Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
As I sit in my hammock on my university's quad, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on a few things that I have come to realize over this past year in college. Also, I wanted this post to be really helpful for any college newbies and freshman because you are in for a treat.
I wanted to plug in this really helpful and insightful college guide. It's called The Gyne's Guide for College Women and was actually thrown at me by my dad before I left for college. While I would have loved to have had an adult chat with my parents about the freedom and independence of college and so forth, this book truly explains it all and I would highly recommend it. Its contents primarily focus on women's physical and mental health throughout the next four years because college is a wild ride.
01. You Will Take Time to Adjust
It probably didn't take me until after winter break to feel comfortable in my dorm and being away from home for so long. Don't worry about other people who are so independent that they could care less about being away from home and their families. It's different for everyone, so don't feel bad if you need to facetime your dog or call your mom.
02. You Will Be Sad
Sometimes you might just feel really down and have a short crying sesh in the shower. No big deal. You will get through it and you will have better days. Acknowledge it, talk it out, and move on.
03. You Will Get Stressed
You will also have varying amounts of unwanted stress. It's normal. No one told you to go to college and be as cool as a cucumber. It's hard and finding ways to cope with stress and handle it such as working out, meditating, or treating yourself is a great start to relieving the angst.
04. You Will Make Friends & Love Interests
You are probably going to meet your best friends some point in time and you will think the coffee shop barista is really cute. Embrace social moments and get out there! Say hi to that cute barista or just wave at someone in one of your classes you see on the quad. You'll find that you meet your best friends in the oddest of places and times.
05. You Will Make Bad Decisions
You might stay out until 3 am, miss a class or two, you might drink, get a tattoo, you might try illegal substances, but you need to remember how to be responsible and realize that college isn't about wasting your experience and education on dumb mistakes. Everyone messes up and you're gonna pay for it.
06. Your Communication Skills Will Improve
It will be uncomfortable trying to meet new people and get in front of your college seminar, but just like high school, you'll find your ease and talking to people and being upfront will get easier with time.
07. You Will Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
You will probably have to talk and present in front of the class, go to a frat party, stay out really late, deal with a drunk person or two, have to write a 12-page research paper, travel alone, deal with bad roommates, or whatnot. Embrace it and learn from it.
08. Classes Will Be Hard
I wrote a 15-page research paper on Buddhism and Buddhist thought, so at times things will get challenging and it will feel like work builds up. Time management and prioritizing things you need to get done in college is crucial. Don't procrastinate and stay at the library for 12 hours the night before an exam.
09. Classes Will Be Suspiciously Easy
I've even had some classes where there were only two papers due for the entire course. You will have 100 level classes like that and they're usually the most interesting. I had my caveman anthropology class that only had three small papers due, but it was probably the most engaging and interesting one I've taken so far.
10. The Food Will Suck
After the first week, you've already tried everything from every cafeteria kiosk and it starts to get a bit repetitive. Switch things up and try to eat healthy when you can. I know it might feel like you can't get away from cafe food, but treat yourself on the weekend and find a new hotspot in town.
11. You Will Be Broke
If you don't already have a job or a way of constant income, you'll find that your bank account will start to cry. I have picked up many babysitting and nannying jobs on the weekend because I live close to home, but take advantage of your school's career center or Facebook groups to find and pick up extra jobs and extra Uber cash.
12. You Will Be Homesick
You are going to miss your fam and your pets, you'll miss the easy access to food, good showers, a nice bed, and privacy for sure. It's important to bring things that remind you of home to keep you going and motivated to get through the semester. It might seem hard at times, but time really does fly in college. Look at me! I'm already done!
13. You Will Be Confused
You will have moments of utter confusion: assignments might be hard, people might not know how to communicate as well, you might get lost on campus, it's all a learning experience. Don't be afraid to ask for help in desperate times of need.
14. You Will Feel Lonely
Going about your 9am classes, then to yoga, and spending the rest of the night at the library might get to be a bit lonely. You're gonna find that some weeks you'll be really independent and things might just get really busy and you're routine will daze you. Try to find something fun in town or study with a friend. Also, don't worry about being alone in college, finding yourself introspectively is one of the most important parts of it!
15. You Will Have A Great First Year
Your attitude and approach to college will highly affect what you get out of it and make of it. Embrace all moments because it goes by fast. Go at your own pace, meet new people, be open to new perspectives, reach above your comfort zone, apply yourself, and you'll have a great year, just like me!
It's been one heck of a couple weeks and April is gone as I speak. May is so promising and it's that inch closer towards summer. I can finally wear shorts and get my hammock hung to chill out and enjoy this weather that Chicago finally gets to see. I have a lot of goals for this upcoming month and this I really want to accomplish during my last month of freshman year. I still cannot believe how fast this year has gone by.
01. I have been planning on a total blog revamp and would like some tips or ideas on how I can make my blog a bit better. I took this past week off for midterms and have realized that my blogging game is not what it used to be. I think I would like to change my template or the aesthetic of my blog a bit, but that'll be a night of finding inspiration and reconfiguration. I think it'll be a fresh start into the summer.
02. Last time this year it was a month full of events for me: prom, graduation, trips, etc. This month really isn't as packed as it was last year. That said, I need to make more time for myself. I don't know if it is the warmer weather or the spark of the social atmosphere, but I've been feeling very high strung recently and always on edge about things. I'm going to finally start up yoga again and I cannot wait.
03. Since the school year is coming to a close, I would like to start getting back in touch we people I haven't seen in so long. Everyone leaves for college and it's like you cut off all communication with them because you get so busy with your life. Yes, I've kept in touch with some friends, but not as much as I would have liked to.
04. I do want to plan a road trip with some of my best friends this summer because college is the time to explore and go on adventures. I want to make plans, but also not make plans and go with the flow this summer. I have hopes of getting out of my comfort zone, too.
05. I have plans on going to a few more Cubs games this month and possibly this summer. I can always find really cheap tickets and Wrigley Field is literally a stop away from campus. It's always a fun time at Wrigley. I would also like to try and see more bands play around the area. I have been to a comedy club called Annoyance Theater off of Belmont. It's a really fun place to go late at night when you just want to laugh at dumb sketches.
