Ever been a bit too hungover or sleep-deprived and felt yourself walking around in a daze, not fully present? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself getting to the end of the day without quite remembering how you got there. It’s normal in periods when life is hectic to feel like everything is a bit of a blur, but what about when you can go months at a time feeling disconnected from yourself, your personal history, or as if you’re having an out of body experience? For those suffering with dissociation, be it sporadically or for extended episodes, this is the reality.

Dissociative disorders including Derealisation, Depersonalisation and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) occur as a response to threat, be it an act of violence, loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or alternatively as a response to perceived/past dangers from childhood, as the mind’s way of helping a person distance themselves from a difficult experience. Not all those who disassociate are experiencing a dissociative disorder, as Jodie Cariss, therapist and founder of the contemporary mental health therapy service Self Space notes:

You may adopt dissociative behaviours if your life is demanding, you go to an emotional place you aren’t familiar with, a current experience is reminiscent of difficult things in the past or you are confronted with a reality that feels too hard to manage

Jodie Cariss

The differences between Dissociation/Derealisation/Depersonalisation:

Dissociation, Derealisation and Depersonalisation are all strategies used in defence of feeling and are similar in terms of their impact but can be distinguished by the different degrees to which a person is cut off from themselves, their reality and their feelings, notes Jodie. “They all share the same foundation, which is denial in some form and they all act defensively but have varying levels of the intensity of the denial.”

Dissociation

This is where you semi-consciously cut yourself off from a stressful situation. You take yourself somewhere less threatening internally as a form of protection.  Sometimes this can be helpful and sometimes as with all defence mechanisms it keeps you cut off from the emotional place you really need to access. 

You might….

• Feel as though you are watching yourself in a film or looking at yourself from the outside.
• Feel as if you are just observing your emotions.
• Feel disconnected from parts of your body or your emotions.
• Feel as if you are floating away.
• Feel unsure of the boundaries between yourself and other people. 

Snow, known as SnowBabyFresh on Instagram and TikTok has shared her experiences of dissociation with her community of followers online and describes the way in which she feels during an episode: “It’s honestly a very unpredictable sensation but besides the general Google search answers for what it feels like, I describe my experience as having ‘goo thoughts’. For me, it feels like instead of racing thoughts, they are stuck in goo or mud or something like that. It came out of my mouth like that during an attack that I had been recording and it ended up on my TikTok, and it turns out that loads of people related to ‘goo thoughts’! In my head, it’s kind of like the world is still moving around at a normal pace or even faster, but I’m moving slower. Physically, it sometimes feels like a panic attack on the rise, like a restlessness in my entire body. In really severe attacks, it can feel like my skin is hovering off of my body. Just this overall sensation of being off-kilter.”

Derealisation

This is when someone begins to think delusionally, cutting themselves off from reality, not just an emotional distance but also a cognitive distance from the truth to the point they are reinterpreting information in a different, unreal way.

“For example, a person might be working towards a goal, something that’s taken an unrealistic amount of time, money and energy to work towards but they feel that with just one more step they will be where they need to be” continues Jodie. “The focus is so intense that you are unaware of what is happening in other areas of your life which cuts you off from reality and your present situation. Derealisation is where you feel the world around is unreal. People and things around you may seem “lifeless” or “foggy”.”

Depersonalisation

This is experienced as feeling disconnected or detached from yourself.  Feeling as if you are outside of your own body and thoughts, often watching yourself. Those who have been exposed to traumatic events may reflect on them in a depersonalised way, for example with experiences of war or road traffic accidents. Nurses, doctors, soldiers and those exposed to difficult matters, often for prolonged periods may use depersonalization as an effective form of emotional protection.

Jodie goes on to say, “I have noticed an unhelpful rise in depersonalisation in the digital dating world, and hear this often with clients who are using dating apps. There is a sense that it dehumanises the interactions, making the connections less human which can result in shallow relationships that are devoid of meaning and content. Where immediate gratification is being sought and satisfied, the person is not thought about again (this might mean long conversations then ghosting, meeting and then being ignored), this can be dangerous when we forget about the impact we have on others and them on us.”

Common Symptoms 

1. Feeling like you’re outside your body, sometimes as if you’re looking down on yourself from above.
2. Feeling detached from yourself, as if you have no actual self.
3. Numbness in your mind or body, as if your senses are turned off.
4. Feeling as if you can’t control what you do or say.

Mental health charity Mind emphasises the importance of remembering that everyone’s experience of dissociation is different, and you may feel any of these dissociative experiences even if you don’t have a diagnosed dissociative disorder. If you have some of the experiences mentioned above and are concerned about your thoughts, feelings or behaviours, speak to someone you trust, ideally your GP. If you want to learn more before you speak to someone, look for trusted resources, like the information on the Mind or NHS websites. 

Living with Dissociation

Casey Molina aka CaseyIsHealing on TikTok regularly shares mental health-focused content, be it on reparenting yourself, feelings of unworthiness or dating in your twenties, and has discussed disassociation and its impact across a series of viral videos. 

“As I get older I realise dissociation is something I actually experienced for the first time at a really young age, probably around 10. I used to be a voracious reader when I was a child and could easily finish a 500+ page book in one day. I’d hide in my bathroom and read the whole day, oftentimes taking the stories I read and trying to bring them to life in my own reality by pretending I was a character from the books I was reading. Everything I did and everywhere I went would surround a plotline from the books I read. I used to imagine someone was coming to “save” me from the life I was living. 

“I finally landed a marketing job that I thought would be my dream position, but I could feel myself quickly cracking under the stress of the work I was doing and many of the expectations and responsibilities placed on me. I would have weeks on end where I would wake up feeling numb to life and experiencing crippling anxiety to leave my house, even just to go for a walk. But I could easily spend 3+ hours a day on TikTok or other social media trying to decompress from a stressful day of work. There would be days where I would walk outside and be so disoriented by my surroundings and the sunlight, that’s when I realised something more was going on than just “a couple of stressful weeks of work.”

Dissociation can feel especially challenging for sufferers who are acutely aware of slipping in and out of their experience of reality, but this is something Casey is working on accepting. “It makes me sad to think that one day I will look back at the smaller moments of my life that I was scared to be present for, that I was finding ways to not be there for and I’ll wish that I had savoured them. But I’m realising I don’t have to be regretful if I find ways to heal from my dissociation triggers and work through them in the present moment. It takes a lot of mental energy and strength to reprogram yourself from defence mechanisms your mind has put in place to protect you from harm and, at times, I feel like I’m fighting myself. I would say that’s the hardest part, realising that so much of your mental energy goes towards fighting against your mind.”

