ENVIE THE RESET ISSUE
MEASURE OF GENIUS HOW MOSCHINO PROVED COVID-19 WRONG
TRICKS OF THE TRADE 7 WAYS TO DRESS LIKE A SUPERMODEL
THE LOCKDOWN TRAVEL ITCH WHEN SITTING STILL IS THE ONLY OPTION
VISIONS OF HISTORY NEW GEN INDIGENOUS PAINTERS
EDITOR'S LETTER In French, the verb ‘avoir envie de’ translates as ‘to long for’, ‘to lust after’, or ‘to feel like’. Separate the word ‘envie’ and you get ‘en vie’: ‘in life’. The double meaning perfectly encapsulates the mood of this publication.
This e-book version of Envie Magazine comes at a time when we all need a bit of escapism. This is the Reset Issue. The pandemic has affected us all in many ways, yet the most common theme has been what we can do to distract ourselves, and to be blunt, keep ourselves sane. Mental health issues have spiked exponentially through the COVID-19 period in Australia which began in March 2020. What was a crisis facing many people, especially Australian youth, has now become a pandemic in itself. We have collated some tips in this issue to help you manage your mental health while working and living more from home. Image: Hotglue
This issue is a collation of pieces from Envie's inaugural issue, as well as newly written (and very relevant) pieces to reset your thoughts and provide an alternative to an onslaught of news notifications. Get the inside knowledge on how to dress like a supermodel (they make it look hard, but it really isn't); join the discussion on whether it's possible to write a positive opinion piece; be lost in travel diaries both lived and to come; and what is A-Beauty? Image: @sar.ra__
The author acknowledges the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land that this e-book was produced on.
Enjoy the issue — sit back and relish some time to yourself. Sophie Evans Editor-in-chief
TAKE A BREAK Dress Like A Supermodel
Artists on Instagram
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We meet two young Indigenous women who are combining family, heritage and feminism into modern Aboriginal art.
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Translate the sartorial secrets of the world's top models into your own wardrobe with seven must-know tips.
The Undiscovered
The Rise of A-Beauty
We find the most beautiful towns that you must visit in-between your travels to capital cities.
We look close to home to review the biggest players in Australian beauty and why they're becoming coveted overseas.
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This time: Lucca. One Day
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The idea of travel in a time when we cannot do so is one that is hard to reconcile, especially with no confirmed end date.
Hey, Doll
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Moschino's Jeremy Scott adjusted his Spring/Summer 2021 collection show to miniature proportions.
Managing Your Mental Health at Home
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We give you some tips to working from home without stress.
ON THE COVER Photographed by cottonbro via Pexels.
PROFILE
POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor
PAINTING WITH PRIDE Written by Sophie Evans. Image: @sar.ra__ A new generation of Indigenous artists are bringing traditional Aboriginal landscape paintings into modern light (and away from souvenir stores). We meet two young female artists using social media and the pandemic to create and educate their followers. Is there a young Aboriginal artist that you think we should know about? Let us know at @enviemagazine!
FIND THEM ON INSTAGRAM @sar.ra__ @katiebugden_art
PROFILE
RACHAEL SARRA "The urgency to find comfort and revival for a light Take a peek into a day skinned Aboriginal artist in the life of budding Stella Young, confined within artist structural, and how she improves social and political barriers her craft remains vital." A Goreng Goreng woman, Rachael Sarra's vibrant canvases bring a millennial modernity to the historic art form of her ancestors. A painter and illustrator, Sarra's work has been featured on community murals, children's books such as Briggs' Our Home, Our Heartbeat, and in collaboration with other brands like MG Motor Group, POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella Adobe, and jewellery brand Concrete alternately paints in Jellyfish for limited-edition releases.oil and watercolor Sarra's use of bright pinks, purples and reds evoke a fresh idea of what Aboriginal Australian art looks like, bringing Indigenous Take a peek into a day art forward and into mainstream desirability in the life of budding and away from stuffy souvenir shops. artist Stella Young, and how she improves her craft refreshing political
She also publishes a stance to her feed, particularly recently during the Black Lives Matter protests. Since, Sarra has combined her brushstrokes and beliefs for good with quotes like "What if money didn't define our futures?" to inspire constructive thought amongst her followers and community. Seems like she has a way with painting and words.
