. ⁣⁣You know what sucks more than cancelling holidays and not being able to go out partying? Losing people you love. Missing out on stuff for a few weeks or months is nothing in the grand scheme of things, especially if it will help slow down the spread of the virus. I also know a lot of people depend on routine and social activities to help with mental health, so that's why I've compiled this list. Just think about how great it will feel to celebrate once all of this is behind us.

1. Binge watch a TV series - I finally finished Power, and then my mum suggested I watch Toy Boy para 'practica tu español anda'. 

2. Go through your drawers and find letters, diaries and other stuff you wrote when you were younger, and cringe all over again. 

3. Download tik-tok, learn tik tok dances and then send them to your friends for their entertainment. 

4. Make a playlist of all the songs you're going to dance to when you're out of quarantine. 

5. Organise your wardrobe - find stuff you want to give away and stuff you want to bin. 

6.  Find out how long you can hold a plank for. 

7. Try not to think about how much fun everyone else is having in other countries where they're still allowed to go out, I suggest avoiding Instagram stories from the hours of 8pm-3am on a Friday night. 

8. Face Time people you haven't caught up with in a while, wine is optional. 

9. Come up with a new gym routine. 

10. Brush up on your Spanish, after living in Australia for a year I definitely needed to!

11. Think about what you want to get out of the rest of the year. 

12. Write a love letter, and then throw it in the bin when you realise how embarrassing and mushy you sound. 

13. Download The Sims. 

14. Go online shopping for all the significant events or nights out you're going to have once you are released from captivity to the outside world. 

15. Find a new recipe you can make once you have the luxury of going to the kitchen. 

16. Unsubscribe to the annoying emails you get. Unroll.me makes this pretty easy to do. 

17. Plan what you're going to go as for Halloween - it's never too early right?

18. Plan your future holidays. There's nothing I love more than creating a new google doc itinerary, ooft. 

19. Sleep in. You don't have anything important to wake up for anyway.

20. Think about how whilst you're lying in bed eating snacks and watching trash TV, some people still have to go to work.

21. Look at houses on RightMove in random places around the world that you know you'll never be able to afford.

22. Make a 'future' Pinterest board full of clothes, hairstyles, furniture or whatever you want to purchase once the world returns to normal.

23. Listen to albums you used to listen to in your teenage years, it's an instant mood booster.  Currently listening to All Time Low and I'm air guitaring around my room.

24. Wish everyone on your Facebook a happy birthday, now that you have the time to.

25. If like me you find quizzes and trivia amusing, head to Sporcle. 

26. Have a movie night with your friends via Netflix Party - whatever you're watching will be synced and there's a pop up chat on the side to discuss.

27. Learn a language - now you don't have the excuse that you don't have enough time (I must have redowloaded Duolingo 3 times).

28. Get your friends together on Skype, put some music on and play some drinking games as if you're heading out after, but instead you're going to collapse in bed.

29. Watch all 236 episodes of Friends, by the time you're done this will hopefully all be behind us.

30. Call your grandparents.

31. Fill up a 1.5 litre bottle of water every morning and make sure you've drank it by the end of the day.

32. Take 10 minutes a day to stretch or do yoga poses, or you'll be walking like Quasimodo once you can go outside again, trust me.

33. Find out if you could be the next Taylor Swift by attempting to write a song.

34. Try and learn a new skill online - Photoshop, coding, SEO etc.

35. Read some self-development books, here's 25 of the best.

36. Help where you can - if your country still isn't on total lockdown, help the elderly with their shopping or volunteer where you can.

37. Keep a gratitude journal. Since the beginning of the year I've been writing a highlight of everyday and it helps to focus on the positive or the little joys.

38. Have a family games night. If you don't have any board games download the Heads Up app.

39. Go through your camera roll and delete all your useless photos and screenshots.

40. Try and limit your talk about the virus, unless it's breaking news. Hearing all the negativity, panic and rumours surrounding the virus on social media will just make things and your mental health worse. Stay safe and informed, but don't let it control your life.

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