Where should you visit outside the Dublin City Centre?
When my mom visited me in August 2022, I tried to cram in as much as I could in the 4 days she was in Ireland. We spent a full day exploring the Dublin City Centre. The rest of the time, we went outside the city centre to get a taste of other parts of Ireland.
So here’s where to visit outside the Dublin City Centre.
Where to Visit Outside the Dublin City Centre
Visiting outside the Dublin City Centre took about 2 days since my mom was only spending 4 days in Ireland.
We ended up visiting Howth and doing a day-long tour to the Cliffs of Moher which included stops at a few villages on our route.
Howth
Howth is a seaside village about an hour outside of Dublin City Centre. Anytime I ask someone for recommendations for things to do in Dublin, Howth is always one of the first suggestions.
I believe most people go there for the Howth cliff walks but my mom and I didn’t get a chance to do that.
We started our mini-day trip walking down Howth pier and wandering around the shops. We got coffee and snacks at Beshoffs The Market. The market had a selection of snacks, pastries, and a coffee bar. On certain days, they also sell oysters at the counter. There’s even a restaurant attached to it if you prefer to sit down and enjoy a meal.
Lighthouse at Howth.
Afterwards, we walked along the other side of the pier to the lighthouse to take in the sights and lovely weather before going to King Sitric Seafood Bar for a light lunch of smoked salmon and soda bread.
Smoked salmon and soda bread from King Sitric’s Seafood Bar.
All in all, it was a lovely, relaxing summer day wandering around with my mom.
Cliffs of Moher Day Tour
Ok, I know people have strong opinions about organised tours but honestly, they’re such a convenient way to see a lot in a short amount of time with very minimal effort!
My go-to organised tour company is Paddywagon Tours. I’ve used them twice now and both times have been great experiences.
This time, I chose the Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin.
We started the day at 8am and didn’t get back to Dublin til it was dark but we saw A LOT during the day.
Not only do you have several hours to explore the Cliffs of Moher but you also stop by a lot of small villages and landmarks for photo opportunities such as Bunratty Castle, Doolin, the Burren, Kinvara, and going along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The Wild Atlantic Way.The Burren during our Cliffs of Moher day tour.
Every stop was more picturesque than the last. We were also blessed with the most amazing weather. It was so incredibly sunny, warm, and the landscape was so vibrant and lush.
A bonus, which was NOT advertised, was stopping at the Barack Obama Plaza. It’s a “service station located at Junction 23 on the M7 Dublin to Limerick motorway.” I never would have expected it to be where it is for such a high profile name.
As the name suggests, it’s a service station. The ground floor is a food court and the first floor is a free museum dedicated to the 44th United States president. It was a strange experience being somewhere that was so American but knowing you’re actually in European country. Would I go back? 100%.
But I digress…
The star of the show was without a doubt the Cliffs of Moher.
You know those moments where you realise how insignificant you are compared to the rest of the world or universe? That’s how I felt there.
There’s no way to adequately describe them. To put it plainly, the cliffs are HUGE and everything else next to it is tiny.
I’ve lived in cities for most of my life and I’ve seen buildings taller than the Cliffs of Moher. However, one really tall building is nothing compared to 5 miles of tall cliffs and the endless ocean in the distance.
If you have the chance to do this tour or simply see the Cliffs of Moher, DO IT.
4 Days in Dublin: Where to Visit Outside the Dublin City Centre
This post is by no means a comprehensive list of all the amazing things to do in Dublin and Ireland. But if you’re looking for things to do on a quick trip, this is a great place to start!
Since my mom visited, I’ve had a couple more visits from home where we did slightly different things depending on the person’s tastes. It’s fun putting together guides for them that are specific to each person!
It’s September and for a lot of the world, the weather is amazing. It’s hot, the sun is out, and it’s peak travel time. It feels like everyone is on holiday.
Being a Sagittarius and a world-traveler, I naturally got a little FOMO and I felt the sudden impulse to go on a quick weekend trip myself. After all, that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to move abroad. After very little research, I decided to go to Amsterdam.
I’ll spare you the details but long story short, I messed up the events in my calendar and what was initially a 2 day itinerary quickly became 24 hours in Amsterdam.
