So we all know that boredom can lead to a lot of bad things: eating, online shopping, texting the ex BF and telling him that you still love him (OK, maybe that’s just me). But did you know boredom can actually kill you? Yeah, that’s what scientists in London are saying. And if that’s the truth, there are quite a few things out there that should be eradicated before they’re put on trial for murder.

The Treadmill.
Running on a treadmill is good for you, my ass. Running in place for 45 minutes is basically running yourself into the ground. 6 feet into the ground, to be exact.

Professors who lecture for the entire class without. stopping. once.
These scary germs of people only have one tone of voice, and it’s a horrible monotone that appears to only exist for the purpose of putting those who hear it into a boring coma.  These teachers just drone on and on about the importance of supply and demand or whatever, not even stopping for breath, and not realizing that half of their audience is either on Facebook or dead asleep. Or, apparently, dead.

Family functions where no one is your age.
There are only so many old people stories about your parents/grandparents/aunts/uncle/weird cousins you can take before you keel over and die. Read More »

For a few weeks, I was in a rut – a big, blah rut that I couldn’t seem to find my way out of. I was grouchy, apathetic, and basically bored with everything. My self-esteem was not at its usual high-point, and I had no idea what the heck was wrong with me.

I know I lead a charmed life by any standards. I’m single during my senior year, I love my family, I have the most amazing friends, I go to a great school, and I live within five blocks of the most scrumptious fro-yo in the world. Life is great. So why the heck didn’t I feel as great as I should?

Well, even now, a few weeks later and finally back in Happyville, I don’t have an answer to that question. Something was just off, and I can’t really explain what it was. All I know is it’s over now thanks to a few things I did for myself. If you’re feeling funkadelic (and not the good kind) – whether caused by boys, school, or an unsolved perpetrator – maybe a few of these activities will help you claw your way out.

Outdoor Activities: Exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy (and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, as Elle Woods would say). So get out and go for a hike, or play tennis, or take a dance class! Go solo or with friends, either way, take some time for yourself!
Set a short-term goal for yourself; reaching goals will give you a sense of accomplishment, which generally makes people feel happy and productive. Setting an attainable, short term goal will force you to be proactive and get you motivated. Read More »

It’s Monday morning.

Are you sick of studying?

Bored out of your mind?

Too tired to get up and get your ass to class? (I know, FML.)

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the following list of websites and things to do may help bring some joy into your life. The internet is a black hole of time-wasters, but these are by far the best. Well, besides CollegeCandy, duh hickey. Read More »

So Spring Break is coming. Hellooooo, beach! For those of you out there who won’t be spending all day getting boozed (you can’t imagine anything more horrendous than the mixture of heavy alcohol, sun, and waves), you are going to need some beach entertainment. And soberly watching drunk people bury each other in the sand gets boring after day one.

So, here is a handy list of books to bring with you to your tropical destination this year. They’re not your typical cheesy chick lit for the most part, but they’re pretty addictive in their own rights. Read More »

Amy Winehouse may be totally cracked out, but that doesn’t mean her brain isn’t working. The girl is innovative. When it comes to doing drugs, this woman will try anything. Like, I don’t know, mixing it with everyone’s favorite sugary treat: cotton candy.

Maybe it was born out of desperation (“I have to think of a way to get my coke fix without whipping a vial out of my nappy hair!”), or boredom (“Doing lines gets really old after a few years…”), but however she cooked up this idea doesn’t matter. Because she did.

Winehouse has recently purchased a cotton candy machine which she fills with her tasty coke/candy concoction.

Seriously, we can’t make this stuff up. We just wonder what tasty mixture she’ll think of next: Crack Fries? Ecstasy lollipops? Heroin hamburgers? Horse tranquilizer milkshakes?

Mmmm. Horse tranquilizer milkshakes….

[Photo courtesy of www.ninjadude.com]

Loneliness doesn’t just suck, it blows. I know this because I have dealt with it first hand. The emotions, the weight gain, the boredom. With a new city, a new job and no new friends to speak of, loneliness and I were pretty tight.

If I told you I had a sure-fire way to beat it, I’d be lying. Because if I had found the magic formula, it wouldn’t have taken me 8 months to realize that graduating from college in four years wasn’t the worst decision of my life.

Fortunately for you, I have a few good tips about what NOT to do. Whether you are kicking it at home for the summer or making your way in a brand new city, these tips are sure to keep you from going as crazy as, well, I did. Read More »

I admit, I’m a product of the suburbs. My hometown is full of big, leafy trees, smiling children and drive – thru Starbucks that close at ten. It’s a great place to raise a family — but not such a hot place to be 21 in.

Going home from college is often more of a culture shock than a relief, and summer offers the most excruciating spell of the suburban blahs for us hip young folk. And it gets worse as we get older: old high school friends start disappearing and the townsfolk start expecting something from your burgeoning age and wisdom. Thus, I’ve crafted a survival guide for those contained to station – wagon – filled confines for the summer months:

1. Milk it. This is obvious and essential. If you’re back living with your parents, fill up. Eat. Sleep. Play the “I’m a poor college student, I don’t eat!” card. Play the “I’m stressed, I just finished finals!” card. Play them hard. And for at least two weeks. You need only to get out of bed for meals.

2. Grandma. At the end of your two weeks of eating and sleeping, you might be feeling a little lonely. A faithful friend who always wants to hang out with you is Grandma. (If Grandma is not available, try Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, Friendly Old Shop Clerk, Town Pastor, Neighbor, etc.). Basically, old people are cool and can tell you a lot about life if you ask the right questions, and you’re guaranteed to get a meal out of it. Read More »