32: THE NOURISH EDITION

RazZ

ISSUE 32: NOURISH

definition: provide with the substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.

RAZZ is the University of Exeter’s Arts, Culture and Lifestyle magazine.

Print Editor: Caitlin Barr Deputy Print Editor: Daniella Clarke Creative Director: Francesca Sylph Print Copy Editors: Aimee Fisher and Erin Zammitt

contributors Abbie Beard Alanah Swift Amber Hogan Amie Greenhalgh Ana Anajuba Anabel Costa-Ferreira Armorel Robinson Bee Rose Bridie Adams Ciara Howard Ellen Hodges Esther Humphries Faith Dale-Hughes

cover photography by abbie beard check out our nourish playlist on spotify:

Imogen Phillips Isabella Ankerson Izzy Hopkinson Josie Orr Kate Hall Lisa Greghi Liz Frost Lois Beasley Lucy Evans Lydia Gilroy M Shelton Marco Brooking Maya Fernandes

Megan Hill Mia McChesney Millie Green Mimi Emrys Niamh Kemp Orla Mackinnon Rei Henfield Sarah Banerjee Senthur Shanmugarasa Tilly Attrill Tom Price

editors’ note Welcome to NOURISH! For this edition we wanted to lean into self-care in all its forms, and with all of its pitfalls in mind. There’s nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa when the evenings start to get darker and colder, and this edition is full of warming recipes, self-care tips, and discussions surrounding body image, the relationship between self-care and the environment, and the dark side of striving for unattainable standards - we hope you enjoy it on a cold winter’s night with a hot drink in your hand (or shivering outside the Queen’s Building cafe… we’re not picky)! Putting this together was definitely a struggle alongside deadlines, various mystery illnesses, and the exhaustion that comes with being a third year, but I’m so proud of our print team for pulling it together so beautifully. Everyone worked so hard to make this magazine special - my right-hand-woman Dani, my brilliant Copy Editors Erin and Aimee, and of course Francesca who made the edition look so gorgeous. I’d also like to thank all the writers and artists involved - NOURISH wouldn’t be what it is without you. Poring over your work made me so happy and full of hope. Boil the kettle, grab a dressing gown, and settle into NOURISH! We hope you love it as much as we loved making it.

Caitlin Barr Print Editor Thanks for picking up a copy of NOURISH! I’m delighted to have had the chance to work on this issue as part of the RAZZ print team. It takes a lot of dedication to get an initial idea to a finished product, so I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone involved. Caitlin, our Print Editor, has overseen every step of the process with care. Our Creative Director, Francesca, has put together a visually stunning magazine, yet again. Erin and Aimee, our Print Copy Editors, have ensured everything that goes to print is of a high standard. And, of course, I’d like to thank our extremely talented writers who contributed to this edition. I love this theme and I think it has inspired some truly stunning work. I’m so excited to share it with you.

Daniella Clarke Deputy Print Editor After weeks of hard work, I can’t believe NOURISH is finally here. Holding something in your hands that you’ve spent many late nights staring at on a laptop screen is a surreal feeling. I’d like to take a moment to thank a couple of people: most importantly, Caitlin, our Print Editor and leader whom we would be lost without; Daniella, our lovely Deputy Print Editor; and Erin and Aimee, our wonderful Print Copy Editors. I’d also like to thank Abbie Beard for the stunning front cover and photoshoot, Lloyd from IT for always responding to my panicked emails, and Taylor Swift for being my soundtrack while designing this issue. NOURISH was ours for a month. We spent countless hours (that we probably should’ve been spending on our degrees) obsessing over content calls and layouts. Now, it’s yours. I hope you love it as much as we do. We’re really proud of this one.

Francesca Sylph Creative Director

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contents 3 editors’ note 6-7 the self-care industrial complex 8-10 feels like home 11-13 eating intuitively 14-15 allergies and me

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22-23 interview with nourish zero waste shop 24-25 the case against perfection 26-28 reclaiming pleasure: the importance of sex toys and masturbation

16-17 in celebration of the big night in

29-31 talking to brooke le breton about body-love, sex talk and the anxiety of influencers

18-19 lil nas x and the new queer wave

32-33 the rise and fall of ‘that girl’

20-21 pay it forward: the importance of looking after our community

34-35 the life changing magic of baking bread

36-37 self-care on a budget 38-39 is body neutral the new body positive?

40-41 self-care for activists

60-61 slow food recipes 62-64 the literature of self-love 65-67 creative writing

42-47 nourish photoshoot

68-69 a student’s guide to hygge

48-49 in conversation with nightline

70 cheesy potato layer bake

50-51 mind your head

71 three bean veggie chilli

52-55 exercise for the soul

72-73 no-cream carbonara

56-58 interview with matriarch founder ria kalsi

74-76 self-care playlist

59 phơ review

77-79 what’s your love language?

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The Self-Care Industrial Complex Print Editor Caitlin Barr writes about the commercialisation of self-care.

As I sit in my darkened room, burning an IKEA scented candle, wrapped in a knock off Oodie, listening to Mitski on vinyl, I scroll through Instagram. Nowadays, I see more ads than photos of my friends – new miracle serums I’ve got to try, cushions in the shape of fat seals (tempting), trousers from a brand who don’t make clothes anywhere near my size. The vocabulary these ads use tends to entice viewers into buying: one states that ‘self-gifting = self-love’.

What is abundantly clear with every scroll is that we have swapped out meaningful acts of self-care with filling our emotional voids with never ending purchases, aided by social media algorithms and an industry seemingly set on exploiting people’s mental health problems.

“What is abundantly clear with every scroll is that we have swapped out meaningful acts of self-care with filling our emotional voids with never ending purchases.”

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with buying a few nice things here and there – we shouldn’t espouse all consumption or deny ourselves little luxuries. During various lockdowns which affected the mental health of millions across the country, many of us found comfort in sprucing up our rooms or buying new products to try out.

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But maybe it’s time to stop relying on capitalism to make us feel better, and instead try out therapeutic means of self-care.

“But maybe it’s time to stop relying on capitalism to make us feel better, and instead try out therapeutic means of selfcare.”

Therapeutic self-care might look very different for different people, but could involve talking to friends about how you’re feeling, doing a fun activity like watching a film with your housemates, having a good night’s sleep, reading a book, going for a walk in nature, making yourself a nutritious meal, or having a nice hot shower or bath. None of these methods rely on spending a great deal of money, if any, and are likely to make you feel better for longer than scrolling through an online shop and spending funds you don’t have on things you don’t need.

“These methods... are likely to make you feel better for longer than scrolling through an online shop and spending funds you don’t have on things you don’t need.”

Radical poet Audre Lorde once said: “caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare” (1). Capitalism encourages buying new things, not so that we feel genuinely fulfilled and happy, but so that we are ready to participate in the labour market. This then burns us out, which means we need to spend more on products which provide us fleeting comfort, like bath bombs and scented candles. It’s a never-ending cycle that only works to benefit businesses.

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of buying things I don’t need to make me feel better when I’m sad, including (but by no means limited to) a Princess Diana t-shirt, an IKEA cuddly shark, and more than one Colin the

Caterpillar cake across my time at university.

It’s easy to buy into the #TreatYourself mindset popularised by Parks and Recreation, but when it becomes a habit, perhaps it’s time to take a step back from the ASOS bags littering your uni room and re-evaluate.

“Only we have the power to break our own personal cycles of consumption and redirect our energy and time to looking after ourselves properly.”

You don’t need a £7 bath bomb to have a relaxing bath. You don’t need a £35 moisturiser to have a clean face. What we do need is support, whether through friends or professionals, time to relax, a break from work, nutrition and sleep. Only we have the power to break our own personal cycles of consumption and redirect our energy and time to looking after ourselves properly.

(1) https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2021/05/10499036/reclaiming-self-care-audre-lorde-blackwomen-community-care.

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Feels Like Home Three RAZZ writers share what they miss when they’re not at home, and what, for them, defines their culture.

Wales Leaving home is something that we all inevitably must face. It never quite feels like it’s going to happen, but eventually the day creeps up on us and just like that, it’s happened.

What I think I’ve learnt from recently going through this experience, though, is that home will always be home.

For me, home is Wales. It might only be the country next door to where I moved to, but there are so many home comforts that I can only find there. One slightly strange thing that I’ve realised hugely comforts me after coming to England is the Welsh language. Even though I’m definitely not a fluent Welsh speaker, I’ve become accustomed to seeing the language on every sign and billboard. I miss looking at the Welsh words and thinking ‘I have no idea what that means’. I love that we have our own language and I miss being confused by it every day. I’m also comforted by little words and phrases that are specific to Welsh people; saying them here in England and having the reaction of a completely blank face is strange. For example, ‘cwtch’ is a word I use constantly back at home and which carries a lot of comfort for me. Having a cwtch (or for anyone who doesn’t know, a cuddle) makes me feel warm inside. It’s funny how such little things specific to home can comfort us so much.

A more specific comfort from home would have to be my Mum’s baking. Nothing is more comforting than sitting at home, being stared at by my food-obsessed dog, and eating homemade chocolate orange cheesecake. There are many things I’m loving about university life, but the lack of tasty homemade cheesecake is definitely not one of them. Usually whilst indulging in the to-die-for cheesecake, Friday Night Dinner will be playing in the background. If you have not yet watched the show, get on it! It’s hilarious and something that hugely reminds me of home – the humour and the catchphrases and the family dynamic is something we can all laugh at. I’m definitely loving university life here in Exeter, but there’s nothing like going back home to Wales, to those small but endlessly comforting things!

Megan Hill

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Tamil Eelam After a decades of systemic oppression by the Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan government, Tamil Eelam is the proposed independent state which encompasses the North and East of Sri Lanka, where Tamils can prosper without fear. Unfortunately it does not have diplomatic recognition by many states.

Growing up as a second generation immigrant was always tough. Despite the clichés of leading a double life, this was often the reality for me. Outside the home I was as British as they come, drinking copious amounts of ales and being subject to casual racism from the locals. When I was younger, I often rejected the culture of my ancestors as I just wanted to fit in. I will always remember never being able to play football on Sundays as my mother dragged me to Tamil school. I look back at these years with regret, but during my teen years something (God knows what) switched, and I came to respect and admire the culture of my parents. And as every Tamil knows, the cornerstone of our culture is the cuisine. The teenage years weren’t great for me, but luckily, I always came home to a freshly cooked meal made by my parents, all carefully watched over by my grandma. Coming home from school, it was never ‘how was your day?’, but always ‘what do you want for dinner?’, which I always found endearing. There was nothing better than coming home from a miserable rainy November day to a filling plate of pittu (steamed rice flour) with Sambar (a thick vegetable & lentil stew) topped with my mother complaining about the blandness of the British palate.

I came to Exeter to get away from the metropole and I knew straight away the one thing I would miss is the cooking of Mother Dearest. A life tip from her: a bit of Garam masala goes a long way.

I wake up weary eyed. It’s 3am on a random February morning in 2015. Christ knows why I am up. I make my way downstairs and my dad is already sitting on the sofa, munching on his custard creams and watching Sri Lanka’s opening game of the Cricket World Cup on a grainy illegal stream. Despite my dad’s passion for the game, he still won’t fork out for Sky. Cricket is the cornerstone for most South Asian communities and was a way for immigrants to fit into the ‘British way of life’. My dad was no different, he worked at an off license for most of his life, often exchanging jovial banter with his white customers about how Sri Lanka was going to win against England. Thankfully he imparted his passion for the game (as well as the hatred for England) on to me. He got to see Sri Lanka when they were on top of the world, compared to the clusterfuck it is now. One story that will always stick with me is that when his father died, Sri Lanka was in its first World Cup Final. In between the guests who filled into our house paying tribute to my late grandfather, he was flicking through Teletext to keep up with the score. Luckily Sri Lanka won!

Senthur Shanmugarasa, Online Editor

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Scotland Home. It’s a comforting word; a word with a multiplicity of meanings. Some good, some bad. Some happy, some sad.

For me, I am lucky to admit that home conjures up feelings of warmth, of love, of belonging. Home, no matter where I am in the world, will always be Scotland. Situated a mere five hundred miles from my home here in Exeter, it holds a distant and detached, nostalgic place in my heart. It feels miles away from my chaotically wonderful life in Exeter. However busy I may be, I find myself reminiscing of home and I miss it. I really do.

I miss the cold. I never thought I would, but I do. I miss the loss of feeling in my fingers as I walk down Edinburgh’s streets in winter. I miss the biting, crisp air hitting my warm cheeks, turning them a deep, embarrassingly dark red. I miss wrapping up; wearing jumper upon jumper to mask the aggressive, minus degree temperature - protecting against the inevitable Christmas flu. I miss the cobbled streets, the rich sense of history within the walls of the capital city. The Castle standing proudly on the Mound, the pockets of tourists losing their way in the maze of streets. I miss the brave busker bagpiping, clothed head to toe in tartan, on Princes Street. The luminous Irn Bru bottles lighting up shelves in shops; the aggressive slurs of Scottish drunkards on a Friday night; the intoxicating smell of whisky within every pub of the Royal Mile. The constant need to have an umbrella at the ready, to shield off frequent outbursts of torrential rain. I miss the haphazard, unpredictable climate.

And of course, I miss home cooked food. The nourishing bowls of Mum’s hearty lentil soups, the endless cups of teas, but most importantly, I miss porridge, a Scottish staple for breakfast. A dreich, drizzly day becomes instantly improved by the presence of a warming bowl of Mum’s porridge. Creamy oats, berries, and a large dollop of honey – a hug in a bowl, for a cold winter’s morning. Nothing beats it, trust me.

‘There really is no place like home’. Only recently have I realised how true this saying is.

Cherish the place you call home. Hold it safely in your heart, because no matter where you are or who you are with, home will always find a way back into your life.

