Victoria Stokes

Freelance writer and editor

United Kingdom

Victoria is a polished mental health and wellbeing writer with a decade of experience in online and print media. She regularly contributes to publications such as Happiful, Health & Wellbeing, and Healthline, and writes for smaller coaching and wellness brands too.

Victoria has a real flair for writing compassionate, well-researched and solutions-focused content and is easily able to adapt her tone of voice according to the brand's style.

Previously deputy editor at STELLAR Magazine, she writes to the highest editorial standards, and crafts engaging blogs, newsletters, and social posts that are optimised and packed with useful takeaways.

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Mental Health & Wellbeing

IMAGE Magazine
I tried ‘slow living’ for a week and my mental wellbeing dramatically improved

How many times have you rushed from one task to another, barely having time to draw breath let alone soak in the present moment? Perhaps, lately, you’ve felt like a victim of hustle culture; caught in a trap of endlessly striving for something more, and feeling more and more burned out as a result. If you’re tired of living life at breakneck speed, it could be time to embrace slow living.

Healthline
03/19/2023
Everything Shower: Why This Self-Care Routine Is Taking Over TikTok

The trend comprises a series of self-care rituals that are said to improve mental health. Proponents say "Everything Showers" can aid stress management, improve mood, and lower anxiety. Experts say "Everything Showers" may be beneficial for mental health but they are not a fix-all.

Reader's Digest
How to spot and handle emotional invalidation

Have you ever been told that a problem shared is a problem halved? Often, it rings true. We open up to a trusted friend and their kindness and understanding makes us feel almost instantly better. But other times, we open up, and feel worse.

Health & Wellbeing
It's okay to change your mind

Change is never easy. It often comes with a whole lot of logistical problems, but perhaps the biggest roadblock to making positive progress in your life – be it changing your ideals, switching careers, or letting go of a relationship that no longer serves you – is the belief that it’s not okay to change your mind.

Healthline
03/09/2023
Prince Harry Credits Use of Psychedelics with Relief from Anxiety. What to know about...

In a recent interview, Prince Harry said psychedelics have helped him deal with the traumas and pains of the past Research suggests psychedelics may help improve mood and ease some mental health issues, such as anxiety Experts suggest that micro-dosing psychedelics may aid psychotherapy However, psychedelics carry health risks and are illegal in many parts of the world There are many ways to mind your mental health.

Healthline
09/19/2022
Why the Death of Celebrities Like Queen Elizabeth Can Affect Us Deeply

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch, died on September 8th. Since then, there's been an outpouring of grief on a global scale. Experts say grief is a natural reaction to a well-known person's passing. Celebrity deaths affect us for many reasons, such as unresolved grief and the illusion of permanence.

Healthline
08/29/2022
Is 'Quiet Quitting' Really Good for Your Health? What Experts Think

A new trend known as "quiet quitting" encourages employees to do the bare minimum at work. Quiet quitting may lead to better work/life balance and improved boundary setting. However, it could negatively impact career advancement opportunities and relationships with your colleagues.

Happiful Magazine
12/21/2021
Falling behind in life? How to cope when milestones are delayed

There's a sort-of unspoken, but widely acknowledged, 'life path' we're all expected to follow - but none of our journeys are exactly the same. Here, we're exploring the mental health impact of deviating from the predicted 'life milestones' course, and how to handle it

Health & Wellbeing
Lift the labels

The super-fit one, the career woman, the mumsy mum... do you – consciously or unconsciously – label people, including yourself? Find out why this can be harmful and how to mentally rip them up

Healthline
05/19/2022
13 Mental Health Influencers to Lift Up Your Feed

When you're experiencing mental health conditions, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Everyone deserves to feel listened to, supported, and less alone when life feels like it's just too much. Not only that, but it's important to make sure you're feeding your mind with positive messages all the time - not just during times of difficulty.

Healthline
10/14/2022
New Study Debunks Old Theory That Depressed People Are More Realistic

New research challenges Depressive Realism: a theory that suggests depressed people are less prone to optimistic bias. Research from 1979 suggests that people with depression are most realistic when judging how much control they have over their lives, but the results could not be replicated in a recent study.

Meditation Lighthouse
Have You Been Set Back By Self Sabotage?

We've all been there, right? You set a goal and for a time you seamlessly make progress towards it. And then BAM. Out of nowhere, you find yourself slipping back into old habits. The sky-high motivation you had at the start is now missing in action and try as you might you can't quite get back into your groove.

Healthline
05/26/2022
6 Tips for a Mindful Work Routine for Increased Focus and Satisfaction

It's a Monday morning, and I have precisely eleven items on my to-do list, each one as urgent as the other. I haven't a clue where to begin. Twenty minutes later, I have seven tabs open on my internet browser, an email drafted, a few notes scrawled into my agenda, and a creeping tension in my shoulder.