What can trigger an episode of Dissociation?

Even after significant time has passed since a traumatic event occurred or the circumstances in an individual’s life have changed, certain sensory experiences such as sights, sounds, smells, touches, and even tastes can trigger a cascade of unwanted memories and feelings. Dissociation can also be associated with various other mental health conditions, such as Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and more, but it’s important to remember you do not necessarily have a mental illness if you experience dissociation from time to time.

“I used to think it was completely random, and it can feel that way sometimes but when you really dissect it, there are almost always triggers or sensitivities that lead to an episode.” Says Snow. “In my experiences with hypnotherapy and EMDR (which is incredibly terrifying but truly helped me heal a lot), I learned that I have a sensitivity to certain sensory systems. For example, my olfactory response which is responsible for your sense of smell is extremely heightened when I’m anxious. So essential oils can help calm an episode, but there are smells that will trigger one. I am that way with specific sounds that relate to my trauma as well. Emotions are another huge trigger, whether it’s a really intense feeling or anger or sadness, my body will send that signal of “you cannot feel any more of this, we’re shutting it down” and then I can dissociate. But honestly, sometimes I’d prefer that than a crying episode.”

How to support someone you love in a dissociative episode

“I think the most important thing friends and family can do to support people during dissociative episodes is to acknowledge when you go to someone and express that something feels wrong that they feel heard and made space for,” says Casey. “ I think a lot of people would have told me the way I was feeling about my job was normal. Maybe they do a lot of the same things I do by going home or logging off after a busy workday and basically distracting themselves from reality until it’s time for bed, but I feel really lucky that my dad made a lot of emotional space for me to express how I was feeling. To share that emotionally and mentally I wasn’t in a good place and that even though it seemed like I had all of these amazing things going for me- new apartment, new job, normal workout routine, healthy social life- for some reason I didn’t feel present for any of it. 

Seeking help and understanding dissociation can be difficult when someone first experiences these sensations, as Snow well knows. “ It probably wasn’t until I was in my early twenties and started doing hypnotherapy and EMDR that I finally was able to have a term for what I was experiencing. Up until then, I thought that I was just having panic attacks but they felt more muted. But as it turns out…it’s dissociation! It really was a lightbulb moment of things making sense and piecing together the experiences I’ve had that were actually dissociative episodes. But it’s kind of a double-edged sword in that sense because I had to start processing some things in a new perspective.”

How to support yourself during a dissociative episode, including ways to feel more present during a dissociative episode, according to Jodie of Self Space:

• Spend 5 minutes observing what’s going on around you, in your mind describing it to yourself.
• Spend 5 minutes checking in with yourself, say out loud how you are doing , even looking in the mirror.
• Take a shower, swim or have a bath, or even wash your hands in cold water and really focus on what you are doing, the feelings, sensations, smells etc.
• Eat something strong tasting or smell something fragrant to help ground you through your senses.
• Touch the ground with your bare feet, lean heavily against a wall or lay on the hard floor, to feel grounded, touch is a powerful sense for this. 
• Set up a code word with a friend who can call you when you let them know you need grounding into reality and talk about how you feel and do some of the exercises together. 
• Animals can be a huge source of support when we need to connect with our present moment. Hug your pets or a friend’s animals or even a cuddly toy if that’s not possible. 

There are no drugs currently licensed to treat dissociation, however, psychiatric medication may be offered to you to treat other symptoms you may experience as a result of, or alongside, a dissociative disorder such as depression, anxiety or OCD, says Mind.

If you are worried your dissociation could put you in an unsafe situation, making a crisis plan can be helpful. This document explains what you would like to happen if you are not well enough to make decisions about your treatment or other aspects of your life – you can find out more information on planning for a crisis on Mind’s website.

Talking to people who also experience dissociation or dissociative disorders and sharing your experiences can also help.

Mind

Mind’s online peer support community, Side by Side, is a place where you can feel at home talking about your mental health and connect with others who understand what you are going through. Side by Side is available 24/7 to anyone over the age of 18 and is moderated daily from 8:30am to midnight.

Draw yourself a 5* bath, light your favourite candle, slip into something comfy and escape into the land of l-o-v-e this Valentine’s Day – you’ve got a hot date with these babin’ romance reads.

From the celebrated classics to contemporary rom-coms, affairs of the heart, childhood sweethearts, passion, tragedy, intrigue and unrequited love, the romance genre has something for every type of reader. 

A slew of satisfying happy ever afters,will they won’t they storylines and tear jerking plot twists await your readerly consumption…

1. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 

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Even though it’s been six years since Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel came out, Booktok is still very much obsessed with this romance and rightly so – all aboard the hype train. It Ends With Us combines a captivating romance with unforgettable characters and a perfectly realised love triangle with such skill, you will have a visceral reaction to it in the best possible way. Prepare for one almighty book hangover because Co-Ho is a hard woman to follow. 

2. Things We Never Said by Nick Alexander

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If you like the correspondence, PS I Love You format, you’ll swoon all over this novel.  

Catherine was the love of Sean’s life. But now she is gone. All that’s left is a box full of envelopes, each containing a snapshot and a cassette tape.

Through a series of recordings, Catherine shares their long love story, but will Sean recognise the story she tells? Catherine’s words have been chosen with love, but are painfully honest—and sometimes simply painful. She reveals every unspoken thought and every secret she kept from her husband—revelations that will shake everything Sean thought he knew about their life together.

But as disconcerting as the tapes turn out to be, Sean prays that they will ultimately confirm the one thing he never dared question. Does destiny exist? And were his and Catherine’s love and life together always meant to be?

3. One Day by David Nicholls 

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You know you’re onto a good’un when Marian Keyes says she wishes she’d written it. Spanning 20 years and written in alternating POV, One Day follows main characters Emma and Dexter as they vow to meet up on the same day every year following a one night stand on the night of their graduation in 2008. It’s a story about growing up, self-discovery and the minutia of relationships. Worth every last tear. 

4. When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri 

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Fast, sexy and laugh out loud funny, Camille Perri’s gay-girl meets straight-girl rom-com is a pitch perfect nod to Nora Ephron’s When Harry Met Sally. It tells the story of 28-year-old Katie Daniels, a corporate lawyer who’s just been dumped by her fiancé and the suited and booted Cassidy Price, her intimidating opposing counsel. At first neither of them know what to make of the other, but soon their unexpected connection will bring into question everything each of them thought they knew about sex and love. Psst! You’ll want to take a highlighter to the sex toy shopping scene…

5. When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo

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Meet Darwin, a handsome gravedigger down on his luck and Yejide, the girl with the gift of speaking to the dead. Both have something that the other needs. Their destinies are intertwined, and they will find one another in the sprawling, ancient cemetery at the heart of the island, where trouble is brewing. This masterfully crafted Trinidad-set debut is the love-story-cum-ghost-story you didn’t know you needed this Valentine’s Day, from an irresistible new voice in fiction. Out today! Happy publication day, Ayanna. 