Images Rachael Sarra (@sar.ra__)
PROFILE
KATIE BUGDEN “I always felt embarrassed by the colour of my skin, like I wasn’t black enough to be Take a peek into a day Aboriginal. in the life of budding artist Stella Young, and how she improves her craft
My new family here in Melbourne showed me it's not what I look like but who I am that matters.” Strict lockdown in Melbourne during the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability to work in her role as a sports teacher gave Wiradjury/Kamilaroi woman Katie Bugden a chance to explore her culture through art, whilst maintaining a source of income. During this period, she has amassed a following of 1,500 people on Instagram through her colourful and varied canvases, while also creating bookmarks, hair scrunchies, make-up bags and pencil cases. Her entry into Swinburne University's NAIDOC competition was the winning design to be put onto a t-shirt and sold across campuses.
Image: Katie Bugden: @chickenparmaqueen and @katiebugden_art
Her posts and Instagram Stories show glimpses of her process and captions are a way to educate followers on Indigenous culture and the symbols in the artwork. Especially following the Black Lives Matter movement mid-year, Bugden's venture into Aboriginal Australian art was a timely one to bring the genre forward into the arts and culture scene and highlight local Indigenous talent like herself.
TRAVEL
THE UNDISCOVERED
LUCCA, ITALY Written and photographed by Sophie Evans With full transparency: I first heard of the small Tuscan town of Lucca after watching Jeremy, James and Richard attempt to get out of the village walls in Fiats on Top Gear. Since then, it has lingered in my mind; a visit for "one day". It left my mind only until I happened to be in Italy last year, and on the fourth leg of my trip, ended up in Florence for a few days. Lucca! Where is Lucca? Only 90 minutes away by train, Lucca sits in the Tuscany region just northwest of Florence. The first noticeable thing is the wall that borders the quaint town. Evoking an ancient or even medieval
sense of grandeur, it is now a scenic walking and cycling path for the local community and its visitors. Finding the centre of Lucca doesn't take long and soon enough, you are being charmed by tall stone buildings and cobblestone streets. An absolute must-do is climbing one of the two campanile, or bell towers, in town. The views are spectacular, looking over the nearby mountain ranges and the towns inbetween, with not a skyscraper in sight. I'd recommend the Tower Delle Ore over the Torre Guinigi (they are only a four-minute walk from one another). The Torre
Guinigi (pictured on the previous page) has trees planted on its lookout which are far better seen from Torre Delle Ore.
TRAVEL
The charm of Lucca is one of random discovery where you can spend an entire afternoon with no fixed plan — or knowledge of what there is to do, for that matter — and just get lost in the best way. However, if there is one place else to bookmark, it has to be Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, a former amphitheatre that now houses some lucky residents as well as artisans and alfresco dining options. The community feel here is as ripe as it would have been all those years ago when there were gatherings for local performances. Viale delle Mura Urbane, the walking path on top of the town walls, is a nice way to see the city, perhaps on your return to the train station. Stop by a gelateria on the way and amble leisurely along the path. Step down at various points to visit beautiful buildings or appease your cravings for a panino or bowl of pasta. There are several archway entrances into the walled area which are landmarked as "doors": Porta Elisa, Porta San Jacopo. The Duomo di Lucca is south of the town centre near the train station. Its Gothic design is beautifully imposing with the archways that have become a common feature throughout the town being included on each level of the architecture. Most travellers have a strong desire to see as much as they can during their trips but Lucca is potentially the exception to a busy day's exploring. Enjoying a long lunch and bottle of wine in one of the many picturesque piazzas will do just fine for an hour or two. Train tickets to Lucca can be purchased through Trenitalia.
