In this series, we speak to women who are committed to living their best lives and who are encouraging others to do the same. First up Hannah-Rose Yee (@hannahroserose.)
Hannah-Rose is honest, hilarious and offers the best advice when it comes to food, books and films. As with all good millennial relationships, we met on Instagram bonding over her story of KJ Apa and Ansel Elgort. She’s doing life her way, pursuing what makes her happy – which recently involved leaving Australia and moving to London. She’s a go-getter and is part of a trio who have started their own podcast – Three Dumplings, which is well worth a listen to! So, how does she live her best life?
What does your best life look like?
I am not sure that I know exactly what my best life looks like, but I know what it doesn’t look like. Sluggish, slow, riddled with stress and anxieties. These are the things that comprise a bad life. So what about a best life? I think maybe my best life has been these past six months, the six months since I left Australia and moved to London. They have not been a perfect life, but I think they might be a best one. Is it possible for something to be imperfect and best at the same time? I think so, and maybe, it’s preferable that way. In any case, my life right now isn’t easy, in fact, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m in a new city, with no family, trying to make friends and find a way to be. But it’s in that space that I think I am at my best: Adapting, leaping forward, eyes open. Also, you know, I can do whatever I want with my time because I’m in charge so I can see a movie on a Tuesday afternoon if I want. That’s nice.
How do you live your best life and not let what others around you are doing, or what others think you should do, impact you?
I am a very ‘my own lane’ type of girl. I don’t know if this helps me live my best life but it certainly helps me live my own life.
We live in a world where we are constantly comparing ourselves to others (no matter how much we try not to!) How do you stop comparing yourself to others?
I don’t think necessarily comparing ourselves to others is an inherently bad thing, as comparisons can help crystallise what we want and push us further. The tricky bit is not letting those comparisons weigh on us too much. Something I’ve learned to do, especially when it comes to career stuff, is to try and flip the comparisons from negative to positive. If you find yourself looking at others successes and feel overwhelmed and outdone, why not frame it in a new way that focuses on them and not you. How their achievements are so wonderful, their move forwards so great. Life is not a race! So don’t run it like you’re in one.
What is the best advice you have ever been given in regards to living your best life / making the most out of life?
Whenever you can, say yes.
What defines you and makes you the person you are (or want to be)?
What is your self-love routine?
Who are some women that inspire you?
I’m really inspired by the writer Elizabeth Day. I love how she is able to move seamlessly from long-form journalism into fiction (she has four novels published, with another coming soon) and now her fantastic podcast How To Fail. She is a very intelligent, very empathetic writer, which is what makes her journalism and her fiction so good, and what makes her such a powerful interviewer. Like the journalist Taffy Brodesser Akner, another great interviewer, most of her work is characterised by listening. I’m trying to get better at listening as the interviewer and incorporating more of that in my work.