6. The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary 

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For fans of The Switch and The Flatshare, you’re in for a treat. Beth O’Leary is your elite Valentine! Ever wondered what would happen if you randomly bumped into an ex two years post-breakup and had to share an awkward 24-hour car journey with them? The Road Trip explores the trials and tribulations of *that* experience right here. 

With each chapter alternating between Addie and Dylan’s point of view, and a dual timeline to explore the then and now of their relationship, this is a story of love lost and second chances. It also handles some serious subject matter from sexual abuse, stalking and alcoholism – the grittiest of Beth O’Leary’s books so far. 

7. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

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Exploring the thin line between love and hate, Sally Thorne’s novel is a treat for anyone who enjoys a classic rom-com enemies-to-lovers storyline.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other every day . . . and they hate each other.

Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. HATE. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight approach to his job and refusal to smile. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and desire to be liked.

Now they’re up for the same promotion and Lucy, usually a determined people-pleaser, has had enough: it’s time to take him down. But as the tension between Lucy and Joshua reaches its boiling point, it’s clear that the real battle has only just begun. 

8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 

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You’ve probably watched the film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin a minimum of 3 (translation: 20) times but if you do one thing this February, couple up with the book and ship Will and Lou all over again. 

Will Traynor was once a successful businessman, travelling the world and enjoying extreme sports until a major accident left him quadriplegic, unable to move anything below his mid torso. Since his accident, he has no desire to live until Louisa Clark bursts into his life when she takes a job as his carer and sets out to help him find the joy in living again. “They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose.” Someone is cutting behemoth onions in here.

9. Normal People by Sally Rooney

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A subtle novel, packed with Rooney’s signature simplicity and nuanced observations. There’s no doubt about it, Normal People is one of the best romance stories of the 21^st Century. We said what we said. Prepare to swoon all over Marianne and Connell. 

10. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

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No self-respecting romance round up would be complete without what is arguably the greatest romance ever written. The genre would be nothing without Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Nothing. 

11. A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King 

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A raunchy retelling of Pride & Prejudice with a Burlesque twist, Vanessa King’s novel is for anyone looking for more Will & Liz action. 

12. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks 

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Are you even a true Notebook fan if you haven’t read the book? No doubt you’ve bawled your eyes out to the movie more times than you can count but the book just hits different. The hold this couple has on us. Allie and Noah would find each other in any lifetime. 

13. Maurice by E.M. Forster 

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Written by Forster in 1914 during a time when homosexuality was illegal, Maurice chronicles the sexual awakening of a young man and his journey to self-discovery. It was published after the author’s death and quickly became one of the greatest love stories of all time. 

14. Once Ghosted Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole

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Once Ghosted Twice Shy is part of Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series but works just as well as a stand-alone book. 

Months after Likotsi and Fabiola’s love affair ended in heartbreak, the two reunite on a subway train in New York City of all places. Fab asks for one cup of tea and Likotsi agrees, hoping she’ll find out why their whirlwind romance ended with a break up text. The course of true love never did run smooth! A grade A second-chance F/F romance novella for a cosy afternoon at home. 

15. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 

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A novel with a special kind of staying power. Step back in time to the glamourous jazz age of hedonistic heights and heart wrenching tragedy in Fitzgerald’s beautifully written classic. “I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity.” Ooof, consider The Great Gatsby a compulsory read from one of the most distinguished authors in the history of American literature. 

16. The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

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It’s a perfect match but will it last? Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionised romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career – and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules: 

– Nude pics are by invitation only 

– If someone stands you up, block them

– Protect your heart 

Only there aren’t any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former sports star Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night… and then disappears. 

Rhi thought she’d buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful – and in league with a business rival. He says he won’t fumble their second chance, but she’s wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…

17. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson 

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A tender and intimate masterpiece about love and all it encompasses, deftly written by a promising new voice in fiction. Short enough to get through in one sitting, poignant enough to stay with you long after closing the cover. 

18. PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern 

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With over 25 million copies sold worldwide, PS I Love You is a sensational novel with a storyline as bitter as it is sweet. It tells the story of childhood sweethearts Holly and Gerry – an inseparable couple who could finish each other’s sentences… 

When Gerry dies, Holly is devastated. But Gerry has left her a bundle of notes, one for each month of her year, each signed ‘PS, I Love You’.

As the notes are opened, the man who knows Holly better than anyone teaches her that life goes on. With some help from friends and family, Holly laughs, cries and finds that life is for living – but it helps if there’s someone watching over you. Nothing will make you weep like letters beyond the grave. Not. A. Dry. Eye. In. The. Vicinity. 

If you’re looking for something steamier than all of the above, may we point you in the direction of our 12 Saucy Books in the Same Throbbing League as Fifty Shades of Grey. You’re welcome.    

A plant-based diet can be for life, not just for January, so if the start of 2022 and the plentiful vegan launches popping up everywhere from McDonald’s to Aldi wet your palette for a very vegan 2022 then look no further for some everyday inspo to extend your eagerness into February and beyond! The content we consume on a daily basis no doubt has an impact on our lifestyle and influences everything from the new albums we head straight to Spotify to digest ASAP to the likeness of being either in or out of the Worlde gang (iykyk).

The lesson to be learnt: filling your feed with the vegan foodie fiends making plant-based life look easy is one easy step you can take, wherever you are on your journey to enjoying vegan alternatives or fully cutting animal products from your diet. Be it for daily inspiration or a reminder that you’re on the right track, here are a selection of our favourite vegan accounts to follow on Instagram that will have you salivating in a click…

@veganbrownting

Follow Abby on Instagram here!

If the adorable teacup Chihuahua ‘Miso’ wasn’t reason enough to follow Abby, her mixture of healthy and indulgent vegan recipes certainly will be. Whether you’re worried you’ll never replace a beef lasagna or that life wouldn’t be the same without an authentic Thai chicken curry in your life, Abby is here to prove anything you can make, she can make vegan. With notable shoutouts going to her creamy spaghetti carbonara with “This Isn’t Bacon” pieces and mouth watering Biscoff French toast roll ups (*chefs kiss* in an image), ingredients and method are mentioned there and then in the caption meaning you don’t even need to leave the app! If vegan-ifying the rest of your lifestyle is on the cards too, head to her Story Highlights for a rundown of the best cruelty free and vegan formulas in the world of beauty too. 

