blog

MONTHLY LINK-UP: MAY GOALS

May 06, 2015

Monthly Goals

This is part of the monthly link-up at mysocalledchaos.com

Goals definitely aren't my top priority right now. I just finished two huge projects and papers, another paper, and another project. I just have one final left. Basically, everything is wrapping up for the school year and I'm what you would call "burnt out." I've been focusing on relaxing and rejuvenating myself this weekend. I'm mentally checked out, however I'm content with myself for picking up my grades from earlier in the semester and finishing strong.
However, now when one door closes, a window opens. This window is summer. I plan on relaxing, running, working, blogging, traveling, and catching up with all of my friends this summer. I've definitely noticed that my blog has not been my main focus these past few weeks, however, I'm ready to focus on it again. Here are my goals based around all of that!

 How This works:
  1. Follow your hosts My So-Called Chaos and A Peek at Karen's World to keep up with this link-up.
  2. Write up a post recapping last month's goals and setting goals for next month.
  3.  Make sure to include the button in your post by grabbing the code above.
  4. Link up your goals post with the monthly linky which goes live on the first Thursday of the month.
  5. Visit other links in the party to show support and offer advice for other goal setters.
  6. Have fun and make some new friends!


April Goals

  • Don't fall off of good eating habits just because lent is over Success
  • Make the transition for the new PRSSA e-board smooth and welcome them wholeheartedly Success, great mixer dinner on Monday.
  • Learn about your role as VP of PRSSA In progress
  • Conduct all your research for both of your research projects SUCCESS! FINALLY!
  • Pass in your World Music paper research paper early YESSSSSS
  • Keep posting twice a week Fail...
  • Run outside twice a week Success

May Goals

  • Run outside twice a week
  • Get a story ran from a press release at my internship
  • Start renovating my room  - move my bed and buy storage bins
  • Get a sponsored post posted
  • Write the vegan reflection post
  • Present at Undergrad Research Symposium
Let's hope May is as promising as April was!





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break

LIFESTYLE:5 HEALTH TIPS COLLEGE KIDS SHOULD KNOW AND DON'T

April 10, 2014

The college life doesn't exactly lend itself to a healthy life, unfortunately. I'm not just talking eating right and exercising, but also sleeping, social health, and well.. your immune system can be compromised. Actually, it will be compromised. Life happens. However after almost completing a year of college and living in a communal space (that may or may not be cleaned all the times it's supposed to be) I believe I'm equipped to lend you some help in this department. Here are five helpful tips that you can carry with you to combat all of these future problems, and to keep your immune system or any other part of your life from being compromised. 
1. A little breakfast perspective...
Breakfast is way more important than you think. Even if you have an 8 AM class and you don't have time to have a good breakfast, just grab a granola bar or a banana/apple and take it to class with you. I'm begging you, and you'll thank yourself. Studies most certainly have shown that people that skip breakfast lose less weight and even gain weight compared to those who skip out on the granola. I know there are those that say, "I'm too nauseous to even eat that early," however its recommended to eat at least an hour within waking up. Wait until you get to class, maybe you won't be so sick then. Well, it depends on the class. if it was Microbiology, I might hurl, too. 
If you like to start off your day with a little exercise, the girls of Tone It Up recommend having a banana and maybe some coffee before you exercise. You have to have something in your stomach to 1. keep you going and 2. burn calories, not muscle.
If you do have time to have a big breakfast, here are some things I recommend: 
                                 

 "Catching up" on sleep may leave you behind...
It's college, there are some times where we either have to pull an all-nighter, or are out late with our friends and we magically remember we have an 8 AM class at 3 AM. After those nights, usually the next day is filled with  a deep slumber from 9 PM to 9AM. That twelve hours of sleep may sound wonderful, but most people feel groggy after sleeping that long. This is because it is more healthful for our bodies to have a set sleep schedule, than sleep longer nights. If you can get to bed by midnight during the week, that's great. Set an alarm for the earliest you wake up, and wake up at that time every day, but if you can sleep in sleep in after that alarm. Even if you just go to the bathroom at that time. Maintaining a regular sleep cycle keeps both your circadian rhythm and your under eye circles happy.
picture from pcmag.com
I use my Up by Jawbone not only ot track my steps but my sleep. This is usually what my night of sleep looks like. I am for 7.5 hours of sleep, and usually get between that and 8.5.
Keep your stuff clean, keep your body clean
College can be a breeding ground for germs, it's not secret. 50 girls or boys sharing one bathroom, not including guests of others can be a recipe for disaster. Think of how many people sat on that toilet seat before you? And you best hope those counters are cleaned thoroughly. Not to make you paranoid or anything! Unless it's too late, oops. Just remember to keep your area tidy, well swept and disinfected if you can. Sleep and eat your vegetables to keep your immune system strong. In a communal living space, you'll need a strong immune system. 

