The likes of Australia and New Zealand may have been a little tricky to get to for European residents in 2021, but there was still plenty to do closer to home, for Those In That Latitude.

EasyJet Traveller Magazine released its list of the 10 most incredible travel experiences for 2021 earlier this year. There were a few cool canaries among them (from cow cuddling in the Netherlands to a wild swimming experience in Slovenia).

The most iconic summer pick of the lot, however, was an Italian hideaway slated to be a big hit in 2021: Naked the Retreat. According to Woman & Home the place’s burgeoning success comes amid a greater trend.

RELATED: Iconic Photo ‘Reveals’ Why Romance Pilgrims Are Flocking To This Obscure Italian Island

“Not only are nudist beaches and nudist holidays more popular than ever, but this retreat offers a way to get in touch with your emotions and feel liberated while ditching the constraints of clothing.”

Brainchild of Simon and Dara Stara, the Tuscan retreat aims to foster body positivity and self-liberation, promising to “reboot… your greatness” via “a dance with darkness, anger, and dirt.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Dive into the depth of you. Strip yourself bare, take off what you don’t need. Let go and liberate.”

Whether that sentiment has you running for the Tuscan (or figurative) Hills is up to you.

The retreat is home to a “charming and exclusive villa” that hosted the place’s last magnificent experience. This involved: “10 days… fully packed with transformative practices, liberating movement, communication exercises and exploration of touch and connection.”

Those thinking of attending (there are currently no events scheduled due to COVID) are encouraged to “be prepared to deeply immerse yourself, be challenged and liberated in a safe space.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EasyJet Traveller Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Jonny Ensall, TravMedia reports, said of the list, “easyJet Traveller’s Best-Of is all about celebrating the travel experiences that matter – things that are unusual, delicious, funny, moving and, most importantly, real.”

Best room with a view

Zero Real Estate, near Zurich

Best dry ski slope

Copenhill, Copenhagen

Best bridge

Footbridge over Vøringsfossen Waterfall, near Oslo

Best underwater museum

Peristera, near Volos

Best biking trail

Cycling Through the Trees, near Brussels

Best non-alcoholic cocktail

Let’s Talk About Sekt, Baby, Berlin

Best avocado restaurant

Avobar, London

Best wild swimming school

Strel Swimming Adventures, near Ljubljana

Best rooftop farm

Nature Urbaine, Paris

Best garment-free getaway

NAKED The Retreat, near Pisa

Best animal therapy

Kastanje Hoeve cow cuddling, near Amsterdam

Best sleepover

Sleeping with Sharks at Oceanogràfic Valencia, Valencia

 Read Next

• Iconic Italian Beach Scene Sparks Age Old Debate
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The post Why This Risqué Tuscan Retreat Was Named One Of 2021’s Top Travel Experiences appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Kevin Hart is walking proof that consistency is key to success.The 41-year-old comedian has parlayed his signature brand of high-strung, neurotic comedy into a multi-million dollar Hollywood career, becoming one of America’s most popular comics. In recent years he’s also become a producer, a podcast host… And a rather convincing style icon.From pattern-heavy summer looks to proving that short men can look good in a suit, Hart has a keen eye for style. But there’s one combination the man consistently gravitates back towards, as well as one watch in particular: Hart loves wearing matching casualwear, he loves retro Nike sneakers, and he loves the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.Don’t believe us? All you need to do is take a quick look at his Instagram.A few hours ago, Hart shared this photo of him looking staunch in an all-grey John Elliott sweatshirt and trackpants combo; pink Nike Daybreak sneakers on his feet; and his much-loved Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked (ref. 15407OR.OO.1220OR.01) on his wrist. It’s a great outfit: the pink sneakers and pink gold watch (which is worth a hefty 260,000 AUD) offsetting his clothes perfectly.RELATED: LeBron James Spotted Wearing The Coolest Leather Jacket You’ll See This WeekIronically, just a day before he shared a photo of a virtually identical outfit – if not in colour then in composition. That outfit consisted of a brown hoodie and trackpants; mustard yellow Nike Daybreaks; but this time, his Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph (ref. 26331OR.OO.D821CR.01): a slightly less expensive example of the coveted sports watch that’ll only set you back around 70,000 AUD. ‘Only’.Two similar outfits on subsequent days? If it works, it works, we guess… Must be nice having so many APs, too.These two outfits are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Hart’s love affair with comfy fits, Nike kicks and of course, the AP Royal Oak. He also shared a video of himself this week where he’s wearing a Dior track top, Nike Dunk sneakers and yet another Royal Oak, a stainless steel model on a red rubber strap.And that’s not all: last year on his 41st birthday the funnyman was spotted wearing a white ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (ref. 26579CB.OO.1225CB.01), a white Thom Browne hoodie and a triple-white pair of Sacai x Nike LDV Waffle sneakers. The man’s nothing if not consistent.RELATED: Kevin Hart Casually Debuts Rare Audemars Piguet In ‘Smoking’ StyleIn other Kevin Hart news, the multi-disciplinarian has announced that he’s teaming up with director John Hamburg (of Meet the Parents fame) for a new Netflix comedy film titled Me Time. He’s also set to star in the upcoming comedy film The Man From Toronto this year, as well as in the upcoming drama Fatherhood.