@veganbowls

Follow Vegan Bowls here!

With 3.1 million followers and claims of being the #1 Plant Based Community on Instagram, Vegan Bowls is the go-to destination for colourful, healthy and delicious recipes that will have you heading straight for the veg aisle. Combining and reposting recipes from the best vegan food creators around, it’s the perfect destination to head to when inspiration is low and hunger levels high. With highlights including Garlic “Honey” Tofu, Shredded Chick’n and Smashed Black Bean Quesadillas and Vegan French Onion Soup, you’ll have breakfast, lunches and dinners sorted for years to come. Explore even more plant-based recipes on their website, or purchase the Vegan Bowls physical cookbook for inspiration at your fingertips. 

@accidentallyveganuk

Follow Accidentally Vegan here!

For those hoping not to venture too far from their normal shopping habits then look no further than Accidentally Vegan, bringing you the cupboard and fridge essentials free of animal products that you might not suspect as vegan! Everything from Oreos to Walkers Prawn Cocktail crisps, Jus-Rol Pain au chocolates to Betty Crocker cake mixes are accidentally free of dairy, gelatine and meat, and are safe for vegan snack lovers everywhere. The page has branched out since its initial launch of sharing these unsuspecting products specifically and is now a go-to for all things new vegan launches and nationwide restaurant menu additions- if there’s a development in the plant-based world you best believe Accidentally Vegan will know about it. 

@tastycurls

Follow Rachel here!

With a website, Instagram, E-book and YouTube channel under her belt, you won’t be short of inspiration with Rachel’s content under your belt, helping you create tasty, nourishing and creative vegan meals, whether you’re a dab hand at this plant-based thing or are completely new to the world of vegan cooking. Self-taught cook and recipe developer, Rachel’s content focuses on wholesome plant-based meals including traditional Ghanaian dishes such as Jollof rice and plantain, and perhaps more familiar dishes of pistachio pesto pasta with marinated olives. Head to her Instagram Highlights for restaurant and eating out recommendations too, and digest some of Rachel’s knowledge and delicious recipes. 

@thelittlelondonvegan

Follow Clare here!

Heading to the Big Smoke and in need of restaurant recommendations? Clare of The Little London Vegan has you covered. Previously the Chief Vegan Officer at Papa John’s, and anti food waste advocate, Clare shares the best of the best vegan menus and dishes in the country’s capital, with her colourful images and drool-worthy Reels making a weekend in London all the more appealing. Her delectably detailed captions mean there’s no guesswork involved when it comes to making a booking you know will go down a treat for vegans and meat eaters alike, because when plant-based looks this good, who needs more?!

@fatgayvegan

Follow Fat Gay Vegan here!

Author, columnist for Vegan Life Magazine and all round hoot and a half on Instagram, Sean O’Callaghan aka Fat Gay Vegan has been sharing plant-based food, restaraunt and pop-up recommendations since 2010. Passionate about promoting the benefits of a vegan lifestyle from an ethical and “not a health trend” standpoint, his approach to ditching animal products is passionate yet kind, leading the way in showing life as a vegan as vibrant and franky delicious too. And if travelling as a vegan ever crossed your mind as an issue, Sean is here to prove you wrong. His role as Curator for Vegan Culinary Cruises sees him create unique trip interiaries designed for vegan and vegan-curious travellers looking to enjoy a 100% plant-based adventure holiday pairing exploration and delicious vegan cuisine. Who else is sold on the US National Parks Adventure in May?

@veganpixie_

Follow Georgia here!

Queen of everyday, realistic and accessible vegan meal and snack ideas, Georgia aka Vegan Pixie is a go-to for anyone starting out in their journey with veganism and looking for easy switches that mean life can go on as usual. A mixture of home cooking, new launch reviews and a realistic look at eating vegan whilst away from home in her Story Highlights, Georgia’s page is perfect for students or those looking for simple ideas to switch up their weekly menu. With recipes including vegan duck bao buns and trying out restaurants such as Vurger Co and PieMinister (a Sunday lunch dream), look no further for everyday inspiration!

@ambertheevegan

Follow Amber here!

As much as food is a huge part of a vegan lifestyle, it isn’t the only thing you’ll need to shake up if you’re looking to fully commit to a life in which no animals are harmed. Introducing: Amber of @amberthevegan. Her feel-good and beautifully colourful Instagram account is a one-stop-shop for anyone ready to reinvent their lifestyle from the basics up, featuring skincare must-have, beauty salon recommendations, and make-up tutorials as well as delicious food inspo including cinnamon waffles and satay noodles- need we say more?!

@thee_burger_dude

Follow The Burger Dude here!

For those who claim leaving behind burgers wouldn’t be worth the sacrifice, we dare you to scroll Watson’s page for a mere 10 seconds and then come back to us. Vegan since March 2018, he’s been busy veganizing his favourite dishes one recipe at a time, which is no mean feat given by his own admission he was a big consumer of meat and dairy products before researching our food systems and the animal agriculture industry. Watson’s Instagram and website prove you can still have burgers, mac n’ cheese, fried chick’n and any other kind of comfort food with plant-based ingredients, with his slick looking imagery making every image an instant ‘save for later’. We’ll be dreaming of his Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich for the foreseeable…

@maxlamanna

Follow Max here!

With one million followers to his name, Max La Manna’s Instagram is the place to go if you ever find yourself feeling bored of your usual weekday dinners or in need of a new found motivation to shop and cook vegan. The low waste chef and climate activist has had an impressive career so far, with just one of his many accolades including the publishing of his cookbook More Plants Less Waste which focuses on discovering a stronger purpose in the kitchen and helping both the planet and the animals we know and love. Through his viral recipe videos and work with BBC Earth and beyond, Max has inspired followers across the world to “rethink their approach to food consumption and made it his mission to breathe new life into our leftovers that are typically destined for the bin” and we couldn’t love him more for it.

Staying in may no longer be mandatory, but you certainly might be planning on it this February if any of your recent bank transactions involve a selection of irresistibly sexy and deliciously lacy lingerie designed to be taken off in an instant. 

Whether you’re loved up and living with a significant other or are single and plan to dance around your room to Doja Cat looking a cool 11/10, the selection of alluring/sultry/tempting/sexy/tantalising underwear available to shop right now is enough to get hearts racing quicker than the Duke’s spoon #throwback. 