06. I've been really into astrology lately and reading my daily horoscope to see what my day has in store for me. I don't think I believe everything it tells me, but I've been liking this app called Daily Horoscope a lot. It gives you your daily horoscope, weekly and monthly horoscope, sign meaning, compatibility, and more. It's just something fun I like to do when I wake up every morning.
I don't like to be too ambitious with my goals for the month because things change, but I am going to try and stick to these for now. The sun is shining and everybody's mood is uplifted this time of the year. What are your plans this month?
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So, over the past couple of months, I have had this re-evaluation of how I carry myself around and go about relationships, college, and just life in general. I have been so caught up in my anxiety more than ever lately and I am really not having it.
More recently, I have been toying with this word "bold". Meaning fearless, confident, or brave. I've found myself waiting and waiting for other people to make the moves, call the shots, tell me what is and what isn't. My whole childhood was spent asking my mom if I was going to be okay. I just haven't had the mentality to force myself into things as simple as going for what I want and doing what I want with confidence.
It's a silly thing to think about, but I've always been one to over assume or analyze situations or circumstances and that honestly takes out so much wasted energy and causes unwanted stress that I don't even need to be having. I've been fighting with the idea of not having to address my issues and just sit them out, but that usually leads me to even more analysis and agony. If only it was so simple.
There have been times that I've been living in what could be, rather than what it is at that present moment. The thing about my anxiety is that I place myself in hypothetical, "what if," situations that don't even have a place in my scenario, or circumstance, for that matter. The worst thing is when it usually ends up okay and all I have is just another racing heart, beating at someone else's drum.
I start basing my self-worth on what could be or what I think it might be. I start second guessing who I am and what I did. I know this is pretty vague, as I would like to keep some of my private life private, but I'm sure at least one person could relate to this feeling. What I fail to do is be present. I am not paying attention to the present moment for what it is and am just creating something totally arbitrary and irrational. If everything's okay, why worry about it?
I guess it might be my want for answers, truth, or justification that everything is entirely okay. I would say I am a pretty compassionate and sensitive, too, so that stems from my want for black and white information.
I've thought about the way I address situations and to be honest, it hasn't done me any good at all. I need to focus on what I'm doing at that moment and that I am also worthy of myself and my own capabilities. There comes a time to second guess and rethink things, but I'm tired of living by someone else's means.
For anyone who feels the same way as I do, you are worthy of success, a great job, love, happiness, and everything in between. It's noticing first that you are capable of these things and no one else can tell you otherwise. Stop living in assumptions and be here at this moment. Try to be bold.
I've thought about the way I address situations and to be honest, it hasn't done me any good at all. I need to focus on what I'm doing at that moment and that I am also worthy of myself and my own capabilities. There comes a time to second guess and rethink things, but I'm tired of living by someone else's means.
For anyone who feels the same way as I do, you are worthy of success, a great job, love, happiness, and everything in between. It's noticing first that you are capable of these things and no one else can tell you otherwise. Stop living in assumptions and be here at this moment. Try to be bold.
I hope all of you have had relaxing spring breaks and spring holidays. I ate maybe too much candy and ham, but I feel like everyone deserves to treat themselves when they're on break. I've started a new quarter with new classes and I am eager for spring and warmer weather. Sadly, Chicago never gets warm, so I'm wishing on mother nature to bring in some sun. I've realized a few things I want to get done and accomplish this month before the end of school arrives.
01. I've been very lacking on exercising, and I blame that on spring break a bit and my trip, but I am really wanting to get more motivated to go workout and do more than just cardio at the gym. I'm missing out on yoga since I froze my membership, so I am interested in trying out some different fitness classes and have to push myself to go this month.
02. I'm excited about my new classes this quarter, I'm taking a Buddhism class and a caveman class! When do you get to do those? I have been really interested in all things Buddha like yoga, so I am excited to learn more about the religion since it is a requirement for my degree. And also, cavemen? Neanderthals? My freshman focal point is also a requirement for graduation and I just happened to choose it. I've always been curious about evolution and anthropology; this class will definitely be engaging every session.
03. My goal this month is to also visit more family and see people that I need and want to see. I would say that I make it a priority even if I'm the only one traveling to see people that I care about and spend a lot of time with them. I just had some family friends over this past weekend and I missed them so much. Now that I can travel alone, there's no big reason for me not to besides financial things and school.
04. Now that I am more comfortable at college, I have realized that I am really strict with myself sometimes and I don't say yes to things much. Not bad things, but I never stay at school on the weekends enough to develop more connections or relationships because I work when I go home sometimes. I need to let loose sometimes (without losing my dignity or integrity at that). I just need to go with the flow more and be more spontaneous—what I learned from my recent trip to Miami.
05. This month I also want to not worry so much about what other people are doing. I know it's kind of cliche or very written about, but lately, I have been looking for places to live next year, worrying about not having a roommate, doing internships, studying abroad, and working. There's been too much on my mind about the future as school comes to an end, and I can't believe it. I have to gear my focus back to my work and what I am currently doing.
I know these are only a few things that I may have stressed in the past, but I want the start of spring to be relaxed and not as high strung as winter was. I think this will be my only post for this week to refreshen my inspiration and my overall mood at the beginning of this last quarter. What things do you do to refresh your mind?
I think this week deserves a relaxed post because I have been just so uptight lately. I don't know if it was from my resident advisor interview, which went very well, or just all of the stuff I have to do this upcoming week. I'm kind of liking this post once a week type deal because it honestly has been a very fast paced quarter for me. I think up until the end of the month I will just continue with one post a week and see how it goes. I've never posted once a week, but one of my New Year's resolutions was to just take more breaks when I need to.
Last week, I actually went home for the weekend to babysit and get some errands done. It's always refreshing to be able to get away from college life sometimes and actually sleep in your own bed. Seeing my puppy is always a plus. Last Sunday, my whole family and I had a big PJ day which I feel like we never do. It was snowing so much out that we all just committed to staying indoors. Uh Chicago weather.