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The post Kevin Hart Casually Rocks $260,000 Audemars Piguet Watch With Trackpants & Sweatshirt appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Thousands of words have been spilt over the plight of Australians stranded overseas. One expert ‘points hacker’ may have the answer. For those brave enough, that is…

Immanuel Debeer, founder (and chief points nerd) at Flight Hacks recently took to Instagram with a radical ‘proposed route’ of getting to Australia, if you are currently languishing abroad.

“If you’re stuck overseas and are game to travel hack your way back to Australia in style… this one’s for you. Here’s what you need to do,” Debeer wrote on Instagram.

 

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1. Head over to Expedia.it (yes the Italian site, more on that later).
2. Run a multi city search: KRT-DXB-(your Australian city of choice) in business.
3. Buy a ticket to Dubai from wherever you live (no need to use Expedia.it, whatever is cheapest). This is your “positioning flight”. Could use points for this as it offers extra flexibility.

“Total cost will be around €1500, depending on how much it costs to fly to Dubai. (Dubai to Sydney is €722 with this hack!)”

“Here’s the cool part. Naturally, you don’t want to go to Sudan to start the itinerary. Good thing is that our Italian bureaucrats are batting for your team! As long as your ticket is sold in Italy you can skip legs of your flight without the whole flight being cancelled!”

“This means you can no-show for KRT-DXB, call the airline and explain you missed the flight but will catch the Dubai-Australia one instead. Boom [you’re] now you’re on your way to enjoy 2 weeks prison camp in Australia.”

Debeer admits there are “potential risks” to his plan (“my theory might be completely wrong”) and says, “Emirates might cancel your flight last minute meaning you spend money to get to Dubai for nothing. Etc etc.”

“Any way, who knows. This might help some crazy person. Bookings available starting at the end of April from what I can see.”

Some Instagram commenters on Debeer’s page loved it, others remained unconvinced.

“Looks good,” one wrote, “but I think it will be very difficult to get the itinerary restored after you miss the first leg.”

“That’s why you need to book with Expedia Italy and preferably on Emirates because they specifically acknowledge the Italian law which allows you to skip legs,” Debeer responded.

“However you’re right. If they cancel your flight there might be no tickets with the same pricing available.”

In other words: risky but possible.

As for the amount of interest from actual stuck-abroad expats, Debeer told DMARGE he has “had a few messages” but he’s “not sure they will actually try it.”

When DMARGE attempted to follow the steps outlined above on Friday the 26th of February, just days after Debeer’s post, every date we tried from the end of April gave us the following message.

RELATED: Business Class ‘Slammertime’ Ritual Sparks Outrage At 40,000ft

“We searched for flights operated by the over 400 airlines we work with, but we couldn’t find any Business flights matching the criteria set.”

There were one way Dubai to Sydney tickets still available in business class (at the time of writing), but the cheapest of these we could see cost 1,672 euros.

So: it appears either Debeer’s deal is no longer valid (these loopholes are often short-lived) or hundreds of expats got in before us and jumped on the offer (unlikely, but who knows…).

With thousands of Australians abroad having been inexplicably shafted by airlines and forced to book business class anyway (to have a hope at getting home), maybe Debeer’s strategy isn’t as mad as it seems?

