Living abroad or traveling and struggling with anxiety? I've suffered from panic disorder and anxiety since high school, yet I've been living and traveling abroad since 2007! Keep reading as I share which app I use to contact a professional therapist while traveling and how I first reached out for help while living in Madrid, Spain.

One of my favorite parts of living abroad is getting to test out unique, local beauty and wellness products specific to the region surrounding my new home. Instead of bringing over a suitcase full of products, why not take advantage of local natural remedies and ingredients that are specifically formulated to your new climate? It's also a great way to support local businesses.

Here in Australia it isn't spring, it's autumn. However, "spring cleaning" is something that can be done anytime of the year, especially when we feel burnt out, disconnected and stressed. Over Easter, David and I traveled to Noosa, where we spent 4 days surrounded by breathtaking nature. Nature provided some much needed therapy in a few subtle ways. 

Each day we woke up around 5:30am in order to watch the sunrise from Noosa Heads National Park. There's something fantastic about waking up in the darkness and hiking through a gradually lightening landscape. Noosa is a top surf spot, so there were many surfers already catching waves as we hiked towards the East. I have made it a goal to focus more on creativity in the coming months. A sunrise's ever changing colors were perfect inspiration for my photography. However, I only took my camera with me for one sunrise. These days it's so easy to miss what is right in front of us. That's why I began and ended my trip with camera-less sunrises. To spring clean your mind, try to watch at least one sunset and leave your camera behind!

As I write this, a siren is wailing nearby, I can hear construction and cars are honking on their way home from work. In Noosa, we rented a boat and spent a good 40 minutes of our 4 hour journey anchored next to a group of trees, listening to a cacophony of sounds from several different species of birds. One of my favorite things about living in Australia is the variety of wildlife that I've never seen (or heard) before. Get lost in a forest and close your eyes. Notice the sounds around you. Notice the silence. Spring clean your mind by listening with intention to the natural world around you.

Going somewhere you've never been before is thrilling, and maybe even a little dangerous. Suddenly you are more aware of your surroundings. You must make choices, but you can't predict the outcome. In Noosa we went hiking every day. We took wrong turns. We got lost. And we discovered beautiful, quiet corners of the national park. Luckily, you don't need to travel far to explore. Even if you live in a city, there are many new places to discover. Spring clean your mind by going on an adventure. Come home and tell the tale. 

We spend so much time these days worried about what others think about us. While social media is a great tool for connecting people from around the world, it is also incredibly harmful to how we view ourselves. Spend some time in nature and I guarantee that you'll forget about your Instagram feed, what others are doing with their lives and the stresses of daily life. Take this time to reevaluate your goals. What would you like to do when you get back home? What would you like to do this month? This year? In Noosa, I took some time to ask myself these questions. While I like having a travel blog and YouTube channel to share my travels, I also want it to have a purpose. I want to focus more on creativity, natural remedies, self-love and mental health awareness. I want to make a difference in someone's life because of the information I share. To spring clean your mind, spend time with yourself and reflect on who you are, where you want to go and make a plan for how you will get there.


I hope that everyone had a lovely Easter. Please share this article with anyone who might be needing a little "spring cleaning" inspiration.

As always, happy travels!

​Jamie and David