Brussels, we’re celebrating World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
And I’m going to be real with you. The past couple of weeks have been really rough for me. Work has been overwhelming, some things have happened in my personal life as well, and my health has taken a toll. In moments like these, I have to remind myself of a magical word - boundaries.
Brussels sometimes pushes us to and beyond our limits. It’s a very intense city if you are directly in the bubble. The environment often makes you feel that being overwhelmed is the norm, and if not, you’re not doing enough. And that’s exactly where we need to set boundaries, not to burn out.
Boundaries from the toxic colleague who constantly questions everything we do; boundaries from the friend who doesn’t reciprocate the same energy that we invest in them; or boundaries from the partner who was a walking red flag but we chose to ignore it.
So we’re not going to let this toxicity get the best of us. And that’s why this issue will focus on well-being and good vibes only ❤️.
In this issue:
🤝 5 tips to make events less overwhelming
🩹 4 organisations striving for better Brussels
💆🏻♀️ 3 spas to relax in on your next free weekend
☕ 13 cozy cafés for an autumnal reset
🗓️ Upcoming events in Brussels (9-21 October)
🎥 Content creator in the spotlight: The Middle Ground
5 tips to make events less overwhelming
Have you ever been to an event and told yourself - “Uff, I need a minute”?
The older I get, the more I feel that large events have been built by extroverts for other extroverts. And I’m saying this as an extrovert turned ambivert (or maybe I have always been an ambivert?). When you think about it, it can be a lot at the same time - people, noise, lights, tight schedules. Our main goal is for attendees to have a good time, yet all these things piled up may result in a sensory and mental overload. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are five simple tips that will make your events less overwhelming
Information before the event. When sending information to your participants, include details on the exact agenda, layout of the event venue, and who they can turn to in case of questions and/or special needs for the event.
Well-recognisable staff. You never know what a participant may need from you on the spot. Wear a lanyard, a pin, a sticker, or a T-shirt to be easily distinguished from attendees. For larger events, always have someone present at the check-in or have a dedicated info desk.
Intentional lights and screens. Bright lights may cause headaches or make participants uneasy. Flashing lights and/or videos on your screen may trigger persons with epilepsy. A video loop on the background screens may distract some participants and prevent them from focusing on a debate on the stage.
Quiet room. If your venue allows it, book an extra room where participants can just go for some me-time or even take a private call.
Breaks. Let’s stop glorifying busy and tight event agendas. Your participants need a break to have a drink, go to the bathroom, and get some fresh air. People also come to larger events for networking, so make sure you give them enough time to do that.
4 organisations striving for better Brussels
The great thing about this city is that there’s always a yin to a yang. Some great organisations and individuals in Brussels are fighting toxicity and supporting your mental health needs.
Community Help Service. This is a centre that provides mental health support in English. You can talk to some of their mental health professionals, or, if in a really serious situation, call their helpline. If you need a mental health care professional and this organisation cannot provide you with one, talk to your general practitioner.
A Better Brussels. This is an awareness campaign dedicated to supporting those affected by toxic work environments in the EU policymaking space. Their website is full of resources.
The Good Enough Company. Valentin and Eliza believe that better work and not more work is the answer. They offer a variety of services to fight the perfectionist trap, the culture of always more, and the burnout epidemic.
Brussels Career & Life newsletter by Gabriele Šimakauskaitė. OK, this is an individual, not an organisation. Gabriele, a Public Affairs professional, has recently started a newsletter where she uses principles like self-love and saying no to toxic workplaces.
3 spas to relax in on your next free weekend
I love spas! I don’t go to them as much as I would love to, but I do get myself a monthly massage with the most amazing masseuse (sorry, won’t share who she is because I need her to keep having time for me!)
Where to go for a girls’/guys’ weekend or a romantic getaway with your partner?
Thermae (Grimbergen or Melsbroek). I’ve gone once to Grimbergen, and my friends to Melsbroek. Thermae offers pretty affordable packages, day or overnight, combining jacuzzis, hamams, saunas, and treatments. Both indoor and outdoor, you can choose from a dressed and an undressed section. If you sign up for their newsletter, you will get a discount on your birthday.