Since I live so close to home, it can always be up to me when I want to go back home. It's nice because I can make a lot of money on the weekends when I babysit families I know even if I go back for one night. I don't think my "college experience" is being hindered by how close I live to home. It's made me even more comfortable at college and more than ever I have felt pretty well adapted to college. I have a few solid relationships with people and I can get a lot of work done on my own when I need to.
The other night I actually went out with a few friends to this comedy gig at midnight at Annoyance Theater (great name) in Boystown. It was called Holy F*ck Comedy and it is a free show that any comedians get to try out their jokes and sketches for people. I've never been to any type of comedy show really, so this was a fun experience. I want to go to more in the future now! If you're looking for a good laugh, I'd highly recommend.
Even though February is coming to an end so fast, the snow is not. This past weekend we got a quick blizzard and funny enough, it's supposed to be like 60 degrees this week. I'm honestly so done with snow and slush, is anyone else?
This week is going to be a bit all over the place because today I actually have a dodgeball event I'm participating in and on Thursday, I have my final major speech for my public speaking class. EEK! I know this week will fly by fast and I need to just take it day by day. What are your plans for the week?
I normally like to take January as a time to reflect on the year before and prepare myself for the year to come. Amidst the resolution making and bettering ourselves, I genuinely like starting fresh, even if that means getting down to the nitty-gritty of my life and actually facing and making difficult or hard changes.
Whether that be: actually cleaning up crap that I insist on keeping, finding closure with past relationships, actually worrying about myself for once, setting up goals and maintaining effort, getting rid of toxic friends and people who serve me no good, things that I really shouldn't put myself through this upcoming year. You just get older every year—the more we age, the more we grow. With that, comes great responsibility to tackle things in your life that you maybe don't need or don't even want, but feel forced to hold onto.
Clean Up Your LifeWhether that be: actually cleaning up crap that I insist on keeping, finding closure with past relationships, actually worrying about myself for once, setting up goals and maintaining effort, getting rid of toxic friends and people who serve me no good, things that I really shouldn't put myself through this upcoming year. You just get older every year—the more we age, the more we grow. With that, comes great responsibility to tackle things in your life that you maybe don't need or don't even want, but feel forced to hold onto.
If you know me, then you know how clean and organized I am. That's not all true, though. While the outside might seem clean, the inside can and is most likely a mess (by that, I mean our minds). I recently picked up this book by Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant and professional, called "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up". Marie calls it the "Konmari" method. A method used to declutter and actually get rid of things that build up in your home and in your life. Instead of "hanging onto things" and just putting them in a bin for later use, she explains that getting rid of them for good is a better way of clearing up junk and things that don't serve any use or purpose in the moment.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone seeking help, advice, who love to tidy, or are genuinely interested in what the profession entails. My mom always jokes and says that I should just become a professional tidier, but I still have a lot to learn and my organizing and mental organizing skills could use some more TLC.
Discover New Places
This year I really want to be open to traveling and just going to see new places. There's nothing more refreshing than being somewhere that you have never been before. There are so many places I want to go and see, so hopefully, I will be able to travel more this year. Who knows what you'll see, where you'll go, who you'll meet, etc. As a way to declutter or kick off a new year, going someplace totally foreign to you might be the best medicine.
Take the Days as They Come
We are always looking ahead. Obviously, I have goals for this year and things I want to achieve, but sometimes it gets to the best of us and takes over. I have found that using a weekly planner or just looking at a few days ahead of me, take all the pressure and stress out. I dwell on the past and things that haven't even happened yet. In order for me to actually focus, I have to worry about the present and what I am currently doing. I know that it doesn't work for everyone, but when I look at a month, it kind of overwhelms me.
Personal health and mental health are very two important things to me. Personal health being just taking care of my body and giving it the right nutrients and exercise it deserves and mental health being my moods and what I'm feeling every day. I try to do so much and fit so many things into my schedule. Sometimes, it's easier to approach each new day and each new task on its own without thinking ahead. It is so beneficial for your health and overall mindset. I have realized that I need to do this way more this year.
These are just a few ways.I think would be so beneficial to declutter and help refresh going into the new year. I have talked about some goals, but I thought speaking more in-depth about a couple would be a nice way to go about the year ahead. I know a lot of these "New Year" posts get redundant, but time flies, so why not spend a little extra time to re-evaluate and improve?
I am nearly halfway through my freshman year of college and I think it's been pretty good. It was mostly adjusting to college itself and having to live away from home, but it has been an overall positive learning experience for me. I feel like I can get through the rest of the year; I'm familiar with the campus, I'm involved in at least one organization at the moment, I have a solid few friends, and my classes are changing.
01. My hope for this month is to really keep up with yoga. I actually froze my account after summer and never really got into my normal routine once school started. I mean, I think I get a pass for being a freshman in college, but recently I have felt like my motivation has lacked. I don't know if it's just a phase or a "funk." I just went to yoga this morning, but when I wake up every day, all I want to do is sleep in! I keep pushing myself, though. I know it's good for me and I feel amazing after and very productive with my start to the day.
02. I don't really want my need to go out and buy gifts to make me stressed or be at the forefront of my mind. My neighbors and I do a Christmas party every year now and we have a secret Santa and a white elephant. Basically, we buy a gift for someone in our friend group and then we wrap up some cheap object to pass around the circle as someone reads a story along with it. I am looking forward to all things Christmas, but over the past couple of years, I haven't really thought of the things that matter like being with the people I love.
03. My other goal this month is to make my resume. Uh, Natalie, you're in college! Why do you need one? Well, lil 'ol me is applying to be a resident's assistant for next year and I have yet to have made my resume for it. I think I could be a really good RA. I love helping people and it would be great to have my own room next year in the dorms. The application is due at the end of the month, but it's kinda stressed me out a bit because I have never written one before and I can't remember all that I have done throughout high school that might look good on it! Also, I haven't really done much in college yet to even put on my resume. Any tips or advice on writing resumes would be greatly appreciated!