Reader's Digest
03/16/2022
Beware The Anti-Climax: The Unexpected Downside Of Achieving Your Goals

Picture the scene: you’ve spent years working towards a very specific goal. You’ve put in countless hours of work and made many sacrifices along the way, but now that you’ve got there it doesn’t feel quite like you imagined. Instead of celebration, elation, and pride, you feel emptiness, confusion, and doubt.

Well+Good
04/29/2022
How to Cope with Eco-Guilt | Well+Good

Picture the scene: It's Monday night and you've just made your weekly pilgrimage to the supermarket. You've made the journey on foot, picked up a handful of locally-sourced, in-season veggies, and are headed to the checkout when suddenly you realize you've forgotten your reusable tote. Again.

Image.ie
16/02/2022
How vulnerable is too vulnerable online?

Even the most emotionally robust among us have fallen victim to a bout of social-media induced comparisonitis, especially when it comes to comparing our lives to those of the people ‘closest’ to us. With celebs sharing their low moments across more and more, should we join them or is that opening us up to ridicule or scepticism?

Rogue Collective
01/29/2022
Wear the dangerous outfit: The body-positive mantra we all need in 2022

Victoria Stokes, inspired by a tweet by Sophie Tassew, reviews not only her own approach to limiting her fashion choices, but the pressure on us to have 'perfect' bodies before we feel we can wear what we like... I can vividly remember the first time I limited my fashion choices.

Healthline
05/13/2020
How a Life Coach Taught Me to Stop Comparing Myself to Others

My friends were like a mirror. All I could see were my shortcomings staring back at me. If I had to guess, I'd say that human beings have been comparing themselves to one another since the beginning of time. I have no doubt that prehistoric man envied the size of his neighbor's cave or coveted his admirable flint skills.

Stellar
02/22/2020
Small Things You Can Do To Stop A Self-Esteem Spiral | Stellar

Self-esteem: Confidence in one's own worth or abilities. See also self-worth, self-respect, and personal value. If you've got it, it's all good, if you haven't, you'll feel it. Sometimes you can have it, but it can feel threatened. Someone's outperformed you at work.

Healthline
12/16/2020
Can a Worry Journal Help You Manage Stress?

What do you do when you feel stressed or worried? Do you vent to anyone who will listen? Or do you calmly jot down your thoughts in a journal? For many people, the answer is probably the former - and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Healthline
09/08/2020
The Positive Side of Negative Thinking

Don't worry, be happy. Chin up. Look on the bright side. Social media feeds and daily conversations are flooded with phrases like these. You don't have to look too far to see how much we favor positivity. A positive mental attitude can be a powerful tool to help you through life's challenges and daily struggles.

Healthline
05/26/2021
Trauma Hurts, But You Can Heal. Cue Post-Traumatic Growth

It's no easy road, but experts say trauma can lead to new beginnings. You may have heard of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It's a mental health condition that arises after a traumatic event, often characterized by flashbacks, severe anxiety, and disturbing thoughts. Fewer people are likely to have heard of post-traumatic growth.

Healthline
08/27/2021
Law of Attraction or Emotional Repression? What the Experts Think

Proponents of the law of attraction believe that your thoughts and feelings create your life. The energy you put out into the world, they say, comes back to you in what you attract. The theory suggests that how your life pans out is ultimately within your control, that you have the power to manifest your desires using the power of positivity.

Nutrition & Fitness

Healthline
08/30/2023
Nutritionists Review Starbucks' Two New Fall Menu Drinks

Nutrition experts weigh in on Starbucks' new seasonal drinks, the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, and the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte while sharing simple swaps that can make them healthier.

Healthline
05/26/2023
'Ozempic Butt': What Is This Weight Loss Drug Side Effect?

While taking drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can help people shed pounds quickly, rapid weight loss can also cause saggy skin and a 'deflated' appearance in curvy areas of your body. Here's what you can do about it.

Healthline
06/21/2023
Can Ozempic and Wegovy Really Help Curb Addiction Too?

From ending the desire to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol to stopping nail biting and even excessive shopping, people are claiming medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are helping them overcome a range of addictive behaviors.

Healthline
02/23/2023
Shy Girl Workout: How This TikTok Trend Can Help Ease Gym Anxiety

'Shy Girl' workouts are proving popular on social media platforms like TikTok. The trend includes demonstrations of simple, easy-to-replicate exercises that can be performed with minimal equipment. These workouts are said to help gym beginners overcome the fear and anxiety that accompanies working out around others.

