De-stressing with Bente (#3)

Learning to relax again: how do you manage to do that? Bente (23) is a freelance journalist and works as an online editor at Flow. Having experienced a near-burn-out, she’s finding her way to a life with less stress. And every Friday, she takes us with her on her journey to get there.

At the tender age of sixteen, I discovered that I did not have the same interests as my peers. I thought going out was stupid, and preferred to spend my time on the couch with a book. And although I sometimes found it difficult to accept, I don’t have any problems with it now. Currently, I’m busy crocheting a blanket (which my boyfriend finds hideous, but that doesn’t bother me), I try to set aside some time each day to draw, and I often go for a walk in the forest with an audio book as my companion. Twenty-three, you say? Sometimes I feel more like a granny, thanks to my hobbies. But like I said: I’m fine with that.

I’m also fine with my boyfriend thinking that the blanket-in-the-making is ugly; he’s my best friend and wants to do whatever he can to help me get over my near-burn-out. He comes up with this idea during a walk through the city.