My Self-Care Staples

By: Karta Khalsa

If you know me, you know how much I value my self-care. Whether it be a nighttime skincare ritual or splurging on a product that makes me feel good, I am a big believer in the importance of treating yourself and setting aside time every night for relaxation, especially considering the crazy and stressful lives we tend to live as college students. Here are a few of my current essential self-care staples; these products help me feel calm, clean, and overall make me love my nighttime routine as much as I do!

1.Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer

This particular moisturizer is on the more expensive end, but it is worth it if you like to splurge on skincare. Although it looks very thick at first, this moisturizer melts into my skin like butter and has a yummy honey aroma, just like the name suggests. I used to steer away from super moisturizing products for fear of breaking out, but I have found over the years that the more I moisturize, the better my skin looks and feels. I love to use it on nights when I am doing a more ~boujee~ skincare routine, and I always wake up glowing.

2. Tonymoly Sheet Masks

Over the past year, I have grown to love a good moisturizing sheet mask. Specifically, I have been loving the Tonymoly brand because they are affordable and leave my face feeling insanely soft and moisturized the next morning! Especially in the winter when it tends to be dryer and more irritated than usual, these have been a lifesaver, and the adorable packaging is a plus. I suggest popping them in the fridge beforehand or running an ice cube over your face while you have the mask on for an extra refreshing and de-puffing sensation!

3. Vaseline Original Chapstick

Sometimes, it is best to stick to the basics. I have always been a Vaseline enthusiast, and I will never travel anywhere without packing my tub of it. This past semester at school, my roommate introduced me to Vaseline in chapstick form! I cannot believe I never knew it existed, but I am so glad that I found out. You can get a two-pack at Target for just $2.49 and for some reason, this chapstick is so incredibly comforting to use. Over the years I have used all types of different lip masks and chapsticks, but as I said before, nothing beats the original. 

4. Lavender FOG - Aromatherapy Spray Mist

Like it says on the Lavender Life Company website, “all-natural lavender spray mist is made with organic lavender and smells absolutely heavenly!”, and I couldn’t agree more. This particular company makes hand-crafted spray bottles filled with distilled water, a blend of Bulgarian lavender, palmarosa, eucalyptus, and rose essential oils from their farm in Michigan. I love giving my pillow and bedding a spritz of this before I get in bed because it smells great and helps me relax before going to sleep. This brand is one of my favorites, but there are definitely other lavender sprays out there on the market to experiment with, and I highly recommend adding this detail to your bedtime routine for some extra relaxation! 

5. Sleepytime Extra Tea

Made with a blend of chamomile, spearmint, valerian, and other soothing herbs, enjoying a warm cup of Sleepytime tea has been a cozy addition to my night. One of the best feelings has been crawling into bed after a long day, watching a movie or show, and sipping my tea while I wind down. I can confidently say that this particular tea helps me sleep because I usually end up dozing off before I’m able to finish the whole cup!

Mindfulness and Productivity During a Chaotic Spring

By: Lisa Freeley

We all know the feeling. Spring break gave us a blissful taste of Summer but now it's time to wake up and revive your routine. It may feel a bit like a slap in the face, but there are still ways to appreciate the Springtime and maintain a mindful and productive headspace with Summer just around the corner.

Personally, I have always used the future as my primary motivator for getting sh*t done in the present. The future is a beautiful thing. So much opportunity and potential for growth lies in the future. If I am ever struggling or generally feeling low, I try to imagine aspects of my future that I can look forward to. Whether that means planning a day trip with friends, setting goals for myself, or simply looking forward to the next three-day weekend, there is ALWAYS something relaxing and rewarding that awaits you. 

A productive habit that goes hand-in-hand with this is goal setting. Without goals, the day-to-day routine of life can begin to feel rather pointless. Sometimes I get caught up in this feeling and the mindset that my everyday actions have no meaning, which often leads to a depressive mindset and a complete lack of motivation. This is why it is so important to remind yourself of what you are working towards. For some, their goals are set out and clear in their minds, however, if you are like me, you might have difficulty with this. If you are struggling to figure out exactly what your goals are, I recommend journaling or designing a vision board. 

Over the summer while cleaning out my family’s basement, I found a vision board that my mother’s friend made for her in college. It included her goals for where she wanted to live and work in the future, representations of her current and sought-after lifestyle, and imagery of various aspects of life that brought her happiness. This summer I plan to make a similar board for myself, as I feel that creativity and valuable ideas can sometimes get lost in a cluster of thoughts. Creating something concrete and admirable out of your ideas can help you see them from a new and more optimistic perspective. This can also be accomplished through journaling. Any strategy that helps you to visualize yourself and the direction you wish to go in life will help you set goals and go through each day with a sense of purpose. 