The wait for the next ‘hack’ continues.

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The post Point Hacker's 'Crazy' Solution For Stranded Australian Travellers appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Everyone’s heard of Rolex – it’s the world’s most well-known watchmaker and luxury brand. What you might not have heard is that Rolex dealers worldwide are experiencing one of the biggest stock shortages in recent memories, which has been dubbed by many as the ‘Rolex drought’.

Rolex has always been popular but the explosion of interest in luxury watches in recent years means that the divide between supply and demand has never been greater. Rolex can’t make enough to meet demand… Or at least that’s what they say.

The end result is that authorised dealers (ADs) absolutely trickle out stock, meaning that unless you’ve built up a ‘relationship’ with them (i.e. have been a high-spending, return customer) your chances of getting your hands on any Rolex other than the absolutely least popular models at retail is close to nil. Either that or sit on a waiting list for years, with no guarantee of being able to buy a watch at the end.

The only other option is to go to the aftermarket – where the prices are extortionate – or try travelling around the globe to countries where the demand for popular models isn’t quite as intense. In any case, the current situation prices a lot of Rolex fans out of the market, something that’s hard to swallow considering Rolexes are hardly cheap in the first place.

Some experts, such as WatchPro’s Rob Corder, reckon the current ‘Rolex drought’ will ease within the next two years. Others aren’t quite so optimistic. Luxury has always been tied to exclusivity and many watch fans argue Rolex arguably benefits from the drought. But this uneasy, unfair reality can only last so long – as The Truth About Watches’ Joseph Adams puts it, “unhappy dealers and frustrated customers do not a long term future make.”

But Adams has a radical proposal to solve this current dilemma. His suggestion? Rolex should stop controlling their prices and let ADs markup watches however they like.

RELATED: Unbelievable Rolex Boutique Photo Will Make You Wish It Was 2008 Again

“Watch manufacturers should take a page from the car industry and encourage their dealers to mark up desirable watches to the moon,” he argues.

“If manufacturers allow dealers to mark up watches to what the market will bear it would solve the current shortage in one fell swoop. Suddenly, instead of buying a new-in-box gray market Rolex Daytona on Chrono24, you could walk into your local watch store and buy it yourself. As a buyer, you’d get all the benefits of purchasing an authorized watch, with full manufacturer support and known provenance.”

Adams puts it this way: waiting lists are a fool’s game, developing a ‘relationship’ with an AD is “an authorized watch dealer markup by another name… [just] no price transparency”, and suggests that there’s no real difference between getting screwed by an AD or a third party seller when it comes to price markups. Indeed, paying these aftermarket prices just encourages this toxic system we already find ourselves in. He concludes dramatically:

“Dealer markups create an equitable system. They reduce access to a simple metric that everybody can understand. Every other way of selling sought-after watches is cronyism of the worst sort… All of us – from the manufacturer to the consumer – should embrace it.”

While I’m loathe to trust a publication who once suggested I finance terrorism (a spectacular example of missing the point, but a good laugh nonetheless), Adams does have a point.

Part of the reason Rolex’s watches are so unbelievably popular is because of the difficulty of obtaining them, beyond simply the dollars spent. It’s the allure of being theoretically accessible, but in practice being incredibly inaccessible.

We’ve used the comparison before, but it’s like how Supreme operates. The cult clothing label’s deliberately arcane system of unannounced product releases, intentionally low stock levels, minimal retail presence, actively unhelpful customer support and willingness to turn a blind eye to the aftermarket have inarguably been crucial to the brand’s notoriety.

RELATED: Unfortunate Reason The ‘Ugliest Watch Ever Made’ Will Sell Like Hotcakes

If Rolex ADs were allowed to mark up their watches, not only would it make the entire process of buying a Rolex more transparent (and far less glamorous), but it might let the free hand of the market force an equilibrium.

Or it could make things worse. Rolexes are what economists call a ‘Veblen good’: a type of luxury good for which the demand for it increases as the price increases in a contradiction of the fundamental law of demand. If ADs just raise their prices, it might just make the aftermarket go even higher. It’s a zero-sum game where Rolex fans are the loser.