04. I have all this time on my hands and I really want to go visit some family. I have no idea who, but I know that within these five or so weeks, I should be able to drive and see some people that I haven't seen in a while. Some people take vacations for granted, and while I love to just sit at home with my family, I know that I can also spend quality time with people that I never get to see that much. I know everyone is dying to hear my college experience so far. Isn't that what holiday breaks are for?
05. I want to approach the up and coming year with a better mindset. Every December I always look back on the year (too fast amirite?) and kind of reflect a bit on the things I've done. It can be cringey to think of the bad things that may have happened, but I like to focus on the good and also look forward to the year to come. How can I change the next year to ensure a happier and healthier me? Maybe I need to start making little changes like not worrying about the things I can't control. Or maybe I need to just stop eating snacks at 11 o clock when I watch my binge of Stranger Things. Who knows what the next year will lead!
06. Speaking of Stranger Things , I am obsessed. When I first watched season one, I was like okay this is boring. And then I was hooked after like the third episode because I knew I couldn't leave after the first one. Joe Keery who plays Steve Harrington is actually a DePaul alumni, so that's pretty sweet I guess. Even a better reason to watch and support a fellow blue demon. I am so ready for the next season, yes it was just announced, and I am curious to see how the story continues.
07. I think my final goals is to honestly save my money. After all this Christmas gift shopping for my friends and family and going out with friends, my wallet is gonna start crying at me. I have many babysitting jobs this break and every bit helps so much. The babysitting industry is so real and big right now and I am so lucky I have so many families that trust me with their kids. Ha!
I think that's all my goals for right now. I'm keeping up with my blog posts as much as I can and it's been so nice to just be able to have a lot of time to focus on my writing, as well as, myself and my mental and physical health this break. Also, tune in for some upcoming gift guides! I am really excited to share some of my ideas for those of you who need some inspiration this year. I'm just living my best life I guess. We can only try, right?
I have been in college for only two months and it's been great: I'm meeting new people, getting comfortable with my classes, I don't feel sad being away from home, and I'm taking opportunities as they come. However, there are still many things that I have yet to find out about college and the whole experience. I am still a very confused freshman and still haven't found my "niche".
I know that many freshmen might feel the same way and that I am kind of worrying too much about things, but I do have some questions:
Is it normal to feel like you should be involved in something right away?
The only thing that has really been going on at my school is greek life. Both of my roommates are in sororities and that's something that I have never really been interested in: it's expensive, too much commitment, and isn't a way I like to do service. I get that it is a great way to socialize and meet people, but it's not what I want to do at all. I want to join clubs like newspaper and maybe some fitness clubs, but I feel like I should already be in them.
I am also doing my best to stay in the loop of events and activities, but since I go to a private school, we don't have football or big fall activities like most state schools do. I am finding it harder to get involved.
How long does it take to actually find your "niche"?
I have already met some really cool people who I call friends already, but I still feel like I should be finding "groups." The thing that I love about college is that, unlike high school, there are no "cliques." I've seen all of these people go to dinner in our dining hall together and, while it might sound sad, I still don't really have a "group" to go out and eat with. This might just be my introverted personality talking. Although, I know in high school I had different groups of friends by sophomore year. Does it just take time?
Is it okay to go home on the weekends for a while?
I chose this college because it is 30 minutes away from home on a good traffic day. I did not like the idea of living farther than an hour away. As of right now, the weekends haven't been my favorite compared to the weekdays. I have only spent a couple weekends at school and my weekends are long. I have a four day weekend and a lot can happen in four days. For someone who doesn't really like to party, it can be hard finding things to do. I never really realized how much free time you actually have in college and it is dangerous. I already know that a lot of money can be spent in just four days.
I don't have a job at the moment, but I have been picking up babysitting jobs here and there every weekend or so and it has really helped. I know it may sound silly, but is it bad to go home very often on the weekends? I have friends back home, my puppy is back home, and I feel like I can be a lot more productive when I am not surrounded by five roommates sometimes. I just feel guilty or a bit pathetic for wanting to go home every weekend.
Does living with roommates get any better?
The situation I was given when I finally chose my school was so late that I had to go random with my roommates, which was fine because I didn't really care and it is what it is. I have really good roommates. We get along well and we mesh, even with our different personalities, we make it work and I am comfortable with both of them. Yes, I have two roommates.
I was just wondering if it gets easier after the first year because I know that living alone isn't really something I plan on doing, plus it's financially practical, too.
Is it too early to think about jobs after college?
At the back of my mind, job searching and creating a resume has been something that I am kind of worrying about. I know I really haven't gotten into my major, public relations, but I have no idea what type of job I want out of college. I know that I for sure want a job as soon as I graduate, though. I want my job to have something to do with brands and creating content, but it's still very unclear as to what I really want to do.
I know I usually offer some insight into things, but this time it's the opposite. I really have a lot of questions for upperclassmen or people who have graduated college, in general. All advice helps so much! I'm just a little 'ol freshman figuring things out.
While college move in is right around the corner (a week from yesterday), there are still many things I need to consider before starting college. Trust me, I am just as nervous and anxious as the normal college freshman and I have yet to find my own routines and develop my own time management skills.
I am so excited for what's ahead: the experiences, new people, new places, and just having the freedom to make my own choices. Especially when it comes to using my time wisely. This won't be set in stone or anything and I clearly have no wisdom for this because I haven't even moved in yet. However, I feel like all of us new freshies have some type of routine or mindset when it comes to how much we want to actually study or actually workout in college. Amirite?
In college I hope that I can create a routine that I am comfortable with and can deal with while staying on top of my studies. Personally, I do want to stay focused and not dilly dally through college winging most of my exams and projects--that's just not how I have done things, at least through high school I never did. Sure there will be low points and I will get through it, and hopefully I can reflect on this post and say "Oh, yeah you totally rocked it and graduated" at the end of college. I know that routines change and people change, too.
Ask Yourself, "Who Do I Want to Be?"
