thesaturnjournal

[thesaturnjournal]

Exploring the Woods

[thesaturnjournal]

'she just wants to forget' by r.h. Sin

the main goal for 2020; survive, again.

[thesaturnjournal]

Unreported Truths about COVID-19 and Lockdowns

How are you coping?

[thesaturnjournal]

self-care

the trees is the lungs of the earth. give yourself time to breathe with them.

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mindful walks...

long countryside walks during warm spring weather to clear my mind. it's the only thing keeping me sane through this global mess. X

[thesaturnjournal]

LOCKDOWN LAZY TIMES

Golden hour, relaxing in a comfy bed, and entertainment. Everyday I am discovering new things to do to change up my routine to remain happy and focused on staying positive through negative times.

[thesaturnjournal]

MEDITATION ISOLATION 

28.04.20 Times are seriously tough and difficult, and keeping away from the news can be hard to do because you’re so curious about is being reported daily. You find it eats you up alive and you tend to worry more about the Now and Future. But as long as you’re staying at home and keeping healthy, clean and keeping safe then that is all that matters.

I suffer with high anxiety and mild depression. Before anything happened, I always read the news everyday. At breakfast, during any lunch breaks, and in the evening. This wasn’t because I was obsessed or nervous, I genuinely cared about what was being reported everyday and wanted to keep myself aware of certain things. I first read about COVID-19 in January. I thought little of it. I didn’t think for a second this virus would spiral out of control and put the globe on pause. When I first read about it, I was concerned, but like I said, thought little of it. In February, I heard far bad news about it. Then I was worried a little more. There was deaths in Wuhan, they were blocking off streets as if a war was happening, it was spreading rapidly. I had important university interviews in February so this virus was the least of my problems. Weeks later, I got my acceptance letters and I was full of so much joy to study at my dream university in September! 

Then the Lockdown was announced. March 23, Friday evening, 2020. The day children never knew that would be the last time they would see their friends for a long, long time. The day college students couldn’t finish off any practicals they worked hard for. The day normal life was over for a considerable amount of time. I was told to self isolate for 14 days a few days before the national lockdown was announced because my sister fell extremely ill and had similar symptoms of the virus. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to my college friends. I lost all hope in life in general. I don’t even know if and when I can go university. I still don’t know now. We all wish we knew the answer to everything right now, but certain questions cannot be answered at this moment in time. It’s a case of staying at home, stay safe and protect everyone and NHS.

My anxiety and depression levels are skyrocketed. I try my best to keep close contact with friends daily so I have someone to speak to, have a laugh with, play some games, watch some comedy shows, and most importantly - mediate.

All my years in help for my anxiety, meditation has been the best free medicine out there for my mental health. It truly resets my clustered-up mind and refreshes it to be clean, clear and calm. I always refer to it like a computer; you reset your computer if it has had a crash and a complete software meltdown. And once it opens back up again, it’s a lot better, right? Your mind is a computer. Keep it calm and collected.

Meditation is the best medicine.

[thesaturnjournal]

FINDING INSPIRATION

21.04.20 Not being in college where I shine the best in terms of producing work, be inspired and learn more skills, it has been tough. At the beginning, I lost so much faith and hope in producing work from home because my passion is nature and wildlife. I live on a country lane and surrounded by fields so I could easily go on a walk and do some photography of the trees and fields; but my work is much more than that and obviously I cannot travel anywhere with everything that is going on. When I do go on a walk, I will still take the advantage to do some photography, but it gets to a point where it’s repetitive. At this point, I’m thinking to myself, “I have so much potential with the work I have been producing in college for the last 4 years, so why can’t I express the same potential but at home?” I had to think long and hard about what I could possibly do at home. 

I researched for some blogs and articles of people releasing their photography at home and I was inspired by selected accounts. From as simple as photographing an empty milk bottle to photographing a collage of household props. I found inspiration from these blogs and Pinterest and thank goodness it drowned in a range of ideas I wanted to produce myself and use my knowledge and skills that I have at the moment. It’s been difficult to remain positive, motivated and happy being on lockdown and being restricted to do your normal day to day activities. But I have found the beauty in the small things.

This image is of two small twigs picked from a bush in my garden in my bedroom window, on a bright Spring day.

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SPRING DAY BBQ DURING LOCKDOWN

So Spring has sprung, and we’re all in lockdown for the whole season. The muggy, rainy, British weather has finally gone away (I hope) and the warm weather and clear skies have rose. We have ourselves a little barbecue in the back garden, baking in the sun. A stray umbrella above reminding of holidays, it was the happiest day so far. It was just a shame we couldn’t spend it with some family members. The smell of happiness is definitely the smell of a barbecue. Afterwards, I baked some brownies just to keep myself happy and occupied; doing a new task/activity to keep these low days a little brighter.

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DINING ROOM IN CLOSURE

The blinds closed, doors locked, we’re shut out for the outside world that is full of worries yet millions of warriors who are on the front line. The three chairs at the dining table. Me, my sister and our father. Just the three of us. Plants, cactus, flowers, all around our living room so there is more life here. It’s dull times but this table brings so much joy every evening. 