Was this my brightest moment? Definitely not. But I went anyway and honestly, that short amount of time was enough to rank Amsterdam as one of my favourite cities I’ve visited.
So if you also have 24 hours in Amsterdam (either on purpose or on accident), here’s what you should absolutely do!
How to Spend 24 Hours in Amsterdam
Accommodation
Hostels are a great idea if you just need a place to sleep. However, I don’t like picking just any random hostel; it has to be nice and clean. I know I only had 24 hours in Amsterdam but I can only rough it up to a certain point. I’m not THAT much of a free-spirit.
First off, the hostel was right next to Vondelpark, the bus station that takes you to/from the airport, and all the canals. I’d say that’s prime real estate!
One of the many canals in Amsterdam. This was only a short walk from the Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark hostel.
Secondly, the building was beautiful and full of greenery. It was a great first impression and left me feeling at ease the moment I walked in. The building is secured via key card given to all guests so I felt comfortable knowing random people won’t be going in and out at odd hours.
The 4 person room I stayed in was clean and tidy and the en-suite shower and toilets were kept very simple. It’s ideal for someone who is only staying for a short amount of time. Just note that if you’re tall, it may feel a bit cramped but it’s not a big deal if you’re not there for very long.
Overall, I was really happy with Stayokay! Everyone I met from the receptionist to my hostel-mates were lovely.
Anyway, onto the actual activities in Amsterdam!
Cycling Tour
I’ll get right to it: I may have only spent 24 hours in Amsterdam but going on a cycle tour of the city was the absolute best decision of that trip. It’s the best way to see a lot of Amsterdam in a short amount of time in a unique way.
I booked with Mike’s Bike Tours Amsterdam. They provided a bike for the whole tour and we stayed in a group of about 13 people of all ages. Our tour guide was so lovely, funny, and sprinkled fun facts as we cycled around town like the fact Amsterdam is built over a marsh. With an unstable surface, that’s why many of the buildings are a little bit crooked. It definitely added to the charm of the city.
During the cycle tour, we stopped in front of the Rijksmuseum in the museum quarter for a photo.
The tour was about 2.5 hours and we cycled about 10km (6-7mi). Here are some of the highlights of the tour:
Biking along the canals
The roads in Amsterdam are designed with bikes in mind. It was so easy to cycle from point to point. I know how to cycle but I don’t do it often and I still found it so simple to get around.
Going through Vondelpark
This is a gorgeous 120 acre urban park complete with lakes, an open air theatre, and several food facilities. There were so many people jogging, cycling, and lounging around. You can genuinely sense how relaxed people are.
Stopping in front of Anne Frank’s house where she and her family hid in WWII
I wish I had the opportunity to go inside but apparently tickets sell out very quickly so if you want to visit the Anne Frank House, definitely plan ahead of time. However, we did stop in front of her house in Jordaan.
Cycling over the Skinny Bridge
Supposedly, this bridge was built to make it easier for two sisters who lived on opposite sides of the river to see each other. The original bridge is said to have been so skinny that only two people can cross. This was another fun fact mentioned by our guide. Regardless, there’s a stunning view of the river that’s worth getting a picture of.
Taking a short break in Nieuwmarkt
This was an important area of Amsterdam for commerce. When I was there, there were so many stalls selling various arts and crafts. It’s also close to a street called Bloedstraat which is apparently where executions happened and the streets would run red with blood, hence the name.
Once you’ve booked your tour, you’re probably going to want to eat something at some point. I’ve made a list of the spots I visited, which were all delicious, by the way!
Food and Drinks
Uncommon Amsterdam
I’m an avid oats consumer so when I say I had possibly the best overnight oats of my life, please believe me. Uncommon’s menu changes seasonally so you’ll either be lucky to try the oats or you’ll be lucky to try a new addition to the menu. Either way, it’s a win-win for you. Uncommon puts a lot of thought and care into their menu, coffee, and space to bring you a sense of calm and nourishment.
Address: Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat 63H 1054 BT Amsterdam
The overnight oats at Uncommon. It was all vegan and possible one of the best oats I’ve ever had. 10/10!
