I never really drank, until I moved to the UK. There were lots of wonderful drinks to be found all around me, and many great pubs too. For the first time in my life, I started going out. However, about a year ago I decided to step away from this lifestyle again and quit alcohol. Here’s why.
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A little while ago I made a decision I thought I would never make: to make the switch from Windows to Mac. I don’t always adapt to change very well, so I wanted to do some research before finally making the call. However, to my surprise there was surprisingly little information to be found online. So after making the switch myself, I compiled a list of all things to consider when switching from a Windows PC to Mac.
Costs
First of all, Apple is infamous for being extremely expensive. Prices range from €1200 for the cheapest new Macbook Air to €3200 for the fanciest new MacBook Pro. Not a purchase to take lightly. If you’re lucky, though, you might be able to find a high-quality refurbished or second-hand model.
Check out Macvoorminder, Forza, or Leapp if you’re in the Netherlands.
USB- and other ports
Post-2016 Macbook Pro models no longer carry regular USB ports. In fact, the laptop’s existing USB-C ports are pretty useless unless you buy an adapter. Apple has got rid of the “old-fashioned” ports to minimise the design (and, coincidentally, function of the laptop, ha!). This means you are going to have to add a high-quality adapter on top of your already expensive purchase. I got mine from a Dutch webshop.
It talks!
When first starting your new laptop, it will probably at some point start talking to you. It was quite loud and weird because mine spoke with an interesting Dutch accent, so it took me by surprise, but it’s all okay: you can just switch off the sound.
Transferring files
During initial setup your new Apple product will offer to copy documents from your previous device onto the new one, whether this be an Apple or Windows product. For Windows, all you need to do is install the setup programme on your Windows computer, make sure both devices are connected to the same WiFi network, and from there just follow the instructions. It may take a while (I had over 80GB of documents), but it’s a great service which makes the switch so much easier.
System Preferences
System Preferences, aka Settings in Windows, is your new friend. I advice you to go through all these settings first because they will teach you a couple of things about your new Mac, but also allow you to make personal changes. For example, I changed the scroll direction and speed for my external mouse and tracking pad.
Siri
Siri is also your friend! The newer models come with this built-in digital butler, which is very helpful for finding your way through the Apple universe. Instead of browsing hopelessly for that one application I don’t know where to find, I just ask Siri. She’s my new Australian best friend (you can adjust voice and accents in System Preferences).
The keys
The keyboard for Apple products work quite differently and it might lead to some frustration at the start (it took me far too long to find the € sign), but there won’t be anything you can’t Google! You will get used to it in no time.
Your new Mac will transfer your files for you.
Honestly, I don’t miss my Windows laptop one bit. The transition went much more smoothly and easily than I had expected. Here are some of the things I like the most about my new Macbook.
Hope this was of good use to you! Here are some other handy websites:
🇳🇱 Dutch websites
An old photo from an old friendship.
Have you ever broken up with a friend? It is common fact that break-ups are the worst, but I feel we don’t talk much about friendships that fall apart. And aren’t they just as bad sometimes?
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I have had sleep issues as long as I have been battling mental health issues, which is coming down to a rough total of ten years. However, it had somehow never occurred to me to seek out help for this specific problem.
Finally, this year, I was offered the chance to partake in sleep therapy as a way to keep me occupied while on the wait-list for treatment. For six consecutive weeks I would be learning all about sleep health, and how lifestyle and mentality can affect your rhythm. In this post I’ve summarised for you how the sleep therapy treatment has effectively changed my routine.
Though at the moment of writing it’s unclear how long the “intelligent lock-down” will be lasting here in the Netherlands, it is fairly certain that globally we will be dealing with this for a while. Recently I wrote about my favourite things to do alone, and boy, I had no idea I would be needing that list so badly. Passing the time in quarantaine is a different matter, though, so this time I’ve compiled a list of my favourite things to during quarantine.
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The very minute Dutch schools closed, my brain switched to work mode. Everything immediately went digital, meaning communication about work continued 24/7. Soon I was beginning to find difficulty switching off and separating free time from work.
Some days I’ve managed to find a pleasant rhythm and routine, but other days I’m still struggling. It’s a work in progress. However, knowing that many of us are faced with this challenge, I wanted to share some of the tips I have to help you separate work from home during this bizarre isolation period.
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»Albums That Calm Me Down«
»Balancing Health and Work Life: 8 Things I’ve Learned«
A couple of years ago, I started playing music whenever I was having trouble falling asleep. It’s turned out as one of the best coping mechanisms for me, and has helped me through my most challenging mental health issues. Now, I play music every night as I go to bed. There’s always a few albums that help me calm down.
You might also like »How I Spend Time Alone«
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