Image: PNG Item
I grew up hearing stories of my parents’ and grandparents’ travels around the world, listening in awe of the places they’d been, even if I’d heard the story countless times before. My grandfather – my Mum’s Dad – served as a mechanical engineer in Malta for the British army and once he met my grandmother, holidayed all throughout Western Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg. There are beautiful images of them both sitting with friends on the harbour at Honfleur in Northern France, or in a town in the Swiss Alps overlooking an arctic blue lake, or a grassy hill overlooking a Bavarian village. He would drive annually from Liverpool, England, bound for Germany to pick up his newest BMW, the whole family now in tow, and take them on their next adventure across the continent. My other grandparents lived in Vancouver, Canada for a short while. After their separation, my Nana continued to take annual trips away to far flung cities, mostly taking sleek river boats through the veins of her chosen destination. She admired the elephants peacefully at home in Chiang Mai, walked across the red sands in Petra and marvelled at the wooden monasteries in Burma. My parents honeymooned in Santorini, saw the north and south of New Zealand, and showed one another their respective home countries of England and Australia. They went on road trips across America, using a service called Auto Driveaway which allowed them to deliver other people’s cars to them and see the country in a new way. Then, they’d find another route or take advantage of discovering where they’d driven to, from Austin to Connecticut. My Dad moved to live in England in his twenties, soaking up his love of soccer —football if I must— and travelling across Europe with friends. There was the trip to Italy for a FIFA World Cup in the 80s when the van that they were travelling around to stadiums in flipped and overturned, leaving them in an Italian hospital watching the games on TV rather than in the stands. He met one of his best friends in Thailand, perennially a transit hub of people from all over the world.
ONE DAY Written by Sophie Evans Image: João Jesus via Pexels
OPINION
My Mum still has photo albums filled with the original analogue copies of her summer holidays with friends, looking very bronzed and happy by the pool or at a local bar. Mostly, these were taken in Mallorca, Ibiza or Mykonos; a cheap getaway from the presumed greyness at home in Liverpool. Once my sister and I were born, we all travelled south to Cornwall or Scarborough on the east coast of England. There are photos of my sister and I in beach hats on the sand and touching sea water for the first time. We visited friends in Denmark one summer, our young tufts of hair made more blonde by the sun. I had instilled in me a desire to see the world at a very young age. London, Paris, New York— the landmark cities you dream of before you know about Florence, Kyoto and the Big Sur coastline. I wanted to go on those same road trips, hiring cars and seeing the small towns in the middle of nowhere that are the honest identity of the country you’re in. After studying French in school, my idea of celebrating completing VCE was a trip to Paris. I soaked up the July sun, watching children float their toy boats in the pond at Jardin du Luxembourg; perusing the market stalls along Rue Mouffetard in the Quartier Latin; and taking a ferry along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower to Île Saint-Louis. Most of the time, I could barely understand the French language being spoken around me. However, I revelled in
OPINION
being able to live like a Parisian, knowing the code to open the beautiful door of the apartment building and climbing to the attic-like apartment on the sixth floor where I stayed for a week. I bought a baguette, some ham, a small wheel of brie and a jar of Dijon mustard to make a simple meal to take with me to the Jardin du Luxembourg – an idyllic fiveminute walk away – where I would sit in the steel pale green chairs dotted around the pond as the sun went behind the Palais du Luxembourg. I’d head back to the apartment to enjoy a glass of wine and look out over the rooftops, watching as the night sky turned indigo and fellow Parisians retreated from their balconies. I was lucky to get to Italy last year – my second time travelling there – before 2020 changed the world. I fell deeper in love with Milan, a city after my own heart. A city oozing with style and sophistication, some of the best food in the world and streets to happily get lost amongst. One day, I walked through the Cordusio and Sant’Agostino neighbourhoods, ambling by buildings I’d love to live in and not minding the minutes of my day passing. I rented a small apartment in Porta Romana – not dissimilar to the one in Paris – and relished drinking one-euro espressos whenever I pleased. I walked across the entire city because it’s so easy to do so, discovering modern art galleries, Sunday markets in Isola and forgotten piazzas. I left Milan with mixed emotions: homesick from being away from Melbourne, a city I come to adore most when I am not there; tired of hearing Italian, but also emotional about leaving. I knew I mightn’t be back for a while as the next travel plans I had were with my boyfriend road tripping across America just like my parents did. We were planning our trip with a big map and thumb tacks on the floor, starting in New York and taking trains or hiring a car to travel south, curling in a U-shape up to the west coast. But that was not to be. Our next idea, before coronavirus hit its peak, was a six-week tour of Asia: Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Hanoi, Bangkok and Singapore. My downfall is getting excited far too quickly, thinking that this holiday was going to surely be happening. Of course, the reality of slurping hot salty bowls of pho in Vietnam, wandering along the DMZ in Korea or celebrating my birthday atop Marina Bay Sands came to a crashing halt. It’s rare for the world to be suffering simultaneously; often outbreaks are far more regionalised. We’ve all felt differently about quarantine isolation or lockdown in our respective cities. Different aspects of this pandemic have affected us more than it might the next person. The fact that I can’t travel for the foreseeable future has put the largest dent in my day-to-day experience since March, especially as I now see people in Europe and America enjoying their summers across the continents. I’m almost thankful that we have gone through this during winter when we’d naturally be indoors more