Armorel Robinson

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Eating Intuitively Creative Director Francesca Sylph writes about the Intuitive Eating movement. CONTENT WARNING: DIET CULTURE, BRIEF MENTIONS OF EATING DISORDERS. Diet culture is everywhere – from glossy magazines to the doctor’s office. Studies have shown that children as young as five (Abramovitz and Birch, 2000) are able to articulate diet culture’s dangerous beliefs. In 2015, Common Sense Media reported that 1 in 4 children have engaged in some type of dieting behaviour by age 7, while 80% of 10-year-old girls have already been on a diet.

“Diet culture equates thinness to moral worth and emphasises weight loss over health. It is a toxic belief system that only exists to feed its multi-billion dollar industry.”

Diet culture is the glorification of losing weight at all costs. It is a set of (largely inaccurate) beliefs that perpetuate the damaging idea that “thin” (and able-bodied, white) bodies are the most desirable, valuable and “healthy” bodies in society. Diet culture equates thinness to moral worth and emphasises weight loss over health. It is a toxic

belief system that only exists to feed its multi-billion dollar industry.

So, how do we escape this seemingly inescapable system? The answer could be found in Intuitive Eating. First popularised by dieticians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in the 1995 book, Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach, this philosophy is a non-diet, weight-inclusive approach to eating and health that aims to help you take ownership over your own body and relationship to food. It is “a self-care eating framework” which is rooted in compassion and care for all bodies. It is not a diet or food plan. There is no pass or fail. It is all about re-learning and respecting the needs of your mind and body after they have been corrupted by diet culture.

“Intuitive Eating... is all about re-learning and respecting the needs of your mind and body after they have been corrupted by diet culture.”

The 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating 1. Reject the Diet Mentality Intuitive Eating is not about weight loss. As Tribole explains, “If a health professional or coach is offering you Intuitive Eating for the purpose of weight loss – run away. Fast.”

2. Honour Your Hunger It sounds simple but… when you’re hungry, eat. You know your body better than any diet plan ever could. (It is worth noting that disordered eating can affect your hunger signals so please talk to a professional for more information).

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Illustration by Imogen Phillips 12

3. Make Peace with Food Give yourself unconditional permission to eat. Restricting your diet will only encourage binge and emotional eating. Once you allow yourself to eat what you really want, cravings don’t feel as urgent because you’re already giving your body what it wants. Simply put: if you want the cookie, eat the cookie.

4. Challenge the Food Police The food police are those little voices inside your head telling you to eat less, eat that “good” food, don’t eat that “bad” food. There is no such thing as “good foods” and “bad foods”, so remove those phrases from your vocabulary.

5. Respect Your Fullness Feeling full is normal. Diet culture has demonized fullness, but it’s just a sign from our bodies that they’ve had enough fuel and it’s time to stop. Blanket portion sizes in diet plans never work. Instead, practice mindful eating and check in with your hunger/fullness levels to know when to stop.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor Food should feel and taste good. Taking pleasure in what you eat will go far in helping you heal your relationship with food.

7. Honour Your Feelings Without Using Food A lot of us turn to food when we are not physically hungry – maybe we are sad, anxious or stressed. This is perfectly normal, but Intuitive Eating encourages you to ask yourself: “What do I really need?”

8. Respect Your Body Diet culture may tell us that a certain size and weight equals health (and, therefore, worth) but that’s just not true. Every single body – regardless of size, weight or health – is worthy of dignity and respect.

9. Movement – Feel the Difference Choose movement that you enjoy – whether that’s running, dancing, swimming, yoga or anything else. Don’t exercise to lose weight or “get fit”. Move your body because it feels good.

10. Honour Your Health with Gentle Nutrition “This is last for a reason,” Tribole claims. “Nutrition has been so weaponized in our culture and if nutrition sounds scary or intimidating, it’s OK to put a pause on this and come back when you actually feel ready [and] at peace with your eating and your body.”

Resources Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch Health at Every Size and Body Respect by Linda Bacon https://www.intuitiveeating.org/ Nourishing Thoughts (podcast) and Fat Chat (podcast) Eating Difficulties Peer Support Group (https://www.facebook.com/EDPSGexeter/)

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Allergies and Me Deputy Online Editor Amie Greenhalgh shares her personal story of dealing with an allergy, and how it has affected her relationship with food.

As someone who used to have Nutella on toast for breakfast before school, finding out I had a nut allergy was surprising.

Throughout my life I had generally avoided nuts because my sister is allergic to peanuts and so they weren’t something we had around the house. However, when I was 15 years old, I ate at a Chinese buffet restaurant and picked a selection that looked nice.

the menu and fabricated excuses if someone suggested a new restaurant. I had all of the safety precautions in place, carrying an EpiPen wherever I went, but it was not enough and the anxiety began to restrict my social life.

An expanding lip and allergy tablets later, I was diagnosed with an allergy to tree nuts and peanuts. This news completely changed my relationship with food. Something that was supposed to nourish my body was suddenly a dangerous thing. Food became my enemy.

As the only person in my friendship group who has an allergy, and with my sister being more relaxed in her maintenance of her allergy, I always felt like an inconvenience in restaurants. The manager would come over to our table with the usual script of looking at the allergy menu, and a disclaimer that they cannot guarantee it will not have traces of the allergen would follow. Understandably, this is to stop the business from facing any backlash, but it was often rather embarrassing for me. However, it is only in the last few years that I’ve realised it doesn’t make me look silly at all. Allergies are also on the rise around the world, as children are more likely than ever before to develop food allergies. Around 7% of children in the UK are now affected by food allergies, and though still a relatively low percentage, it makes me feel less alone in my struggles (1).

“Around 7% of children in the UK are now affected by food “Something that was sup- allergies, and though still a posed to nourish my body was relatively low percentage, it suddenly a dangerous thing. makes me feel less alone in my struggles.”

Food became my enemy.”

“A meal as simple as a chicken burger suddenly made my chest tighten and my throat feel as if it was closing up.”

For the next few years, I had a lot of anxiety surrounding eating. A meal as simple as a chicken burger suddenly made my chest tighten and my throat feel as if it was closing up. My bodily responses were led by my anxiety rather than any allergic reaction, however it nevertheless heightened my fear of eating out. In order to cope with my panic, I always ordered the same thing from 14

(1) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201023-food-allergies-why-nutdairy-and-food-allergy-are-rising

“Most people will understand what you mean when you say you have an allergy, however little is discussed about the burden it has on your social life...”

Allergies featured in the media recently when Natasha Ednan-Laperouse sadly died after eating a baguette containing sesame seeds that weren’t disclosed on the packet.

This has led to the creation of Natasha’s Law, which states that food products now must be labelled with all the ingredients they contain. Though this calls into question why this hasn’t already been the case for many years, it gives me the confidence to know that all the information is there. Most people will understand what you mean when you say you have an allergy, however little is discussed about the burden it has on your social life, especially in the first few months following discovery of the allergy.

My journey with having an allergy, I’m happy to say, has improved massively. I no longer fear going out for dinner and am willing to try new places. I admit that I often look at menus before going out, but I feel more secure in asking for allergy information as I realise it is just something I have to do. Sometimes I have a wobble and lose my confidence but that’s okay too. Late discovery did exacerbate my problems but I wanted to share the story of how having an allergy drastically altered my relationship with food as I think it is one that other allergy sufferers can relate to. Though my relationship with food is not perfect, it is certainly getting better. Food is once more becoming something to enjoy and to nourish my body, no matter where I’m eating it.

“Food is once more becoming something to enjoy and to nourish my body, no matter where I’m eating it.”

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In Celebration of the Big Night In RAZZ writer Lydia Gilroy celebrates snuggling up on the sofa with popcorn and a good film.

It’s another Friday night after a strenuous week of lectures, seminars, and tutorials and after the numerous hours in front of the computer screen, it’s time for a couple more. It’s time to get the Morrison’s ownbrand salted popcorn from the cupboard, the blankets off the bed and Oodie off the hook as I bombard myself with comfort. As a myriad of university students head to Unit 1, the typical night (and early morning) on campus, I treat myself to a big night in on Netflix, something that we need to do every once in a while to appreciate the importance of it.

“It’s time to get the Morrison’s own-brand salted popcorn from the cupboard, the blankets off the bed and Oodie off the hook...”

Although it may seem that this is not the most fun activity to partake in, especially with a nightclub only a walk down the road for most, not only does it save money as you can use things you already have to build a cosy personal utopia, but it also creates special moments between flatmates and friends. Arguments over classic movie tropes fuel the desire to debate for hours over if you’re team Edward or team Jacob, the order of Shrek movies from best to worst (for me personally it’s 2, 4, 1, 3) or even the 16

indecisions over what to watch in the plethora of choice on all the different types of streaming services. This all aids in cementing those bonds not just in university, but throughout our lives.

“Staying in and hanging out in your lounge with your friends is just as good as dancing the night away.”

For example, over the summer I orchestrated a High School Musical marathon with my closest friends for the day which was 50% appreciating a part of our childhood no matter how cringey it was and the other 50% a sort of last hurrah with each other before we went our separate ways to the next steps in our lives in September. Staying in and hanging out in your lounge with your friends is just as good as dancing the night away.

Even just going on a date with yourself to your bed to watch a classic chick flick can be the perfect way to treat yourself after a stressful day. It is more crucial than ever to make sure to slow down, to take time for yourself and to take care of your mental health especially when exams and essays always seem to be looming around the corner, haunting you like a persistent ghost. Small things like watching a movie or a few episodes of your favourite TV show can help a lot; it’s a space where you can immerse yourself in another world that isn’t your own and forget about your worries for an hour and 30 minutes. Anyway, all that work can be done tomorrow.

As the smell of slightly burnt popcorn hangs desperately in the air, the blankets nonchalantly tossed to the floor and the music from the end credits filling the stunned silence from the previous hour and a half, you realise that it’s time to head

Illustration by Sarah Banerjee

to bed, from one sanctuary to another (even though it is only 11pm). This time period, even though it may seem like a waste of an evening, is vital to recuperate, vital to relax and vital to realise that these types of nights need to be appreciated, celebrated and taken advantage of. So… same time next Friday?

“Even though it may seem like a waste of an evening, is vital to recuperate, vital to relax and vital to realise that these types of nights need to be appreciated, celebrated and taken advantage of. So... same time next Friday?”

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Lil Nas X and the New Queer Wave RAZZ writer Tom Price discusses how the openness of a new wave of queer artists has nourished both their careers and their audiences. CONTENT WARNING: HOMOPHOBIA. Scrolling through Lil Nas X’s Instagram feed, one word comes screaming into mind. Gay. His feed contains stills of him styled in Elton John’s iconic rainbow feathers and videos of him grinding with men on stage. It’s very knowing. It’s very gay. And it’s triumphant.

The rapper is part of a new wave of artists proudly exhibiting their queer identity and subsequently nourishing their own careers as a result.

“Scrolling through Lil Nas X’s Instagram feed, one word comes screaming into mind.

Gay.” Lil Nas entered the public consciousness in 2018, but after efforts such as ‘Rodeo’ and ‘Holiday’ failed to spark the public’s interest in the same manner as viral hit ‘Old Town Road’, it seemed the artist was destined for one-hit-wonder territory. However, after reinvigorating his career with queer anthem ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’, Lil Nas X has just surpassed Drake as the most listened to rapper on Spotify.

In the music video for ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’, Lil Nas famously pole danced his way to hell wearing only a pair of black boxers and thigh high boots. This perfectly calculated stunt generated outpourings of love from the queer community and outcries of anger from conservatives.

Whilst the video’s religious imagery was 18

controversial, its complete subversion of organised religion’s homophobic tendencies was both crowd pleasing and poignant for queer communities. Others, however, saw it as a violation. Throughout May of this year, everyone was talking about Lil Nas X, and his career was relaunched due to the controversy surrounding his name.

Whilst a public figurehead, Lil Nas X is only a part of a new wave of queer artists. Troye Sivan recently announced the release of his latest single ‘Angel Baby’, tweeting that it is a “power bottom ballad” - a level of tongue in cheek candour that is refreshing for queer audiences. Harry Styles is currently receiving a lot of love, in part because of his refusal to adhere to heterosexual gender norms. And Janelle Monae received her highest level of critical success, with the Grammy nominated, overtly queer album Dirty Computer. However, it is important to note that Lil Nas X’s status as a black rapper has enhanced the impact of his proud sexual expression, as he is currently dominating a predominantly heterosexual, traditionally masculine industry with music that is atypical to that stereotype.

“Lil Nas X... is currently dominating a predominantly heterosexual, traditionally masculine industry with music that is atypical to that stereotype.”

“Audiences around the world are being treated to true queer stories... and this feels revolutionary.”

Of course, there is a long history of artists expressing their gender and sexual identities in icons such as David Bowie, Prince, Elton John and Freddie Mercury. However, whilst these artists articulated themselves through their clothing and performances, their sexuality was often taken out of their hands and put into the public domain in an uncomfortable manner. Many celebrities had to constantly answer or evade questions about their sexuality, leaving them lacking in autonomy over how they presented (or didn’t present) their own identity. These artists were viewed like a foreign object, taking away their own control over how they represented their gender and sexuality.

What is groundbreaking about this current wave of queer expression is how completely in control the artists involved are. Many queer artists feel uncensored and are therefore, crucially, honest. Audiences around the world are being treated to true queer stories that aren’t filtered by a straight mediator, and this feels revolutionary.

Whilst these artists have obviously benefited from reinvigorating their careers through their queer identity, it is the queer

audiences who this will affect the most.

By being nourished with so many positive and proud queer icons, queer individuals are able to find positive role models who reflect their everyday queer experience.

Additionally, these artists help quash generalisations; whilst it may seem frivolous, by gloriously expressing his femininity, Lil Nas X is helping to break down negative beliefs surrounding effeminacy that exist within the queer community.

“By being nourished with so many positive and proud queer icons, queer individuals are able to find positive role models who reflect their everyday queer experience.”

For decades, many queer people have wished to mask their identity with a straight passing façade. However, by being gifted with so many positive, unashamedly queer role models, perhaps current (and future) generations of queer individuals will never have to feel this desire.

In a letter written to his younger self, Lil Nas X said that he wished to “never be that type of gay”. But, from the love he has received after embracing his sexuality, it has been made evident that embracing one’s true self is never a bad thing.