Coffee District Willemsparkweg
Coffee District was my first stop after settling in and it was a great intro into the delicious food and coffee I had in my 24 hours in Amsterdam. The cappuccino was perfectly flavoured (no sugar necessary) and I finally had my first Dutch pastry: a kouign-amman. Shout out to the Great British Bake Off for introducing me to this pastry! It was so buttery, flaky, and thick. My tastebuds were dancing.
Address: Willemsparkweg 8H 1071 HD Amsterdam, Netherlands
A cappuccino and kouign-amman from Coffee District. Everything was perfect.
De Blauwe Hollander
I came across this restaurant randomly as I was wandering the streets and taking the sights all in. I knew I wanted to try Dutch cuisine and this restaurant caught my eye. I got a variety of dishes so I can try a little bit of everything. This place would be perfect for vegetarians as they have plenty of items that don’t have meat. I would recommend the vegetarian croquettes; tomato soup with leek strips; and fresh herring with marinated beet, onions, and pickles. It was light, fresh, and so delicious.
A tapas-style lunch from De Blauwe Hollander. Everything tasted so fresh and the outdoor seating was perfect for people-watching.
Sophie’s Kitchen
By the time my day was over, a lot of shops and restaurants closed for the night. I still hadn’t tried a fresh stroopwafel which is a layer of caramel between 2 thin waffle disks. I know I’m not describing it well but believe me when I say it’s out of this world. Anyway, Sophie’s Kitchen was still open which felt like a sign because a) it’s close to my name and b) it’s a bakery which is sort of up my alley. The stroopwafel was the size of my hand and I inhaled that in 5 minutes. Incredible!
Address: Leidsestraat 18 1017 PA Amsterdam, Netherlands
A massive stroopwafel from Sophie’s Kitchen. I had a feeling this place wouldn’t let me down!
Maoz Vegan
To be honest, a vegan falafel bar was never on my radar of places to try in Amsterdam but am I glad I went? YES. Upon further research, Maoz Vegan is an international falafel bar that originated in Amsterdam. You have the option of ordering falafel in a pita or a bowl and then adding as many toppings (fresh veggies, pickled veggies, sauces, etc.) as you want. Me being me, I loaded my bowl with ALL the veggies that could fit. I then enjoyed my bowl along the canals with a German guy I met in my hostel. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.
All roads lead to Ireland no matter where you are, apparently! One of my hostel-mates was from Cork and was playing his banjo and harmonica at Mulligan’s the night I was there. The German hostel-mate mentioned previously and I thought it would be fun to go watch him play. It was such a lively event! There were about 12 people playing traditional Irish music back-to-back. We had a pint and were in awe of how they all know the music and how they keep on playing without many breaks. And I think our Cork hostel-mate appreciated we came to watch him play especially since we all met that day.
24 Hours in Amsterdam Was Not Enough
I truly wish I planned my trip better so I can spend more time in Amsterdam. There’s so much I haven’t seen and I’d love to explore outside the city center.
However, I absolutely don’t regret my decision to go, even if it was a headache getting there and back.
I hope these tips are useful if you ever find yourself spending 24 hours in Amsterdam!
One of my goals with moving abroad was exploring more whether that was going to different villages in Ireland or neighboring countries. I hate to say I’ve started falling into my comfort zone and I haven’t made exploring as much of a priority. Luckily, when my mom visited me in August, it was the perfect excuse to be an actual tourist in Dublin. We did a lot in the few days she was here so this is my guide for things to visit when you have 4 days in Ireland, starting with exploring the Dublin city centre.
Exploring the Dublin City Centre
We started off by exploring the city centre by foot. We’re very fond of walking so we spent all day doing that. I had as many steps as I would at a music festival: over 20,000! It was exhausting and but well worth it.
Dublin is about 5km/3 miles long from Phoenix Park to Ringsend so it’s definitely walkable which is one thing I love about living here.
Here are some key attractions I’ve enjoyed if you’re exploring the Dublin city centre.
St. Stephen’s Green – Dublin 2
Type: attraction
This is a beautifully manicured park that is lovely to walk through as it is to lay on the grass. There’s a lake on the northern end of it and a playground for children. Any spot is a great spot to relax and soak up the sun (when the weather is nice.) Coming from LA, I’m not used to parks looking this beautiful so I highly recommend visiting this.
