I spend a lot of time telling myself to relax.

Relax, I tell myself. It’s okay that you didn’t have time to straighten your bangs this morning–no one is looking at you. It’s okay that you just said something really stupid to a tourist on the subway–no one is noticing you. No one else really knows you exist. RELAX.

Unfortunately, my seemingly-insane paranoia was validated yesterday.

My boyfriend and I went into a diner that I haven’t been to for about three years. And this is Manhattan, right, so there have been millions of patrons since the last time I’ve been there. And I was never a regular customer or anything like that.

So yesterday I’m in this diner and the waiter brings me my cup of tea and he says, didn’t you used to wear glasses? i remember you–you came in here a few years ago.

And I almost peed myself. Read More »

Ever find yourself awake at 4am reading Perez Hilton and unable to fall asleep? Between classes, extracurriculars, homework and those 5 trips to Starbucks, relaxing at the end of a long day can be next to impossible. Worse yet, if you study where you sleep (we’ve all tried to read a book in bed, and I personally have a duvet cover stained with pen ink!), your body may not be able to determine when it’s time to focus and when it’s time to pass out.

Yoga can be a great way to increase your energy and wake you up, but there are also a few simple poses you can try before bed that will (hopefully!) relax you and calm your mind. Read More »

Not too long ago, I talked about cleaning out your dorm in order to help get your life on track. Hopefully, you took some of that advice and put it to good use.

Whether you did or didn’t (what are you waiting for? Go for it!), the weather is getting cooler and the holiday season is getting ready to make our already busy lives a big ball of stress. Now is the time to do a clean-sweep on your brain. What do I mean by that? You’re in dire need of an attitude overhaul!

The best part: not only will you feel like a new person…you will be. Thanks to Dumb Little Man I’ve read his wonderful advice and made it a little more college-centric. So, let’s take a minute and make a plan to better ourselves!

The first and most important step is to understand that by changing your thoughts, you will shape a more positive life. This sounds scary, but it’s not about brainwashing yourself. It’s about knowing that positivity breeds positivity.

DLM then outlines 9 steps that will aid you in beginning your transformation, but what I find most useful is his number one rule: Make an Appointment With Yourself

It’s important to take a moment out of your busy day to sit with your thoughts. It’s sounds very hippie-dippy…like I’m some kind of Earth Child, but just take my word for it. This time will allow you to relax, think, sort out your thoughts, and daydream about all the possibilities your life can take. Read More »

Still squinting at your computer into the wee hours of the night, eating pretzels and knocking back that new disgusting pink Tab? (Seriously. Who thought women wanted a drink that tastes like chemically enhanced bubblegum?) Still trying to memorize all those weirdly named body parts for anatomy while your bed calls seductively to you from across the room?

Well, maybe my second installment of Spring Semester Freak-Out Remedies will help ease the pain. In this episode, we will be discussing meditation. The easy kind. None of that lotus-position hour long advanced yogi stuff. Let’s be real, almost none of us has time—or the back strength—for that.

Meditation, even in its simplest form, can bring your body and mind back from crazy land. It’s a centering practice, an easy way to feel rested in only a few minutes. And best of all? You can do it lying down!

Step 1. Make sure you have at least 15 minutes of quiet time. 15 minutes where you know the roommate won’t be around, when no one’s going to be knocking on your door, and there’s no rush to get down to the dining hall. If you have more time, awesome, but 15 minutes is a good place to start.

Step 2. Shut off all your lights. Close your curtains. You don’t need to be in pitch dark, but the atmosphere should be calming and quiet. Read More »