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Pay it Forward: The Importance of Looking After Our Community RAZZ writer Ciara Howard promotes the idea of nourishing our local community, and suggests ways in which students can get involved. CONTENT WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT. Here we are again, halfway through another term. It’s easy to become so wrapped up in the excitement of the new academic year — with Tuesday nights at Unit 1 and fancy dress socials (be honest, how many of us have already discarded shark fins and Hawaiian shirts we wore once during Freshers?) — that we forget about self-care. In this edition, we have explored the importance of nourishing our bodies and minds, but there is also so much we can do to nourish our community. One of my favourite things about Exeter is the close-knit community, and there are amazing organisations on our doorstep with numerous opportunities to give back.

have been working tirelessly to meet this rise in demand, and within our community, the Samaritans of Exeter, Mid and East Devon have made a significant contribution.

Their website describes how between 2019 and 2020, they responded to 36,976 contacts: 27,162 calls, 4,791 emails and 5,023 texts. The scale of their work within Exeter is incredible, and they have many volunteering roles available. Listening volunteers answer calls and messages from people who need someone to talk to, while support volunteers provide services to local branches.

This is a great option for anyone wanting to support a really worthwhile cause, and it’s easy to apply for through their website.

“More than half of adults (60%) and over two thirds of young people (68%) have said their mental health got worse during lockdown.”

Alternatively, there are also student organisations looking for volunteers. Exeter Student Volunteers’ ‘Mentoring for Success’ is a project centred on “getting local students engaged in their communities via structured discussions with their peers and volunteers about a wide range of relevant topics”. According to one of the organisers, their original focus was homework help, but it quickly evolved as they realised students were often asking them about topical issues instead. Their aim is to help students become more aware of the world around them and develop their critical thinking and conversation skills with their peers.

Their work is important, not just in terms of

The extreme isolation that came with numerous lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions has had a noticeable impact on everyone’s mental wellbeing, with charity Mind highlighting: “More than half of adults (60%) and over two thirds of young people (68%) have said their mental health got worse during lockdown”. The Samaritans 20

helping students to succeed academically, but also in providing them with crucial life skills. They are looking for more people to volunteer as often as it suits, with time commitments based on a rota that changes each week. Even once or twice a term is appreciated. It’s a perfect choice if you are looking to fit something in around your degree. A message to their ‘ESV Mentoring for Success’ Facebook page is all you need to get involved!

“There are many groups within the university that work tirelessly to make sure that the most vulnerable feel safe on campus.”

In the last six months, there have been increasing fears nationwide about the safety of women. However, there are many groups within the university that work tirelessly to make sure that the most vulnerable feel safe on campus.

Stroll Mates is a student night watch that organises volunteers to walk students home who would otherwise be walking alone. It is an amazing initiative that will allow female

and non-binary students to live their normal lives without having to worry about the dangers of walking home alone. They have a large Facebook group you can check out if this takes your interest. It’s a great way to support students who potentially feel very vulnerable after the tragic events of the last few months.

Additionally, Sit Down N Shut Up is a student movement dedicated to “representing marginalised voices and creating initiatives to spark real and positive change.” They have provided a platform for women and non-binary people to share their stories through organised sit-in protests against sexual assaults on campus and the emergence of a pro-choice society. Speaking to one of the founders Yasmin Gooch, they outlined that as well as the opportunities that are available when coordinating their protests, their intention is to have more volunteering openings for people to get involved as their movement grows. So keep an eye out on their social media pages!

If anyone is affected by the content of this article: Samaritans - Call 116 123 (Free line open 24/7)

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Interview with Nourish Zero Waste BAME Officer Ana Anajuba speaks to Sarah Martin, founder of local sustainable shop Nourish Zero Waste.

With locations in both Exeter and Ashburton, Nourish Zero Waste shop is one of the 500 and counting zero waste stores being established across the UK. Founded by Sarah Martin, its philosophy is simple: to “make your journey to zero waste as simple as possible”. And these shops do just that. By removing all unnecessary wastage and packaging that is used by traditional supermarkets, they give power back to the consumer, allowing the shopper to buy as little or as much produce as needed, without worrying about the harm it will do to the natural world that is increasingly threatened by human overconsumption. As someone who does worry about the planet and followed the events of COP26 with great interest, I was intrigued, so I sat down with Sarah for an interview about her life, her views, and her thoughts on the growing eco-conscious movement.

What inspired you to start a zero waste shop?

I opened my first one quite a long time ago now in March 2018. I was just really frustrated every time I went to a supermarket or a shop and I had to buy things in plastic.

It was not too long after Blue Planet and the Attenborough programmes and it all started becoming a bit more in the public consciousness. I had just finished my MBA about three or four months beforehand and I just had the opportunity. I thought why not me; why not do something about it in22

stead of complaining all the time? So I did.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m hoping that the shops thrive post-pandemic. It has been a really challenging 18 months in terms of lockdown. I just hope to get back to pre-pandemic levels. Also, there is a growing awareness, especially with the recent COP26. My aim is to normalise this kind of shopping in the catchment where I am. And it is starting to get there. When I first started, I was one of the first half dozen in the country to open and people thought I was bananas, and nobody would shop like this. Now there are more than 500 shops like these, so I just hope to normalise it more.

How did you come up with the name?

I wanted it to have a name that implied that you were looking after yourself, looking after the planet. Nourishing is looking after something so that it grows and I liked the connotations of that. I felt that people might be too intimidated by something that was [just called] ‘zero-waste store’ so I thought ‘Nourish’ was a gentle and kind word.

“Nourishing is looking after something so that it grows and I liked the connotations of that.”

Is that a philosophy that inspires you?

Yes. I think that life is too short to not do the things that you want to do. We do end up living to work and to pay rent and then we end up not living at all. Not having time to do the things you wanted to do. I had to make that time. I used to work long, long days as a teacher and feel so exhausted on the weekends. I wanted to have the time to fill up my own reservoir with joy.

What has the feedback been from residents in the local area?

The people in Magdalen Road have supported me all the way through lockdown, it’s been really, really good. We’ve only been open since July in Ashburton and people have been very environmentally forward thinking so it’s been great to be part of the community. There are also a lot of independent businesses in the area.

So do you connect with a lot of other similar shops and businesses?

There is an online community on Facebook with around 600 zero waste shop owners. It is a safe and non-judgement environment.

I use a lot of local suppliers. For example, Kate Deacon, who does cleaning products, and Sophia Tapper. We also work with Full Circle in Ottery St Mary and I worked really closely with Alice who is the new owner

there. I also talk with Denise who has the House of Green in Tiverton so it’s quite a nice community.

You’ve talked a lot about the positives, has there been any negative reception?

Mostly just overcoming the preconceptions that people have. A lot of people think we are quite expensive, [or] they think they have to crochet their own flip flops. But we’re student friendly, we’re always happy to chat and we have a 10% student discount!

What would you say to someone who wants to begin a zero waste lifestyle?

Start small. We would much rather a lot of people doing small things than one person doing everything perfectly. It does take time so when you finish your shampoo maybe refill it, and then build it up slowly so it’s manageable. Take it easy on yourself.

“We would much rather a lot of people doing small things than one person doing everything perfectly... Take it easy on yourself.”

You can find Nourish Zero Waste on 67 Magdalen Road.

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The Case Against Perfection RAZZ writer Ellen Hodges discusses the rising pressure to achieve perfection, and how we can tackle this contemporary problem. CONTENT WARNING: PERFECTIONISM, ACADEMIC PRESSURE. “Perfection: the state of being complete and correct in every way”. In other words, an extremely desirable yet, realistically and completely acceptably, unlikely “state” for us mortal humans.

This is not to say that we are totally incapable of accomplishing excellence. Athletes can achieve a flawless performance.

Musicians can give an unspoiled recital.

Yet, the key to these events is that they are achieved through years of rigorous practice and dedication to that single moment. Their “perfection” is special, abnormal and atypical to our regular, fallible lives. Most importantly, these instances of “perfection” are

transient. Perfection is not, and should not be, our constant state. Not only would “perfect” moments be robbed of their wonder, but I can only imagine the effect constantly striving for the faultless would have on our mental health.

However, today we seem to be moving in this direction and there seems to be a growing omnipresent expectation of perfection.

Consequently, one can see an increasingly relentless and unhealthy desire emerging among young people especially to achieve this result. For example, perfection is gradually becoming the only viable and commendable outcome of education.

Illustration by Faith Dale-Hughes

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“The A* inflation detracts all meaning from the grade itself and reduces any differentiation between students.”

In 2021, 44.8% of students achieved A*/A grades at A-Level. Admittedly these students did not sit ‘proper’ exams due to the pandemic, yet nearly 30% of students in 2019 gained these same results. So, if we take an A* to represent “perfection” in the academic world, this means that nearly half of students since 2019 have handed in exams which were faultless. The A* inflation detracts all meaning from the grade itself and reduces any differentiation between students. Young people are carrying, and will continue to carry, this oppressive weight of expected perfection if this trend continues. Such a weight will surely stifle any imagination or risk-taking students have, as they feel their education singularly revolves around achieving the top result.

creating yet another ‘new normal’: perfection.

Although, there is a paradox to perfection.

Yes, we seem to be increasingly striving for faultless, but I don’t think we are expecting this from others. We are internalising the expectation of perfection we see around us and are exclusively placing this pressure on ourselves. Thankfully, I think we still have the compassion to be somewhat accepting of others’ imperfections - preaching to our friends to “accept your flaws” and “love yourself for who you are”. Of course, we are always going to be our own harshest critics. However, a harsh critic coupled with the conviction that society expects a brain wired for achieving an A* and an appearance measured with the warped yardstick of Instagram can only be a toxic mixture.

“We need to unleash the imperfect. Flaws, mistakes, errors and misjudgements need “Such a weight will surely sti- to be publicised on mass to fle any imagination or risk-tak- overcome the perfection epiing students have, as they feel demic.” their education singularly re- We need to unleash the imperfect. Flaws, volves around achieving the mistakes, errors and misjudgements need to be publicised on mass to overcome the top result.”

In the online world, we are again nurturing perfection. Take Instagram, which most young people encounter on a daily basis. It literally embodies and encourages the ‘picture-perfect’ image. With the help of perfecting tools such as Photoshop and filters, Instagram pages have become a carefully compiled collage of immaculate, unblemished photos, which reach the public eye after a forensic selection process. Only the faultless photographs make it to the final round of public exposure, meaning the ordinary passer-by only bears witness to the perfectly finished result. It looks as if we are

perfection epidemic. After this we can start being kinder to ourselves and allowing ourselves room for blunders. We need to also celebrate how bog-standard, ordinary, mediocre and mundane we all are most of the time. After all, that’s what we humans do best.

“We need to also celebrate how bog-standard, ordinary, mediocre and mundane we all are most of the time.”

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reclaiming pleasure: sex toys and RAZZ writer Lucy Evans discusses why female and AFAB non-binary sexual pleasure is still such a societal taboo, and how we can break this stigma. CONTENT WARNING: SEXUAL SHAME. For those of us with vulvas, talking about sex toys and masturbation can sometimes feel like an inside joke — something that we laugh and whisper about amongst ourselves, only opening up to those that we trust and are “in on it”.

The secretive way we usually talk about sex toys and masturbation is a direct reflection of their taboo nature in society, especially for women and AFAB non-binary people who are continually made to feel shame around these topics. But while sex toys and masturbation are still taboo topics, they are one of the most efficient ways for those with vulvas to orgasm.

“When masturbating, 95% of women reach orgasm more consistently and faster.”

“When masturbating, 95% of women reach orgasm more consistently and faster”, says Lucy Litwack for Harper’s Bazaar, touching on the impact masturbation can have on reaching orgasm. While this statistic only focuses on women, and not all people who were assigned female at birth, it offers insight into how vital masturbation is for those with vulvas.

If sex toys and masturbation are so important in helping those with vulvas orgasm, why are they still a taboo? The answer can perhaps be found in the purity culture that 26

still dominates our society’s views towards women and femmes, and their sexuality.

The age-old image of the ‘pure, innocent’ women still works its way into our perceptions of sex and gender.

“The lack of teaching on female pleasure in sex education convinces us that pleasure is just a secondary effect of sex and doesn’t teach us to prioritise it.”

The lack of teaching on female pleasure in sex education convinces us that pleasure is just a secondary effect of sex and doesn’t teach us to prioritise it. According to societal norms, those with vulvas are supposed to be passive in their experience of sex instead of proactive in their pursuit of pleasure. So, when we do actively seek sexual pleasure, especially through solo activities like masturbation or through using a sex toy, shame often creeps in.

“When we do actively seek sexual pleasure, especially through solo activities like masturbation or through using a sex toy, shame often creeps in.”

the importance of masturbation

Purity culture still looms over society, making women and AFAB non-binary people feel ‘unpure’ and ‘dirty’ for wanting to experience sexual pleasure, especially sexual pleasure outside of relations with men. Too often is our sexuality presented as a product for male consumption, and rarely just for us.

“Too often is our sexuality presented as a product for male consumption, and rarely just for us.”

This attitude is slowly shifting, however, and there are many sex positive educators who focus on sex toys and empowering those

with vulvas to actively take a hold of their sex lives through masturbation.

“Sex toys are not dirty objects that need to be hidden away.”

In true Gen-Z fashion, Instagram is a great place to follow sex positive accounts such as @nakedgrapefruitt and @thevagnetwork. Many sex positive social media spaces brandish the latest sex toys in an empowering act that reminds us of self-pleasure.

This exposure to sex toys can make us more comfortable with seeing them while also reminding us that sex toys are not dirty objects that need to be hidden away.

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For some, seeing a sex toy being displayed so openly like this would make them recoil or even feel shame. Just the sight of a sex toy can make some people feel dirty for wanting to reclaim and explore their sexuality. We need to work on dismantling the purity culture that still exists in society so that sex toys can be celebrated and welcomed rather than remain a secret we whisper about.

“Sex toys allow those of us with vulvas to reclaim our sexualities for ourselves, taking a hold of our own orgasms in an empowering act that prioritises pleasure.”