Sunday roast. Chicken tikka curry with endless naan bread and poppadoms. Classic Italian spaghetti dish. Traditional English breakfast. Heart-warming Shepherd’s pie. The list goes on. A lot of happy, amazing memories and meals are held here.

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One thing that I have been doing an awful lot since lockdown is documenting the sunset every evening. This has been a very peaceful, mindful task , I would definitely recommend it as something to do during quarantine!

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home decor

quarantine-like still life project 

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The Morning of: April 26.

Prepared myself a mug of tea and baked a croissant for my breakfast. I took the advantage to capture this moment to document my lifestyle during lockdown. Another day with no answers. My last post was a few weeks ago because I found myself in a state I couldn’t handle due to stress and anxieties with everything that is going on. I’m trying to remain relaxed but it’s hard to ignore it all. My grandparents recently lost a close friend to the virus. I’m concerned for my education. My social anxiety is coming back and I don’t know if I will be able to act like normal when I finally get to see friends. It’s been so long being away from any other person apart from my dad and sister. It’s definitely going to feel odd once we see others again.

[thesaturnjournal]

SKINCARE ROUTINE DURING QUARANTINE 

Being stuck inside your home is probably a good thing for your skin as we are avoiding air pollution. However, I’ve realized my skin is getting dryer.

I only wear my make-up if I am going to college or have plans, and obviously being in lockdown, I haven’t been wearing my make-up -- which is the best thing for our skin, especially if you have really dry, oily and acne prone skin! My skincare routine has always been taken seriously to maintain my clear complexion, spotless skin and prevent dark circles and puffy eyes. An important thing to do while we’re in lockdown is taking care of yourself!! Here is my skincare routine in case anybody is curious:

I begin off with dampening my face with warm-hot water in an flannel to open up my pores. 

I have been using Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit facial scrub morning and evening, as it is gentle enough to use twice a day. This has been clearing my complexion almost immediately, but sometimes I only use it once a day as washing your face twice a day can upset your skin, depending on the type. 

After washing the product off with lukewarm water and splash my face with cold water, I use a facial serum by The Ordinary labeled as Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. This has massively prompt my complexion.

Afterwards, I use Neutrogena Deep Moisture body lotion to moisturize my face. For years, I have used at least 6 different branded facial moisturizers, and none of them have been a miracle for moisture on my face. Until I turned to my body lotion, that has out done any facial moisturizers I’ve ever used. My skin has always been dry, but as I have grown out of my teenage years, my skin is everlasting changing. I get the odd pimple now and then, but my skin is definitely getting dryer and my body lotion has been a miracle for body and face. 

I use Chamomile tea bags for my eyes. The antioxidants, tannins, and caffeine in the tea helps to constrict the blood vessels, tighten the skin, helps moisture and puffiness. I steep the tea bags in boiling water, then squeeze them and place them in the fridge to cool. I then have them on my eyes for 15-30 minutes and use this time to relax or meditate, which has helped me remain positive and spiritual through this epidemic.

I also recommend to anyone applying pure honey to your face (only a thin layer!) and leave it on for 20 minutes for a homemade moisturizing facial mask! I have been doing this frequently for the last year and has definitely made a difference!

Taking care of yourself is always important, but it is a lot more important now during these difficult times. 

[thesaturnjournal]

It’s a rough time to be somebody who is constantly lonely, and during the social distancing measures makes it worse. 

I can’t even go see -- or even hug -- my 70-year-old grandmother who is the closest mother figure I’ll ever have. My dad has been helping her and my granddad out with food shopping. When they come over to collect the food, wrapped up in a bag placed at our gate, me and my sister stand at the living room window waving like crazy at them.

I haven’t left the house since March 15th and it’s been driving me insane not having anything to look forward to doing at the weekends and my sister’s 18th upcoming birthday that I had big plans for. Everyday, I’m setting new plans such as “polish my desk!” and “rearrange my make-up box!”. You know, super bland but beneficial tasks when you are stuck in the house for weeks on end. I’m making daily routines to follow by so these days don’t drag and I won’t feel incredibly miserable and sad. 

But social distancing. It’s something we have to follow for potentially the rest of the year. I went for a walk on a field across my house and I just stood and listened very carefully. Nothing. It was too eery to even believe. I couldn’t hear no cars, no lorries, no kids playing and shouting, not even a peep out of a nearby factory. Is this real?

[thesaturnjournal]

Before the whole of the UK was put in a three week lockdown, I had to self-isolate for 14 days due to my sister falling ill. This was during the time people were still going on about their normal lives; enjoying the company at work, going out for an anniversary date, getting completely lost in a club, you know, socializing; which is now a forbidden act and word. I didn’t get to properly say bye to my best friends at college or complete some practical work. I just had to self-isolate immediately with not expecting it. 

“Forgot to enjoy the view”. I find that a powerful monostich. I think during this tragic time of an epidemic, it makes us think of all the years we may have taken for granted and now we all pray and wish for everything to be back to normal.