Of course, the easiest solution to the ‘drought’ would be for Rolex to make more watches. They’ve certainly got the funds in order to scale up, but so far it seems they’ve been reluctant to do so. The current situation might be less than ideal, but any change to the status quo could be disastrous for Rolex. They’re quite happy to sit pretty.

Maybe the real solution is for watch fans to just seek out different brands. Rolex doesn’t have a monopoly on making luxurious, fashionable sports watches…

Read Next

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The post The Radical Solution To Fix Rolex's Biggest Problem appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We all want to forget 2020. Financial hardships, a ban on international travel and being made to feel inadequate compared to one particularly confident New York Casanova, we can all recall several negatives from the turn of the new decade.But for some, 2020 provided the perfect opportunity to actually experience their hometown, country or wherever they happened to find themselves before international borders came thundering down. For years we’ve neglected our own backyards in favour of exploring new cultures further afield, yet the pandemic has proven that should no longer be the case.RELATED: Why 2020 Could Be The Travel Industry’s ‘Phoenix Moment’Somewhere that is especially true is the innercity food scene. The culinary metropolises are home to hundreds and thousands of restaurants, many of which become long-time favourites of regular diners. Yet, with so much competition, some can go unnoticed.

 

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One man who decided to truly explore the food scene during lockdown was Jon Lu. According to CNN Travel, Jon Lu, a 25-year-old American software engineer, found himself in Singapore when international travel came to a standstill. Arriving the previous August in 2019, Lu says he “didn’t start truly living in Singapore until March 2020” – the same time the COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic.CNN Travel reports Lu has since “visited a total of 255 food and beverage establishments including cafes and hawker stalls, covering 30 Michelin-rated restaurants with 37 Michelin stars collectively.”When Singapore went into a partial lockdown, forcing businesses to close and for in-house dining to become obsolete, Jon Lu jumped at the chance to experience some of the city’s most decadent offerings, choosing to order takeaway from highly-rated restaurants that would normally command a months-long waiting list.

 

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However, keen to remain grounded, Lu has also visited plenty of venues without Michelin stars and found them to be seriously impressive. In fact, his most-visited venue in Singapore, a two-year-old avant-garde restaurant called Preludio, has precisely zero stars.In case you were wondering, Jon Lu has visited Preludio nine times.Such culinary fun doesn’t come without responsibility, however. In early May, Lu, told CNN Travel, he started having issues with his vision.“Doctors diagnosed him with retinal vein occlusion, caused by extremely elevated LDL cholesterol levels – presumably a result of the foodie’s dining habits over the preceding seven-month period of intensive traveling and eating before the lockdown.”Fortunately Lu, with the help of local specialists, got himself healthy again. He treated the vision symptoms and started running every day as well as going on a low cholesterol diet for two months.Lu’s health issues were eventually resolved… “just a few weeks after dining in was allowed [again] under the city’s second reopening phase” (CNN Travel). Naturally, “he started populating his calendar with reservations again.”Duty calls, we suppose.Keen to find out how the food scenes of other global cities have been affected by the pandemic, DMARGE reached out to some influential critics to get the inside scoop.Haley Paez, owner of Mile High & Hungry, an account dedicated to discovering the best eats on offer in Denver, Colorado, says her city has been significantly affected by the pandemic, with over 100 restaurants and food outlets being forced to permanently close.“One of our favourites that closed was a Mediterranean spot, Gozo. It had a lovely aesthetic with huge windows and a fresh farm to table offering,” she told DMARGE.

“I would say we are devastated to see such places leave, but others have stepped up and continued to diversify our scene with pop ups. People still want to cook and create community through food.”

“Pandemic Doughnuts is now a beloved doughnut shop of Denver that came from two line cooks that lost their job.”While Haley and her team focus their efforts on discovering new places to eat in just Denver, she adds that with restaurants having to close, “it has allowed us to diversify the business we showcase.”“We have worked with creating recipes using local ingredients like bread, spreads, cookies and other individually sold products or home products.”Just as Jon Lu used his time in Singapore to seek out new establishments, DMARGE asked Mile High & Hungry what their favourite new places were. Overseas (or at least, overseas from Canada) cuisines are certainly in.“Some of the best came from us trying to find Birria tacos in Denver, we have seen hype about these tacos all over the Internet so it was our quest to find them here,” Haley begins.