It is no secret that those with vulvas tend to orgasm more often on their own through masturbation than with a partner. Forbes comments that “a study found that 39% of women said they always orgasm when they masturbate, compared to 6% during sex”.

The reasons for this discrepancy could range from a lack of communication to a lack of clitoral stimulation during sex with a partner. This statistic doesn’t mean that sex with a partner can’t be amazing, but instead tells us that women and those as-

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signed female at birth are more likely to orgasm alone than when with someone else.

Masturbation offers us the best chance to orgasm, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of reaching this through the use of sex toys.

“Sex toys, masturbation and our own pleasure are not shameful or sinful, they are powerful and deserve to be reclaimed.”

Sex toys allow those of us with vulvas to reclaim our sexualities for ourselves, taking a hold of our own orgasms in an empowering act that prioritises pleasure. Sex toys, masturbation and our own pleasure are not shameful or sinful, they are powerful and deserve to be reclaimed.

Talking to Brooke Le Breton About Body-Love, Sex Talk, and the Anxiety of Influencers Deputy Print Editor Daniella Clarke speaks to rising Instagram creator Brooke Le Breton about branching out with her content, talking openly about sex on her platform, and the anxiety of influencers.

Brooke Le Breton (@WhisperingWoman) is a third-year English literature student at the University of East Anglia and a rising Instagram star. After starting out as a book blogger in March 2020, she’s branched out with her content to tackle sex positivity and selfcare. Brooke has since become a source of education and empowerment for her 4.5k followers.

Given that you started out as a book blogger, what inspired you to tackle other topics?

It was a case of growing confidence. When I first started I was new to putting my opinions out there and books felt very safe, as Bookstagram is such a welcoming, noncontroversial community. But as I became more comfortable sharing my voice online, I gradually started branching out to other topics.

Sex positivity is something I’ve cared about for a long time but only recently found the courage to discuss, as I’ve grown a bit of an audience.

You’ve expressed concerns about not having a ‘brand’ because you want to try out so many different ideas. Do you feel anxious as an influencer to keep things

appealing to your audience?

The anxiety is very real. It’s something I think about a lot and I imagine that other creators, big or small, do too. There’s pressure to put forward a brand and to be consistent, but real people are complex and have loads of different interests and opinions. It’s a struggle to get your online brand to reflect who you really are. I had a conversation with someone recently and they said, “You wouldn’t box off a person by describing three things they like, so why on earth would you limit yourself to talking about really specific things online?”

“There’s pressure to put forward a brand and to be consistent, but real people are complex and have loads of different interests and opinions.”

I’ve only recently stopped trying to box in who I am. Now I let myself talk about what I want. It’s a nice freedom to have. Sometimes it doesn’t work in my favour because it’s easier to put people in categories and to know what to expect from creators, but it’s 29

just not realistic. I’ve enjoyed posting a lot more having given up on creating my brand. After speaking to some of my followers, I think they appreciate the diversity in my content too.

On your Instagram, you promote sex toys and provide educational content about sexual health. Why are open discussions of sexuality so important to you?

I never had those brutally honest conversations growing up and that affected me for most of my life. Until I was eighteen, I don’t think I ever spoke to a friend about masturbation or sex toys. No one acknowledged that they existed, and they’re not dirty things! There was so much shame and stigma surrounding sexuality, which became apparent when I first came out as bisexual at sixteen and pansexual later on. When I realised I like chatting, writing and creating,

“Until I was eighteen, I don’t think I ever spoke to a friend about masturbation or sex toys. No one acknowledged that they existed, and they’re not dirty things!”

My mum likes to say that I have ‘brutal honesty’, so I hope I’m putting it to good use by talking in the most open way I can. It’s become more popular now to talk about body confidence on social media, but we still don’t broach certain topics, like the details of sexual experiences. I want to get to a point where it feels normal to chat about those topics online.

All images from @WhisperingWoman on Instagram

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I thought: if I could open up those conversations for other people, I’d feel as though I’d done something worthwhile.

Is there a piece of advice you wish you could share with someone — young or old — who might be struggling with sex or relationship issues?

I realised that everything comes back to communication. Whenever I would do Agony Aunts on my Instagram, I would get asked questions from people of all ages, genders, and orientations, but I would always end up saying, “The best thing you can do is communicate!” It’s all about being open and talking things over, whether it’s with a partner, friends, or even yourself.

It can be vital to spend time with yourself thinking about what you want, what you need, and what you don’t like. If everyone just talked more, the world would be a better place!

“If everyone just talked more, the world would be a better place!”

When it comes to posting about sex, do you feel a responsibility to say the right thing? You’re talking about a topic that for many is still taboo. How do you remain confident?

It’s hard! I second guess myself all the time and have doubts. Especially recently, I’ve been thinking about my privilege. I’ll wonder whether I have the right to make statements about body confidence and sexuality when I’m thin-passing and white. Should I be limiting what I talk about online because of those factors? Why do I have the authority on these topics? I don’t know everything!

“I’ll wonder whether I have the right to make statements about body confidence and sexuality when I’m thin-passing and white... Why do I have

the authority on these topics? I don’t know everything!”

But I continue to push myself. I remind myself that I don’t need to have the perfect answer; there are others out there who are experts and can educate people on the things I don’t know about sex. But what I do have is my own experiences and my ability to translate that into words and media. I don’t have to be the sole answer, I can be one voice in a canon of voices. Everyone has something they can add to any conversation. I focus on being honest and respectful.

And fact-checking!

Do you ever worry about sharing photos and opinions on the internet, considering there’s still so much shame surrounding sex?

I feel fairly confident. I’m lucky I haven’t had a whole lot of backlash — I get the occasional religious message in my DMs telling me I’m going to Hell and I’m like, “Okay, thank you for letting me know. I’m aware.”

Generally, though, I’m really lucky with my audience; they’re so uplifting.

The only time I get that sinking feeling of dread is when I post photos of myself wearing lingerie and posing with sex toys.

It’s scary but crucial, because I think the photos are more important than the captions I write. There’s something so shocking about seeing someone in lingerie who’s not a model, showing off normal things that a body does. It’s a powerful visual tool but I don’t have endless body confidence. Having to stare at photos of myself for ages can make me overthink. What if an ex-teacher sees this? Or what if it affects my employability? But I think the end result outweighs all these worries. What I’m achieving is worth it.

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the rise and fall of ‘that girl’ RAZZ writer Lois Beasley discusses the ‘That Girl’ trend on TikTok and its rapid disappearance. CONTENT WARNING: BODY IMAGE, PERFECTIONISM. In April 2020, the coffee drinking, early rising, routine worshipping videos that we now know as the ‘That Girl’ trend entered our For You Pages at a dizzying rate and dissipated just as quickly.

The hashtag #thatgirl has surpassed one billion views on TikTok and has commandeered the lifestyle idealism side of the internet. Avant-garde breakfast pics, runway-ready outfits, and a self-care regime to rival Kylie Jenner’s 37-step makeup routine are just some of the images that come to mind when we think of ‘That Girl’.

“Or just another whitewashing, fat-shaming phase to humble and humiliate those who do not fit the beauty standard?”

Where did she come from? Was it truly a trend to nourish the soul and create the best and therefore happiest version of yourself, or just another whitewashing, fat-shaming phase to humble and humiliate those who do not fit the beauty standard?

‘That Girl’ is different to her trendy predecessors, engineered to promote wellness, beauty and productivity for young women.

Her earliest resemblance was the 2014 (in hindsight, misogynistic) Girl Boss, coined

by American businesswoman Sophia Amo32

ruso. And in July 2019, the same idea was renewed as Hot Girl Summer, inspired by the eponymous hit song by Megan Thee Stallion. Instead of cultivating female empowerment in business, Hot Girl was more about embracing one’s body, sexual freedom and independence.

‘That Girl’ is like the lovechild of both trends.

It preaches wellness and self-care whilst being super productive and disciplined in all aspects of daily life. To top it off, ‘That Girl’ achieves all this with a polished, perfect aesthetic.

And this is where it starts to go wrong.

The trend endorses self-care, but in such a planned and disciplined manner that it would be impossible for a normal young adult to follow. From the ages of 18 to 25, our lives are chaotic and exciting and finding such a disciplined structure is difficult. I mean, is your entire day going to be ruined because you didn’t wake up at 5am for the gym after getting home from the club at 3am?

Teen Mag argues that “becoming “that girl” is more of a mindset than having the picture-perfect life.” Yet real girls who go to the gym, have morning rituals and get their lives together without filtering and posting it online would probably not even consider themselves to be ‘That Girl’.

“The accessories only fit a size extra-small, and the skincare only caters for white skin. She is expensive and exclusive.”

The trending videos at the top of the hashtag show a skinny, white girl in a spotless kitchen, sipping barista coffee while writing in her gratitude journal. She is always clean and always camera-ready. This kind of idealism pushes young girls into despair and, honestly, exhaustion. Additionally, this stereotype not only excludes racial minorities, normal-sized bodies and those who can’t afford a weekly blowout, but highlights privilege across social media. The constant desire for new content means new stuff to buy: designer accessories, top of the range skincare and makeup, and everything else needed to become ‘That Girl’. The accessories only fit a size extra-small, and the skincare only caters for white skin. She is expensive and exclusive.

“The further you scroll the more unattainable it feels.”

Like most trends aimed at women, the further you scroll the more unattainable it feels. It leaves us questioning: why doesn’t my life look as picture-perfect as hers? Why can’t I be productive all the time? The very name of the trend implies this is someone who is impossible to be, but is always someone to envy and aspire to become.

And it’s the same circulating problems of self-depreciation and perfectionism that we

keep trying to solve, like a mutating virus.

We know that nothing on the internet is 100% real but when toxic trends are hidden behind ‘nourishment and health’, it is difficult not to get caught in ‘That Girl’s addictive trap.

“‘That Girl’ has seemingly disappeared for now, but it’s certain she’ll reappear with a new look, name and motive.”

But ‘That Girl’ isn’t totally bad. She has better qualities than her previous counterparts (*raises eyebrows at the supermodel skinny ’90s*), being advertised as more of a mindset than an image. She embodies eating healthy rather than being skinny, being productive for yourself and not to ‘one up’ the men, and generally promotes nourishing the body and soul.

‘That Girl’ has seemingly disappeared after being chewed up by the ever-hungry audience of TikTok for now, but it’s certain she’ll reappear with a new look, name and motive. Hopefully, she’ll instigate even healthier, more normal habits for young girls, like the occasional takeaway, a favourite series binge and perhaps even sleeping past 7am.

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the life changing magic of baking bread RAZZ writer Tilly Attrill explains how her newfound hobby of sourdough baking has nourished her during the lockdowns and beyond.

In the third year of my anthropology degree, I took a module focused on the theory and methods of food preservation. Each week we learnt about a different food preservation technique – from pickling to cider making. In week six the lectures focused on sourdough bread making, and a year later I am still obsessed. After I had decoded the many different methods and recipes the internet suggests on how to make my own starter after watching that week’s lecture, I finally managed to keep mine alive and bake a successful (albeit slightly flat) loaf, much to the joy of my parents and friends who had to deal with me talking about it all the time. This was the first week of the second COVID-19 lockdown of 2020.

“Not only is baking a good distraction, but it also gives people a sense of control over something in their lives, even if it is only over something small like whether a biscuit ends up slightly burnt.”

After this first bake, making sourdough became something I did every weekend while I studied for the final year of my degree from 34

home. Although I was a few months late to the lockdown sourdough party, I am so glad I finally decided that making and keeping a starter alive didn’t look as difficult as I had imagined it would be. As part of the assignment for the food preservation module we got to write an essay on any relevant topic – obviously I decided to write about bread.

Unsurprisingly, this was one of my favourite essays I wrote during my degree, as it really highlighted to me why I kept baking loaves each week even when the outcome wasn’t as great as I had hoped.

As part of my research I looked at the mental health benefits of baking and the rise of ‘anxiety baking’ and ‘stress baking’ over the past few years which I then related to the particular rise in the popularity of sourdough baking during successive COVID-19 lockdowns. In the early stages of the pandemic, interest in baking peaked because it is a time-consuming activity that distracts from everything else that is going on in the world. Not only is baking a good distraction, but it also gives people a sense of control over something in their lives, even if it is only over something small like whether a biscuit ends up slightly burnt.

Illustration by Millie Green

“Those who were privileged with the time, energy, resources and ability to spend hours baking a loaf of bread were rewarded with comfort and the sense of having achieved something, however small.”

Sourdough baking is a particularly time-consuming activity which needs to be carefully controlled – creating a starter from scratch can take over a week and is quite temperamental, while baking a basic loaf can take an additional 24 hours. Baking a loaf of sourdough also needs quite a strict routine for success. I think this extra level of challenge, and the skill needed to bake something like sourdough, was extremely attractive during the lockdown. From my own experience, the sense of relief felt when you take a successful loaf out of the oven makes the hours spent doting over a bowl of flour and water instantly worth it.

It comes as no surprise that with more time spent at home where there was little to differentiate between days during lockdowns – especially for people on furlough or students attempting to finish a degree from home - an activity that once seemed daunting, long-winded and over-complicated became much more accessible. Those who were privileged with the time, energy, resources and ability to spend hours baking a loaf of bread were reward-

ed with comfort and the sense of having achieved something, however small.

As ex-Great British Bake Off contestant Ruby Tandoh writes in her 2018 book Eat Up!, I also think that “in a world where so much of what we do is in the name of achieving some end, baking is just a pleasure in and of itself”. Even though I sometimes get a bit stressed while baking, I remind myself that when it comes down to it, it is only bread, and even if it comes out of the oven a little bit flat or a little bit burnt, it will still taste good covered in butter.

“It is only bread, and even if it comes out of the oven a little bit flat or a little bit burnt, it will still taste good covered in butter.”

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self-care on RAZZ writer Anabel Costa-Ferreira offers some self care tips that will nourish both your soul and your purse.

