Lauren Lucy Thompson

Lauren | Freelance Copywriter and Editor based in the West Midlands

The Tab UK Babe •

I tried 'laughter yoga' and it was the weirdest experience of my life

This is it, the strangest thing I’ve ever experienced.

Naturally the idea to go spawned out of total and complete boredom. I’d seen them advertised online – workshops which practiced group “laughter yoga” or Hasyayoga. The bizarre exercise, which is often practiced in open parks, involves gathering in groups and forcing yourself to laugh. After a while, the forced laughter (which goes on for a long time) becomes natural and is supposedly really good for you.
The Tab UK Babe •

We asked couples who moved in together in their 20s what they were thinking

Usually moving in with your significant other means compromise, but it’s the next logical step in progressing your relationship, right? If you’re happy, then why not? In fact, it was recently proven that divorce rates have fallen to their lowest level for 40 years amid signs that the growing acceptance of couples living together before getting married has ultimately strengthened marriage.
The Tab UK Babe •

A guide to maintaining your long distance bestie

You meet, you hit it off. The in-jokes begin and sooner or later you get to a point where you’re almost inseparable, reading each others glances and facial expressions so well they could have been scrawled in all caps in a whatsapp message. In an article by Psychology Today, research highlights how much more emotionally invested women are in their friendships, with a supportive element that many male friendships lack. However they’re also much more fragile and require a lot of up-keep, sometimes taking on the intensity of a romantic relationship, just without the added complication of physical intimacy.
The Tab •

What not to say to someone with depression

According to the mental health charity Mind, depression affects 2.6 out of every 100 people – with numbers increasing every year.

With this in mind, it’s important to know how to approach someone you know who may be dealing with such feelings. Depression is not simply a “rough patch” or “feeling a little blue”, it’s a chemical imbalance in the brain that most often can’t be helped.

In a study for Social Psychology Quarterly it was proved that the attitudes of friends and family members towards
The Tab Brookes •

You haven't been 'friend-zoned', she just isn't interested

The first time living away from your parents, first freshers’ week hangover, first time realizing how much cheese costs, and inevitably your first time being accused of friend-zoning a guy.

This isn’t to say guys don’t friend-zone girls, it’s just that guys complain about it more. Not all guys, just the ones lacking the emotional intelligence it takes to understand when a girl just isn’t into you. The worst part is how commonplace it is to hear the term friend-zone thrown around so casually. Th
The Tab Birmingham •

What it's really like living with an eating disorder at uni

Meet Claire McKenna. She’s a 21-year-old student in her second year at Birmingham university. She also suffers from a severe eating disorder and is now an ambassador for Beat – a UK based charity which helps people with eating disorders through raising money and awareness.

Hi Claire, tell us about your experience with eating disorders.

'I’ve been in and out of hospital since I was 16 years old with anorexia. By this I mean general hospitals and psychiatric units. '
The Tab Brookes •

Why I'm trying to be more open about my eating disorder

Monday 22nd February marks the beginning of Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2016, and for this reason I’ve decided to share my story.

I’d always had trouble finishing everything that was on my plate. Eating was just a chore and a distraction from the things I really wanted to do with my time. I’d often be found sitting stubbornly at the dinner table, doggedly refusing to eat the last few pieces of food that would grant me freedom. It wasn’t necessarily that I was a picky eater, I was lucky enoug
The Tab Brookes •

We spoke to the girls who raised over £1000 on Jailbreak this year

We caught up with the leader of team Wanderlost, Bronte Ainsley, to find out what they got up to on their Jailbreak shenanigans.

Along with partners in crime, Anna Wickstead and Tara-Kate Hartigan, they’re the first Brookes’ students to take part in what had previously been a charity event exclusive to Oxford University.

The aim of the game is to fund raise at least £100 for charity, and then get as far away from Oxford as you can for the next 36 hours without spending any money, whatsoever.

The Tab Brookes •

Third years trekked from Covered Market to Headington Hill with a giant Christmas tree

Five boys missioned from the Covered Market all the way up Headington Hill with an enormous Christmas tree.

The trek took them 45 minutes – a tradition they’ve held dear since their first fresher Christmas.

The legen-tree boys dubbed the mission Operation T.I.T (Tree in Transit), and even forked out £99 for it.

Third year English Literature and Drama student, Tobias Deakin, said: “After our first experience of a student Christmas, we were pining for more. As yew’d all know if you read this ar
The Tab Brookes •

What's in my wardrobe: Lolita edition

Adélaide Rose is a self-professed Lolita. She’s always been into anime, but her love of the Japanese style only blossomed a few years ago.

A wearer of fanciful frocks full of frills, lace and elegant patterns, Adélaide is a first year Japanese student at Brookes, and she’s given The Tab a peek into her elegant and feminine wardrobe.

How did you get into Lolita?

“It was a few years ago now I went to Hyper Japan, which is a Japanese culture event. It was for my brother’s birthday, and at the ti
The Tab Brookes •

Frilly and fabulous: Meet the Oxfordshire Lolitas

Brookes second year Beth Knighton and Buckinghamshire graduate Shalisa have two things in common: a hella cute wardrobe and membership to the Oxfordshire Lolita community.

They share an interest in Lolita fashion, a Japanese trend all about petticoats, bows, ribbon and lace.

Shalisa describes the Lolita subculture as: “Unapologetically feminine, modest, whimsical, and daring. It takes elements from Victorian, gothic and 1950’s fashion to create something imaginative and modern.”

The Japanese
The Tab Brookes •

'I wanted to feel strong and beautiful': Meet the Oxford Brookes pole dancers

You know how it is. People used to think pole dancing was something seedy, restricted to lap-dancing bars. But now, with the rise of pole fitness, more and more students are getting involved, and it’s promoted as a form of endurance exercise.

Many Oxford Brookes students in fact, are members of the local pole dancing classes at Dance Inspires. This month they take part in the Pole2Pole Oxford heat. We spoke to them to find out what being a pole dancer is actually like, and just how hardcore the