 

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“Kike’s Red Tacos is a food truck that stays at a non-active gas station in the northern neighbourhood of the city, LoHi. They are fishing out tacos, burritos, nachos and even ramen with their Birria.”“Another spot is a pop up within an established spot, BurroRito is the day spot to Taco Tequila Whiskey. Their mushroom burrito has a layer of toasted cheese that makes this vegetarian taco a hefty, delicious burrito for any meat-eater.” Salivating yet? Just us?Other favourites include a mother and daughter-run catering company slinging Syrian and Iraqi-inspired dishes, and a breakfast diner run by a husband and wife team that sells “flapjacks that taste like a pancake and gooey cinnamon roll all in one.”What Haley and her team have found really beneficial from their time focusing on their own backyard is being able to speak to the chefs behind the dishes.“We actually love speaking with the masterminds behind each dish, probably the most out of all that goes into being a food influencer,” Haley relates.

“We have heard from chefs trying to push Denver into the upper echelon of the food capitals in the US. Denver and Boulder have a couple of tasting menu and exclusive dining experiences, with chefs bringing Michelin star dining experiences to the mountains.”

“Konro doesn’t tell guests where the restaurant is until 24 hours or less before dining. It’s located in an apartment. Guest is another tasting menu experience in an unexpecting house.”

“It’s these hidden kitchens that are very exciting. They want to show people that food is vastly different than just what we know it to look like. But they want to keep those familiar and comforting flavours while showcasing them in novel ways.”

Speaking of the future for Denver’s food scene, Haley finishes by saying, “Overall, my team and I are super excited about the future of Denver and proud of the resilience that we have seen from the food industry in the city.”“Even during this difficult time, restaurants are still supporting front line workers with fresh meals and being allies for those that have lost their job in the industry.”We’ll eat to that.

Read Next

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The post Man Risks Cholesterol Poisoning To Taste 255 Restaurants, 37 Michelin Stars, In One Year appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Newlyweds tend to look for somewhere private for their honeymoon. One couple, who recently stayed at a new five-star hotel on Korea’s Jeju Island, recently found out the hard way you don’t always get what you pay for.

The hotel has come under fire (and since apologised) for saying its sauna windows were mirror coated when they weren’t.

“Naked guests in the shower booths and bathrooms in the sauna on the second floor could be seen from the first floor at [the hotel], which opened last month in Seogwipo,” The Korea Herald reports.

“According to a complaint posted on a portal site Tuesday, a man who stayed at the hotel on his honeymoon said his wife had used the sauna several times because she was told the windows were mirror coated.”

The couple discovered the windows were see-through on the last day of their two-night stay, while walking around the hotel and looking into the sauna from the outside.

 

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“My wife and I were shocked to find this out. The thought that we might have used bathrooms and showers in front of many people gives me chills and we’re getting therapy treatment,” the man wrote.

“You could even see the writing on the thermometer inside the sauna.”

The hotel expressed condolences on its website later that day, writing it had closed the sauna and begun fixing the problem.

 

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“We’re deeply sorry for causing any inconveniences to our customers in using some facilities at the women’s sauna… suite for missing mirror coating for some windows and [problems in] operating the blinds,” read the statement on the hotel’s website, posted on February the 18th.

“The sauna’s operation has been suspended and we’re closely checking deficiencies and taking immediate action to correct them.”

The hotel also apologised on Instagram.

CNN Travel reports that police are now going through CCTV footage, “to determine if anyone was exposed while using the facilities or if anyone was taking illicit pictures or video from outside.”

Being new, the hotel doesn’t have many Google reviews. The three that currently exist though are all, perhaps unsurprisingly, negative.

Booking.com still rates it 5-stars. So who knows, maybe all publicity is good publicity? Only time (and room booking rates) will tell.

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The post South Korean Hotel Apologises To Honeymooners For Embarrassing Sauna Mistake appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Some of the world’s most iconic car brands and models have a military history.

Jeep, of course, owes its existence to the groundbreaking 1/4 ton 4×4 of the same moniker that helped the US win WWII for the Allies. The ill-fated Hummer brand originally started as simply a civilian version of the HMMWV military truck, better known as the Humvee. Land Rover might not have been founded with an explicitly military focus, but many of their vehicles – most notably the Defender – have also found their way into military service.