Trinity College – Dublin 2
Type: attraction
I’m sure many people would tell you to see the Book of Kells but my mom and I enjoy doing things for free if we can help it. But definitely do see it if you want; I hear it’s amazing! But if you want to go the free route, wandering the campus is also a great idea. The buildings are gorgeous and have been around for centuries. We joined a campus tour and stayed with them for a while. The tour guide was brilliant to listen to and it was interesting hearing about the college’s scandalous past.
The Bottle Boy – Dublin 1
Type: food/drink
I took my mom here because it’s far away from the craziness of Temple Bar, Grafton St, and O’Connell St. After walking for hours, we needed a moment to relax. If you happen to go to The Bottle Boy on a warm, sunny day, it’s absolutely amazing. Grab a pint, find a seat at the small seating area outside, and enjoy the sun as you sip your drink beside the River Liffey.
Provender Bread & Wine – Dublin 8
Type: food/drink
We came across this wine bar randomly after a long day at the Guinness Storehouse (more on that later) and walking. All we wanted was a quick bite and we got something more special. We ordered a small cheese board to curb the hunger and we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was! Provender Bread & Wine uses organic and artisan products which explains why such a small cheese platter was so delicious. Excellent cheese (even though we got there at the end of the day and not much was left), excellent crackers and nibbles, and excellent customer service.
Provender Bread and Wine – This is the small cheese platter ordered and it was incredible. How is something so simple so delicious?!
Phoenix Park – Dublin 8
Type: attraction
I’ve been here several times and nothing quite prepares you for the magnitude of Phoenix Park. It’s the largest city park in Europe and it’s absolutely worth a visit. I haven’t even seen all of it yet. There are sections with beautiful gardens but the deeper you get into the park, you’re just surrounded by wide, open space. It’s a great place to clear your mind or go for a cycle. There’s even a zoo, a cafe to grab some coffee, and I hear you can see deer run across sometimes. I haven’t seen that yet!
Phoenix Park – I’d never been to a park that had this much open space.
The Guinness Storehouse – Dublin 8
Type: drink
Ok, if you’re going to Dublin, you almost HAVE to do the do the Guinness Storehouse tour. There are varying ticket tiers but the one we got was the one that included the Stoutie (a selfie on your stout). You start off heading up to the main floor which immediately sets the vibe. The gift shop, tour, and bar takes place in a pint glass that’s seven stories tall. Seriously. The gift shop has awesome merchandise that’s actually NOT tacky. The tour is self-guided and is such a treat for your sight, smell, and spatial senses. Trust me, it’s not a boring tour. You know how Disneyland has a way of making you feel like you’re experiencing something really special? That’s how I felt in the storehouse. If you get the Stoutie, your photograph will be taken and in minutes, it’s printed onto the head of your Guinness. I don’t understand how they do it but it’s honestly worth it. You may even get a free pint from one of the servers if you’re lucky. Your final stop will be at the Gravity Bar with a panoramic view of Dublin.
The Guinness Storehouse – This was our final pint at the Gravity Bar at the top of the storehouse. Amazing views and delicious pints.
Honorable Mention – The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland
I didn’t get to show my mom this attraction while she was here but I’ve been there before on my own. The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland is tucked away in the north part of Dublin. It’s a sprawling piece of land with so many plants, flowers, a lake, and a couple large greenhouses. It’s another perfect place for relaxing on a sunny day.
The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland – This is in one of the greenhouses where they had the biggest monstera plants I’ve ever seen in my life!
As a bonus, you can also walk to Glasnevin Cemetery, Ireland’s national cemetery, which you can access through the botanic gardens. There are 1.5 million people are buried here which is wild to think about. The tombs and sacrophogi range from centuries old to present day.
4 Days in Dublin Map
If you’re like me and you want a visual of where everything is, check out my map that has all the spots I’ve been to in that are worth a visiting if you’re exploring Ireland.
Even though I moved abroad to Dublin, Ireland and completely changed my life, I find comfort in familiarity. I enjoy eating the same things every day (like my egg white oats and protein yogurt bowl) and I enjoy my workout routine. But being in a new country means being around different selections of produce and foods. Therefore, the way I eat has changed slightly. So, here’s 3 ways my food choices changed since moving abroad.