Waer Waters (Dilbeek). This spa still remains high on my list, but I have heard great things from friends who have been. You can choose from packages that combine wellness, buffet, and massages, or opt for an overnight stay. As with Thermae, you can choose between a dressed and an undressed section.
Harmon House (Saint-Gilles). This spa has recently popped up on my radar thanks to Nancy from theguide_brussels. You can buy a day pass which offers you all kinds of facilities and treatments, with an indoor swimming pool on top.
13 cozy cafés for an autumnal reset
I don’t know about you, but when autumn comes, all I want to do is cozy up under a blanket, drink a hot beverage, and read a book/watch TV. Or go to a cozy café with a friend. Here’s a list of cafés that I have been to and can personally recommend.
*This list doesn’t include cafés which were listed in the last edition under matcha spots.
TULIPE - Specialty Coffee (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert) - one of my favourite spots. Very tiny, but always with a great seasonal choice of drinks. This is where I had an ube latte for the first time.
Leona Café (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert) - offers a really wide variety of drinks
Leopold Café Presse - Diamant (Schaerbeek) - for the record, I think every Leopold branch has cozy vibes, but people living in this quartier need more representation in this newsletter 🙂
NÖJE Vegan Food & Specialty Coffee (Schaerbeek) - very homey vibes; I also recommend this place for brunch
Woodpecker Schuman (Etterbeek) - also a great place for brunch with super nice staff
MIR Concept Coffee Store (Etterbeek) - this store probably has the biggest choice of lattes I have seen in Brussels. They also sell really beautiful, stainless steel jewellery from the brand My Birdy Boutique.
Belga & Co. (Ixelles) - probably doesn’t need a lot of introduction and is already known by many of you; their matcha is among the better ones in this city
BUDDY BUDDY - Nut Butter Coffee Bar (Ixelles) - if you don’t know their nut butters yet, what are you doing?! (If you have a nut allergy, I’m sorry)
Karsmakers Coffee House (Ixelles) - a perennial star for the European Parliament workers, and my go-to for genmaicha latte
ONO Brunch & Coffee (Ixelles) - only had lunch there, not drinks, but the staff was incredibly nice
Hinterland (Saint-Gilles) - also serves a great brunch
Kafei Dansaert (city centre) - you have to get their famous fluffy Japanese pancakes
Tapiocaria Brussels (city centre) - I actually haven’t had any drink here (yet), but their pão de queijo are to die for
Upcoming events
📅 10-12 October: I Love Science Festival @Tour and Taxis (link)
📅 14 October: Strike at the Zaventem Airport and Charleroi Airport
📅 14-25 October: Oktober Fest Brussels @Parc du Cinquantenaire (link)
📅 14 October-2 November: tick, tick…BOOM! musical @Stassart House (link)
📅 15 October: Charms Workshop x My Jewellery @Wolf (link)
📅 17 October: A Sip in the Woods: Cocktail Tasting @The Nine (link)
📅 17-19 October: Plants Market @Wolf (link)
📅 17 October-2 November: Halloween @Tour and Taxis (link)
📅 18 October: Museum Night Fever @various museums (link)
📅 18-19 October: Korea Unboxed @Korean Cultural Center (link)
📅 18-19 October: Heroes Comic Con @Brussels Expo (link)
📅 18-19 October: Made in Asia @Brussels Expo (link)
📅 18-19 October: Slow Ways Weekend @various locations (link)
📅 21 October: English Stand-Up @Kings Comedy Club (link)
EXTRA: 📅 23-25 October: Knocked, The Brussels Musical @Théâtre L’Improviste (link) - a really great musical I saw last year, with two acquaintances in it! This is a must-watch for everyone who loves Brussels and musicals.
Content creator in the spotlight: The Middle Ground
The Middle Ground is a new talk show/podcast in Brussels. Two co-hosts, Viktorya and Valeriya, welcome you to their blue couch and an absolutely stunning view from their apartment every week. Their quest is to answer “How do we find the middle ground in Brussels?” How do we balance our busy work lifestyles with free time? They are four episodes in (at the time of writing), and so far, I have genuinely enjoyed every single episode. They interview people whom they find most interesting, and not necessarily those we see in the news. Besides YouTube, you can also follow their journey on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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