Then you’ve got the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, better known as the G-Wagen, which can be found as both a rough-and-ready military vehicle as well as a luxury SUV. But unlike the Defender or the Humvee, which even in their civilian guises were still quite utilitarian vehicles, the difference between the civilian and military G-Wagens is vast – especially today.

Modern G-Classes are some of the most luxurious SUVs money can buy, filled with acres of leather and all the mod cons. There’s even a Mercedes-Maybach Landaulet convertible version available for those with hip-hop superstar money.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be a superstar in order to afford an ex-military G-Wagen – which are the same car, just without all the bells and whistles. Take this veteran example of the famous 4×4 up for sale in Perth: with an asking price of only $17,000, it’s easily Australia’s cheapest G-Wagen… As well as maybe Australia’s least luxurious.

While the G-Wagen has seen service with the Australian Defence Force, this example is a scout variant as used by German, Danish and US special forces, the seller relates. (ADF G-Wagens are easily identifiable as they’re all right-hand drive, not to mention much newer than this model).

“The vehicle is as it was in service, and still has the radio tuners fitted… No rust and good tyres, comes with the rare removable canvas doors, low [mileage], runs fine. Has factory diff locks front and rear… [An] unusual and collectable vehicle.”

Unusual is the operative term. This G-Wagen is incredibly spartan; little more than a metal shell with two seats bolted to it. It’s not clear if it will be sold with a soft top as well as the aforementioned canvas doors – the lister hasn’t provided many details – although that might be the least of your considerations, seeing as it’s also seemingly lacking a windshield. While it’s certainly a capable off-road vehicle, it’s hardly a practical daily driver, at least in this state.

RELATED: Decoding The Hidden Genius Behind Virgil Abloh’s Ghastly Mercedes-Benz Collaboration

Under the hood appears to be a 2.3L version of Mercedes’ venerable M115 inline-four engine, which dates this G-Wagen as being from the G-Wagen’s first generation, the W460, produced from 1979–1992. Capable of anywhere between 67 and 93kW back in the day, it’s hardly going to break any land-speed records (and looks positively wimpy compared to the modern, luxury-focused G-Classes’ twin-turbo V8 which makes 340kW minimum) – but these engines are pretty bulletproof. You could probably fix it with a few strong German curse words.

Expert car spotter @car_rave puts it best: “you’ll find no AMG badges or side exit exhausts [here] unfortunately [but] you will find my respect… I am positive it will be on cushy beach house duty (somewhere expensive) for the remainder of its life. Unfortunate.”

He’s not wrong. No doors, no windshield and no creature comforts mean there’s probably not much else you could do with the car. So yes: that’s the catch. But still… What a car. G-Wagens are legendary, and as basic as this one is, $17,000 is still a steal. It’ll certainly show up any Byron Bay transplant in their Toorak tractor – and that, my friends, is priceless.

You can find this bad boy on Gumtree if you’re keen.

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The post Australia’s Cheapest Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen Now Up For Sale In Perth… But There’s A Catch appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In 2021 it’s not after-work martinis, often, that get you to the end of a week, it’s resilience. With COVID-19 seeing social activity suffer, and squeezing the job market into a tight tube, many Australians are thrusting themselves head-on into their careers, relying on grit and determination to get ahead.Before you accuse us of covering Australia’s current crop of young professionals in cotton wool – hear us out.First, just because one generation was forced to go through something negative, doesn’t mean the following generations should – by default – need to also.Second: in an economic context where experts are urging Australian young professionals to go the extra mile just to keep their jobs (let alone get ahead), it would be absurd to completely dismiss the Viking mentality of being tough, independent; resourceful.RELATED: Psychologist Reveals ‘Viking’ Mentality We Shouldn’t Be So Quick To DismissHowever, we shouldn’t be dependant on ‘toughness’. Resilience should be just one tool in your ‘life skill’ belt. Other tools like vulnerability, openness, self-awareness and a willingness to share (and seek help with) problems, are all as or more important – both in terms of succeeding at work, and in terms of maintaining your mental health.

 

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Dr Lars Madsen, a forensic and clinical psychologist, who is also the lead clinical advisor for the mental health charity The Mindshift Foundation, told DMARGE often the bravest path is to be vulnerable and show your emotions.