OPINION
anyway, but I do miss the opportunity to perhaps head up to Byron Bay for a few days of sunshine or to stay in a cosy cabin in Daylesford. I’ve always wanted to live overseas – when and where undecided as yet. I’m torn between the pros and cons of a few cities, although they are close enough in distance to be able to visit either anytime. The idea of living and working overseas has been ever-present, but only now, when the borders are forced shut and I cannot venture out past a couple of suburbs, is the dream of living overseas so bold in my life plan. I have taken the opportunity for granted, even if the timing has never been right to do so. Now, I am free to choose but not go. I wonder whether I have perhaps missed my chance, if fate has intervened and I am to stay grounded in the same place for a while. I haven't been to anywhere near the number of places I wish to. I haven't seen the temples in Tokyo, the Gaudí masterpieces in Barcelona, nor the perfectly colourful streets and canals of Copenhagen. I suppose the doses of perspective that I have received during this pandemic have to include the appreciation that I have travelled and seen some of the world. And I will again. The uncertainty of the situation creates even more tension as I cannot begin to plan something that may not happen for a while. I discussed with a friend back in May, who had been planning to live in London this year or next, that we could move over all together and share an expensive apartment in the city. The conversation was fuelled by a cocktail or two and premature excitement, as little did we know that within three months, we would be back in another lockdown. So, now is the time that I can use to plan and to motivate myself to get to a position where I can pack up and head overseas like I want to. I will just have to continue to dream about visiting family in Liverpool, finally getting to Tokyo for some authentic sushi or walking through the streets of Montenapoleone in Milan.
FASHION
HEY, DOLL Written by Sophie Evans
Images: Courtesy of Moschino via Vogue Runway
Moschino's Jeremy Scott adjusted his Spring/Summer 2021 collection show to miniature proportions.
This season, the ever-called unprecedented version of what would have been, most guests were sent digital invites. Perhaps a letter in the mail, the usual flowing calligraphy or chic block handwriting personalising the card with a name. A select few may have received glossy gift boxes tied with wide ribbons with contrast stitching, filled with the latest trend to lust after. Most brands will have done this. Some guests may have been lucky with special deliveries. But Moschino’s Jeremy Scott thought outside the proverbial box. We’ve heard and read throughout this lengthy pandemic the to's and fro's about productivity in lockdown. How much should we be making ourselves accomplish? Should we learn a language, kickstart that business idea, recommence reading a novel a week? Or is it better to go as we may, do as much as we please, as much as we feel the need to? One thing that is spawned out of the boredom or opportunity of lockdown restrictions, depending on how you look at it, is the sparks of creativity that pop into your mind. You have time to think and ponder at what could be done better, differently. So, instead of being a part of the crowd (when has Moschino ever been, anyway?), they created one — literally and figuratively. The set for the Italian brand's Spring/Summer 2021 collection was a puppet show. Everything was handmade: the guests, including Anna Wintour in her signature bob and sunglasses and Hamish Bowles in his three-piece suit; the models, which were figurines of the actual casted models for the show and not Scott's vision; and of course, the garments and accessories. Six muted golden looks began the show with couture silhouettes shaping cropped jackets and A-line dresses in jacquard and a healthy dose of tulle. This lightness blended into dove blue shades with splices of denim, bell sleeves, all-over embellishments and yes, you guessed it, more tulle. Opulent, Marie Antoinette greens came down the runway with quilt-like hemlines and 1940s lapel necklines. Corsetry was obvious when paired with flared pants or worked onto the front of garments in a colour blocking way. Rich corals and fittingly, Barbie pinks, strode down in layers of tulle before striking black looks and the finale gowns in aqua and soft pink.
FASHION
FASHION
There were the Moschino hallmarks: fur trimmings, oversized proportions, feminine accoutrements like bows and corsetry, and the miniature handbag trend remained, even when sized against its doll-sized wearer. Familiar faces wore Scott's new season looks: Gigi Hadid in the first look (not in fact pregnant as she was when this show was held), Soo Joo Park in Look 3, Dutch model and fashion week favourites Yasmin Wijnaldum and Kiki Willems, the latter recognisable by her striking red hair. There was a Moschino bride to close the show in a recreated version of a knee-length couture tea dress of sorts, a long train falling behind as the back of the dress and an open neckline revealing a neat corset. Scott's marionette doppelgänger said his thanks in a Diorappropriated t-shirt. We can always rely on Moschino and Scott to add a dose of fun and hope into fashion week but it was much more appreciated this season. We may not be able to dress up but we are certainly all feeling excitement for that day in tulle to come.