It’s 11:42 pm and you’ve submitted your essay just in time. You stand up to see the mess that has overtaken your desk, alongside the several cups that held caffeinated drinks to keep your eyelids open. Does this sound familiar? It has become so easy to prioritise academic deadlines that we often forget to look after ourselves. Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate some self-care into your week without breaking the bank: 1) Yoga — or any form of exercise for that matter. Yes, exercise can sound like even more work but it has so many benefits. Yoga is an especially fantastic option as it not only keeps you active but teaches you breathing exercises that can help provide a moment of calm beyond the studio. The university gym now offers classes (at £3.60 for members and £6.50 for non-members), however free videos on YouTube also work well, like Yoga With Adriene’s channel.

2) Watching Netflix (or using another streaming service) is a great way to zone out and relax after that lecture you thought would never end. You could watch a childhood classic, a newly released show, or one of your favourite movies that never fails to make you laugh. Why not use the opportunity to organise a movie night with flatmates? You could take some snacks from home or make use of your student discount at the Co-op.

Illustration by Josie Orr

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a budget

3) Eating well not only makes us feel energised but happier. Now, I’m not saying your entire plate has to be green, but adding some vegetables is money well spent. In stressful times, comfort food is also a must. Try and make a home recipe or take a few hours to bake something. The Residence Life team are currently running free baking events where you can attend either vegan or non-vegan classes.

4) After a rough week, taking a few hours to visit a coffee shop not only revitalises you with that much-anticipated caffeine boost but gives you a change of scene away from that dreaded messy desk. Although it’s not free (unless you’re on your free trial month at Pret), remember to treat yourself now and then. There’s nothing like a Christmas drink to raise your spirits.

5) Listening to a podcast — whether self-care related, educational or comical — can be a brilliant way to relax and drag your eyes away from a screen. Not only is this option free but it can be listened to on the go, in that awkward 20-minute lecture gap, or simply while you’re lying in bed.

6) In the festive season of December, keep an eye out for local events such as the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market that is running daily until the 18th December. The market itself is free to enter and there are currently no requirements to pre-book either.

7) Take time to do something creative. This could be anything from painting your nails, sketching, writing poetry, or writing some postcards to send to your loved ones.

Yes — staying up to write that essay was a priority, but looking after yourself is an even bigger one.

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is body neutral the RAZZ writer M Shelton investigates body neutrality, and how it has attempted to combat some of the pitfalls of the body positivity movement. CONTENT WARNING: FATPHOBIA, BODY IMAGE. From birth, we are told we aren’t good enough. You’re too fat, too thin, too pale, too dark, too short, too tall, too feminine, too masculine. And guess what? Someone is selling the product or procedure that can “fix” you! Fatphobia, racism, ableism, ageism and sexism are embedded in all of us, and we have a lot to unlearn if we want to stop judging ourselves and others.

“Fatphobia, racism, ableism, ageism and sexism are embedded in all of us, and we have a lot to unlearn if we want to stop judging ourselves and others.”

If you’re on the internet, you’ve probably heard about the body positivity movement – a recognised antidote to some of this societal negativity. It promotes the acceptance and representation of all bodies, challenges beauty standards, and works to expose the harmful impacts of diet culture. Body positivity evolved from the fat acceptance movement of the 1960s, which began with the aim of ending body size discrimination.

Nowadays, much of the movement is based around social media, with the core message that all bodies are intrinsically beautiful.

Seeing other people confident in their bodies can help to shatter the notion that there is only one way to be beautiful. This isn’t only beneficial to our self-image but also challenges our own biases. Beyond social media, we are now seeing a much more di38

verse representation of bodies on catwalks, in magazines and even as Barbie dolls.

Despite this, the body positivity movement has also drawn criticism. Many people struggle to achieve the level of positivity and love for their bodies that others display on social media. While societal pressures leave us wondering what is wrong with us for not looking a certain way, the body positivity movement leaves some wondering what is wrong with them for not loving their bodies. This causes guilt and frustration and can even contribute to the spiral of self-hatred.

As the popularity of body positivity has exploded, the very people who started it – those with bigger bodies – can find themselves excluded and disproportionately criticised. White people and those with smaller bodies tend to receive the most praise and attention. Toxicity can come from within the movement too, with people being ‘called out’ for succumbing to beauty standards if they wear makeup, shave, lose weight or get plastic surgery. Many therefore feel that the movement has lost its purpose and has become hypocritical and exclusive, as well as over-commercialised.

“As the popularity of body positivity has exploded, the very people who started it – those with bigger bodies – can find themselves excluded and disproportionately criticised.”

new body positive?

Perhaps the biggest limitation of body positivity is that it emphasises, above all, the importance of beauty. Whilst society tells us that certain aspects of our appearance are negative, the body positivity movement tells us that those same aspects are positive and we should learn to love them. Many have started to feel that beauty shouldn’t have so much value placed upon it.

This is where body neutrality comes in.

The body neutrality movement focuses on our value and lived experiences outside of beauty, and argues that appearance is simply unimportant. Whilst the body positivity movement tells us that learning to love the way you look is more attainable than perfectly fitting societal beauty standards, the body neutrality movement acknowledges that this can still be a real challenge.

“Body neutrality means that you don’t have to try and force yourself to feel beautiful, or love your body every day.”

In fact, body neutrality means that you don’t have to try and force yourself to feel beautiful, or love your body every day. Instead, you are encouraged to reflect on what you value about yourself in other ways. Creativity, intelligence, humour and kindness are just a few examples. It’s about recognising what your body can do for you, what it lets you experience and what you feel in each moment, rather than how you look. Body neutrality helps people to appreciate their bodies in a way that isn’t related to beauty.

However, whilst body neutrality is helpful for some, it presents further challenges for others. A focus on health and physical abil-

ity can be promoted as a benefit of body neutrality over body positivity, but connecting the value of a body to its health is problematic for disabled and chronically ill people. For this reason, some disabled people may feel more at home in the body positivity movement, where they can celebrate how their bodies look regardless of how they function. Others feel that body neutrality minimises the way that their appearance has shaped, and has been shaped by, their experiences and identity.

“Your self-love journey is a marathon, not a sprint.”

So, is body neutrality here to replace body positivity? Perhaps not. The body positivity movement clearly isn’t a one-size-fitsall solution, but it undeniably has value in helping people to cultivate self-love. Meanwhile, body neutrality addresses many of the limitations of body positivity that leave some people feeling excluded. Whichever movement you are drawn to, remember that your self-love journey is a marathon, not a sprint.

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Self-Care for Activists President of Exeter Feminist Society Liz Frost highlights the importance of self-care for activists, and shares her own tips.

Being an activist is all about caring for others. Online petitioning, infographic creating, protest marching, environment protecting, campaigning, striking, fundraising, grassroot-project involvement – there are so many ways to put others first and dedicate yourself to a cause. But sometimes, it’s easy to forget who is at the centre of your activism – you.

Mainstream self-care would have us spending money on facemasks and massages, doing yoga in our rooms, and drinking green teas. If that’s how you unwind, fantastic! But not everyone finds that sufficient, or even relaxing. When you’re taking part in activism, your self-care needs to expand beyond the limits of smellies and banana bread.

Self-care is also safety, action, forgiveness, and switching off. But what exactly does that mean?

Online safety is equally important. Social media can be a vulnerable place for activists and marginalised folk. Take care to private your accounts if necessary, remove location sharing on any data you post (a quick Google search will teach you how to do this), and withhold your full name. Also, make sure to take breaks. Even setting aside half-an-hour to mute your social media gives your brain a moment to decompress.

Self-care takes two forms: within activism and away from activism.

Within Activism

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Illustrations by Liz Frost

Self-care in activism starts with ensuring your safety. If you’re attending marches or demonstrations, make sure to wear a mask (not only is this virus-secure, but it can also protect your identity) and bring first-aid kits for any injuries that may occur. Let your friends or family know where you are when possible.

It’s also ideal to check in with your community or endeavour to join one. Activism should never be done alone – a large part of self-care is knowing that you don’t have to deal with everything on your own.

“But sometimes, it’s easy to forget who is at the centre of your activism – you.”

Activism often involves having difficult conversations, but self-care can help you set boundaries and work on self-forgiveness.

Pick your battles because not every argument is going to be productive. You don’t owe people education, especially if they’re not going to respond to it. This is especially relevant if you’re defending your own existence.

You’re also not expected to know everything.

No one can be an everything-activist, especially when you’re young. It’s self-care to accept that you don’t have the intellectual

or emotional room to know or actively care for every cause. Self-care can involve outsourcing people or organisations that know more than you do and delegating your tasks when you’re overwhelmed. It’s also crucial to find the joy in activism. Not everything is going tits-up – celebrate the successes.

Away from Activism Allow yourself to switch off from activism.

You need to take breaks from these big causes. This time, you carve out some private time and by turning off social media.

Whether it’s a day, a weekend, a week, or longer, it feels great to have a detox. Allow yourself to set boundaries. Make sure to tell the people you’re close to that you’re taking a break. Intentionally ghosting people is probably not ideal, but don’t be afraid to take a breather from friends and family.

“Activism often involves having difficult conversations, but self-care can help you set boundaries and work on self-forgiveness.”

Activism can also be emotionally overwhelming. It’s time to deal with them. If you have access to a therapist, make the most of it. If not, consider using an emotional support and listening service, like Nightline.

Debriefing your brain also involves expressing your anger or big emotions in other ways. Creativity, baking, napping, and running work well. This time is for you – spend it how you like. Do away with ‘guilty pleasures’ – they’re just pleasures! Indulge in your tenth rewatch of Sex Education or put Hozier on repeat. This is a guilt-free zone.

It’s so important to take time away from activism entirely to recharge your batteries and to recentre the most important person in your activism: you.

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NOURISH Photography by Abbie Beard Model: Matilda Downey

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In Conversation Print Copy Editor Erin Zammitt chats to Nightline co-president Maddy Swanton.

Nightline is a listening and information service, run by students, for students. The service follows five key principles (outlined by the Nightline Association) – it is confidential, anonymous, non-judgmental, non-directional and non-advisory. Volunteers are here to “listen, not lecture”, and instead provide a safe space for students to talk about anything that is troubling them.

“Volunteers are here to “listen, not lecture”, and instead provide a safe space for students to talk about anything that is troubling them.”

Maddy Swanton, one of Exeter Nightline’s co-presidents, talks about the benefits of the student-led service, saying: “Exeter Student Nightline offers a unique opportunity to anonymously talk to someone who knows exactly what it’s like to be a student. We have a wealth of brilliant wellbeing and welfare support at this university but what makes our service different is the student - to - student support and community that has been built.” The service works in conjunction with all the other wellbeing resources provided at the University, but Nightline’s overnight opening hours means that the service is available to students whilst others might be closed.

“When you need to talk to someone and don’t know where to turn, you can rely on a student volunteer at Exeter Nightline to be there.”

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Students can call or message Nightline for a whole range of reasons. Maybe you’re locked out of your room and need the number for Estate Patrol, or are stuck in town and need the number for a taxi? Maybe you’re walking home late at night and just want someone to chat to on your way back? Or perhaps you’re going through a tough time, or are dealing with a a difficult situation that you want to discuss with someone? Nightline is here for all the above, and everything in between.

“When you need to talk to someone and don’t know where to turn, you can rely on a student volunteer at Exeter Nightline to be there,” says Maddy. “Just having someone on the end of the phone to talk through any difficulties, ask information on how to navigate university support pathways or just to feel safer on a walk home can make such a difference to students.”

All images from www.exeter.nightline.ac.uk.

with Nightline “There are currently 33 active Nightlines across the UK and Ireland with over 2000 volunteers, and over 1.5 million students have access to a Nightline at their institution.”

Since Nightline was founded by the University of Essex in 1970, services have been set up across the country. There are currently 33 active Nightlines across the UK and Ireland with over 2,000 volunteers, and over 1.5 million students have access to a Nightline at their institution. Speaking about the Nightline movement as a whole, Maddy says, “It is amazing to be part of something bigger and to work towards a shared agenda on a national scale to improve the mental health of university students across the UK. The opportunity to talk to other Nightlines gives us invaluable insight and we are really grateful for that.”

“Exeter Nightline as a service exists to help students feel supported and listened to during their university years, regardless of what they might be facing.”

Talking about her experience as co-president, Maddy concludes: “It’s such a rewarding experience to offer this service to our student community and I’m so grateful to our incredible volunteers for the time and care they put in to keep our service up and running every night of term. They truly are such an amazing bunch of people that I’m honoured to work with!” Exeter Nightline

as a service exists to help students feel supported and listened to during their university years, regardless of what they might be facing.

Exeter Student Nightline is open every night of term time, from 8pm - 8am, offering both phone and instant messaging services for students to talk to trained volunteers. The phone number can be found on the back of every student card.

For more information, visit www.exeter.nightline.ac.uk.

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Mind Your Head Life at university can often feel overwhelming: balancing lectures and seminars with socials, all whilst sticking to deadlines and revising for exams. Mental health can be something that many students struggle with, and often in silence. Treasurer of the Mind Your Head Society, Katie Robertson, spoke to RAZZ writer Esther Humphries about the society and what we can all do to promote positive mental wellbeing. CONTENT WARNING: MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE. Mind Your Head Society, Katie tells me, is all about mental health awareness. It is not a therapy or advice service, instead they “signpost to faculties at the university that can provide help for people who are suffering with mental health issues.”

“Mind Your Head is about “encouraging someone to start a conversation, because a conversation can save a life and, even if only one person starts, it can still cascade into something more.”

“It’s aimed at all students and, even though we do have a member base, we always encourage non-members to join events too because mental health affects everyone. It’s not just the X number of members we have, it’s every single person, everywhere.” Importantly, Katie emphasises, Mind Your Head is about “encouraging someone to start a conversation, because a conversation can save a life and, even if only one person starts, it can still cascade into something more.”

Over the last eighteen months, in the face of a global pandemic and several lockdowns, mental health has featured in many conversations. For Katie, attitudes have improved since lockdown and “people are much more open about discussing loneliness and the 50

depression that comes with that loneliness.”

But though many of these conversations started in lockdown, they also stopped when it ended.

