Gwithian Beach: Moody Walks and Some Time Out

Ever feel like you just need some time out?

I've always been one of those people who likes to be "busy" 24/7, but recently I've discovered that sometimes you just need to take a step back and spend some quality time on your own.

The last few weeks have been tough. Really tough. Sadly, my nan (AKA the matriarch of the Thomas family) passed away unexpectedly a few weeks ago. For us all it felt like the world had come crashing down - she played a huge part in our family so it's an incredible loss.

Now I'm not going to go into it too much because I doubt you clicked onto my blog to read about death and loss on a Sunday afternoon with ya cup of coffee (morbid I know). The feelings that I have experienced over the last few weeks however have made me realise that it really is important to just take some time out from whatever is going on around you.

Beach, perleeeeease. Sometimes staring at the same 4 walls can make you feel like you are going INSANE. Uninspired. Stuck in a rut. That's certainly how I have felt recently. I could have easily slumped on the sofa and wasted hours watching brain numbing, shit reality TV but I knew that I wouldn't have felt any better for it. Moping around feeling sorry for yourself doesn't get you anywhere, right?

Gwithian beach in Hayle is definitely one of my favourite beaches in Cornwall - 3 miles of sand means plenty of space to explore. I was planning on having a quick half an hour sat up on the dunes but two hours later I was still there, climbing up onto rock pools, and photographing couples walking along the beach hand in hand (secretly, obviously). A change of scenery helps the creative mind - I SWEAR. I carry a notebook with me everywhere just incase an idea springs to mind. By the time I had left the beach, I had filled 6 full pages worth of ideas for not only my personal blog, but for some new marketing campaigns at work too. HALLELUJAH - goodbye mental block.

3 other (a little less serious) things that I learnt from taking some time out:

1 - I contradict myself a hell of a lot. I'm absolutely petrified of waves, yet there's something calming about just sitting and watching them.

2 - Surfers are quite the distraction - a really, wonderful, distraction.

3 - Do NOT go in the sea if you have applied fake-tan 24 hours prior - unless you want to look like a wotsit.

So there you have it. If you're feeling stuck in a rut, uninspired, or at war with your thoughts, then the most simplest of things like going for a beach walk alone can really contribute to untangling your mind and getting you back on track.