3 Ways My Food Choices Changed Since Moving Abroad
No longer shopping at high-end supermarkets
Gone are the days where I can shop at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or my favorite place, Erewhon. Sad times but actually, it’s much better for my wallet.
Supermarkets in Dublin are much different than in Los Angeles. The regular grocery stores I’ve been to here are smaller than the stores in LA and don’t carry as big of a selection of items, based on my experience. Items like kale and egg whites have been a bit more difficult to find. But that could also be due to me being new and not knowing where to buy everything yet.
Shopping here has also been less expensive than shopping in LA. I’m surprised by how much less I spend when I do (almost) a whole week’s worth of groceries. That being said, there are more expensive stores like Marks & Spencers which are always fun to go through and see what pricey items they have.
One cool thing about shops like Lidl and Aldi have this middle section where they sell random items. They can range from very practical things like clothes and baking dishes to out-of-place items like…chainsaws or battery chargers. It’s exciting going through it because you never know what you’ll find.
Lidl’s middle section where they’re currently selling muffin tins, fire pits, twine, and a battery charger.
Shopping multiple times a week
In my LA life, I got by with one grocery shop a week because I had a car to lug everything around and the size of them items I got would usually last me the week or more.
Now that I’m in Dublin, I don’t have a car so I have to carry everything by hand. It doesn’t make sense to do massive shops because there’s no way I can carry everything home myself unless I want my arms to feel like they’re falling off.
Also, all the food here is in smaller packages (or maybe the US just sells things in larger than normal packages…) so I go through things more quickly. For example, I got a 500mL container of Greek yogurt the other day and I’ve already finished it.
Maybe I have a big appetite. Maybe the sizes are smaller. Or maybe it’s both.
Buying more calorie-dense foods because of less storage space
When I lived with roommates and my parents in LA, I had lots of fridge and pantry space to store my food. My meals would mainly be A LOT of lower-calorie foods. I enjoyed volume-eating because I ate a little bit of everything but still stayed within my macro and calorie limits. My dinners would basically be HUGE bowls of veggies. I’d eat them out of mixing bowls.
However, in Dublin flat, my fridge and pantry space is considerably smaller so I have to shop a bit differently. Instead of buying bags on bags of different veggies that would take over the whole fridge, I try to include more calorie-dense foods (foods which contain more calories relative to their weight). I still meet my macro and calorie goals while taking up less space in the fridge and pantry.
Currently, that looks like using grains (rice cakes, bread) and starchy veggies (sweet potatoes, peas, etc) to hit my carb goals versus using lots of low calorie veggies (courgette/zucchini, celery, etc).
I try to keep my stuff to one shelf and one drawer so I don’t take over the whole space.
How My Food Choices Make Me Feel Since Moving Abroad
Overall, I feel really good diet-wise since moving abroad. I’m slowly adapting to the food options I have here and discovering new places to find ingredients I was used to in LA. While things are different here, I don’t feel I’ve had to make many sacrifices to the way I eat. I think it helps Dublin is a major city so it’s pretty accommodating to different eating styles.
I also understand and am ok with not replicating my LA diet. I’m in a new country with access to different foods. I’m trying to adapt to my surroundings rather than wishing my surroundings adapted to my wants. That’s a pretty narrow-minded way to live, in my opinion.
But I digress. I’m having fun being more relaxed about my eating habits and changing them up a bit.
Do you know of any meatless versions of Irish dishes, foods, snacks, and/or drinks I should try? Send me a DM on my Instagram @balancingitall. I want to try them all!
For those who didn’t know, I recently made the move to Dublin, Ireland! It’s been 2 months now and it’s been quite the rollercoaster of events but I’m embracing all the obstacles, the good, the bad, the expected, and the unexpected.
Much of my progress to move aborad was in slow motion. It honestly took the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown to get my butt into gear.
The pandemic put everything into perspective for me.
Previously, I felt I had to burn myself out from a job in order to make ends meet. I worked hard, stayed late at work sometimes, and took on tasks without much pushback or sufficient assistance. In the end, it got me nowhere. Sure, I had promotions and raises but at what cost? My mental health was not in a good place and I’m sure my roommate/best friend was tired of me complaining about how defeated I felt. The weight of burn out and the pandemic was getting to be too much to deal with. In May 2021, I cracked, went through what felt like a mental breakdown, and had enough.