Katie feels that “we have come a long way, but we haven’t come far enough. Even with lockdown, mental health is such a taboo subject.” Particularly at university, Katie says, “nobody talks about it”. And when mental health is discussed among friends, it is usually as a joke rather than an open conversation. “It’s so important that it’s more openly discussed because so many students do take their own lives whilst at university, and it gets brushed under the carpet a bit too much.”

“We have come a long way, but we haven’t come far enough.

Even with lockdown, mental health is such a taboo subject.”

Within university culture, misconceptions about mental health are easily spread. “It’s with guys a lot of the time; this big, hard, solid attitude that masculinity prevails over everything else, when it doesn’t,” Katie notes, making particular reference to the fact that men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives, and yet women are more likely to receive a diagnosis for depression (1).

Katie also acknowledges that mental health support changes from university to university, some institutions being better equipped to help than others. “Some unions have talks about mental health from mental health professionals whereas here you don’t see that advertised, when maybe they should,” she suggests. “It’s important to get other people’s perspectives from time to time. Having people in and talking about their experiences is really important because it does encourage people to actually want to talk about it.”

“We’re not just there for females or a certain type of student, it’s for everyone. Once people hear someone else talk about [mental health] who’s the same as them, or who they identify with, it makes it a bit easier for them to want to open up about it.”

Mind Your Head Society, Katie informs me, have introduced some new reps. A new male rep and a new LGBTQ+ rep have been recruited to “let people know that we’re not just there for females or a certain type of student, it’s for everyone. Once people hear someone else talk about [mental health] who’s the same as them, or who they identify with, it makes it a bit easier for them to want to open up about it.”

With deadlines and exams looming for many students, Katie shares her advice for keeping well whilst working. Most importantly, she says is “recognising that, it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to take a break. You have to take a break and you have to prioritise your mental health first because without mental health you can’t have physical health, and you can’t be productive.” Although many

people may be understandably scared to ask for help, it’s important to “know that you can ask for help, because there are so many people who are willing to help and who want to help.”

Katie recommends “starting a conversation that is serious, even if it’s just with your group, with your friends, with your housemates, or whoever you live with. Just saying, ‘This is what I’m struggling with, and this is how you can help me. It’s okay to tell others how you’re suffering and how they can deal with it.” She suggests talking to lecturers and tutors too and telling them, ‘This is what I need.’

And for those looking to get involved with Mind Your Head Society, “just come along and get involved,” Katie says. The best way that we can all help de-stigmatise mental health issues is to share, and simply to start a conversation.

(1) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190313-why-more-men-kill-themselves-than-women.

Image from https://www.facebook.com/ Mindyourheadsociety.

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exercise for the Two RAZZ writers share how a form of exercise has been nourishing in their lives.

We are used to thinking about exercise as a practice that shapes our body and keeps us healthy. These ideas are incontestable, but they are not the only ways we can think about exercise. Physical health is not the only form of health we have to think about when it comes to wellbeing. Mental health and wellbeing is another very important aspect to consider...

“Physical health is not the only form of health we have to think about when it comes to wellbeing. Mental health and wellbeing is another very important aspect to consider...”

At the beginning of this academic year I decided to dedicate time to myself. Knowing that I can get easily stressed by responsibilities and feeling like I have to perform highly, I started regularly practicing yoga. The activities I engage with during the day (including my jobs and involvement with societies) are interesting and fulfilling, and they help me to better organize my schedule, making time for everything that I would otherwise procrastinate. But after a very busy day, I feel the need to unwind and relax, finding the mental balance and clarity that helps me to fall asleep without falling prey to preoccupations and anxieties.

Yoga for me is the perfect form of mindfulness, since contrary to meditation, it helps me to connect my breath to the movements the practice requires me to perform. This practice is incredibly powerful because it allows me to spend time in the present mo52

ment. It might appear ironic, because we are all living in the present, but how much time do we actually spend in the moment?

I find myself constantly thinking about the future or reflecting on the past, rarely being present in the here and now.

Yoga also allows me to stretch my body in a very deep way, not only to achieve splits and impressive poses, but to truly release the muscles that I unconsciously tend to clench out of stress in my daily activities.

Did you know that a lot of the tension we experience daily is stored in our hips? I didn’t, but since starting my yoga practice I began to become aware of the tension I experience and started working to relax the areas I constantly put under stress.

“Yoga is incredibly powerful because it allows me to spend time in the present moment.”

As a student I believe it to be more important than ever to dedicate as little as 10 minutes to our mindfulness every week, or ideally every day, to free ourselves from the expectations we experience through academic performance and a myriad of other activities we perform on a daily basis.

So yes, you can consider me one of those yogi people who advocate for inner peace, breathing and internal connections. I probably am one of those people, but find no shame in being one. In this era when mental health has finally become a priority for our culture, it is important to take advantage of this trend to benefit our overall wellbeing.

Lisa Greghi

soul: yoga

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exercise for the soul: Mental health has always been considered taboo and is neglected in our modern world, however anxiety and depression affect almost 300 million people worldwide (OurWorldInData.org). Open water swimming is an incredible method that I and many others use to feel calm and relaxed and to give ourselves a break from the stresses and troubles of everyday life, school and work.

In my hometown I am part of two open water swimming groups called She Swims Falmouth and the Bluetits, as well as the Open Water Swimming Society (EUOWSS) in Exe-

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ter. This is a great chance for me to spend time with like-minded people who also enjoy swimming, to give myself and my body time to recuperate, and to get back in touch with myself and nature. A report by Outdoor Swimmer stated that 45% of swimmers increased how much they swim outside in 2020, and many new swimmers turned to this activity as a way to cope with the pandemic. Many local areas developed swimming groups and social media pages to aid new swimmers and bring people together in a time where everyone felt quite alone.

open water swimming Some benefits of open water swimming include: 1) A safe place to connect with your mind and your body.

2) An environment to be social and connect with people who share similar interests.

3) The space to connect with nature and enjoy the wonderful world Mother Nature has given us.

4) Mindfulness – this can help with dealing with pressures, making you see and think more clearly or simply giving you a break and the time you need to focus on yourself and your wellbeing.

5) Cold water helps increase the release of dopamine and endorphins, with dopamine being a mood-boosting neurotransmitter, and endorphins helping cope with pain and stress, both physically and mentally.

6) A fun and easy way to get exercise which has been proven to help with mental health and, after being stuck inside for a year, it can help you keep in shape 7) Open water swimming and the sea air can often make you more tired afterwards leading to a much better sleep - which is important for keeping your body healthy, and also has a close relationship to mental health 8) It’s fun!

“A report by Outdoor Swimmer stated that 45% of swimmers increased how much they swim outside in 2020, and many new swimmers turned to this activity as a way to cope with the pandemic.”

“Cold water helps increase the release of dopamine and endorphins, with dopamine being a mood-boosting neurotransmitter, and endorphins helping cope with pain and stress, both physically and mentally.”

What I have personally gained from open water swimming is that I am physically stronger, healthier and fitter, making me feel better about myself as a whole. As well as this I have managed to cope not only with all the tremendous change I have been facing by starting university amid a global pandemic, but I’ve also just been able to have the quality time I need with myself to cope with everyday life. I have learned more about the areas in which I live and have begun to appreciate nature more which is harder to do in our modern and digital life, and I have a newfound love for Cornwall and Devon as a whole. I recommend open water swimming to anyone who feels comfortable with participating, as it truly is a healthy, fun and rewarding way to find yourself again.

Instagram: euowss Facebook: She Swims Falmouth, Portreath and Porthtowan Bluetits, Exeter University Open Water Swimming Society – EUOWSS Niamh Kemp

Photographs by Marco Brooking 55

Interview with Matriarch founder Ria Kalsi RAZZ writer Amber Hogan speaks to Ria Kalsi, founder of online platform Matriarch, defined as “the platform that strives to create change, empower and build human connection”.

Ria talks about the benefits and challenges of using social media, online trends and dealing with negativity. CONTENT WARNING: DEATH THREATS, LOW SELF ESTEEM, BODY IMAGE. What made you decide to use social media as your platform for Matriarch? Specifically, why Instagram?

I think a lot of what we do with Matriarch and where I started was feeling like there was this really strong narrative, especially in mainstream media, that social media was a really dangerous and unhealthy place.

In some cases that’s absolutely true, but I don’t think that that’s the whole story, and it doesn’t need to be that way. I think to me, it was a sense of, okay, why are we just complaining about how bad it is, why not do something about it? I’m not saying I can change the whole of social media, but I can have a go at creating a safer, more welcoming place in some way, shape or form.

“Okay, why are we just complaining about how bad it [social media] is, why not do something about it?”

So that was part of it - and also logically, social media is powerful, it works, It’s easy, and it’s what I was familiar with. It fits my generation whilst traditional media, like print, 56

wasn’t something that crossed my mind. It was also a matter of accessibility. It was easy for people to see what I was doing and to get on with it. There’s just so much opportunity for creators to do different things; whether you’re involved in design, creating video-based content or writing, there’s such a huge range of what you could do.

Your feed is really vibrant and colourful!

It’s one of the first things I noticed! Do you think online trends have an impact on your style choices in creating specifically online media?

I’ve definitely considered that. I wouldn’t say that I necessarily have a style, I just think things that are colourful and bright look nice. At the end of the day, Instagram is an aesthetic platform, so it’s about what looks nice. If you look at a feed, you will spend more time on what looks good to you and what’s interesting.

A large part of me in the last year or so has really settled with the fact that the gravity and the actual content of our work is worth so much more than how it looks. The balance is difficult though, because of course you don’t want to undervalue your work - you

want it to gain as much traction as possible.

But for us, aesthetic trends are more about consistency. What’s great now is that as a team of six people with different creative minds, we have different styles, so we’re getting a real mix of stuff and I think that’s more interesting than just one person creating alone.

People using social media can be pretty critical and often downright cruel, so positive platforms like yours are really important for many people, I think your feedback reflects that. How do you as the content creator stay above the online hate and remain positive?

During the summer of 2021 when we were making a lot of primarily anti-racist resources (especially this one post which kind of blew up at hundreds of thousands of likes) daily, we were getting so much traction.

Some of it was saying things like ‘kill yourself’, and it came in thick and fast.

I wouldn’t say that it ever really affected me, because I was at a point in my life where I was very unhappy anyway with who I was and I was really ready to change that. I have very low confidence and self-esteem, but by jumping into this really head on, it allowed me to detach myself from being online. And I know that sounds ridiculous because I share so much of myself online and so does the team - I can’t speak for all of them but for me, I really just learned how to get away and be very clear about what was online and what is my real life.

At the end of the day, it’s because we continued making content that we have this safe positive space. The negative comments are fleeting and I wouldn’t reread something like that, whereas the positive feedback kept flowing, and focusing on that really just helped me. I also had lots of support and positivity from other people, even if it’s just people saying thank you for shar-

ing this post. Those comments really help.

Being in a team also epically helps to share the weight that comes with being online and being so open. I would also say that one of my biggest fears when I started Matriarch was sharing my life and feelings, especially to do with content about body image and that sort of stuff; something that I’d struggled with my whole life. But I think there’s a lot to be said about just going for it. In some cases, doing things gradually is fine, but for me in that situation, I decided one day to just go for it.

“But I think there’s a lot to be said about just going for it...”

I think there’s a lot to be said for just jumping in because when you’re that open, you leave very little for people to assume or attack you about. For me, I’ve always been that open and I’m more than happy to continue that because I’ve found that there’s a lot less negativity than you might expect, just because I was so transparent with things.

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When you set goals for Matriarch’s online presence, do you find yourself thinking in terms of likes and follower counts, or do you have a different way of thinking?

I’ve been asked this question so often and it sounds ridiculous but genuinely until a month ago, it all happened very organically.

Which is so weird because I plan everything in my life to a T, but Matriarch really started within the space of a couple of hours! I was on the sofa and I thought ‘I kind of feel like doing this.’ So, I’ve kind of just followed that path of doing things if and when I felt like them and that’s served me well. Now that we’ve started to gain some traction I’ve started to plan a little bit more and have 58

had a few goals in mind but even then, they weren’t number based. For me, I’ve gained so much from Matriarch personally, from my content, my self-esteem, my mental health - it was always way more about that than who was following.

Where can our readers find Matriarch and support you and your team?

We have our website, it’s mtrrch.com and our Instagram is the same, @mtrrch - which is a shorthand for Matriarch - and we’re on Facebook and LinkedIn as well.

You can read the full interview on the RAZZ website. All images from www.mtrrch.com.

Phở Review RAZZ writer Mimi Emrys reviews Phở.

On a Friday, I headed to Phở on Queen Street with a big appetite and high expectations to fulfil my post-lecture midday hunger. I had never been before, and I was enticed by a 15% student discount and the promise of Vietnamese food.

We were presented with a vast menu, instantly making me indecisive and exacerbating my hunger. I immediately wanted to try the restaurant’s namesake, a phở, a heart-warming soup or broth with noodles, meat and various vegetables - although as a vegetarian who doesn’t like tofu (shocking I know), I decided to veer away from the tofu phở option. At this point the couple next to us were served and whilst we attempted not to stare and judge their food choice, our nosiness overwhelmed us, and we did have to make a customary comment of how delicious that curry looked.

My enormous portion arrived, and I messily munched my way through a massive bowl of spring rolls and noodles covered in a hot sauce. I had never had a flowering tea before, so I marvelled as the Jasmine flower slowly expanded throughout the meal, which had a lovely aroma and bitter taste, although I almost felt bad after I had drunk it and it lay in a sad heap at the bottom of the glass.

“We left feeling very pleased with ourselves and content with our meal which gave us “I probably should have been exactly what we wanted: a more adventurous with my solidly good meal for a good choice and will return to try price.” a phở and get over my fear of tofu.”

My friend assured me that the curry was Eventually I decided that I would combine my desire for spring rolls and noodles and order a bún (vermicelli noodles with soy sauce and vegetables) topped with veggie spring rolls to save myself (and my wallet) from buying both a starter and a main. The waitress approached and whilst I had decided by then, my friend was strewn into panic by the sheer amount of choice and went with the same chicken curry that the couple next-door had chosen.

a solid choice (Quote: “7/10, but could be more exciting in flavour”) although she was disappointed that they had run out of lotus stems. I probably should have been more adventurous with my choice and will return to try a phở and get over my fear of tofu.