“Stoicism is not helpful really, the whole harden up, suck it up kind of mentality.”

Madsen also said you need to find a balance between cutting yourself slack, and employing grit.“If you want to pursue any kind of goal in your life… a lot of the time, it’s not going to be fun; there’ll be a lot of times when it’s hard and challenging and unpleasant, and just difficult.”

“We need to be able to be gritty to achieve those things that mean so much to us, and gritty means being able to stick it out and get through the challenging times.”

“However, [when this is] a blanket approach to [everything in] your life… then that’s when it becomes problematic. That’s when it’s toxic and damaging to people.”On that note… let’s talk about stress. It’s something we all suffer from time to time. Whether your boss is breathing down your neck for you to reach a deadline, the kids are just being kids, or your mother won’t stop calling to ask the most absurd questions, we all have our own personal boiling points.It is, therefore, important for our mental health that we recognise when we’re feeling stressed and actively address it to help reduce it. Better still, some experts suggest we can build up our ‘resilience’ to help prevent becoming stressed in the future altogether.In other words: ideally, we would treat ‘resilience’ like an umbrella, not a towel…Writing in the latest issue of Shape magazine, journalist Mary Anderson speaks to a number of industry professionals, with one, Mary Alvord, Ph.D, a psychologist in Maryland, putting forward the idea of resilience: “Resilience is the ability to deal with stress, and people can develop protective factors to increase it.”Mary has dedicated much of her research to the topic of resilience, and the small adjustments we can make in our lives to help us build and strengthen this mental barrier. “One hallmark of being resilience is feeling you aren’t powerless against challenges – even big ones – like living in lockdown.”DMARGE reached out to Luke McLeod, founder and director of Soul Alive and a meditation teacher, to get his take on how building up resilience can have an impact on our mental health.The term is a new one for Luke, with him stating, “I most hear resilience being used in context when someone is talking about how they’ve coped with difficult times, not so much as using it as a remedy to fixing the problem itself.”

“But it totally makes sense that it should be considered more when ‘prescribing’ ways to deal with stress.”

“Resilience isn’t about being tough or having thick skin. It’s more about having a level of self-awareness of not letting stressful moments/experiences ‘get to you.'”

 

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Luke’s advice? “I think a great way to build resilience is to try to consistently practice exercises that develop self-awareness, e.g. meditation, self-reflection and constructive, open conversations with people you trust.”So, with how to help prevent stress taken care of, how do you even know if you are stressed and, therefore, need to take action against it?Luke admits it’s harder than you think.“The hardest part with stress is actually noticing when you are stressed.”“Most stressed people don’t take the time needed to do self-inquisitive exercises to realise how stressed they are, they’re ‘too busy’, to do that.”“Which is so ironic, because that is exactly why they are so stressed. Therefore, unless someone else points it out to you, you probably won’t know how stressed you are until you either get sick, or really tired.”

“Pretty much when your body has had enough.”

Indeed, Healthline says some of the most common symptoms of chronic stress include, irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches and insomnia. These, among other factors, can lead to “fatal illnesses including high blood pressure, cancer, accidental injuries and even suicide”, says Luke.If you want to prevent something like this from happening to you or those around you, Luke has provided DMARGE with his top 3 tips for dealing with stress.

• Admit that you are stressed: Working hard isn’t a badge of honour. Aim to work smart instead, take regular break and aim to have high quality focused work periods.
• Physical exercise: A commonly prescribed solution, but one that is proven to still be one of the best ways to relieve stress, is to keep yourself active.

Don’t let this make you think you need to pump some iron 5 days a week in the gym. Far from it. In fact, Dr Kathleen O’Moore of Sydney’s, Black Dog Institute has previously told DMARGE that “even just an hour of exercise a week has been proven to lower depression and anxiety.”Mary Anderson backs up these claims in her Shape article too, with Mary Alvord adding, “We know that movement helps our mental and physical health. I tell people to go outside at least one a day to move.”

 

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Ellen Epstein, M.D., an allergist-immunologist at Rockville Centre, New York adds that it’s not all about physical fitness, but it is important for people to work their social muscles and skills too, “Just set a daily routine, if you can’t meet up [with someone], use Zoom or Facebook. If you can’t go to the gym, stream workout videos.”