FASHION
DRESS LIKE A SUPERMODEL
Written by Sophie Evans
Images: @giedre.dukauskaite, @tommyton & Marc Piasecki
The best fashion in the world is on the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York, but the best style in the world splays out onto the streets. Outside fashion shows, crowds of photographers spill out to capture models as they leave for the next show, or guests dressing up for the occasion. You may see supermodels wearing merely t-shirts and denim shorts but it is the way that these looks highlight their figure — which is evidently their currency — which you may not notice further elongates their figures and physical assets. While we live in a time that promotes body positivity, knowing what works for your body should still be considered when dressing. Simple facts like horizontal lines widening your shape, belts cinching in waistlines, and short hems giving you the look of long (or longer) legs will give you style cred, as well as self-cred.
FASHION
THE INCH SPLIT TRICK
It’s all in the layers. Wearing cropped or shorter hem tops and jumpers gives the illusion that your waist is higher, this elongating your legs. Adding in a mini skirt and having inch-peek-a-boos of shirts before the hemline seal the look. See Karolina working this to perfection, right. HIGH AND LONG
As per Victoria Beckham and Christy Turlington (left), a stiff cowl neck with long pants, hemmed-to-perfection at the ankle, also lengthen your figure. She’s 5’4”, if you thought she was any taller. KNOW YOUR PROPORTIONS
As a general rule, go big on top and small on bottom, or vice versa. This rule must be considered to avoid the dreaded frump and balance out a look. Bigger busts or long legs? Keep this in mind also. DARKNESS, YOUR FRIEND
While it’s so not 2020 to say that black is slimming, it’s completely and utterly true. Wear dark colours as a trompe l’oeil lesson in shape. BE BIASED
Assymetric and bias cuts are some of the most flattering. Diagonal hemlines can make you look taller when worn correctly. Too tight or too baggy and you can risk looking over-sized or constricted. IT’S A CINCH
The easiest styling trick to get on board with: belts. Fasten at the slimmest part of your waistline and you’re good to go — Liu Wen shows you how (opp., right). DOUBLE UP
Wearing a turtleneck underneath a shirt in cooler months, or low denier tights under bottoms highlights your slender features so your shirt or skirt can stay loose.
THE RISE OF A-BEAUTY
BEAUTY
Written by Sophie Evans Images: @ereperezcosmetics, @adorebeauty, @koraorganics, @meccacosmetica, @gotoskincare
First came the cult category of K-Beauty, including the eleven-step skincare regimen of Korean women, which still reigns supreme for flawless skin and beauty habits. Then came J-Beauty, a similar but equally individual representation of Japanese women's beauty routines. Parisiennes have their classic look. It’s that effortless no make-up look with a classic rouge lip. And while Australian beauty has often garnered a cliched blonde surfer girl, honestly, it’s not too far from the truth. We need practicality and functionality. Product can’t slide off our face when we need it to stick. We need protection from the sun, so nothing below SPF 30+ cuts it. The skincare industry in Australia is a tough one to crack into due to strict TGA laws, but once you earn our dollars, we’re hard pressed to change from a favourite when it does what we want it to. We investigate the biggest players in Australian beauty and why they're at the top of their game.
BEAUTY
MECCA AND ADORE BEAUTY These industry powerhouses had been ticking away quietly for years before beauty went boom in Australia. Now, they compete for our obsession with all things skin. Mecca’s own ranges, Mecca Max (cosmetics) and Mecca Cosmetica (skincare) are well-loved by all, in particular their To Save Face SPF 50 Moisturiser and Sunscreen. Mecca Max is perfect for those who are new to make-up, don’t want to spend a fortune and/or love an easy, natural application. Adore Beauty’s playfulness is wellendeared thanks to the creation of their new podcast. The online retailer sells predominantly luxury skincare with a great social media presence and the one thing we all want: Tim Tams in our order deliveries. KORA ORGANICS While Miranda Kerr’s own organic skincare line has been revered for some time, Kerr has been busy behind the scenes getting new products-- usually with her key ingredient, noni-- out into the beauty-sphere as well as stocking them in new places such as Adore Beauty. Shop hero products such as the Rose Quartz Heart Facial Gua Sha to scuplt away toxins, facial mists, Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum and Turmeric Brightening Mask to glow!
