Monique Van Tulder

A Grown Up's Gap Year™ | Wellbeing. Travel. Chic Locals.

Start Taking Action for Your Own ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Adventure

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The Merits of ‘Writing It Out’

Writing is an underrated tool for reinvigoration. It doesn’t just help you remember things, it helps you organise your mind. Studies have shown that writing—even for just a few minutes a day—can reduce anxiety, clarify your thoughts, and improve your mood. Research shows expressive writing can not only alleviate stress but also boost immune function, which is why I’m such a firm believer in the power of writing; a ‘Dear Diary’, a daily Journal – whatever you prefer to call it.

In my life, writing out my feelings became a game-changer. When I was lost, overwhelmed, or simply unsure where to start – writing (pen to paper, not keyboard) helped me tap into what was really going on beneath the surface. It gave me clarity, and most importantly, it allowed me to take action and have more creativity with future options.

Try this: Grab a notebook, and write down five things that are overdue for a reset—whether physical, emotional, or mental. Choose one action for each. This exercise is like a mental declutter, and getting it down on paper is the first step toward getting your life back in order, or if you are sorted, then at the very least it might help inject some novelty. 

Not only that, handwriting is scientifically proven to make things stick. According to a study from Psychological Science, ‘pen to the page’ makes it 40% more likely that you’ll follow through.

One of the most important things I’ve learned through this process is to ask myself, Where do I feel most alive? The answers often point to small steps I can take to rediscover my joy and sense of self. 

So, whether you’re journaling your way through mid-life confusion or mapping out your next steps, writing helps bring YOUR expert voice to the surface. Because remember: you’re the expert on YOUR life. 

A Grown Up's Gap Year

If you would like to learn more A Grown Up’s Gap Year is available here

If you do decide to take your ‘adventure’ further afield you might also enjoy the FREE resource ‘The Wellbeing Travel Guides – packing tips from a travel expert’ downloadable guide here

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A GROWN UP’S GAP YEAR

Special Offer: Buy A Grown Up’s Gap Year Now and Gift One to a Friend!

I’m thrilled to announce that A Grown Up’s Gap Year is now available for purchase on Amazon! To celebrate, I want to offer you a special opportunity to share the book with a friend.

While Amazon doesn’t allow direct ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ offers, here’s what I’d love to do:

Simply purchase a copy of A Grown Up’s Gap Year through Amazon, then send me a screenshot of your receipt and/or a review via email or Instagram DM.
Provide your preferred mailing address, and I will send you a FREE copy for a friend in mid-January (once my publisher is back on deck).