Throughout lockdown, I saw how other employees were treated at their jobs. They were let go from jobs they gave so much of their time and energy to. During this time, we as a society began to prioritize our personal and family’s health and happiness. And at the time, hundreds of thousands of people died from the COVID-19 virus. Knowing this and going through my own experiences in the workplace made me realize that my mental health and happiness was more important than a paycheck.
(I also want to point out that I recognize this thought process comes from a privileged place. I know not everyone has the ability or means to think the way I did about this situation or even take action on it the way I did. But I did want to share how I arrived to where I am now and in the interest of transparency, this is how it occurred.)
Once I had that realization, my focus shifted. I needed to put me first, not my employer. If I don’t take care of myself first, how can I do well in other areas of my life, career included? I also knew that because this is something I’ve wanted for years, if I didn’t do this now, I would regret it the rest of my life. While I fleshed out my plan, I was lucky to have found a healthy workplace with a supportive team to work with.
I told myself that 2022 was the year and I was moving, whether I was ready for it or not. As bleak as it sounds, bad things like viruses, wars, and political drama will happen no matter what. I couldn’t sit back and wait for the “right time” because it will never come. It was now or never.
For those who didn’t know, I just made the move to Dublin, Ireland! It’s been almost 3 weeks at the time I’m writing this and it’s been quite the rollercoaster of events but I’m embracing all the obstacles, the good, the bad, the expected, and the unexpected.
I wrote about why I wanted to move abroad in the first place and in this post, I’ll explain why I moved to Ireland.
Why I Moved to Ireland
To vaguely recap, I’ve wanted to move abroad since about 2016 when I went to London to visit family.
Fastforward about three to four years later, I started to put my plan of moving abroad into motion. It was a very slow and long process. There were so many times where it felt like I wasn’t making any progress at all. Anytime I told someone I was making this move, I felt like I was lying because I didn’t have anything to show for it.
I eventually got my Polish passport which gives me the right to live and work freely in the European Union. That alone would open more doors for me without needing a visa to live in the EU. It also took a couple years to get. It’s not government work if it doesn’t take a long time, right?
(Side note: if you want to make a move like this and you have family abroad, read up on dual citizenship laws. Maybe you can do something similar! You may have to do some digging in your family tree but it’s definitely worth it.)
By the time I got my Polish passport, Brexit happened and England left the EU. This sucked because I got my Polish passport to make it easier to live in London and now that possibility seemed even further away.
Around that same time, I visited Ireland on my first solo trip. Usually, I’d be traveling with my cousin but this time, I went on my own.
I knew I would have a great time but I was surprised by how much I loved it. It was so easy to get around, everything was GREEN, the people were friendly, the food and drinks were excellent, and I had a blast even though I was mostly on my own. Staying in an Airbnb in town and getting around myself allowed me to briefly feel like a local. All these things influenced my decision to pick Ireland.
Granted, all those experiences happened as a tourist but I knew that the real deal would still be a lot of fun.
I toyed with the idea of going to another EU country but I decided to stick with Ireland. The thought of moving abroad to foreign country was overwhelming enough; I didn’t want the added pressure of not knowing the language or translating my CV when applying for jobs. I knew if I moved to Ireland, I would have an amazing experience and the transition would be a bit more seamless.
Now that I made my decision, I just had to execute it.
Want to Know More?
So, I’ve established why I wanted to move abroad and why I chose Ireland. The last part will go over why I decided to move to a foreign country in 2022. Make sure you subscribed so you’re the first to read it when it’s out!
Landscape photo I took of Glendalough in Dublin, Ireland. I had never seen anywhere so green before.
For those who didn’t know, I just made the move to Dublin, Ireland! It’s been almost 3 weeks and it’s been quite the rollercoaster of events but I’m embracing all the obstacles, the good, the bad, the expected, and the unexpected.
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my move here so I figured I’d answer some of those questions. This will be a three part series where I’ll focus on why I wanted to move abroad, why I moved to Ireland, and why I moved now. Buckle up!
Why I Wanted to Move Abroad
My reason for moving abroad in the first place goes back about six years ago to 2016. I had just accepted a job at a large non-profit organization (it was my first big-girl job after stints at small businesses and startups) and I was going on vacation to London to see family. Things were finally looking up after many years of feeling stagnant.