GO-TO SKINCARE Former beauty editor, Zoe Foster-Blake has founded a cult coral-hued skincare brand aimed at becoming your skin saviour. Stripped back and simple, with transparent descriptions, Go-To is perfect for everyday use and the everyday girl who just wants a cleanser to be a cleanser. Face Hero, a protective facial oil is the go-to of Go-To, with the newest addition to the family being Fancy Face, an oil-based cleanser. Go get! ERE PEREZ COSMETICS Mexican-born Ere Perez has quickly ascended the natural skincare chain from her HQ in Bondi. After being stocked online and in specialty organic stores, Myer decided that they couldn’t resist her native ingredient-derived cosmetics and skincare. Be intrigued by Quandong Booster Serum, Papaya SOS Marmalade (a luxe paw paw ointment), Oat Milk foundation, Avocado Mascara and Carrot Colour Pots, which act as lip and cheek stains. Tempted?
HEALTH
MANAGING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHILE WORKING FROM HOME Written by Sophie Evans
Image: Emma Simpson via Unsplash
The virus crisis has shifted our lives in many directions, and working from home is clearly one of them. Times like this, when people are working by themselves without the camaraderie and banter of an office environment, can have an effect on mental health. Especially with all of this uncertainty, the stress and mixed feelings can compound existing emotional preoccupations. According to the ABC, calls to Lifeline have gone up 20% in the last three weeks* and Beyond Blue have received an increase in calls too. These stats should be an incentive for you to call if you need it. You’re not alone if you’re feeling overwhelmed and being affected by the current climate. If you’re struggling without family and friends directly around you-- particularly if you’re living and selfisolating by yourself-- try to help yourself. Take time out if you need it, adjust some of your behaviours and ask for assistance where you need it. To help you along, we thought we’d round up some tips on how to monitor your mental health while working from home.
HEALTH
Reduce screen time Working from home, especially when working in media, can mean increased screen time. You can spend your time scrolling and clicking most of the week, so why not decrease your screen time on weekends? Keep your phone in another room while you spend time with other people, or simply yourself. Despite working in the industry, understanding that we all need a break from social media to benefit physically and mentally, is important. Check out the Screen Time feature on your phone to see how much you’ve been picking up your phone, as well as which apps you’ve been using and how long for. I will sacrifice any dignity I may have by showing you mine! And… wow. Four hours a day last week on average! Whilst I use it a fair bit for work, this still seems excessive. (I am working!) Have a look at yours and see whether you need to wind your time down a bit.
Monitor and filter your feed Social media platforms have developed many ways to filter your feed so that it can be tailored even more specifically to what you want after the algorithm does its thing. The Following tab on Instagram has options to reduce how much you see of particular accounts. You can turn notifications on or off for specific accounts, mute Stories and posts if someone is over-posting, restrict how much an account can see of your account, or simply unfollow. You can do this on Facebook too on someone’s profile: hit the person icon on their profile and pick from Unfriend, Take a Break (mute posts for 30 days) or Unfollow (mute posts until you turn it back on). Twitter has an option to block hashtags, so you don’t see profane or unwanted content.
Manage your notification settings Turn them off! Use Do Not Disturb! Put your phone in a different room! It’s great to be aware of the changes around the world but constant phone dings showing you the latest update will get too much, as well as being super distracting while trying to work. If you don’t need your device right now, perhaps try leaving it alone for a while. Put in somewhere where it is not immediately in reach so you can concentrate on what you need to in that moment. Have breaks and check in on people via messages when you get up for breaks, and then head back to another block of work.
*Statistic time frame was looking back from March 30. Originally published on www.hotglue.com.au.
HEALTH
Get outside for some air and exercise A great quote I once heard is: “The best way to cure a short temper is a long walk.” Does your mind feel cloudy? Can’t concentrate? Feeling sluggish? Go for a walk or run to clear your mind. The current rules aren’t keeping you locked in your house 24/7, but try to avoid the busy streets and wander around the backstreets of your neighbourhood. You might just discover a nice spot that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise.