In recent years there has been an explosion in women’s underwear brands reclaiming back the power from the male gaze, showcasing designs by women, for women that are created with one key aim: inclusivity and empowerment. From Savage X Fenty and Dora Larsen to Wednesday’s Girl and Beija London, we’re spoilt for choice in finding a set that personifies the flame emoji and exudes confidence from the very base of your outfit. So whether you’re adding some extra lace to your look this Valentine’s weekend with the hopes of seducing a lover, or simply celebrating your body in all its beauty, keep scrolling for the creme de la creme of lingerie guaranteed to make a statement …

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Dubbed the hottest debut of 2022, Wahala certainly gave us something to smile about this January.

The draft poured out of Nikki May in six months and when you get to know the characters, you’ll understand why.

At the core of the book is a story about three thirty-something women of mixed Nigerian and English heritage Ronke, Simi and Boo. Ronke wants the happy ever after with a man as perfect as her late father. Boo has everything Ronke wants – the 5-year-old daughter, the kind husband, the dream house – but she’s unfulfilled and plagued by guilt. Then there’s Simi, she’s got an amazing job and an even more amazing wardrobe but she’s crippled by imposter syndrome and her husband thinks they’re trying for a baby but she’s still on birth control…

Then the glamorous Isobel, an old friend of Simi’s, explodes onto the scene like a wrecking ball. At first, it seems she’s got everyone’s best interests at heart, she goes running with Boo, she gets Simi an interview in Shanghai but her real motive for infiltrating this friendship group and causing Wahala (which means trouble in Yoruba) propels the narrative all the way to the explosive final chapters.

Keep reading to find the team’s reviews on this razor-sharp debut from a brilliant new voice!

The Synopsis:

Ronke, Simi, Boo are three mixed-race friends living in London. They have the gift of two cultures, Nigerian and English. Not all of them choose to see it that way.
Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their thirties, they question their future. Ronke wants a husband (he must be Nigerian); Boo enjoys (correction: endures) stay-at-home motherhood; while Simi, full of fashion career dreams, rolls her eyes as her boss refers to her urban vibe yet again.

When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them. Cracks in their friendship begin to appear, and it is soon obvious Isobel is not sorting but wrecking. When she is driven to a terrible act, the women are forced to reckon with a crime in their past that may just have repeated itself.

Explosive, hilarious and wildly entertaining, this razor-sharp tale of love, race and family will have you laughing, crying and gasping in horror. Fearlessly political about class, colourism and clothes, the spellbinding Wahala is for anyone who has ever cherished friendship, in all its forms.

What do the words knoll, favor and proxy all have in common? They’ve all caused outrage in the Wordleverse, that’s what. 

If you haven’t heard of Wordle, start playing it here and prepare for it to rule your very existence and be the bane of it too. Seriously, we don’t remember life BW (before Worldle), nor do we want to. It’s basically the banana bread of 2022. 

The simple five-letter word game will have a hold on you stronger than Harry Styles. One minute you’ll be looking over someone’s shoulder as they punch in various 5 letter words to Tetris-like blocks thinking that’ll never be me, next minute you’re waiting up till midnight to be one of the first to discover today’s word, telling your boyfriend to (actual quote) ‘Wordle more quietly’ and ‘GIVE ME SPACE’ as he keeps asking what line you’re on. 

The viral daily word game created by software engineer Josh Wardle can be played through your web browser. The rules are simple, you have six tries at guessing a five-letter word. When you get a letter right and it’s in the right place, one of five tiles turns green. If you’ve got the letter right but it’s in the wrong place, it goes yellow. A grey tile means that letter is not in the word and the game will be particularly insufferable. 

A Wordle comes but once a day and that’s half the fun of it. It doesn’t take up too much of your time. People often take to Twitter to bemoan a particularly controversial five letter word, sometimes using a four-letter one – favor was a bad day to be a UK Wordler – and then you do it all again the next day, punching the air when you get a word in one or vowing never to play the stupid f*cking game ever again when you get the passive-aggressive,  “phew that was close” warning. 

It’s a universal lived experience we can share together each day – delighting in its simplicity and posting our pathetic little frustrated tiles on Instagram alongside cries of, “Wtf is a knoll?” 

The only downside is that you only get to Wordle once a day, so in the name of preventing our ageing brains from decomposing quicker than a Primark bag in a storm or a corn puff Wotsit on the tongue, we’ve discovered a few word-based games you can play whilst you countdown the hours until Christmas Wordle morning. 

Typeshift 

Dubbed the modern anagram puzzle, Typeshift’s the perfect game to play in quick bursts whenever you need to unwind for a few minutes between tasks. In most anagram games, you search for new combinations within a single word, but in Typeshift, you search within three to five words stacked & scrambled up together.

Shift the columns of letters in the grid up and down until you form a word in the central row. When you’ve used all the letters once and turned all the tiles blue, you can consider yourself a linguistic genius (it’s not hyperbolic if it’s true) and enjoy the thrill of your post puzzle pick-me-up. 

Unlike a traditional crossword, you can flick all the letters around until your brain spots a word – kind of like a linguistic Rubik’s cube. One you’ve solved all the words in the pack, you can move onto ‘Clue Puzzles’ to find the words that match the clues. Once you find an answer and spell it in the centre row, tap the clue it answers. If you’re right, the clue will be filled in and any letters that aren’t in the other answers will be removed from the puzzle. With over a hundred free games and a daily puzzle to complete, you’ve got hours of fun right at your fingertips. 

Download it here. 

Nerdle

Now this one might take longer than your usual Wordle coffee break if you’re not a fan of numbers. Nerdle gives you six chances to guess a numerical equation, using numbers 0 to 9, +, -, /, and =. If you’re more Rachel Riley than Susie Dent then Nerdle is exactly the kind of tonic you might be looking for.

Get our your calculator and trial it here.

Kitty Letter

Described as ‘Scrabble combined with Clash Royale’, Kitty Letter is a free game from the makers of popular card game Exploding Kittens. To play, you’ve got to unscramble words in the enchanted language vortex to protect yourself and your home from legions of exploding cats. Every word you find spawns magical cats that defend your home and march across the street to attack the crazy cat man who lives in a trailer. The bigger the word, the more cats you send out. Play alone or go head-to-head with friends or strangers in multiplayer mode and may the best linguist win. 

Prepare your army of cats here. 

Wordscapes

For fans of crosswords and anagrams, Wordscapes is the best of both worlds. With over 6,000 puzzles, you’ll have plenty of games to keep you entertained. To play, simply use your finger to connect random letters in a circle to find the hidden words and fill the crossword. Climb the levels and gradually progress to harder puzzles to challenge your brain. If you get stuck, you can tap the shuffle button or get a hint to help you. 

