Friday 17 February 2017

Dealing with setbacks

As you may know, I'm doing a masters - straight after my undergraduate degree, in which I got a first. That's not me bragging (although I do that a lot) it's just a bit of context: I'm barely 21, and it's been hard adjusting to a masters level of study when I'm so used to the safety of my undergraduate.

Anyway: I recently got a piece of work back with a much lower mark than I a) expected and b) wanted. Truth be told I had a bit of a meltdown - should I drop out/why am I so thick/it's too hard/I wish I was clever... The list goes on, all between heavy sobs. Sam and I were supposed to be going over to Liverpool for lunch but she hauled me back home, set me up on the couch with a blanket and let me cry it all out.


In the midst of this, I sent two frenzied emails to my tutors and looking back, they're a bit dramatic. However, I'm glad I sent them - it meant I got some reassuring words sent my way, and arranged a call with my supervisor to talk things through a bit. And when I'd calmed down, Sam helped me read through my feedback and we dissected it, and came up with some solutions, and decided that next time around it'll be better.

And then we had some lunch, and things don't seem as bad on a full stomach, and we watched a documentary because it's nice to learn things even if they're not relevant to what you're studying, and then we had a bath with some Mandara Spa bath milk from the new Oriental Retreat range*. It smells incredible and was truly, wonderfully relaxing - just what I needed (especially paired with the shower gel which lathers SO well and the body cream which is just to die for) with the Moana soundtrack in the background.


Setbacks will always be part of life - but taking a step back and working out where to go next, looking at what went wrong and aiming to do better next time ensure that they're not the end of the world. Having a good support system is the best, and I'm so blessed to have such an amazing people by my side. Food, music, naps and baths always help, too.

Mandala Spa products are available at Time To Spa and prices start at £4.50 - bargain.

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