We left feeling very pleased with ourselves and content with our meal which gave us exactly what we wanted: a solidly good meal for a good price.

Photograph by Mimi Emrys.

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slow food recipes Slow Food On Campus Society’s President Izzy Hopkinson shares two seasonal recipes to nourish the soul.

There is no better way to nourish your mind, body or soul than through food. What you eat will directly impact how you feel, but eating well doesn’t have to be time consuming.

The slow food movement and our society here at Exeter is summed up through ‘good food, great people.’ Food is at the heart of humanity, it is something we cannot avoid, a task we are faced with everyday, and is inherently tied up with our sense of self and identity. In our quest to live a good life, many people suggest we start with what we eat. Our movement is trying to encourage people to eat organically, locally and seasonally. By taking care with what we put in our body we can help the environment whilst also improving our health.

Beyond this, however, we want people to engage with what they are eating, engage with local culinary practices, and find a sense of enjoyment from cooking. As stated on the Slow Food official website, “we acknowledge the strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture”. As a university society we welcome anyone who loves food, loves to cook or wants the chance to learn more.

Butternut Squash Chickpea Tagine A butternut squash and chickpea tagine makes the perfect seasonal winter warmer: quick, easy and delicious.

Ingredients: - Oil - 1 red onion - 2 garlic cloves - Ginger - ½ tsp ground cumin - 1tsp cinnamon - ¼ tsp mild chilli powder - ½ tsp cayenne pepper - 1 tsp ground cumin - 1 tsp turmeric - 500g butternut squash chunks - 2 carrots - Can chopped tomatoes - Vegetable stock cube (100ml) - Can chickpeas - Couscous or rice to serve

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Method: 1) Heat oil in the pan, and heat the onions until they start to caramelise. Stir in the garlic and spices until they become fragrant.

2) Add the vegetables and coat in the spices.

3) Add the canned tomatoes and stock, bring to a simmer, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

4) Simmer for 15 minutes until squash is tender.

5) Stir in chickpeas until they are warmed through.

Poached Pears There are a multitude of fruits and vegetables seasonally available in December, but poached pears are a simple crowd pleaser. This recipe is a perfect way to use up any pears you might have sitting around, and very versatile for whatever spices you might have to hand.

Method: Ingredients: - 100g sugar - Orange peel - 1 stick cinnamon - 500ml Red wine - 2 star anise - 1 vanilla bean – split - 4 pears

1) Score the pears with a cross on the bottom and place them into a pan of boiling water. Once they have boiled, skin them.

2) Pour all the other ingredients in and heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

3) Add the pears.

4) Reduce heat and simmer, turning the pears until they are tender.

5) Remove pears and heat mixture on a high heat, stirring, until it thickens slightly into a syrup.

6) Serve with ice cream or Greek yoghurt.

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The Literature Three RAZZ writers share books that bring them comfort.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a classic that has touched us all at some point in our lives, in childhood or in adulthood. From talking animals to the extravagant Mad Hatter, the story never fails to immerse us into a world unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. The story was published in 1865, yet its popularity is ever growing, and we’ve seen a huge array of adaptations since then. Disney released its interpretive film in 1951, a variety of plays and musicals have been produced, in 2010 Tim Burton released his live action film, and the story has been used by a number of advertising companies, including Guinness! But what is it about Alice and the story of her wild and strange adventures that is so fascinating and enjoyable to us today?

The story, originally told by improvisation to the young Alice Liddell in 1862, expands our imagination beyond the limits of everyday life and offers a much needed sense of escapism. The child-like curiosity and boldness of Alice is reminiscent of all of our younger selves and the freedom to go on adventures that we once had. Everything seems bigger and more wonderful as a child, and Carroll takes things that we ordinarily see, whether that’s people, animals or objects, and transforms them into awe-inspiring, surreal beings.

The intelligent, observant and calculating features of cats are exaggerated in the harrowing smile and fading appearance of the Cheshire Cat, and the dominating power of adults is characterised by the Queen of Hearts.

Yet reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as an adult also makes us think about real issues such as anxiety and the feeling of being lost. The commonly used phrase “going down a rabbit hole” is relatable to most of us as overthinking and anxiety takes hold, and being engulfed by a river of your own tears doesn’t seem too far off sometimes. But Alice’s story shows that however overwhelmingly crazy the world seems to be, embracing life with curiosity and hope will allow us to conquer almost anything.

Mia McChesney 62

of Self-Love The Catcher in the Rye “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like… and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”

Nothing beats the cynical droll of teenage misanthrope Holden Caulfield, and this first impression tells us all we need to know about the protagonist of the brilliantly funny The Catcher in the Rye. J. D. Salinger’s novel explores the harsh realities of adulthood through the sarcastic witticisms of its self-loathing narrator and provides a humorously outlandish account of teenage angst.

The novel follows Holden’s life after he is expelled from Pencey Prep, a boarding school in Agerstown, Pennsylvania. We become engrossed in his encounters as a close confidante and guide him through the events of love and loss that arise. Holden is far from the archetypal symbol of teenage rebellion, ridiculed for his failed romantic endeavours and irreverent outlook on the world. Yet, he places his trust in the reader as his mental fragility becomes increasingly apparent.

Although you may question how this commentary on mid-century Manhattan can help to combat feelings of anxiety, Salinger’s novel actually affirms and validates these thoughts of estrangement from the world. It is comfortingly real, particularly in destigmatising the emotional vulnerability of young men during this transitional period.

Despite its popularity for adolescent readers, people of all ages can appreciate and recognise Holden’s feelings of disillusionment with the changing world. I would argue that what makes the book so powerful is its refusal to succumb to any motivational “phoniness” (as Holden so often disparages). Instead, it depicts a raw, unrefined account of teenage existentialism. Salinger speaks up for a generation who didn’t want to grow up and become exposed to the hardships of the real world. This is a sentiment which many can resonate with, even 70 years after the novel’s publication.

As an elegy to the final moments of childhood innocence, Salinger’s coming of age novel explores the seedy allure of New York City with a distinctly terse narration. From the very first page, where he stresses he won’t be sharing his “goddam autobiography or anything”, we feel immediately at ease, engrossed in the highs and lows of Holden Caulfield’s bitterly unsatisfying existence.

The Catcher in the Rye is both relatable and comforting, and for that reason I think it’s the perfect book for an evening of self-care.

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The Literature of Self-Love The Tao of Pooh Who would have thought the loveable, somewhat clueless Pooh Bear from the Winnie-thePooh tales would be the greatest philosophical icon to grace our autumn reading list?

This book teaches the lessons in self-love that we have always been aware of but have perhaps never consciously thought about. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff translates the principles of Taoism through the character of Pooh, the anthropomorphic bear from the Winnie-the-Pooh tales which you may remember from your childhood.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that lays out some principles on how to exist harmoniously with the universe. There are many self-care lessons we can take from the book to help nourish our mental health, my favourite being ‘wu wei’, which literally translates to ‘without effort’. For a university student reading this, it may seem counterintuitive to read a book advocating for relaxation when deadlines and workload pressure mean effort in the common sense is essential to survival. But effort in the Taoist sense refers to unnecessary struggle or stress. I don’t know about you, but a book that teaches me how to cope with balancing commitments and my priorities without stress seems like gold dust.

Recently, ‘wu wei’ has gone out of the window. The current social media climate centred around productivity and achieving your goals has popularised a cookie-cutter version of success. I found it a relief to find a book that teaches me how I can be happy and achieve my goals without forcing a lifestyle that doesn’t feel natural upon myself. The current ‘grind for your goals’ culture gives us a checklist of routines we need to follow in order to count ourselves as successful humans.

This can be quite toxic. It inevitably leaves you feeling guilty when things don’t go to plan, or you miss a step in the routine. Even self-care is being workified with prescribed daily checklists to follow to optimise mental health. ‘Wu wei’ teaches us to seek the path with the least resistance. This isn’t to be misunderstood as laziness; whilst reading the book you realise that when it comes to goals which are in line with what you truly want, you will inherently work towards them with minimal struggle. The Tao of Pooh explains a different mode of thinking which focuses on being in the present where self-improvement flows with us when it feels right and natural rather than being a lingering dictator of your happiness. This encourages us to feel worthy and be kind to ourselves which is what ‘nourish’ means to me.

Alanah Swift, Social Secretary 64

nourish BAME Officer Ana Anajuba shares a poem on the theme of ‘Nourish’.

The sun that lays gently upon the leaves Its everlasting shine a warm embrace.

A parent’s kind and gentle touch that believes In warm love upon a new-born babe’s face.

In guidance, watchful eyes and hands that reach To walk beside an unknown path of pain, To pour so sweet a tenderness, to teach, Yet protect from torrents of bitter rain What more can nourish be than to provide?

To give, sustain, to cherish and foster?

Remove all wanting, to all pain elide And put upon oneself as though a martyr Are parents, guardians, teachers not bright suns That pour all nourishment upon their young.

phoenix RAZZ writer Bee Rose shares a poem on the theme of ‘Nourish’.

When your scars fade like footprints – Sand washed smooth by the whisper of Sea foam – your skin will melt into grains, Each crystal a mirror to your soul.

You can stare at your reflection until The edges blur (remorse rushes), or You find within you something to love.

Are these ashes from which we emerge?

Or just the dust of our past selves (stardust, because we are made of infinity).

You are reborn again – your tears Are dewdrops on lilies, each petal a deep, heart-shaped red Like all the fiery feathers of a phoenix.

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Badger LGBT+ Officer Sarah Banjaree shares a short story on the theme of ‘Nourish’.

It was cold as hell. Nadine folded her arms across her chest, cursing herself for leaving her bloody gloves at home. Her till was nearest to the sliding doors of the supermarket, and a draught had followed each customer in all day. She had sworn loudly at the cat who triggered the sensor outside, then wondered whether her fingers had been numb long enough to get some kind of disease.

The pavements were pretty empty now, even in the centre of town, which made sense – no one faces this night time chill by choice. A line of cars waited at the lights, their windows foggy with condensation. A BMW honked its horn. The cheek! Not like they didn’t have some expensive bloody heaters in there to wait with.

“Any change?”

Nadine barely heard it, the man’s voice unusually hoarse. When she felt talkative she would tell him she didn’t have any, ‘same as yesterday, same as tomorrow’, and turn the corner onto her street. Today the voice made her look down. He was huddled under a piece of tarp, head resting on an empty rucksack. His cheeks weren’t flushed like everyone else’s, stung with cold; instead he was pale, with a cluster of small blue veins at his temple. Just his closed eyelids were pink. Nadine found herself watching intently when the white breath faded from in front of his face, waiting for another.

It finally came, a feeble puff that clung to the air for a moment, then disappeared. She shook her head as she bustled on around the corner, nestling further down into her puffer to dislodge the creeping fingers of cold from around her neck. * The morning was hardly warmer. The sun huddled amongst the clouds, leaving everyone to fend for themselves. Nadine used her shoulder to push open the glass door in the foyer of her apartment block. She was eating a breakfast bar with one gloved hand, and held her coffee in the other. A chocolate chip brioche in its plastic wrapper was tucked under her arm. The door caught her bag as she left the building and it slipped from her shoulder almost making her spill her coffee.

As she rounded the corner, she walked a little faster with her eyes fixed ahead. She held her breath to listen though.

“Any change?”

Nadine strode on, opening up her brioche as she went.

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* The following evening, she laid some chicken strips out on a tray and slid them into the oven. Her kitchen was tidy enough, with a ground floor window looking out onto the shared patch of grass they called a garden. She couldn’t help but think of the man outside while she made the mash, his white parted lips that didn’t move, even when he spoke. She had said sorry when she passed him on the way home. Not like she needed to.

As she sat down to eat, Nadine heard a scrabbling outside the window. She ignored it as long as she could, then shoved a forkful into her mouth and used the table to heave herself up. She could only see her own reflection at the window so she sighed and pushed it open, scrunching up her nose against the cold. A badger looked up at her, its paws against the wall, eyes pink and bleary. It was breathing quickly, ribs clearly visible under its thinned hair.

In fact, all of its bones seemed to protrude, and the skin was stretched tight over its skull.

The cold wrapped around Nadine’s exposed neck.

“Shoo!”

The badger continued to stare up at her and she waited a second before ducking back inside and firmly shutting the window.

She sat back down. The scrabbling continued.

“Shoo!” she shouted.

She looked at her plate and fiddled with her ring. Do badgers even eat chicken? God, it wasn’t her job to feed every starving creature in the city.

She picked up two strips, leaving herself the last one, and pushed the window open again.

“Here”, she said, tossing them outside, not noticing the quiet chink of metal hitting concrete. * Nadine rushed out in the morning, cursing her faulty bloody alarm clock. She held her coffee, bag slung over one shoulder, breakfast bar and brioche in hand. She had forgotten the man until she heard his voice, a little less hoarse.

“Here.”

“I don’t carry change.” Same as yesterday, same as tomorrow.

“Here.”

Nadine turned back and saw him sitting up, tarp wrapped around his shoulders. She took a step closer and there, on his outstretched palm, was her ring.

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A Student’s Guide to Hygge RAZZ writer Orla Mackinnon shares Hygge tips for students.

As much as university life can be an exciting whirlwind, it can also be hugely overwhelming. There is an expectation that our uni years are supposed to be ‘the best years of our lives’, which creates pressure to cram this time with new experiences and social activities. Moreover, following eighteen months of numerous lockdowns and disruption to our normal lives, this pressure has been amplified by a lingering feeling that we should be compensating for lost time.

“Hygge is a Danish concept that can be defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

However, particularly as we enter the busier second half of the autumn term and the days grow colder and darker, there is potential for this pressure to cause our stress levels and feelings of burnout to grow, too. The fast pace of student life can sometimes feel unsustainable, and this can risk our wellbeing ending up neglected. Caught up in the buzz of social events, looming deadlines, and the run-up to Christmas, it is easy to forget the importance of slowing down, properly resting, and pacing ourselves. These things are 68

essential to our health and should not be compromised.