Download the app here. 

Play Four

You’re given a four-by-four crossword consisting of eight words running vertically and horizontally, with clues for each along the left-hand side. You’re scored on how many moves you make and the time it takes to complete the puzzle and there are regular modes (would recommend) and expert. Much like Wordle, you get one play per day, so use it wisely. Go forth and treat yourself.\

Give it a go here.

NY Times Spelling Bee 

Another game guaranteed to get word nerds buzzing. Each daily Spelling Bee puzzle contains seven unique letters arranged in a hive shape and players need to make as many words as they can using them. The rules don’t end there though. Words must be four letters or longer and they must contain the highlighted letter in the middle of the honeycomb at least once. To make things even more challenging, ‘s’ doesn’t exist in the land of the Spelling Bee, so when it comes to plurals, you need to think outside the hive. Its only redeeming feature is you’re allowed to use letters more than once. Four letter words are worth one point each whilst longer words earn you one point per letter and every puzzle contains one pangram using every letter in the honeycomb shape. Top tip: use the shuffle function to shake up the letters so you can see the puzzle from a different angle. 

Play Spelling Bee straight from your web browser via the NY Times website here. 

BYRDLE

Sound familiar? There are plenty of Wordle riffs out there to play so if you find yourself addicted to the thrill of sussing out that five-letter brainteaser every day, then BYRDLE’s the word. It’s pretty much the same game, the only difference being that the daily BYRDLE is always related to chorus music. How niche. We’re not sure if a theme makes it easier or harder. 

Play Byrdle here.

Taylordle

A niche version of Worlde we can get behind! Flex your Taylor Swift knowledge with 5 letter favourites from all her best songs. From Betty to Lover, Blank to Space you’ll never feel smarter as a die-hard swiftie.

Try your favourite lyrics here.

Hello Wordl

Surprise, surprise another knockoff Wordle but here’s the fun / frustrating part: you decide how many letters it is. Feeling frazzled? Go for four. Swallowed a dictionary? Go for ten. Unlike the OG, there’s no daily limit so you can have as many goes as you like. Consider it research for when your daily Wordle comes around again. 

Try it here.

Daily Jumble

Un-jumble the four words to complete the comic. The circled letters in each of the answers become the jumbled answer for the game’s cartoon clue. When you solve an answer in the first 30 seconds of the game, your score for the word is multiplied by five. You can use the hint button if you get stuck but you will have to sacrifice some of your points for the privilege. 

Play it here.

Word Connect

The brain-training puzzle game everyone needs on their home screen. Simply swipe the blocks to connect the letters to create new words and work your way through the levels. Praise be for games you can play one-handed.  

Use the hint button to get a clue or hit the shuffle button to reorganise the letters when you need to look at it with a fresh set of eyes.

Download it here. 

All-consuming and nauseating at best, traumatising at worst, it might sound dramatic, but for those who have gone through a break-up that tore their world in half, the reality of surviving what feels unsurvivable can be truly devastating. Whether the rug has been pulled from under your feet or you made a difficult decision to leave a relationship that was no longer serving you, the minutes, hours, days and months that follow can feel endlessly challenging in everything from significant calendar dates to the tiniest intricacies of your day- ordering a takeaway for one, the familiar smell of their shower gel on someone else or their favourite song on the radio all thrusting you back into the depths of it all. As the world keeps spinning and life carries on for those around you, you’re left stuck exactly where things ended, with time now being separated in your brain as simply ‘before’ and ‘after’ the end of you and them. 

And whilst the anguish that comes from heartbreak can feel so isolating and unique in its destruction, it’s true that in any given moment, thousands of others are in the same throes of emotion, wondering if things will ever feel normal or okay again too. 

Spoiler alert: it is survivable, and not only that, one day you will thrive and glow with newfound energy, lust for life, and all the highs and lows the universe sends your way. It certainly might not be a short or easy journey, especially if the person you lost felt as close to ‘the one’ as you thought you would ever know, but sometimes it really does take reaching the lowest point possible to rise on the other side stronger, better, and with more clarity about what you deserve from your precious time on Earth. Break-ups change us in unfathomable ways, but it’s true that what breaks us can then make us, and from rock bottom… the only way is up!

So if you’re in need of some hope, some pockets of joy and what feels like unreachable curiosity about what life is like when you finally reach the other side, we spoke to 50 people about the lessons they learnt from their worst break-up and the knowledge they took into their new chapters of love, lust and longing. Grab a cuppa, take a deep breath and know that rejection can equal redirection in the end.

• It is never wrong to have loved someone, even if they haven’t loved you back. Love is what truly makes the world go around, and there can never be too much of it.
• In the words of Taylor Swift herself, “she lost him but she found herself and somehow that was everything”
• As painful as it feels when it ends, you will always overcome it and find people on the other side, romantic or platonic, that will make you feel loved again.
• Your friends and family are the loves of your life- surround yourself with those soulmates and you can survive anything at all.
• You can and will have a full life without that person in it.
• Sometimes someone else has to stop choosing you for you to start choosing yourself.
• It‘s not your responsibility to fix someone who is broken. And if you still try to and it doesn‘t work, then you have to get out of there before it breaks you too. You can‘t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. 
• I will always carry pieces of them- habits, tastes, expressions- and knowing that is bittersweet.
• Sometimes it takes going through heartbreak to make you realise how strong you are. Heartbreak gives you clarity to see the things that made it not work out or made that person “wrong” for you once you have that post-heartbreak lens.
• Heartbreak f****** hurts, emotionally AND physically. Instead of letting it turn me into a hateful person, it showed me how resilient and strong I really am. I developed a mindset of ‘everything happens for a reason’ (how cliché). 
• I learnt that you can really lose yourself in an unhealthy relationship- your confidence, self worth, and your moral compass. But when you get out of it, and get over the worst of the breakup, it will all come back and you can become the best version of yourself again. 
• Never try to fill the hole they left with someone else, you can’t fill that hole, that one will just hurt, but after you’re done with the ice cream and tears, put in the effort to find the parts of yourself and life that make you happy again, that’s the only way to help the world feel whole.

