Tag: Porto

How To Be The Best Version Of Yourself

We all go through phases where we feel like we aren’t performing or feeling our best and it’s natural to go through these periods, because let’s face it, we can’t be on our A game all of the time. I for one regularly go through these periods but then I have to take a moment to remind myself of a few important things to keep myself in check and work towards getting myself back on track to being the best version of myself I can be. So here are a few pointers on how you too can do just that…

Don’t Worry About What Anyone Else Is Doing

It’s easy to look at what someone else is doing and take it as an example of what you should be doing in your own life but the truth is, we all have different strengths and abilities so what works for someone else may not work for you and vice versa. As they say, comparison is the thief of joy and aside from that, it’s also a massive time waster. So next time you find yourself looking to someone else for an example of what you think you should be doing/achieving in life, just remember that, that time could be better spent working on your own goals instead.

Give Yourself Time Off When It’s Needed

Whilst it may feel like you’re unable to stop when you have a gazillion things on your plate, it’s so important to schedule time out when it’s needed. If you’re overworked and tired you’re not going to be able to perform your best or be your best you, so it’s better to take time out and then come back and complete those tasks when you’re feeling back on your A game. It could be as little as taking time out for a bubble bath and switching off from the outside world for an hour or two, to taking a week out and getting away from it all completely. However you do it, just make sure you allow yourself that time and schedule it in when and for however long may be appropriate. Everyone needs a break occasionally and don’t feel bad for doing so. Give yourself those well deserved breaks and then you can come back feeling refreshed and back at your best again.

Do What Makes You Happy

If you’re lucky enough to do a job that you love, then great, but if not then make sure that the time spent outside of work is used to do things that truly makes you happy. Now I know that even outside of work, life admin can often get in the way but it’s so important that you still make time for those things that you love; Be it spending time with family, hanging out with friends, working on a project or making time for your hobby. Sometimes we can let the time slip by until we realise that there is no time left at all and so making time for the things that bring us happiness is mandatory.

So that’s it and those are a few tips for how to be the best version of yourself. Obviously it’s important to take care of yourself and make sure you’re getting fed and watered properly but I thought I’d save you the excercise/healthy eating spiel in this post. Anyway, those are a few of my tips, what are some of yours? I’d love to know in the comments below. Until next time, ciao for now!

Samio x

September 21, 2017
A Porto Travel Guide

Another Trip To Portugal

At the end of August Damien and I decided to take a trip to Porto. I visited Portugal for the first time at the start of the year when I went to Lisbon (which you can read all about here) and it seems I’ve not been able to keep away since, as I then went for a second time for work to Vilamoura in May and then finally again for this trip last month. It’s fair to say that I’ve well and truly fallen for Portugal and Porto did not disappoint.

This has probably been my most relaxing trip of the year so far. I say relaxing, however we did managed to walk just over 94,000 steps within the 6 full days we were there. As you’ll be able to see from some of the pictures, Porto is incredibly hilly and we made it our mission most days to walk down the hill from the old part of town where we were staying, to walk along the river to then cross the bridge and do the same along the other side. We’d often do this twice per day as we did the same when we came out in the evenings too. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side of course…all jokes aside though, although both sides of the river have their fair share of fun, we just personally preferred the opposite side for restaurants as it was slightly less touristy. Plus although both sides of the Douro river have rather impressive views of Porto, we both preferred the view looking out from the opposite side to where we were staying as it was slightly prettier, so there you go.

Where We Stayed

We stayed in Porto for 6 nights, which was a good amount of time but 5 nights would have probably been enough. Once again we opted for airBnb for our accommodation and stayed in the Baixa area which was close to lots of cool neighbourhood bars and restaurants frequented by the locals. I really liked the area we stayed in and would stay around that part again if I were to go back.

Food

We had some really good food whilst in Porto and of course there was lots of good seafood available. If you are into fish then the sardines are a good dish to try whilst dining out by the river – but like I mentioned I’d recommend heading to the restaurants on the side opposite to the old town part if you do. And if unlike me you do eat meat then you may want to try the Francesinha, which seems to be one of Porto’s most popular dishes.

Port

And finally, I of course cannot speak about Porto without speaking about Port – one of things which it is most famous for. I would definitely recommend taking a visit to one of the many Port cellars and of course doing a bit of Port tasting whilst you’re there too. We chose to visit Graham’s, which was one of the Port places situated furthest away from where we were staying (but as you probably guessed – we like to walk). I’d recommend the walk though because the views from the outside of the winery are quite beautiful (as you can see on the image below) and of course the Port is worth tasting too.

The Low Down

When we visited: August 2017
Weather: Average 28 – 32 Degrees C
How long we stayed: 6 nights.
Where we stayed: Baixa.
Accommodation: Airbnb.
Must Try: Port Tasting. Sardines and the cod.
Recommendations:
-Chill out at the open air bar, Base.
-Check out the bars/restaurants in the Baixa area – and go to the Champanheria da Baixa and try the champagne sangria, it’s soooo good. The atmosphere is also great on the weekend evenings.
-Go to Galeria de Paris for a super cheap yet tasty buffet lunch in the most random restaurant ever!
-Visit the Igreja de Santa Clara church.
-Go up Clérigos Tower at night for great nighttime views of the city.
-Find Arc of Truth (wine bar) for a cosy intimate setting, great wine and window views of Douro River.
-Go to Graham’s Winery for great views and a tour of the wine cellars – and port tasting (obviously).
Would I go again: Yes and would recommend a trip in August too.

Samio x

September 19, 2017
The Need For Balance & A Social Time Out

Maybe There Is Such Thing As Too Much Fun

I well and truly feel like I’ve burnt the candle at both ends. You know that friend that will say yes to social plans 95% of the time, even the super last minute ones, well that’s me. The problem is, not being one to say no means I’m like this even when I have a thousand other things on my plate and eventually it often leads me to grinding to a complete and utter halt. I say this, but obviously work still needs to carry on, previously made social plans are still in the diary and meanwhile my mind is ready to switch off, I’m left feeling unmotivated and the most appealing option is to go into hibernation.

I think a big part of this comes down to not wanting to disappoint and trying to always be there for the people around me. When I say no to something or have to cancel plans I’m always left feeling so guilty, when in reality I know my friends and loved ones would understand, but I just can’t help feeling bad. There’s also the occasional fear of missing out and for the most part I just love having fun, so will rarely pass up the opportunity.

And that’s the thing, I do have a lot of fun. I can think of so many memories from this year alone that will set me off giggling just thinking about them. I’ve been able to spend some quality time and make great memories with some of my favourite people and I’ve had a lot of pretty cool adventures.

Whilst I sometimes do well with juggling it all, I need to remember that I occasionally need to stop in order to prevent me from eventually dropping everything. Saying no and easing up my social calendar is something I’ve never been great at and I absolutely love making plans, but it’s vital I get better at it in order to allow myself to have some rest and recuperation.

They talk about the work/life balance but I feel like I need ‘time out’ thrown in there too. I don’t mean stopping everything altogether, I just mean giving myself periods where I take a step back from social engagements and focus on work and me time, instead of trying to fit everything in all at once and eventually burning out altogether. This is just a reminder to myself that it’s okay to say no, it’s okay to not be available for everything and it’s okay to have those days that you might not have other plans but that you keep free anyway, even just to have a day for yourself.

Samio x

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September 1, 2017