Obviously the answer should be YOU. I'm not asking you to change into an alter ego or anything, but consider what type of person you want to be and what morals or beliefs you want to have or keep. I know going into college I might be exposed to alcohol, parties, drugs, boys, all that stuff. Decide before going into it or at least think about types of situations you can be exposed to and how you can make the safest and most YOU decision. I can't decide for you and I know my opinion can't really sway anyone from going to a party when they should be studying--I ain't yo mama. I know that I want to be safe and also enjoy the experiences, while also having fun and keeping up on my studies.
Having Some Self Control
Something as simple as the abundance of food at college can seem like Heaven on earth, but did you really need that extra bag of chips? Or that bowl of just-okay soft serve? I think the main thing I am kind of scared about is tuning into self control and knowing when enough is enough and how I should really be making healthier decisions. Instead of binge watching Netflix, maybe take a 20 minute run instead. Or even watch The Office while you run!
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
I am in this little safe bubble in my town and everyone knows where they are and who their friends are, and to be honest, I am so ready to meet new people. I have been with the same class for about 13 years and I am so ready to see new faces and also new cultures. I want to join different clubs and get involved on campus, too. I want to really get the most out of my college experience and I am sure many freshmen do too. While I have no idea what to expect, I am ready for a new start and new activities.
There's a lot more going on in my head right now as I begin to start school and I am sure that I will keep writing about my experiences on here when I start. I thought this might be helpful or somewhat relatable to freshmen in college or maybe seniors trying to help a newbie out. If you can take away one thing from this, then I would encourage any new freshman to consider what type of person they want to be seen as or they want to reflect off of others. It's a "fresh" start for all of us, so maybe it's time to be more open or contribute more? There's a whole list of things you could do to make sure your next four years are the best four years.
Also, I have no idea what my blogging schedule will be like when I move in or start school, so please bear with me for the next couple weeks. I would like to keep it the same as it has always been, but I will for sure be back with great stuff! I hope the transition is smooth and I am able to post regularly.
And to senior Natalie who is probably reading this, I hope you have continued to be the best you you can be and hopefully you graduated. Also, if you would like to discuss freshman topics or simply offer an opinion on becoming a new college student, please share! I'd love to hear your thoughts :)
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It's that time of year again--finals. We hate 'em, we loathe 'em, but we have to take 'em. I have made a few final exam study guides and survival guides in the past, but I love remaking and modifying them. My studying habits change very often, so I think it's fun to share what new ways to study I find.
Since I have just finished my senior year, I am fully done with school and studying until I start college. However, all underclassmen are still in school and have final exams next week.
Organize Your Notes and Lessons
What I love to do before I start any studying is to organize all of the worksheets, notes, and quizzes I have taken in the order of the chapters we studied during class. I find it best to use big binder clips or jumbo paper clips to put together everything.
My whole studying experience has been very easy because of how I prepare all of my material before I even start to review.
Highlight Things You Don't Remember
It's never easy looking back at a semester of material and trying to review everything. If you receive study guides from your teachers or even just in your notes, start to look over things that you need more review on.
Find a Studying Habit
I know it can be extremely hard to get into the groove of studying. Starting to review can seem so difficult and I think it's important to put some time away towards it. I can just start if I put away all of my electronics and shut the door to my bedroom. I need peace and quiet, but sometimes going to a specific place that you don't associate with relaxing, like the library, can be the best habit when studying. You can dedicate a place or even a certain time of day to just studying.
Take Breaks and Pace Yourself
Cramming is not going to get you the grade you want. It's only healthy to pace yourself when you study. That's why studying way before your exam can give you the most stress free studying habits. It's always a good idea to take breaks in between lessons or subjects to refresh and not overwhelm yourself.
I know when I study, I don't ever do it for more than two hours in a sitting. I'll go outside or do some yoga to de-stress and take my mind off of all I need to study and projects I might need to finish. You will get the most out of studying if you take and manage your time wisely.
Use Your Resources
Many schools and the internet have great studying resources that are available for everyone. If you seem to be struggling in a subject, you can always email your teachers or professors to meet up and go over subjects you are unsure about. Most of the time they will be more than happy to help. There are also great websites like vocabulary.com to go over terms and ideas while you are on your phone out and about. It's just a matter of utilizing resources to your advantage.
I could list more and more things to do when studying, but I think these are really the most important to getting and achieving the desired grade you want. It's so surreal to be done with high school and I am so excited and a little nervous as to how my finals will be like in college next year. I know that these tips will surely help me succeed. I know that many people have their own ways and techniques they like to use for exams, so please feel free to share!
It's hard. It's insanely hard.
There's no way I can fully describe the way I'm feeling because there are just so many things going on in my brain. I'm trying not to shake as I type this and I'm trying to swallow back tears as I stare at this picture while I write. I thought that I would document this time of my life because I want to remember all of the good times I've had with my buddy. It's not everyday you get to wake up and snuggle next to a furry lug, but these past 12 years have been truly amazing with him. I hope this post can help those of you who have lost their furry friends or who have very old furry friends looking for someone to talk to.
There's no way I can fully describe the way I'm feeling because there are just so many things going on in my brain. I'm trying not to shake as I type this and I'm trying to swallow back tears as I stare at this picture while I write. I thought that I would document this time of my life because I want to remember all of the good times I've had with my buddy. It's not everyday you get to wake up and snuggle next to a furry lug, but these past 12 years have been truly amazing with him. I hope this post can help those of you who have lost their furry friends or who have very old furry friends looking for someone to talk to.
For those of you who are new, my golden retriever, Rigly, has been mentioned a few times on here. He's been with me for so long and we got him back in 2005 when I had just moved into my current home. You don't think that your pet is ever going to leave you until that day without a tail wag, or a bark to welcome you home. I've had some great memories with Rigly and my family; we go on annual camping trips which I have blogged about in the past and he absolutely loved the new scents since he was a very domesticated (and spoiled) city dog. Being in the wilderness was his favorite. My family and I had a secret sand dune that we would watch the sunset on over the lake and we would try to push Rigly up it since dogs aren't made to go up steep, sandy dunes anyway.