Ask for help or time off Mental Health Days are becoming just as common as Sick Days. With the rise in mental health issues, especially amongst younger generations, it is more important than ever to recognise yourself or others who may be struggling, whether you’re an employee or an employer. Organise time off as you would usually by letting your boss know that you’re not feeling great, whether it be physically or mentally. It’s not worth being unproductive when you can relax and get yourself feeling better again. If you need help, let someone know that you need it. Use fun video calls such as House Party to chat with family and friends or call them to discuss your thoughts. Otherwise, there are plenty of hotlines and services to help you out and have a talk about what’s upsetting you: Lifeline: 13 11 14 SANE: 1800 187 263 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 e-Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/. e-Headspace is an online chat service that offers counselling for youth and their families. Images; clockwise from above: Thomas Bassett via Unsplash, Bongkarn Thanyakij via Pexels & Nathana Rebouças via Unsplash
OPINION
CAN WE WRITE POSITIVE OPINION PIECES?
Written by Sophie Evans
Image: Natahan Dumlao via Unsplash
Opinion pieces and editorials, or op-eds, are more often than not trying to convince you that something is bad. Change your ways! Don’t do that! Boycott that group! It got me thinking-- have you ever read a positive opinion piece? We all have so much to complain about, with social media and the internet as a whole giving us the perfect platform to do so. We’ve become a society that focuses on all of the bad in the world-- hell, there’s a lot of it-rather than finding the brighter, optimistic perspective. While there are issues that deserve their time in the spotlight and deserve to be critiqued, there is definitely time and space to highlight the good in situations. Or write about something good happening in the world! This can be hard when, thanks to commercial news often being manipulated and/or biased, we need to report on what’s happening in the world that no one knows about.
OPINION
Have negative opinion pieces become a way to vent our frustrations? Quite possibly. In our social media-driven leisure time, some of us have lost the ability to engage in deep, meaningful conversations about topics that matter. Ironically, this is exactly what is happening on online forums and Facebook posts. Our need to purge our opinions and problems to other people is becoming extinct because often we cannot rely on our nearest and dearest to sit down without technology for half an hour and LISTEN. So how can we write a positive opinion piece?
Perhaps, let’s not get caught up in news that doesn’t need any further attention. If the answer to the issue is straight-forward and logical, then most people will simply be logical about something. There doesn’t need to be a tsunami of identical articles flooding our newsfeeds, all ranting on the same side. If we begin having more intellectual conversations with one another, and expressing our concerns with more openness and vulnerability, then we may come out of these discussions feeling refreshed and empowered to do something good. And in turn, write something positive. I think our main problem regarding our moods and thoughts towards problems is potentially having no faith in the world and the people in charge of managing the big issues. Now, this may seem very gloomy and not at all optimistic, but is there only so much we can do? No. We need to do and say, and we need to do it bigger and louder. We’re in a changing world where content and conversations are more authentic, and the young generations (Gen X to Millennials) are rising up to enforce this change. It would be more beneficial to avoid sounding bratty about issues by writing our opinions positively rather than demanding action all of the time. (Sometimes, you gotta protest!) The thing with opinion pieces is that they’re meant to persuade and convince the reader. So, why not leave them feeling positive? Why not enforce some action rather than simply concluding the article with a sense of doom or frustration? Surely we can’t be so unhappy that we have to continually put everyone’s decisions and everything happening in the world. This is the Reset Issue after all. Let’s reset and start seeing the good in the world’s issues. Otherwise, make it good ourselves. Image: Alex Radelich via Unsplash
ABOUT THE EDITOR Sophie Evans has been a natural writer and editor since her first story was published in her primary school newsletter at age eight. It was a (very) short story about a plot of sunflowers, but the feeling of seeing her work in print instilled a desire for more. As a writer, Sophie has been published more than sixty times in a range of print and digital spaces. She is a passionate and descriptive writer who is not afraid to delve into issues considered taboo or delicate. She brings a genuine, modern and educated female voice to her work across fiction and non-fiction. As an editor, Sophie worked as editor-in-chief of Swinburne University's student-run Swine Magazine in 2019 to great success. She has also begun work on her own magazine title, Envie — a modern publication for a young generation of thinkers and lovers of the cultural zeitgeist. Sophie’s philosophy is to write and edit content so it is attractive to any savvy and intelligent reader who enjoys learning and understanding topics and opinions that may be foreign to them in a creative and informed style. Image:Elizabeth Kay via Unsplash
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