Healthline
02/06/2023
5 Apple Watch Features That Can Help You Monitor Your Heart Health

Apple has offered a breakdown of five of the Apple Watch's heart health features. The device includes functions said to monitor cardio fitness, high and low heart rate, Atrial fibrillation, and more. Experts say these functions can help you convey useful cardiovascular data to your heart doctor However, they express concern about the accuracy of devices like the Apple Watch Eating well, moving more, and reducing stress.

Healthline
03/21/2023
Gwyneth Paltrow: Why Experts Label Her Diet as 'Disordered Eating'

Gwyneth Paltrow received backlash online after revealing surprising details about her diet. In a recent podcast, she said her eating regime consists of mostly liquids and has been criticized for being too restrictive. Health experts say this kind of eating regime does not provide adequate nutrition or support optimal health.

Healthline
01/23/2023
Feel Like You're 'Failing' You're New Year's Diet Resolution? Try This

Studies suggest that making sudden extreme changes to your diet often isn't sustainable. According to research, people are more likely to give up on their goals if they feel too challenged. Experts agree that extreme, abrupt changes can be challenging both mentally and physically. Focusing on tiny improvements you can make daily is key.

Healthline
01/06/2023
Dry January Too Dry for You? Try Damp January Instead

Quitting drinking by joining a trend known as Dry January is a popular way to mitigate the effects of heavy drinking after Christmas. Dry January is linked with a number of health benefits, such as improved sleep and mental health.

Bezzy RA
11/02/2020
How Diet and Exercise Helped Me Manage My Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lifestyle changes played an important role in bolstering my mood, keeping my energy high, and helping me stay positive after a life-altering diagnosis. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?" the doctor asked. "9 and a half," I answered without hesitation.

Healthline
07/15/2022
You Can't Exercise Your Way Out of an Unhealthy Diet

New research finds you can't outrun the effect of a poor diet by simply exercising more. Regular physical activity and good dietary habits go hand in hand when it comes to your long-term health and longevity. Physical activity and diet also play a major role in the prevention of many chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.

Healthline
08/04/2022
Food and Drinks Are Getting Sweeter. How That Can Affect Your Health

A Cambridge University study has shown that foods and drinks around the world are getting sweeter. Excess sugar consumption is linked with an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Non-nutritive sweeteners are often seen as a healthier alternative but also carry certain health risks.

Stylist
04/15/2022
Have you been sexually harassed at the gym? Here's how other women have tackled it

"I always breathe a tiny sigh of relief when I walk into the free weights section of my gym and spot another woman there," says Rachel*, a 32-year-old gym-goer who has experienced leering and catcalling while working out. "I somehow feel safer knowing it's not just me and a bunch of testosterone-fuelled men inhabiting that space.

Stylist
03/01/2022
Can you really talk yourself into being fitter?

Picture the scene: you're at your Tuesday spin class, your heart is pounding, sweat is pumping out of every pore, and your legs are getting tired and heavy. Just as you're about to throw in the metaphorical towel, the fitness instructor yells out: "Push! Come on, guys - you can do it.

Women's lifestyle

STELLAR Magazine
Should You Chase The Dream Or The Money?

Ask almost anyone and they’ll tell you to follow your dreams, but what about when your passion doesn’t pay the bills, wonders Victoria Stokes

Rogue Collective
04/16/2022
Why are we so hooked on watching women fight on TV?

We're all about women supporting women and female empowerment, right? Yet, women cat fighting and bitching to each other is among our TV of choice? Victoria Stokes asks why exactly we can't get enough of shows like RHOBH and its ilk.

Stellar
11/26/2019
We've Busted 8 Of The Biggest Contraception Myths | Stellar

Women of the internet took a collective gasp in January of this year when it was revealed that the traditional seven-day break from the pill isn't necessary. In case you missed it, the NHS confirmed that, despite what we've been told for the past 60 years, there's no health benefit from taking a seven-day hormone-free break and it's simply not essential.

IMAGE.ie
02/21/2022
Why should women have to change their leadership language to fit into a male ideal?

A lot of business media and leadership experts recommend women to eliminate tentative language and qualifying phrases like 'if that makes sense' and 'no worries if not' from their vocabulary. But why should we, as women, have to apologise and adapt the way we speak and communicate to meet a male ideal, asks Victoria Stokes

Stellar
07/26/2017
Lessons In Love: Is There *Really* Any Such Thing As Your Lobster? | Stellar

"He never tried to hide his dalliances from me, and as a European I understood it was unrealistic to expect total fidelity." Those are the words of Anne Douglas, 98, and to give her comments some context, she's speaking of her 63-year-long marriage to Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, 100, in their new book Kirk and Anne: Letters Of Love, Laughter And A Lifetime In Hollywood.

STELLAR Magazine
"Do You Want Some Advice?"