Rigly was never a bad dog. We got him from my aunt who lives out in Oregon and she actually brought him over on an airplane, if you could believe it. My family and I decided on getting the "runt" of the litter and wanted the puppy who didn't jump on or bite everybody. In fact, when we first got him, he would immediately hide under a chair. Over the past years, there has never been a time when Rigly has bitten or growled at any of us. He was so protective, yet lazy and tired at the same time. He was my lump. My lug-nut. My loaf. My beached whale. "Poop", my Dad would call him. It's funny because Rigly was so mellow that I would just lay stuff on him for no reason and he would just lie there and not care. But he did care. A lot. About all of us.
I remember Freshman year when I broke my ankle in softball, I would come home from a long day of crutching along and I would plop all my stuff on the floor and lay on the couch. Pitter patters later, came in Rig and he just layed his head on the couch right next to my face. That's when I knew that he knew. There have been many times when Rigly would comfort us. Normally, he would trudge around the living room and hop onto the couch with my mom and just blatantly stare at her--and then lay right on top of her legs. I also remember a time when my dad had a terrible chest cramp and no one was around to notice. Rigly was lying right next to him with his cute box ears and would look worried because he knew that his "master" was not the way he normally is. He was a great dog.
Over the past couple of weeks, we knew that something was up. He had a growing mass near his abdomen and we knew that it wasn't right. Overtime, we just ignored it and was told by the vet that it was just from old age. We enjoyed our time with him, but it got worse when his back legs gave out on him and his mass got even bigger. He was tested and got diagnosed with liver disease. We think he was suffering from liver cancer, but it was too expensive to get surgery on him to fully tell if it was cancer.
His appetite slowed and it got to the point where we were giving him chicken fries from Burger King and chocolate donuts because that's all he literally wanted (and yes chocolate is bad for dogs). He kept drinking, which was good. I couldn't bear to see him starve. From Monday to Friday, he ate nothing. Zip. We couldn't force food into him and stress him out more. It was already painful to see my Dad carry him in and out of the house just to pee.
Sorry I just broke down a little and now I'm cleaning tears off my keyboard. UGH.
He would throw up nonstop and he actually had a couple accidents in our house which made it smell even worse. We had blankets and carpets everywhere to help him get up and sometimes we would just push him across the hardwood floor to move him. His mind was saying something totally different than his body was. He wanted to eat and play, but his body failed him immensely. We thought it was best to put him down and as I'm writing this, my parents are at the vet with him and he's at peace now with his puppy mom and dad.
He lived a very long and happy life. He's been through a lot of good and bad parts of mine. We've experienced a lot with him and I'm giggling at the time when he somehow got out of our house and ran straight across a busy highway and somehow survived because he was the little stinker that he was. Oh god, I hate talking about him in the past tense; he was just here.
I want him to be happy and he made me happy. It was probably one of the kindest things (besides giving him a ton of people food and love lol) that we could have done for him; to release him from his pain and suffering. I will never forget him and I will wait until we meet again. I love you Rigly.
<3
It is almost nearing into spring, and many things are going to happen in the next couple of months. Since, I am a senior in high school, there are loads of events going on and things to plan for. The past couple of days have been very stressful. Let's be honest, not everyday is a bright, shining miracle that we all get to look forward to. I have my very gloomy days, too.
I don't want to go full in detail and just pour myself out there (even though that's the point of having a blog). A few days ago, my precious 12 year old golden retriever, Rigly, became very sick. He is pretty old and has been slowing down a lot; he was recently diagnosed with some type of liver disease that creates excess fluid near his spleen. He's pretty much inflating like a balloon at this point. It has disabled his appetite and he has a lot of trouble moving around due to arthritis in his hind legs. It got very bad really quickly and it was not a fun Saturday.
To cut the vivid details out, he was very sick and held none of the food we had given him. We took him to the vet for the third time and they gave him an anti-nausea shot which helped him keep food down for a while. Due to financial things, paying for a $500 dollar surgery was not really in the question. Every now and then, we get a little glimpse at the old puppy we love when he occasionally wags his tail, but it doesn't (sadly) seem to be brightening up around here. We are determined to keep him as comfortable as we can, but from one dog (or even pet lover) to the next, you can imagine how painful this point might be.
With that on my shoulders, I also have college decisions, graduation plans and invitations to make, extra curriculars, and a ton of school work to handle right now that really isn't all that I want to be doing. It's been emotional, for me, this past weekend and I hope you all understand that I kind of need a week to just chill and not have to worry about writing a half-assed post for this upcoming week. I'm gonna take it slow and hopefully i'll be back next week or the week after with some great things to share with all of you. I wish everybody a great week filled with sunshine and rainbows <3
It's two days after Valentine's Day and is pretty much half way into the month already and I'm writing about my February goals. Good going, Nat. I guess I'm just too excited for the warmer weather that's approaching and I'm actually ready for this month to be over. I feel like I slowed into the new year in January and now things seem to be picking up. Btw, I was kind of inspired by Katelavie, who I adore, to do this "goals" type post, so let me know if you guys like these types of things.
College searching is done and decision day is in about three months already. It's crazy to think that time has flown. While, I'd like to share my college choices and all, I feel like I should talk about it once I decide on the right college for me...which will be soon...probably in March to be exact. While that's been stressing me out this past month, I have been doing tons of yoga. Like tons.
One of my goals for this year was to really focus on being healthier and just doing better things for my body and since the beginning of Fall, I feel like my body has really changed and I think I am the healthiest (touch wood) I've ever been. Although, I did eat like two corn dogs yesterday, but you know, you win some you lose some.
01. I really feel like I need to stop worrying so much. Out of all the years in high school, you'd never think that Senior year would be the most stressful. Well, it is. There's no testing or anything and the workload has been pretty okay, but I swear, it feels like I'm being pressured into telling everyone about my future and where I'm going and there's so much more prepping and planning for events like prom and graduation. I've just felt bombarded with stuff and I can't wait for all of it to be figured out and this weight on my shoulders can just be lifted off.