“Mental exercise: Meditation is the yin to physical exercises’ yang effect on stress. It’s the recovery component and a highly effective exercise to help with stress.”

Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe shared a video in April 2020 (amidst the height of the global pandemic) to explain why self-care was so important, but his message of, “the better we take care of ourselves, the better we’re able to show up for the people around us”, can be applied to life outside of lockdown too.Sleep, the good-quality kind, can play a major role in reducing our stress levels too, as Brian A. Smart, M.D. says, “People who don’t sleep well have much higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”

“And if you’re chronically dehydrated, it’s another source of stress on the body since cortisol levels may be higher as a result.”

Bringing it all back to grit, and resilience, we’ll leave the final word to Dr Lars Madsen, whom DMARGE interviewed last year.“Getting gritty when you need to put in that last 2km because it means so much to you is great, it’s important, we need to be able to do that. But if we apply that harden up, don’t feel your feelings, don’t feel vulnerable, don’t feel any kind of self-doubt across the board all the time, then it’s dysfunctional.”

“It’s not me saying: ‘you’d be a nicer person if you just talked about your feelings.’ People end up having all kinds of physical and medical conditions when they ignore that kind of stuff. It’s well documented within scientific literature.”

“People end up burning out and ultimately having mental health problems, anxiety, unravelling because they adopt that kind of robotic, ‘I have no feelings and I don’t need to pay attention to my feelings’ approach.”

Read Next

• What Stress Is Doing To Your Body, According To A Performance Coach
• ‘Comparable With Smoking’: True Impact Of 2020 On Your Health Revealed

The post Why You Need To Rethink Your Relationship With Resilience appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The snapback first became popular when American baseball players adopted the cap as part of their uniforms in the 1950s. Then the 90s hit, and the snapback officially became a part of pop culture and popular fashion. The style was adopted by urban musicians across the US, from N.W.A on the west coast to Mobb Deep on the east coast.

The look fell out of fashion at the end of the millennium, but it’s back in full force now that artists like Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and Jay-Z have been seen sporting them again. Ever wondered what to wear with a snapback? Well, read on.

Snapback & A Shirt

Snapbacks are not for gym or casual only. Instead think about wearing a snapback with a shirt (chambray, button down or denim) and chinos to smarten up your look. Here we recommend a snapback that’s as plain as possible rather than loud over the top slogans or branding. Pair with sneakers (not dress shoes) and you’re good to go.

Snapback & Bomber Or Leather Jackets

When the temperature drops you’re going to need to keep things warm with a good jacket or coat and your snapback. Whether you opt for denim, leather or a flight ready bomber, ensure you pair it back with a basic t-shirt. Again, avoid heavy logos if you want a smart casual vibe. Sneakers or boots will work best in this situation. Ripped denim is a recommended winner too. Attempt tracksuit pants at your own risk, rather cuffed tailored trousers are a better solution.

Snapback & Activewear

David Beckham is perhaps the kind of wearing a snapback when it comes to activewear. Always on the go with the family, the former athlete is your go-to daily inspiration for sweats. We like wearing the snapback in the gym to keep hair out of your eyes when training hard. Wearing it backwards is totally acceptable here too. If you’re sweating a lot then go for a synthetic or sweat wicking snapback so it doesn’t get smelly. Wash the snapback afterwards in cold water.

Snapback & Hoodies/Sweats

This option is very casual. Sweats and hoodies are your ‘I don’t give a shit’ choice for wearing a snapback. Think running down to the shops to get milk rather than attending an event. If your income allows you may want to try a Gucci or Supreme hoodie for that street credibility, however a hoodie is a hoodie so don’t overthink this. Perhaps try John Elliott for a nice plain hoodie to wear your NY Yankees snapback with. Stick to jeans and joggers down below.

Snapback & Smart Casual Or Formal

Lastly, there may be some occasions where wearing a snapback and formal attire is required. We can’t think of any occasions this has happened to us, but if you’re perhaps balding then this option will work for you. Ensure you go for a basic snapback and let your suit or blazer do the talking. Pair it down with a t-shirt or knitwear. What about a tuxedo and snapback? We would avoid that unless you’re trying to make a fashion statement.

Snapback Cap FAQ

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