 Coffee's great, but don't over-do it
I know, I'm sorry to break these news to you. As an avid coffee love, addict, junkie, or whatever you call it, I feel you. Coffee and tea are great to get your metabolism started and start off your day. However, don't rely on it. It's better for you body for you to stay in and work on that project then come back and do an all-nights, or trickle your work on it so you don't do it all at once all-nighter style. Then, you're depending on your caffeine to get you through. Coffee is trusty, but it's more of a mood booster for me now. If you're up to two large coffee's a day, maybe trade that other coffee for an extra hour of sleep.


Refresh your body, refresh your mind
We all find our inspiration in different ways, but when I go for a walk and smell the fresh air, I instantly get inspired by the outdoors. I know, that sounds as cliche as roses are red but it works! Binge-watching on Netflix is a great thing to do and one of my favorite pastimes, but in order to keep a healthy mind and body we need to get some fresh air. Also, I've found that having a MINIMUM of 15 minutes of alone time every day is very beneficial. If we're constantly around people, we start to almost turn into them. We don't want to be anyone else besides ourselves! As an only child I prefer doing things alone, and almost get bothered when people ask if I can come. I'm appalled when people beg people to go places with them. Take some alone time with the flowers and cute dogs that walk by. You might make a new furry friend while freeing your mind.
I hope these easy tips helped. College can be a time when literally everything is flying at you at once and you can forget about the little things like eating and sleeping. Stay healthy!



classes

LIFESTYLE: Tips For Semester Round 2

January 22, 2014

I know it may have seemed like winter break flew by and you were just here in the same classes, the same dining halls, the same dorm. And I know you're thinking "we have to do that all over again?"  Even if you're not a college student, the second half of the year in high school is very comparable to the second semester. Even thought it is longer.. by like a month (ha ha haaa).

Mocking aside, here are some tips to help you take a deep breath before you plunge head first into mid-terms, papers, exams, projects, and more. Stick to these and before you know it you'll be taking your last final and running straight to the beach!
picture from weheartit.com


1. Calm down, you've done this before
If anything will give you comfort about this semester, it's that you're not scrambling around trying to figure out where your desk fan, shower caddy, or printer will fit, or where your classes even are or if you'll have time to go to your introductory floor meeting before convocation. You know how to properly use slugbooks, you know which professors won't reprimand you for sleeping in class, and you know exactly how many steps it is from your science lab to the on campus dunkin donuts (or is that just me?) Take comfort in this and focus more on your classes. You've made some friends, now find a niche. You've joined some clubs, now consider a position of power for next semester! I already feel like it's second nature to me. This is your chance to take it to the next level.

2. A wise woman once told me...
It's proven in the warm weather that people are happier, more productive and eat better. My friend said, "I like the second part of the year because you're entering into the warm weather." Which is very true! You're not getting farther and farther away from it, like the first semester. It may seem a little bland after Christmas, but soon enough it'll be warm and bright and you can wear that bright sundress you bought in November promising you'd find a way to wear it. 

3.  Take the Nike Approach
There are two kinds of classes: ones that you know the content and "you got it!" and ones that are a little out of your comfort zone and deem to be challenging. For example, my COM 205 and 202, and my health classes seem more in my comfort zone this semester. I'm familiar with the material, and two of them are in my major. However, that doesn't give me an excuse to slack off or take it as a fluff class. That means I'm going to pay more attention to get the most out of them, and put my best effort in those classes and get the grades I know I can get in them! And for classes such as STATS.... which I'm deathly afraid of I'll take another approach. Since I don't know as much about that subject, wouldn't it make sense for me to actually pay more attention in that class? I need to know and process the information more, so I should actually try harder and maybe the work will come easier for me. You should take this point of view too, and just do it!

4. Stay Organized
If you were a little less organized this semester, clean it up a little. Being disorganized can really hurt you and leave you out of time. You can be late to class, lose important papers, or even having disorganized notes can lead to a bad study sesh or a paper that's not your best. Take the extra time to put things into place and the semester will fly by that much quicker.

5. "Round 2" does not mean have a "round 2"
I mean, have fun and all. I do every once in a while. Everyone does and needs to. But let's not make it a priority. I never participate in "Thirsty Thursday" because I have 8 ams on Friday. But that doesn't mean I don't take advantage of Friday and Saturday. Not even in that way, all the time. Some times it's fun to either just see a movie, go shopping, see a concert or have a girls or significant other night in. Let loose so you can be prepared for the weekdays. But make sure you get your homework done. I sound like your mother but you get my point. Stay in school, kids!


picture from weheartit.com

I hope these simple tips help you stay focused this semester. Think about it, you're one semester closer to being done with your boring "gen eds" and are closer to focusing on your major, yayy! You may even be already taking classes for it. But I hope this guide can help people who aren't in college, or may even be upperclassmen. Summer's right around the corner... well four months. However the first four months flew by too, right?