There was something in me that just clicked while I was in London. I don’t know what it was; maybe it was just spending time with my cousins, enjoying the nightlife together, trying all the yummy foods London has to offer, or just taking the tube from one part of the city to another to explore. Something in me told me that living here would be really exciting. I didn’t really think beyond that, but it just seemed like a cool idea.
I’m a sucker for European cities. I love how close together everything is. Everything is easily accessible by public transportation. There are historical landmarks around every corner. There is no end of amazing restaurants and good cafes. Flying to other countries is way easier and cheaper than flying from the US. And somehow, everyone always looks so effortlessly chic even if they’re not trying. Are all those legit reasons for wanting to move abroad? Who knows? But that’s what fascinated me about Europe.
I was thrilled by the idea but felt a little sad because I just accepted a new job and I felt I had to honor that commitment. However, that didn’t shake my desire to move there eventually. I just had to be patient and figure it out.
Years went by and the thought still lingered in my mind. Each year I traveled somewhere new, it strengthened my desire to move.
Want to Know More?
In the next part, I’ll explain why I moved to Ireland and why I moved now. Make sure you’re subscribed so you know when the next post is out!
Me in Greenwich in London, England with the city in the background. London was a huge factor in why I wanted to move abroad.
At one point or another, we’ve heard that we should do what we’re passionate about. And for the longest time, I never understood it until recently. I never realized how your hobby can change your life.
A little backstory
I’ve never known what I wanted to do when I grew up. Even in my twenties, I had absolutely no clue. I had the stable 9-5 because that’s what I thought I had to do. I fell into it because I was decent at it and I was scared I wasn’t cut out for anything else. The paycheck was also nice. But at the end of the day, through the raises, promotion, office politics, and burn out, it just didn’t make me happy.
But you know what made me happy? Fitness. That was a constant in my life since 2015 when I decided to run a 5k with zero preparation. Since then, I learned more and got better every year. It wasn’t until 2021 when I decided to take the plunge and start working in the fitness industry.
How your hobby can change your life
What started as a hobby became something I’m pivoting my life towards.
Maybe you’re not looking for your hobby to be your career but I can say with certainty the satisfaction you feel by doing your hobby will spread to other areas of your life. It may not be immediate and you may not even notice it in the moment.
But whenever you take stock of recent months or years, there’s sure to be a positive change that was a result of you working on your craft or hobby.
Take fitness, for example. It not only helped me get physically stronger, it also tests my mental strength, introduced me to amazing friends, improved my public speaking, and gave me the confidence to pivot careers. All these benefits simply because I stuck to what I enjoyed doing even if I was a total beginner and had no idea what I was doing.
Now it’s your turn
You don’t have to make any drastic changes. But consider leaning into something you’ve always wanted to try. Maybe it’s gardening, maybe it’s doing a 5k, or maybe it’s learning how to cook. You may suck at it at first (and that’s OK!) but overtime, you’ll improve and you’ll feel different…better. Maybe your confidence will grow, maybe it’ll open new doors you never thought possible, and maybe you’ll meet people you never would’ve met otherwise.
Give it a shot. What’s your hobby and how has it impacted your life? Share in the comments! I’d love to read about what sparks joy for you.
There will be times where you’re at crossroads and you have a choice to make. Do you go with the easier option that’s safe and comfortable or do you go in with blind faith and pick the challenging option? I was at that crossroads at the end of January and I had mini-epiphanies that we should be doing the thing that makes us uncomfortable.
I had a goal I wanted to accomplish years ago but because of reasons and excuses, I kept putting it off. With the pandemic, things were starting to line up to make this goal a reality. And even though I know it’s something I really want, I still found ways to talk myself out of it.
What gave me the push to actually follow through was:
1. Telling Other People
Manifesting it into existence, putting it out into the universe, whatever you want to call it, I made it known this is what I wanted to accomplish even if I didn’t 100% believe in myself yet. To be honest, I still don’t. But I put it out there, I let my friends and family know this is what I was going to do. I think the awkwardness I would feel from saying it and not following through was the extra push I needed.