• You cannot put your whole heart into a partner because they may not give you theirs. You deserve to keep your heart and to love yourself above anyone else. 
• The death of my mum taught me the capacity of a human heart and that sometimes when broken they never heal, you just learn to live with the cracks.
• Firstly, you can’t decide who you love but you can decide who you want to spend the rest of your life with. Secondly, unless you truly love yourself no relationship will ever work. 
• My worst heartbreak taught me to save some of my soul for myself. You should never allow someone to have the entire percentage of you, otherwise they leave you with nothing if they go.
• Never give up on your dreams for someone else. It’s important to always stay true to yourself and if someone is asking you to do something you absolutely don’t want to do, say ‘no’ and stay true to the ‘you’ that you know.
• The only person who’s truly there for you is YOU.
• Take time to yourself in the aftermath, learn who you are and what you want, as opposed to relying on a partner to make you feel like you matter.

• It‘s okay if it takes you a ‘long’ time to heal from heartbreak, even though it feels like society gives you a certain time frame. It‘s also okay if you need less time than indicated. Heartbreak is neither linear nor universal. Stop telling people how long they are allowed to mourn what they lost.
• When it feels like the rug has been pulled from underneath your feet, it has. But in time the dust will settle and you will get through this. 
• The “ride the wave” mantra has got me through A LOT.
• Don’t settle for someone just because that person makes you feel safe. You are worth more!
• If they want to be with you, they will make the effort. If they don’t, they won’t. Actions > words.
• I learnt that you can’t put an expiry date on heartbreak, one day you’ll wake up and forget what you’ve been crying about for 2 years! My friends told me that it would take 6 months to get over it but placing a timeframe on it felt like I had a rulebook on healing that simply didn’t apply to me!
• No matter how hard you try, you cannot force someone to stay in love with you.
• Time is the best healer, as cliche as it sounds.

• If you don’t like the person you’ve become, it’s time to walk away.
• At the end of the day, no one is more important than you and your mental health.
• Valuing being in a relationship more than others typically do doesn’t make you weak or needy, it means you are aware of your needs and will help you choose someone better suited to meet those in the future.
• I personally think heartbreak can be useful, however painful it is at the time you learn some valuable lessons. Lessons in what you want and perhaps even more importantly what you don’t want in a partner. You can learn to value yourself and above all love yourself, and that you’re absolutely not half a person- because being yourself is enough. 
• Heartbreak has taught me that it’s okay to be by yourself. You don’t need to have another person to make you whole like books and films often tell you. In fact you can do that all on your own & learn so much about yourself just by embracing the moments when you’re alone. And if all else fails Taylor Swift’s Red album will have your back and guide you through it.
• Once you’re out the other side, you’ll realise it’s scarier to live a life in which you are not truly valued or loved than to feel the temporary pain of a break-up. You deserve someone to meet you halfway with the same amount of love, compassion and respect you give them.
•  Build a life in which someone will enhance it, not make it or break it.

• I learnt to never, ever make myself smaller or less, and never to allow myself to be made to feel like my needs and wishes are “too much” (because really, there’s no such thing).
• Find someone who loves you as much as you had to love yourself whilst mending your broken heart.
• Even though it doesn’t seem like it, there’s a reason for everything.
• Words are empty promises, pay attention to their actions. 
• It’s scary to open yourself up to someone and know they have the power to change it all, but the right person will handle your heart with care.
• Having your own back is the most powerful thing you can do. 
• Trust your gut wholeheartedly. If something feels off it probably is.
• I can give the love I gave to him to myself. 
• Nothing you try to do to make sense of it ever will. Stop trying to apply logic and work on moving on. 
• If you can feel so much love for the wrong person, imagine how much love you can feel for the right one.
• The emotions you feel when you break up with someone are so complex. I learned that guilt, like worrying, is a pointless emotion – it eats you up inside and it won’t go away unless you literally stop letting yourself feel it. You have to remind yourself why you did what you did and that you did it for the right reason, as painful as it is.
• Keep busy and don’t feel bad for relying on the people that love you and want to help you. Take up space, ask for help and don’t struggle through this alone- you might just find you feel more love than ever from the friends and family you know won’t ever abandon you.

• Don’t stop listening to the albums you loved together or watching your favourite TV shows (if you can) because it will be a lot harder when they naturally appear in your life and you’re not prepared- push through and reclaim them.
• Heartbreak taught me that the true loves of my life are my closest friends. They were there for me through everything, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank them enough, from a ‘how are you doing today?’ text, to a gossip over coffee. My friends have actually shown me what real, unconditional love is, not him.
• Sometimes the timing is right, it’s just the wrong person. 
• Fall in love with someone who doesn’t make you think love is hard.

Created in partnership with Womanizer

Welcome the Premium 2 to the stage, the flagship clitoral stimulator brought to you by Womanizer. Dubbed the “Prada” of sex toys, it’s premium by name, premium by nature, serving self-love in its most luxurious form yet. 

If you’re someone who depends on clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm, then there’s no need to take the test, the Womanizer Premium 2 is your *official* Love Language. Your certificate is in the post. 

The new clitoral stimulator is the ultimate sex toy for anyone looking to level up their solo play with a distinguished piece of DIY equipment, designed entirely for the clitoris. Sure, any old bullet vibrator can get the job done and dusted, but when 80% of vagina-having people need clitoral stimulation to climax, it’s high time the clitoris received the 5* head it deserves. Getting it done is the kind of toxic productivity we left in 2021. 

2022 is the year of the guilt-free wank. We’re talking main character energy only. If there were a clitoral equivalent of the Bechdel test, this sex toy would pass it with flying orgasms, let’s put it that way. 

With National Self Love Day fast approaching, we’re setting some healthy intentions, namely being caffeinated & freshly masturbated for the occasion, and what better way to commemorate this day than with a mind-blowing, clit-centric wank? 

It’s our greatest pleasure to introduce the latest member of the Womanizer fam but before we skip to the exceedingly good part, let’s begin by covering the clitoral suction basics because we all know the curriculum won’t…

What is a ‘clitoral suction’ toy?

If you’re new to the orgasm-bending world of clitoral suction toys, then congratulations on your graduation, you won’t regret it. Prepare for everything you thought you knew about self-pleasure to be spun on its head – this journey is going to be a beautiful one. 

Seven years ago, Womanizer revolutionized the sex toy industry by inventing the world’s first clit suction toy affectionately known as the clit sucker, designed to mimic oral sex and provide clitoral stimulation without direct contact. Contactless orgasms? Ariana was right – God is a Woman(izer).  

Instead of the intense stimulation often associated with other sex toys in the category, clitoral suction works by creating airflow and pressure around the clitoris, encouraging blood flow to the area and heightening arousal. 

We’ve spoken at length about the wonders of the clitoris here on Zoella before, after all, it is our pleasure capital with a truly expansive postcode. It’s the central navigation system upon which a hell of a lot of us rely for orgasms, so whenever a brand takes that responsibility seriously and fashions a toy out of it, a clitoris gets its wings. 