My last piece of advice for bettering your mindset and overall productivity is to work on improving your internal dialogue. Negative self-talk is something that I am still working through myself, and simply speaking to yourself with kindness and compassion is so much easier said than done. One major way I have been able to combat negative self-talk is by recognizing those thoughts and contradicting them in that moment. This can be tricky because I tend to bully myself in my mind almost subconsciously, but whenever I start to notice these thoughts, I recall a time when I felt confident and sure of myself and counter the thought with three self-assured statements that I know to be true. Another way that I work against negative self-talk is by listening to podcasts. I have recently started listening to “Anything Goes” by Emma Chamberlain and have found it difficult to think negatively in general when listening to someone speak positively and thoughtfully about life. I would recommend podcasts to anyone who struggles with negative thoughts as this is a productive form of entertainment that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine.

There are plenty of effective ways to improve your mindset, but these have personally been instrumental in my own mindfulness journey. That said, you must nourish your present self in order to fully enjoy and appreciate whatever the future holds, so be kind to yourself and set goals for yourself because your role in the world is important and you have the power to create meaningful change.

“Read the Card First”: How Expressive Writing Can Make You a More Positive Person

By: Kylie Acerra

Greeting Cards, a monetary item given from one person to another with the purpose of celebrating or giving the other support. The importance of greeting cards lies within the purpose, but the intentions change per person. Consumers buy them in order to express positive emotions, but producers sell them in order to make a profit. To provide some examples of events in which greeting card companies profit would include: birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, graduations, injuries or illness, and death. Out of these events, the cards that sell the most are birthday cards followed up by sympathy cards. For the consumer, they are celebrating a loved one’s life and consoling a loved one; for the producer, they are profiting the most off of both life and death. To have positivity in your life you need to stay the consumer, positively keeping others in mind, not the producer, negatively gaining off of others’ loss. Having a parallel connection to life, greeting cards either focus on life or focus on death. The cards that celebrate life, birthday cards, “are still the best-selling card type, accounting for more than half of the total cards sold” (Greeting Card Association). Hence, in life, it pays more to support the positive over the negative. 

Being a very profitable industry, the “annual retail sales of greeting cards are estimated between $7 and $8 billion” given “Americans purchase approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards each year” (Greeting Card Association). Because Americans pay an extensive amount on greeting cards, Americans stand to save a lot of money if they create them themselves. As children, one does not have the ability to go out and purchase a pre-made card, so they are forced to use their creative side to express emotion. People not only stand to save money by making cards themselves but also benefit psychologically. Writing a card forces you to express your emotion in your own words, not Hallmarks’, and think about another person in your life. Now, if we as humans can write support for others, then we can definitely write support for ourselves. Moreover, a study done by psychologist Adam Grant demonstrates how “expressive writing has also been linked to improved mood, well-being, and reduced stress levels for those who do it regularly” (Ciotti). The idea is that if a person continually writes positive thoughts and words of self-encouragement, then they are more likely to believe and assimilate those positive thoughts into their everyday actions. 

With writing being a catalyst of self-positivity, I challenge whoever is reading this post to try positive self-reflection journaling. Furthermore, I recognize people have busy schedules and may not have the time to sit down and write a page about themselves. I assure you this challenge will not take more than five minutes a day. I also recognize that the task of writing about oneself is difficult because in our society the idea of complementing yourself has been ingrained as an action of selfishness. I assure you complimenting yourself and finding self-confidence is not selfish, but rather selfless. If one possesses a more positive view of themselves then they can use that positivity to express kindness to others.

Take out a piece of paper. Fold it in half. Bring out your colored pencils and transform into a child again. Seeing bright colors will provide you with more energy. Draw an image of something you love. The first thing you see on the card is something that brings you happiness. On the inside write down three things you like about yourself or three positive events that happened to you today. By doing this task daily, you will focus your mind to focus on the positive and connect the idea of yourself with positivity. To take this challenge one step further place your cards in the same location daily. At the beginning of each day, read a card or two. By reading the card first- before opening your phone to social media, a sole producer of self-consciousness, and before having the time to construct a negative thought- you can start your day with a positive mindset. Read the card first because the positive words might just influence how you perceive the gift. 

Sources: 

Ciotti, Gregory. “The Psychological Benefits of Writing - Help Scout.” Help Scout: Shared Inbox, Help Center, & Live Chat Software, Help Scout, 20 Apr. 2016, https://www.helpscout.com/blog/benefits-of-writing/. 

