Quality of life is one of the most important aspects one should consider before moving to a new city.
15.12.2024 - 12:49 / insider.com
I never understood the concept of burnout at work. For me, the key to success in the rat race was simple: If you're hungry enough, you will endure; you can't possibly get tired of doing your job if you are tough enough.
Well, that was the case until I burned out.
Twelve years of studying law and working as an attorney in Mexico, the US, and the UK had taken their toll. After years of working in London in a fast-paced environment at a law firm, I reached my limit and broke down.
When I reached rock bottom, I decided to make a drastic change and move out of London.
One day, I woke up feeling lonely, exhausted, anxious, and lost — with my life solely defined by my career.
I knew it was time to do something about it, so I left my high-power law firm. The hardest part of quitting wasn't the uncertainty of what the future held but saying goodbye to a high-paying job — especially in a city like London, where the cost of living is high. But at a certain point, money wasn't enough to keep me there.
I started therapy and a rigorous exercise regimen. I needed to make myself stronger and healthier. It wasn't easy, but in the end, those things empowered me and gave me the clarity I needed to end the toxic relationship I had with my job and finally have a fresh start somewhere else.
Staying in London was never an option; it was too expensive to sustain myself financially and too chaotic to clear my head and find peace. I needed nature to reconnect with myself.
After some research, I discovered the perfect place: Eastbourne. It's a small seaside town connected to London by direct train, next to a couple of hiking trails, with more sun than the rest of the UK, and with enough coffee shops to keep me caffeinated.
I moved as soon as I could. The first weeks were rough as I learned the main difference between a big city and a small town: Life is slow— in every possible way. At first, I was desperate and annoyed, but after a couple of days, I understood there was no need to do things quickly. Things are better enjoyed when you take the time to acknowledge them.
One of the best things about small-town life is the sense of community. Everyone in Eastbourne knows each other and welcomes you as if you were family. Inspired by this sense of community, I decided to immerse myself fully. I joined the local rowing club and a volunteer group.
On the professional side of things, I struck a balance between my work and personal life. I took the necessary number of deals and clients to earn a living and also have a moment for myself every day. The balance is what keeps me happy and healthy.
I know that nothing is permanent, so I'm not sure how long I'll last in this small resort town.
I just know that I have never felt better
Quality of life is one of the most important aspects one should consider before moving to a new city.
Several amber and yellow weather warnings are being forecast for the UK, starting tonight (Monday 30 December) and going well into Thursday 2 January, which is putting a literal dampener on New Year festivities.
There’s nothing like slipping into a fresh, cozy robe at your favorite luxury hotel. And while some aspects of vacation can be easily recreated at home, finding a robe that’s just as good can be difficult. Luckily for anyone who has ever wanted to steal one from a five-star hotel, we rounded up all the best robes you can lounge in at home.
Being from Southern California, many would ask why I'd want to spend the money to go to Walt Disney World in Florida when I had Disneyland in my backyard. I would say that if you ask that question, you've never been there. It is a magical world unto itself.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Moving abroad is never straightforward, and with kids in tow, it becomes even more complicated.
On the top floor of the restaurant Genevose, a man named Fabio, who had recently won the Genoa Pesto World Championship, was gently showing me how to grind basil leaves with a mortar and pestle. “Pesto is a balancing act,” he explained to me in Italian. The leaves must be smashed and not chopped for fear the blade of a knife will over-oxidize them. Salt must be added sparingly because of how much is already in the pecorino and the parmesan cheeses. These may sound like obvious points to any semi-experienced chef, but they were relayed to me with the utmost seriousness—and the final result did not disappoint. After all, we were in Genoa, the birthplace of pesto. Minutes later, our pesto (really, Fabio’s pesto) had been tossed with freshly made pasta, and we sat down to eat our lunch. Nutty, salty, and just a little sweet, the pesto was simple—and utterly perfect.
This story is part of Condé Nast Traveler's spotlight on family cruise travel.
The word Elgin may conjure an infamous set of Greek marbles, but this small town of the same name in Morayshire, in the northeast of Scotland, has solid links with another treasured commodity: cashmere.
My husband and I became interested in the 1-euro housing schemes in Italy last year but were concerned about investing time and money into a house in a village that was dying out.
American Airlines AAdvantage is my primary airline loyalty program, and it has been since I first qualified for AAdvantage Executive Platinum status in 2016. I'm getting close to snagging Million Miler status with AAdvantage and believe there's lots of value in the AAdvantage program and American miles.
In 1994, just after I graduated from college, I put on a backpack and set off to see the world. I climbed the Andes in Ecuador, taught English in Cambodia and spent months visiting monasteries in Tibet. It was the most transformative period of my life.