An antidote to the frantic nature of student life, especially as autumn transitions into winter, is ‘Hygge’. Pronounced ‘Hooga’, Hygge is a Danish concept that can be defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

Winters in Denmark can get seriously cold and have limited daylight. Therefore, getting through these months by embracing Hygge is essential for Danes, and the concept is said to be a defining part of their national culture. Hygge entails slowing down, creating a relaxed atmosphere, and being present; this might be countercultural to the stereotypical student experience in Britain, but incorporating some of this into our lives could be greatly beneficial. An annual UN report finds year upon year that Denmark is one of, if not the happiest country in the world – clearly the Hygge philosophy is one worth borrowing from!

“An annual UN report finds year upon year that Denmark is one of, if not the happiest country in the world – clearly the Hygge philosophy is one worth borrowing from!”

Below are some suggestions for how to achieve Hygge as a student: 1) Screen-free Time Hygge is about being present and enjoying your surroundings. This can be difficult at uni; we often clock up a lot of screen time through studying, and the dependence we have on our phones. Taking time out from the screen now and again can help you to unwind and reconnect with yourself and your environment.

2) Think About Lighting Hygge is often associated with soft, cosy lighting. Getting hold of some secondary lighting for your uni bedroom could be a great way to achieve this: a lamp, fairy lights, or LED strips could do the job! Candles are said to be one of the most important steps to creating a feeling of Hygge. Tealights or a scented candle would be ideal, but if you aren’t allowed candles in your accommodation, there are some pretty convincing battery-powered wax candles out there too!

3) Give Yourself Permission to Spend Time Alone This might be easier for introverts than extroverts, but quality solitude is beneficial for all. If you opt for staying in, then listening to a podcast, doing something creative, or baking could work for you. If you decide to take a solo trip outside your home, you could visit a museum (The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum have free admissions!), go to the cinema, or even take a train down to the beach. It doesn’t really matter what it is you decide to do, as long as you can feel relaxed and cosy whilst doing it.

4) Visit a Cosy Café Exeter boasts a whole host of charming and snug cafés worth a visit for achieving that Hygge feeling. Some of the cosiest include (but are not limited to): The Exploding Bakery, Sacred Grounds, Chococo, and Board (a board game café!). Whether you are meeting a friend or treating yourself, these places all have a lovely, calming atmosphere.

5) Get Outside A relaxed walk can be really good for the soul, especially as we slip into the chillier months - embracing the coldness and darkness of the autumn and winter weather is what Hygge is all about! The walk could be around the beautiful University campus, the Quay, or you could try the Exeter City Wall Trail. Whichever you go for, remember to wrap up, maybe bring a hot drink with you, and try to be present by paying attention to your surroundings.

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Cheesy Potato Layer Bake RAZZ writer Kate Hall shares her recipe for a yummy cheesy potato bake, perfect for those cold winter evenings.

This is the ultimate comfort food for a cosy night in; simple, filling and cheesier than Unit 1 on a Tuesday night. This dish is extremely versatile, so you can add or remove ingredients and nearly always end up with something delicious.

Serves: 1-3 Takes: 1.5 hours Ingredients: - 2 large potatoes - 2 onions (3 if no bacon) - 3 (or 7) garlic cloves - 1 tsp vegetable stock - An excessive amount of grated cheddar cheese - 3 rashers of bacon (optional) - Salt and black pepper - Mixed herbs Method: 1) Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan. Grease a baking/casserole dish.

2) Peel the potatoes and slice them finely into 3-4mm thick pieces. Boil in lightly salted water for no longer than 2 minutes.

3) Thinly slice the onion and garlic.

4) If using, slice the bacon into small squares and begin frying them over a medium-high heat until they begin to crisp and brown.

5) Add the onion and garlic and sauté in a small amount of oil/butter with the bacon until soft and beginning to brown, then pour in the vegetable stock mixed in with ½ a small cup of water.

6) Once the stock is mostly absorbed, add salt (may not be necessary if you have used bacon), black pepper and a few pinches of mixed herbs.

7) Add one layer of potato slices to your baking dish, then add a thin layer of the onion and bacon mixture. Add a generous handful of grated cheese over this. Continue this process of layering until the potato slices and onion filling are used up.

8) On top, you guessed it, MORE grated cheese, and some black pepper and herbs.

9) Cover with foil (shiny side down) and cook for 40 minutes in the oven.

10) Remove foil and cook until the cheese is brown and crispy. Serve up with some green veggies and enjoy!

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Three Bean Veggie Chilli RAZZ writer Rei Henfield shares a wholesome and nourishing meat-free recipe for three bean chilli.

Serves: 4 Takes 1 - 1.5 hours

Ingredients: - 2 tins of tomatoes - Fresh chillies (1 - 3, depending on how much heat you prefer) - 3 tins of different types of beans - 1 onion - 2-3 cloves of garlic - 2 stalks of celery - Stock cube

- Smoked paprika - Chilli powder - Cumin - Mixed herbs - Marmite - Ketchup -Salt and pepper - Olive oil

Method: 1) Begin by finely dicing your onion, garlic, celery and chillies, and frying them off in oil until soft. Be careful with the chillies - make sure to remove the seeds from the middle first and not to touch your eyes or face until you’ve washed your hands thoroughly after as it can hurt.

2) When these have softened, add the tomatoes, filling each tin about halfway with water and adding that to the pot too to add some extra liquid and clean out the cans in the process. Here is also where you add the stock cube and beans of your choice, making sure to drain them first.

3) Now you add the spices. There are no hard and fast rules for this - I tend to switch it up depending on what I have in my cupboards, but the ones I’ve included are a good base to start with. Add about a dessert spoon/generous shake of each, including the Marmite if you have any, and a generous squeeze of ketchup, tasting as you go along and adding extra of whatever you think it needs. Customise it!

4) When it tastes as you want it to, put it on a low heat and leave it for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring every so often to make sure it’s not sticking. This makes about four servings, so when it’s ready either serve or portion it up and freeze until needed.

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No-Cream Carbonara RAZZ writer Isabella Ankerson draws on her Italian roots to share a delicious, traditional carbonara recipe.

When it comes to ‘comfort food’, nothing fills me with more warmth and joy than pasta.

Quite honestly, it might be the best food ever to be created. Like many, I spent my first-year mealtimes turning to everyone’s old faithful, pesto sauce and fusilli. Feeling the shame of my Italian family beating down on me with every bite, however, I decided it was finally time to venture out and find a more authentic, impressive alternative. So, I present to you my take on the classic carbonara – made traditionally, without cream, just like my Nonna used to make it. This dish is so simple and has been such a hit amongst my friends; it never fails to impress. All ingredients can be easily found at your local little Tesco, or Morrisons. Also, if you’re anything like me, it’s best served with more parmesan on top. You can even throw in a bit of garlic bread on the side if you’re feeling fancy (go on, treat yourself ).

Serves: 2-3 Takes: 25 mins Ingredients: - 1 pack cubed pancetta (bacon lardons work too) - 1 garlic clove, chopped (buy frozen pre-chopped garlic to save yourself the effort) - 3 large eggs - 50g grated parmesan (+ some to serve) - 2 tsp black pepper - 2 tbsp olive oil (side note: garlic infused oil works wonders if you have it, but it’s not a need) - 150g linguine or spaghetti (linguine is my personal favourite)

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Method: 1) Crack all three eggs into a Pyrex jug and whisk together with a fork. Pour the parmesan in, along with the black pepper and mix until it’s all incorporated. Set aside.

2) Boil salted water in a saucepan and add your pasta of choice. Leave this to cook to your liking whilst you prepare the rest of the dish.

3) In a frying pan, heat the oil on a medium heat. Add the garlic and pancetta/bacon lardons and cook gently until the meat is lightly browned and all fat is cooked off.

4) Once your pasta is cooked, drain the starchy water – keeping a few tablespoons of it to thin out the egg mixture later.

5) Place the drained pasta into the frying pan with the pancetta/bacon and garlic, and mix until the meat is evenly distributed.

6) Turn your hob down to a low heat. Pour the egg and parmesan over the pasta and pancetta and fold it in as it cooks. If it’s too thick, add some pasta water. Don’t panic if the egg scrambles a little bit, this always happens!

7) Once the egg is fully cooked, take the pan off the heat and serve with a dusting of parmesan on top.

Buon appetito!

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self-care playlist Publicity Officer Millie Green shares a playlist for self-care.

For me, music is fundamentally linked to people. This makes it nourishing because it’s a way to remember good times and celebrate people who make me happy. I hope you enjoy this mixture of music about family, friends, love and self-care. I know some of them are a bit left-field, but I hope you’ll agree they’re all nourishing to some level after reading a bit about why I picked them.

Love’s In Need of Love Today - Stevie Wonder A true classic, this song celebrates giving back love as well as receiving it in an ever-changing world. It’s also a pretty appropriate choice for a world still dealing with a pandemic.

Valerie (Live At BBC One Live Lounge) - Amy Winehouse A really beautiful rendition of a song that encapsulates that feeling of yearning. True, it can be painful - but that feeling of falling for someone definitely nourishes the soul.

Stars - Janis Ian Janis Ian has a special place in my heart because ‘Stars’ is one of the first guitar tabs I taught myself. It’s a sad song, but beautiful nonetheless.

In My Room - Jacob Collier A cover of the Beach Boys’ classic, this track celebrates the feeling of safety when you’re in your own space. Post-lockdown, it might seem strange to celebrate being locked in your room, but the sanctity of your space has survived despite isolation woes.

Perfect - The Lightning Seeds My dad used to play this all the time when I was young, so I’ll always associate it with him.

It makes me think of walking home after a summer night out and that fuzzy feeling just before you get into bed.

My Girls - Animal Collective A song about prioritising your family. It’s an unusual pick for this list because it’s so upbeat, but it’s super cute <3 Too Good - Unknown Mortal Orchestra Remix Arlo Parks is such a nourishing artist, and this song about evasive love sounds amazing and really captures that sense of falling for someone.

Au Cinéma - Lianne La Havas Lianne La Havas has such a beautiful voice, and this track really celebrates love using filmic imagery.

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llustration by Rebecca Johnson

Damselfly - Loyle Carner A very gentle song about a love that didn’t quite work. Beautiful vocals from Tom Misch and gentle guitar playing nourish my ears on this track.

This Is the Day - The The Sometimes you just don’t really feel like you’re going to accomplish anything - but this song reminds you that any day could be your big break.

I’ll Be Your Pilot - Belle and Sebastian A song that makes you feel cradled, ‘I’ll Be Your Pilot’ suggests that Belle and Sebastian have your back even if you feel stranded.

Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson As winter draws in, this song makes me feel a little less scared of the rain and the dark nights.

January Hymn - The Decemberists The Decemberists aren’t that happy as bands go, but this song gently reminisces about a chance missed in love.

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Management - Clairo Sling is a rollercoaster of an album, but this track is about looking after yourself for the future when you’re able to enjoy yourself more fully. It’s so important to nourish yourself, even when you aren’t feeling the best.

(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano - Sampha Music has always brought me comfort, and this tear-jerker epitomises the comfort an instrument can bring, regardless of circumstance.

Into The Red - James Blake A song designed to make you sob, James Blake defines having someone’s back in this one.

“By all means, she can get ahead of herself, but I’ll already be there to meet her.”

Dirty Work - Steely Dan This song feels a bit like a hug after you’ve done something stupid, and I always feel better once I’ve had a listen to it.

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman Another one of my dad’s favourites, this song about dreams of moving to the big city with someone is such a sweet track.

Winter Of Our Youth - Bastille I’ll always have a soft spot for Bastille because they were my first teenage music obsession, and this song about the end of childhood is comforting when I get intimidated by the thought of graduating.

New Shoes - Paolo Nutini A feel-good banger that I’ll always associate with first year pres in Old Lafrowda :)

llustration by Rebecca Johnson 76

what’s your love language?

Welfare Officer Bridie Adams helps us to determine our preferred love language with a quick and fun quiz.

The five love languages are a clear way to make your connections stronger and recognise the source of your conflicts. Learning your love language can better your relationships, so take this quick quiz to find out yours!

How do you express affection to friends, family and romantic partners?

A: Telling them that you appreciate them B: Sincerely paying attention and making a lot of eye contact C: Hugs and cuddles D: Doing things to make their lives easier E: Buying or making presents for them What is most important in a relationship?

A: Having a good rapport B: Having unbroken, concentrated conversations and face-to-face time (not just Snapchatting!)

C: Using physical contact to communicate deep affection D: Helping one another if necessary E: Making the relationship a priority What do you complain about in a relationship?

A: Your partner doesn’t tell you that they love you B: You rarely spend time together C: You rarely embrace, hug or kiss D: Your partner doesn’t assist you with domestic duties E: Your partner doesn’t provide you with gifts or take you out on dates and trips What do you ask for or actively require from a romantic partner?

A: Comfort B: Attention C: Intimacy D: Help when you’re stressed, exhausted, sick or distressed E: Gifts on holidays, birthdays and anniversaries

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Which statement resonates with you most?

A: Mutual respect between partners is paramount B: The most important thing in a relationship is spending concentrated time with each other C: Sensual intimacy brings most partners closer together D: Selflessness is the best quality a person can have E: Giving a sentimental present is the most thoughtful gesture there is

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Mostly As: Words of affirmation You enjoy communicating through words of affirmation - any spoken or written words that confirm, support, uplift, and empathise with another person in a positive manner.

Mostly Bs: Quality time You value mindfully spending time together in order to increase connection and intimacy in your relationship.

Mostly Cs: Physical touch The physical nature of this language leads some people to think it’s simply about satisfying sensual needs, but desiring physical touch is usually more about feeling seen and safe than it is about sex.

Mostly Ds: Acts of service You feel most loved when people do things for you. For you, actions truly speak louder than words.

Mostly Es: Receiving gifts For people whose native love language is receiving gifts, presents are physical symbols of love that materially express the affection someone has for them.

Illustrations by Angelica Austin

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