“Greeting Cards Info to Know - Greeting Card Association.” Greeting Cards- Info to Know, Greeting Card Association, 1 Feb. 2020, https://www.greetingcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Greeting-Card-Facts-2020.pdf.

Importance of Socializing

By: Hailley Wilson

As college students, we have high expectations of how we operate in our day-to-day lives. University should come first but I believe socializing should come second. Socializing is a necessity for the average college student. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, connecting to those around you will often improve your daily life. College is full of challenges and there is no better way to combat and celebrate tackling them than with friends. Although, friends are not the only way to socialize. My favorite way to connect with others is through compliments! There is no better feeling than validation on a cute shirt, your hair, or even a speech you just gave! Connecting with others is a great way to change your day around!

Friendships offer a variety of ways to improve our lives. In fact, friends can be a great stress reliever. If you are worried about an upcoming test or a paper worth half of your grade you should connect with the people surrounding you! Friendships are there for you to lean on when life gets tough! Have a friend quiz you with your note cards or have them provide feedback on your writing! I know when I doubt my abilities, I count on my roommate to assure me when it comes to schoolwork.

Not only are friendships a stress reliever but they help combat loneliness! If schoolwork has taken over your life, take a break. If you find yourself in a routine that leaves you not communicating with others from sunup to sundown, fix it. Make time in your schedule to see a friend, go to a club, or go to an event your major has! Surround yourself with people who will renew your energy. Speak to someone new at one of these events or catch up with an old friend. Talking, even small talk, will make you feel more connected to the people around you. I know every Tuesday a group of friends and I meet at a dining hall to catch up on each other's lives. It is only an hour of my day, but it makes my week!

A majority of college students find themselves feeling lost and unsure of their path. Maybe you are confused about your life choices. Is my major right for me? Am I capable in my work? And many more questions we all ask ourselves, but socialization will help! Talk to a friend and listen to their advice. Listen to how they found their path and how they may be feeling. Maybe talking aloud to a trusted friend might just give you the confidence you needed!

Breaking the Norm

By: Lauren Trongone

It’s 1:26 am and I’m currently sitting in a sleepy little airport in Portland, Oregon. For spring break this year my friends and I decided to head to the other side of the country to explore the city, coast, and inland forests of Oregon. Waiting in this airport for my redeye flight home I am leaving this trip feeling more fulfilled than I've felt in a long time. I’ve seen the most beautiful sights and learned a tremendous amount about the vast world out there beyond the tiny town where I'm from. My break was replete with waterfalls, rolling green fields, moss-covered trees, sea stacks, caves, and even a yurt. Not exactly the typical “spring break” experience that comes to mind at a Florida resort with clubs, tanning, and bikinis. Yet, I would not trade my trip for the world. In no way shape or form did I feel as though I missed out on anything. 

Reflecting on this only bolstered how I was feeling about a recent realization I had already made in regards to how I want to live my life, and that is this: do what makes you happy and fulfills you even if it’s not what everyone else is doing. This mentality can be applied to literally anything in life. For example, as a college kid living on campus, I feel like there’s a ton of pressure placed on going out every Thursday through Saturday night. If that’s what makes you happy then that’s totally awesome! However, that is not usually what I find to be the case. I've talked to quite a few people who say they hate going out to frats because that scene gets old quickly, but they still force themselves into going anyway since it’s what everyone else is doing. If you ask me, there’s no shame in staying in or just doing something smaller with your friend group instead. Often, those times are so much more fun and fulfilling when you get to have a meaningful conversation with a close friend or be in the good company of people you actually know. 

Another enactment of this principle could be taking part in an extracurricular activity that has grown to be overwhelmingly demanding to the point where it becomes a constant energy drainer. In this situation, you feel an obligation to remain suffering in this endeavor because you see everybody else who is similarly in this said organization staying put. Everyone around you pressures you into this distorted mindset of needing this particular extracurricular activity to be successful in life. We get sucked into believing that there is only one right way to do things otherwise if we don't do it this one way then we are doomed. This is never the case though. In this day in age, I understand how we overthink ourselves to reach that kind of breaking point. I have been guilty of having these same thoughts plenty of times. It's all about the comparison game and trying to model ourselves completely off of how others look, think, and act. At the end of the day, we need to ultimately do what makes us happy. So, this is a kind reminder to evaluate: do you feel fulfilled in your own life? Really think about if there's a relationship or job or anything else where the bad has begun to outweigh the good. Everyone deserves to be happy andget the absolute most out of their life. That said, if you are feeling unhappy, there is no shame inmaking a change or doing something differently from others around you. Do something today because it's what YOU want to do. Not because others are doing it or because it is what isexpected of you. We are all worthy of that much.