The new Womanizer Premium 2 uses the world-famous (and first of its kind) Pleasure Air ™ Technology, offering concentrated, contactless stimulation unlike any other clit vibrator. Rather than overstimulating the clitoris and all 8,000 of its nerve endings, Pleasure Air Technology envelopes it with a happy hybrid of targeted suction and vibration sensations, sucking and massaging using pressure alone. If that sounds a lot like magic to you, that’s because it is. If anything, it’s slightly ironic that it’s shaped a bit like an inhaler because it will rob you of breath in the best possible way. 

Clitoral stimulators, then, provide a gentler option for those with sensitive clitorises thanks to touchless stimulation, all the while letting you choose how intense that clit stim hits. 

Let’s talk tech

How do I love thee? Let us count the ways. Herein lies several reasons why the Womanizer Premium 2 towers head and shoulders above the rest of the sex toys in your silky bedside bag of tricks. 

Pleasure Air Technology – gentle yet powerful waves stimulate the clitoris, providing the perfect balance between pulsating and massaging. No more numbness or overstimulation. 

Autopilot Mode – If your self-pleasure habits have become slightly boring and predictable of late (2020 has a lot to answer for), allow autopilot 2.0 to recalibrate your expectations. Pamper yourself rotten with the autopilot function and let the toy do all the work, gliding between the gears without moving a finger. Literally. Lazy wank, completed it. 

Smart Silence Technology – the very best kind of silent treatment. The Premium 2 only starts up once it’s in contact with your skin, meaning uninterrupted orgasms and preserved battery life. Make way for the grand finale – just because the technology’s quiet, doesn’t mean you will be. 

IPX7 Waterproof – Want to make a splash? We all know a good bathing ritual goes hand in hand with self-care, so what better way to elevate your bath or shower than with an erotically charged aqua aerobics sesh. Yep, the Womanizer Premium 2 is 100% waterproof. Good day, sir! 

14 Intensity Levels – Forget Monica Geller’s iconic SEVEN, the Premium seriously raises the stakes. It boasts a grand total of 14 individually adjustable intensity levels from soft all the way up to seventh heaven, meaning your pleasure is entirely in your hands. Live out limitless fantasies!                              

240 Minutes of Run Time – with a tank like that, you’ll never be in danger of running low on juice just as you’re pulling into the masturbation station again. 

Extra Stimulator Heads – because we all know one size doesn’t fit all, each box contains two different sizes of stimulator heads so you can tailor your pleasure to suit your body. 

If your house was on fire, and your cat and your boyfriend had already reached a place of safety, this is the one object you’d grab, which we all know is the real measure of a good sex toy. 

How to use a clitoral stimulator

For the uninitiated, here’s a step-by-step guide to using clitoral vibrators:

1. Grab some lube – if oral sex is the centre of your universe, then go ham with the lube. The lubrication paired with the clitoral stimulation makes for one complementary pleasure pairing. No tongue, no problem.  
2. Find a comfortable position – whether that be lying flat on your bed, sprawled out in a yoga pose or in the bath. 
3. Spread the labia apart slightly to expose the clitoris. V for victory and all that. 
4.  Place the Womanizer Premium 2 against your skin. Have a play with the positioning. Everybody is different so take your time. Remember the aforementioned leisurely guilt-free wank. 
5. Explore all 14 intensity levels from soft to intense. Embrace experimentation and self-discovery. 
6. Don’t forget to have fun! Unsubscribe from shame and enjoy pleasure for what it is: the most natural thing on earth. If ever there were a self-love affirmation to tattoo on your brain, it’s that. 

Treat yourself this Self Love Day and save 20% with the code ZOELLA20 on the Womanizer Premium 2 available at Lovehoney. Run, don’t walk! 

Created in partnership with Womanizer

2022 is well underway and with January tucked under our belts and the month of love upon us it’s only looking up from here! With longer days, Galentines and a new Tom Holland release in cinemas it’s a great time to be alive, and we’ll be celebrating with a glass of Rosé to mark the occasion, thank you very much. It might be the shortest month of the year but with the promise of Spring somewhat on the horizon (wishful thinking) positivity is flowing through our veins here at Zoella HQ, and we have a feeling this month is gonna be a good’un! As usual we’ve broken down 20 things we’ll be partaking in this month, most of which involve scoffing the discounted Hotel Chocolat gift selection post Feb 14th, and we truly wouldn’t have it any other way…

1. Add ‘January’s over’ to your gratitude list each morning. 
2. Eat your bodyweight in Valentine’s themed chocolates because self love is everything.
3. Watch The Notebook and spend 2 days emotionally recovering.
4. Listen to Taylor Swift’s Lover exclusively for a full 28 days straight.
5. Repeatedly pin Timothée Chalamet to your Pinterest vision board because there’s still time to manifest a dreamboat into your life before the 14th, and why not aim high?
6. Wonder how long it will be until bare leg weather comes around and immediately shiver.
7. Consider booking a one way ticket somewhere with a decent chance of meeting the daily recommended Vit D intake because sometimes England just ain’t it.
8. Spend obscene amounts on Val Day appropriate nail art just to feel something, complete with hearts, glitter, gems and a 10 minute long photoshoot at the end of it all. 
9. Redownload Hinge and delete it within 48 hours. Standard.
10. Spend a considerable amount of the month commenting on how quickly it’s flown by in comparison to January.
11. Wonder if it’s too late to action all the well-intended 2022 resolutions that have somehow fallen by the wayside.
12. Write a love letter to yourself to open next Valentine’s Day and lap up the delicious feelings of knowing you are enough.
13. Organise a boozy Galentine’s brunch with your fave ladies and get emotional after one too many glasses of fizz about how endlessly brilliant they are.
14. Blast good 4 u every time you get the urge to stalk your ex’s Instagram and remember Ms Rodrigo taught us better than that.
15. Spend a decent chunk of your long awaited January paycheck on some self love fun inspired by our very own Best Sex Toys for 2022 post and realise money truly can buy happiness.
16.  Read Dolly Alderton’s Everything I know About Love and feel overly sentimental about loves lost and still to come. 
17. Add some of the Lush Valentine’s Collection to your shower and enjoy alone or with company. Ooh la la.
18. Get excited for Pancake Day and then realise it falls in March this year. We hate to be the bearers of bad news. 
19. Deep dive into Bridgerton (again) ahead of its return in March and eagerly await your life changing for the better once more.
20. Browse weekend trips to Paris because if you can’t spontaneously visit the most romantic city of them all in February then when can you?