Advice is everywhere: on the internet, in conversation and even on our clothes, but is it always welcome? Victoria Stokes discusses the problem with unsolicited ‘help

Stellar
11/15/2017
Celebrity Break-Ups: The Science Behind Why We Care So Much | Stellar

Victoria Stokes wonders why we're so invested in #RelationshipGoals celebs, and finds out that there's much more to it than plain old idol worship. When Anna Faris and Chris Pratt announced their separation in August, it's fair to say fans did not take the news well.

Weddings

Wedding Journal
06/29/2020
How To Choose Your Wedding Flowers - Wedding Journal

After all, there's lots to think about, from the bridal bouquet and blooms for the bridal party, to reception centrepieces, aisle markers and archways. Not to mention colour palettes. While choosing your wedding flowers may seem daunting, it's important to get it right.

Wedding Journal
09/28/2020
How To Have A Woodland-Themed Wedding - Wedding Journal

Perhaps you were inspired by your favourite childhood book and love the feeling of magic, enchantment and playfulness you feel in the forest. Maybe you're just a sucker for nature and the outdoors. Or you could just want to do something a little different.

Wedding Journal
05/14/2020
Backyard Weddings Are About To Be Super Popular - Wedding Journal

But there's also another big wedding trend en route and it's the backyard wedding. Before you write it off, hear us out. Lockdown restrictions are due to be relaxed in the coming months, but it still leaves weddings - particularly those to be held in a traditional venue, like a hotel - somewhat up in the air.

Wedding Journal
06/05/2020
What Is A Sequel Wedding And How Do You Have One? - Wedding Journal

Sequel weddings have been commonplace in many different cultural and religious traditions and they involve hosting multiple ceremonies to celebrate your marriage. Instead of one big celebration, sequel weddings involve many events marking your marriage. The trend is popular with celebrities too.

Wedding Journal
09/23/2020
9 Ways To Save On Your Wedding Venue And Catering Costs - Wedding Journal

While your Pinterest boards and pinned pics might depict lavish, over-the-top ceremonies in some far-flung destination or seven-course reception banquets in a castle on a cliff, you probably know deep down that some of your ideas will need to be downsized to meet your budget. But you shouldn't fret.

Wedding Journal
06/30/2020
10 Alternative Wedding Cake Ideas To Make You Drool - Wedding Journal

Your wedding cake is going to feature heavily in your photos and you'll be looking at those 'cutting the cake' snaps for years to come, so chances are you'll want to get your wedding cake just right. But you don't have to go for three tiers of Victoria Sponge.

Copywriting

Nicole Chapman
08/28/2023
POWER OF MUM Sales Page

It's HERE! The definitive mum-friendly fitness plan you've been waiting for.

The Serene Celebrant - Weddings
01/02/2023
The Serene Celebrant Home Page

Personal. Heartfelt. Memorable. Wedding ceremonies that bring your love story to life.

The Serene Celebrant - Weddings
01/02/2023
The Serene Celebrant About Me

Hi, I’m Jacqui, And helping you say ‘I do’ is what I do best. That’s right, my passion for people, romance and fun provide the perfect recipe for a tailored wedding ceremony you and your guests won’t ever forget.

Revolution Fitness
Transform yourself with less sacrifice, more success

Struggling to find the time to train but still want to build a body you love? Hate the restriction of conventional exercise plans? Transform yourself with less sacrifice, more success ...with a tailor-made strength and fitness programme that works with your lifestyle, not against it.

The Head Plan
The Journal by Roxie Nafousi

How many times have you felt like you weren’t enough? How often has your inner critic stopped you from pursuing the things you really want?

The Head Plan
The Kids Journal

Make journaling your child’s new superpower with The Head Plan Kids Journal!

And the rest...

Stellar
06/26/2019
Is Rage Quitting Your Job Really A Thing? And Should You Do It? | Stellar

"I quit!". You can picture the scene, can't you? A studious, but completely under-appreciated employee finally reaches the end of her tether, and in a case of major payback against her terrible boss she ceremoniously quits her job, triumphantly turning on her Louboutin'd heel and sashaying away into the elevator, which conveniently opens without delay.

Her Agenda
01/05/2021
How To Find Your Career Stretch Zone To Reach New Heights

Before we try something new, we may fall into a state of anxiety and panic. Sometimes we can't focus as well as we might need to because we're being controlled by fear. However, you don't need to be terrified to reach new heights in your career.

Her Agenda
01/08/2021
What To Consider Before Pursuing Your Side Hustle Full-Time

"Good things happen to those who hustle." That's according to American diarist Anais Nin, and if recent happenings are a good indicator, she's not wrong. An estimated 57 percent of Americans are believed to have a side hustle, and during the pandemic, one in four women are turning those hustles into bona fide businesses.