02. I'm going on a few field trips with my fashion merchandising class which I am absolutely psyched for. I decided to take a few electives this year to kind of relax and have more fun (since it is my senior year) and I have really loved it so far. We are going downtown into Chicago to Nordstrom to learn about the ambassador program and all things behind the business and retail empire. I am really looking forward to it since this it totally up my alley. We are also going to a student run fashion show the week after which I am beyond excited to attend. These are the types of opportunities I'm looking for in college and with my job, so I can't believe I get to do it now.
03. I'm going to Disney World! Another big trip I am going on in late March is with my marching band to Disney. A once in a lifetime opportunity that I would never have went on if it wasn't my last year in high school. The last time I was there was about 5 years ago and I can't wait to see what's new and go to the Hogwarts world in Universal.
04. I have been waiting and waiting for it to be warmer. Lately, in Chicago, it has been slightly warming up and I think it's supposed to be in the 60s next week if you can believe it (since it's pretty much Antarctica here). I really want to keep buying fresh flowers. My dad always says that "life's too short to not buy yourself fresh flowers every once and awhile," and I completely agree. While my mom thinks it's excessive to buy yourself flowers all the time, I just love it. I'm hoping to stay on the lookout for peonies this year, because I struggled to find any later in the summer.
05. Hopefully, my blog will continue to grow this year. I'm hoping to have a lot more great things in store as I start to go on trips and do more things once it gets warmer. I'm convinced to do at least one or two more lookbooks outside as soon as it gets nicer out. I don't personally like doing them because it takes a lot of time and I need someone to help do it, but sometimes I just get into the modeling mood. Plus, I bought some new spring stuff already and I'm just so eager to wear them even though it's 40 degrees out still.
How's your February going so far?
This past year seemed like it flew by way too fast. I know years can bring good things and unfortunately bad things to us and we sometimes associate them with how we felt about the year. I feel like this year has been a huge roller coaster ride. Now, I'm not so keen on resolutions. I know I may have mentioned resolutions, but to be totally honest, we forget and make mistakes. That's why, for 2017, I want to set goals for myself because if I do mess up or forget to do something, it'll just be another reason to try again and keep reaching that goal. I went to a yoga class last night actually and my instructor was explaining to us that we sometimes lose ourselves in these resolutions or "rules" we set for ourselves when really, we should be setting goals to become our better selves.
I know you may not know my yoga instructor or have any reason to believe what she says, but I have taken it as a way to make my life a little less stressful among the chaos and twists and turns of reality. I have mini goals and very personal goals that I kind of want to share. My first one being, I would like to open up more on my blog. I know I talk a lot about products and things I like, but I seem to have lost the personality a bit and would like to start being more...uncensored. Uncensored from a fear of what people might think if I reveal or expose myself a bit on here. I mean it's my blog anyway. So, here goes.
Be More Open With People
I have the tendency to hide in my little, brunette shell and sometimes that's okay, but most of the time it's not. I would like to be able to express myself in my writing (more than what I have already) and just be completely blunt about things. I think I have been a little distracted on my blog lately and haven't really expressed myself to my full ability. I wish I could have said some things differently or just taken a step back to think about things for a bit, then just share them and see what happens. I'm just gonna be me more.
Stop Worrying About Things Too Much
With school, my blog, future college plans, and my personal life, I am way WAY too invested in who, what, where, when, and the why of everything. Instead of worrying about my tests, I'm worried about when I'm gonna get to upload a post or go return that sweater that was too big or something like that. I have always struggled with this. It's not like I had a priority mishap, but maybe too many. I mean for one thing, I have always been great at organizing, but that comes from the fear and my anxiety of not having anything organized or in place. Sometimes I need to step back and I forget to. A lot of the times, things are just out of my control.
Listen More and Be Present
I know it might be cheesy, but my English teacher actually made me think of this. She was talking to our class about participation in discussions that we have throughout the year and she kind of criticizes us on how unnatural we are when the only reason we talk is to respond, not to understand. Besides her grading on us for just giving a word, that's not how discussions play out in real life (if you can believe it). Sometimes, it's better to listen and then respond to understand or even contribute to furthering the discussion. We don't always think before we talk and that's something I need (and a lot of people) work on. It might be good to just hear what someone else has to say and be present in the conversation.
Stop Comparisons and Give Myself Credit
I think as humans, it's in our nature to look at someone and want what they have or desire to be something or someone else. I'm guilty of it and so is everybody else (unless you're magical or something). I've been trying to focus on bettering myself especially when it comes to exercising and trying to improve myself. I've been doing yoga for almost over two years now and yeah, there have been times when I see someone who can go into a pose I can't go into or who can lift more weight than I can.
I forget that I am the one in control of change and I am the one with this body that I was given and am so grateful to have. I'm healthy and thankful for my body. I need to remind myself that I can only compare myself to who I was yesterday; that girl who could barely balance on one leg to that girl who can do a headstand and hold it for one hour (if she was dared that is).
Focus On The Good and Appreciate Things
Straying away from the bad comparisons and hate we give ourselves and I give myself sometimes, I forget to focus on what actually matters most and what makes me happy. I don't always remember to think of the good, "little" things that happen everyday. There's always going to be a new day, and it's up to me to make it what I want of it. It's raining? Go out and sing in the rain. Life is never going to give us greatness and it's up to us to make something of it. I fall into a trap of having something stupid like bad costumer service ruin my day (even if it's the absolute worst!) and I never remember their side or the things that kind of matter more.
These were just five of the most important things I think I need more improvement on this year, but just for "funsies" I thought I would make a list of some other smaller goals I would like to try and accomplish in 2017:
- Make Better Food Choices Every Now and Then
- Get Stronger (maybe a six pack? lol)
- Get Emotionally Stronger
- Spend Less, Save More (for college duh)
- Help Out and Volunteer
- Say Hi to More People
- Stop Judging and Making Assumptions About People
- Be Patient
- Drink More Water (hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!)
- Treat My Bad Skin
- Write On Paper More
- Be Social, But Also Stay In More
- Treat Myself Every Once and Awhile
- Buy Even More Flowers (life's too short not to)
- Try New Foods, Music, Cultures, etc...