2. Knowing I Wasn’t Doing What I Preached
I am a group fitness trainer at my local F45 Training studio and when our members are at the tail-end of a workout and they’re fatigued, I remind them that in order to grow and get strong, you have to allow yourself to get uncomfortable. As I say those words in class, I kept realizing that I wasn’t living by that. I want to be a role model for others and how could I be if I didn’t live up to what I tell our members?
I Took the Plunge; Now What?
I finally sucked it up and took a MAJOR step towards my goal. Did I have a moment of WTF right before? YES. But I did it and now I feel like it wasn’t that big of a deal. Or maybe I’m in denial. Too early to tell!
But the important thing is that I did it. I took the option that has an unclear outcome. I’m moving forward with blind faith that I’ll be just fine. I picked the option that is challenging but will allow me to grow and get stronger.
How Does This Apply to You and What Do You Do About It?
It’s likely you have something you want to accomplish but you’re not doing it because of reasons you told yourself. Maybe some of these are legitimate reasons and maybe some of them aren’t and you can get those out of the way.
Be honest with yourself and determine what’s legit and what’s an excuse.
Then take a step towards your goal. Doesn’t matter how big or small it is; just take any step beyond what you’ve already done which, if you’re like me, involves a lot of dead-end “research.”
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Then start doing the thing that makes you uncomfortable. If you don’t try, you’ll never know and if you don’t push yourself, you’ll never grow. Remind yourself of that when you start doubting yourself. You’ll want to second-guess yourself and stay in your comfort zone. Unless there’s a real reason, keep moving forward.
You’ve heard it before: “How do you stay motivated at the gym?”, “I have no motivation to do these chores.” It’s like it’s the secret to getting anything done. Here’s why you can’t rely on motivation.
Why You Can’t Rely on Motivation
I’ll cut to the chase: motivation ain’t gonna cut it long term.
There have been so many times where I feel extremely motivated to do something but literally 5 minutes later, it’s gone and I dread doing anything.
If we relied on motivation, we’d never get anything done because what do we do when it’s gone?
What You Can Do Instead of Depending on Motivation
1. Have smaller goals
Sometimes, the idea or outcome of something is more exciting than the actual work. The actual work is daunting and overwhelming. I totally get that.
Breaking your goal down into smaller chunks can make the process more tolerable and manageable.
Say you want to move to another country. The end result of being in another country is wonderful. But the actual steps to get there? Buying a plane ticket, finding somewhere to stay, figuring out any visa requirements, deciding where to work, wondering if you’ll have enough money, etc… none of those are as exciting as actually being there.
But take it one step at a time. Rather than staring at everything you need to do, just put one foot in front of the other and get to work.
2. Be consistent
Don’t lose momentum as you work towards your goal. Do your best to tackle something every day or as often as you can.
I’m the kind of person where if I don’t work at something regularly, I’ll lose my motivation, I’ll “forget” about it, and everything gets pushed back. But once I make it a habit, it’s harder for me to break it.
The gym’s a great example. Before I was a regular at the gym, it was so hard for me to workout. I would quit often and it was never a part of my routine even though I wanted it to be. But once I got some momentum going, it became hard to stop. Not all days will be fun or perfect, but I made it a habit and that consistency is what helps me get closer to my goal.
3. Remember your “why”
When you feel your motivation dwindling, remember WHY you want to accomplish this goal. There must be something that sparked this desire in you. Remember it and use it to refocus yourself.
It’s easy to want to quit when things get hard. But if this is something you truly want, use your “why” as the thing to get you going again.
4. Be kind to yourself
At the end of the day, you’re a human being with fluctuating emotions and feelings. You may get frustrated with yourself when you can’t bring yourself to work towards your goal. That’s OK.
Sometimes forcing yourself to do something can backfire. When you rely on motivation, it can only take you so far. And no matter how hard you try, you end up making no progress at all. Take a break and give yourself some time to regroup. Come back with fresh eyes and a clear mind. Chances are you’ll feel much better and more prepared to make some progress!
Small Progress is Still Progress
Goals are great but depending on what they are, they can be daunting to achieve. When you think you’re moving along very slowly, remember that small and slow progress is still progress. You may not get there as fast as you thought you would, but you WILL get there. Trust yourself that you can do it.