- Do Lots of Yoga (and try a new type of exercise too)
- Travel More
- Eat That Bag of Doritos Cuz You Can
- Stop Apologizing, Start Thanking
- Look Around More and Soak It All In
- Stop Doubting
- Trust More People
- Take Pictures and Save Moments
- Stop Buying Things I Don't Need
- Say "I Love You" More and Give More Hugs
- Try Something New With My Look and Makeup
- Compliment More
- Smile More
- Graduate Highschool
- Survive College (we can only hope)
I hope this brought in some insight and inspiration for any of you needing help with setting goals or any idea as to what their new year might bring them. As for this blog, I plan to keep pushing through this whole year! I want my blog to be more of a reflexion of myself and just improve my connection with all of my readers (who i dearly appreciate so very much). I think I will cut myself some slack and lay off blogging every now and then. All I want to do is create and write what I feel in the best way I can. That can only happen if there is inspiration and I want it to be great for everyone. I will try to accomplish these goals and if it seems like I'm off track (blogging wise), let me know! Also, if you would like to talk to me (which I hope you do), please visit my "contact" page to find my email! I would love to get to know all of you guys better as we start the new year.
What goals have you set for yourself for the new year?
P.S. Oh I forgot, I think I am going to stop with the "xoxo, Nat". I don't know, I think it's time for some change, aesthetically if that's alright. What do you guys think? Obviously, I'll continue the questions. ;)
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Hi everybody! Sorry I didn't post this morning, I've been a bit behind schedule due to finals and some last projects I need to be finishing up. For this post, I thought I would talk about New Year's resolutions. Not many people love them or abide by them, but for some, they can be a great way to reflect and improve upon some of the things we think could help ourselves and others. I, for one, have always struggled with keeping up on my goals for the new year and sometimes I do make mistakes here and there, but I think the best thing we can do is pick ourselves up again and set new goals--ones we can at least try to reach. It can be as simple as eating less sugar to more complex like making sure you study more in order to get the outcome you want in a certain class. One of mine might be to lay off the blogging a bit and take more breaks; good content and ideas can only come out of passion, not just for getting a post up on a certain date in my opinion.
For myself, and all of you, I have compiled only twenty goals or resolutions I think we could all aspire to do that can make better changes in our lives this coming year. Sure, it's a bit early, but it's never too early to start improving ourselves.
1) Start saying I love you more: to your friends, family, and especially to yourself.
Accepting ourselves and learning to care and forgive is one of the most important steps to creating better relationships with our peers and ourselves. The whole hustle and bustle can distract us from remembering who we are and why we're here.
2) Get off your technology and remember the more important thing in life besides how many followers you have.
This is sort of a given, but I hope everybody can realize that there is more to life than the little box in their hands all the time. Look up more and experience life.
3) Make more time for yourself and have some solitude every now and then.
I know I'm a master at solitude and finding time for myself, but not everybody else is. For my more socially enabled readers, remember that finding alone time can help destress you and bring you away from the noise. Occasionally, it's never a bad thing to want to stay in bed and watch Netflix all night.
4) Focus on studies more, but don't over do it. Go out with friends while you can.
I know school is important, and so is living. Do what you gotta do and then go out with people you enjoy being around. You deserve it; don't torture yourself.
5) Find some physical activity that you enjoy and makes you happy. Such as yoga, sometimes these things we do for our bodies can be very good. Getting in shape, not only physically, but mentally will help improve stress and raise energy levels.
6) Volunteer your time more and give back.
Doing one simple deed for someone in need can make all the better. Even donating a dollar to your local Salvation Army bell ringers or helping out at a food kitchen can make a difference. These things shouldn't be taken for granted because every amount of help counts.
7) "Talk Less, Smile More."
Props to anyone who knows where that quote is from (ahem Hamilton). I think it's important to listen to people. Sharing your opinion and thoughts on things is important, but sometimes replying to people to understand is more important than replying to respond, says my English teacher. We can only accept each other and respect one another when both voices are heard. It's something that I forget sometimes.
8) Eat better food.
I know this is something we all have on our lists to do, but sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zones and try new food. Food that's different than what we normally eat. Maybe you'll find something healthy that you never thought you would have loved and it changed your whole entire eating habit.
9) Say "thank you."
We are all old enough to know manners, but sometimes things can go unnoticed. Giving someone a simple, "thanks", might make their day a tiny bit better.
10) Learn to let go.
Let go of grudges, mistakes, embarrassing moments, bad grades, broken friendships, arguments, bad critiques, failures, and everything else. You're human and that's just a part of living. Move on.
11) Try something new for the heck of it.
I never thought I would have loved yoga if I never tried it. I've learned so many things about myself and overall well being because of it. I know how to control my body and remain positive during challenges I have faced.
12) Try out a fashion trend you never thought you could pull off.
Wearing that same sweater and jean combination isn't doing you justice? Try a look that you normally wouldn't do and see what you think. I'm still scared to even touch a choker! Maybe it will open new aesthetically pleasing doors.
13) Don't assume things about people.
I think everyone can attest to at least once judging someone based on their actions, looks, or the way they speak. It's just what we do I guess. We should never treat a person based on an assumption. You don't know their life at all. Why don't you try to get to know them? Maybe they're dealing with something you can or can't relate to.
14) Reward yourself more for your achievments and battles.
This sort of goes with the "more solitude" one, but more specifically about the way we treat ourselves after an accomplishment or milestone. It's okay to treat yourself because you deserve it.
15) Stand up for yourself when something isn't right.
I can relate to this one a lot because I'm the type of person that won't ask for a new meal because something was not cooked or brought out right. I'm just so humble and my Dad always yells at me for not speaking up. As we grow older, our dads and moms will not be there to ask the waiter for another plate, and it will be up to us to make things right. This could apply to anything else really.
I hope these help spark some inspiration as to what goals you guys would like to achieve or improve on through the next year. I know there are a lot more so I might keep adding to the list as I think of more. Have a great weekend everybody!
What do you want to improve about yourself?
Xoxo, Nat
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