Hello everyone! As you can probably tell, I've been quite behind on blogging but I'm finally back and ready to share some good stuff. Today's topic is on what reading can do to your body over time.
Yes, I'm definitely a book nerd. I love everything about books. (and by books I mean actually hard copies, not kindles or electronic gadgets) I love the way they smell, and how I get to crack the spine, and simply love that book to death. It's no secret that the brightest people of our time, we're big readers. Reading expands not only your vocabulary, but also your entire imagination and thought processing. A good book challenges you to leap out of your comfort zone and to try to place yourself in a completely different perspective and see life and insight from new angles. As nice as it is to be in a comfort zone, it also is very dangerous, because it limits our ability to grow and discover. If there is no diversity, there is no way to be innovative and balanced people. And don't just limit yourself to certain authors or certain genres. It's awesome to fall in love with a particular writer, but if you only read their stuff, you will get into a rut and be close-minded. Try to read stuff that you wouldn't normally read in addition to your favorites. As cliché as it is: NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!
Reading obviously takes time. Some of you may say that you don't have time to read and therefore aren't able to read. Sorry to be this blunt, but that is a complete lie. You can ALWAYS schedule time into the busiest of agendas to read. Even if it's just an hour, that one hour is much better than not reading at all. Also, reading relaxes you. It's a wonderful way to unwind as it gives your brain a way to think and process without stressing out and panicking. Think of it as a slow afternoon walk in the park. You're still getting some exercise, but you're not stuck in the worries of work or school. SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST STRESSED OUT, ARE THE ONES WHO DO NOT READ. Do yourself a huge favor and just read.
Hope you all discover and explore your imaginative, creative and beautiful minds. And remember to never take yourself too seriously. Have a fantastic and beautiful day!
-Chloe
28 May, 2014
14 May, 2014
Mindfulness
I am now officially on summer break and life's pace is slowing down. (Thank goodness!) I had a fantastic first-year experience at my college and I am thankful for all my new friends and for new lessons that I have learned. These past few days I have been enjoying the quiet and peaceful moments that come my way. I thought I'd share a bit on mindfulness.
It's easy for all of us to get caught up in the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life. If you're anything like me, there always seems to be a to-do list and things to check off the list. But so often, I end up wearing myself down and feeling completely exhausted. I can get so busy that I don't even realize how precious and beautiful life can be. There may be pretty flowers, or wonderful music, or sweet people around me, but instead of noticing and appreciating those things, I'm looking at my phone or running around like a crazy person. But if I look up and just see the world, there would be more joy and less chaos.
I think letting your mind rest by simply watching your surroundings instead of a screen, can truly help relieve tension in your body. Natural sunlight is so much better for your eyes than blue light from a phone or computer screen. And chances are, if you're on your phone, computer, tablet, etc, your posture probably isn't the best and therefore you are only putting even more strain on your joints. Sit up straight, and engage your five senses and do not allow your mind to obsess about work or tasks on the to-do list. Just be and take deep breaths. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel? Taste?
Even if you feel stuck doing mundane and tedious tasks, you're not. Sometimes I like to pay special attention to the way I wash the dishes, or fold/iron my clothes. When you allow your mind to focus on only one thing, there's less room for tension and stress. You can practice mindfulness just by eating a meal without looking at your phone or multitasking. Stop eating and working at the same time. Maybe physically sit down and slowly eat your food and enjoy all the flavors. Eating can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience if you allow it to. Actually, anything can be somewhat enjoyable and relaxing if you want it to. It just takes a little bit of practice.
Enjoy your week and don't let yourself get too caught up in stress. Treat yourself well and don't be too hard on yourself. Make time for you to simply relax and unwind. It's not selfish. It's healthy. :)
And stay positive. You can and will make it!
Love and Peace
-Chloe
It's easy for all of us to get caught up in the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life. If you're anything like me, there always seems to be a to-do list and things to check off the list. But so often, I end up wearing myself down and feeling completely exhausted. I can get so busy that I don't even realize how precious and beautiful life can be. There may be pretty flowers, or wonderful music, or sweet people around me, but instead of noticing and appreciating those things, I'm looking at my phone or running around like a crazy person. But if I look up and just see the world, there would be more joy and less chaos.
I think letting your mind rest by simply watching your surroundings instead of a screen, can truly help relieve tension in your body. Natural sunlight is so much better for your eyes than blue light from a phone or computer screen. And chances are, if you're on your phone, computer, tablet, etc, your posture probably isn't the best and therefore you are only putting even more strain on your joints. Sit up straight, and engage your five senses and do not allow your mind to obsess about work or tasks on the to-do list. Just be and take deep breaths. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel? Taste?
Even if you feel stuck doing mundane and tedious tasks, you're not. Sometimes I like to pay special attention to the way I wash the dishes, or fold/iron my clothes. When you allow your mind to focus on only one thing, there's less room for tension and stress. You can practice mindfulness just by eating a meal without looking at your phone or multitasking. Stop eating and working at the same time. Maybe physically sit down and slowly eat your food and enjoy all the flavors. Eating can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience if you allow it to. Actually, anything can be somewhat enjoyable and relaxing if you want it to. It just takes a little bit of practice.
Enjoy your week and don't let yourself get too caught up in stress. Treat yourself well and don't be too hard on yourself. Make time for you to simply relax and unwind. It's not selfish. It's healthy. :)
And stay positive. You can and will make it!
Love and Peace
-Chloe
01 May, 2014
College 101
I cannot believe that in one week, I will be packing up the car, and leaving school for summer break! Freshman year has flown by SO fast and truthfully, it's been an absolutely FANTASTIC year! I have grown so much and it seemed as if every day, I learned something new that will help me in the future. I remember last year around this time, was a very scary period for me because the thought of starting college was so intimidating. For those who are going to start college next Fall, I am so excited for you! And I thought sharing some of my tips and advice might help ease the anxiety and worries.
First off, I know this is really cliche and you probably hear this from any adult, but your college experience depends on how much you invest into it. You get out of college what you put into it. That being said, GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS! There are so many cool clubs, and organizations, and there's something for everyone. Most schools usually have a clubs/activities fair during the first week of school. Go the fair and meet new people. Put yourself out there, and don't be scared or intimidated. You are special and people want to get to know you. You are guaranteed to find something that interests you, if you brave the crowds and potential awkwardness.
If you live on campus, keep the door to your dorm room open when you're inside. This is especially helpful during the first few weeks of school, when everyone is trying to meet their floor mates and build friendships. An open door signals that you want to meet new people instead of being clingy to old friends. If you do not outwardly show people that you are open to conversations and interactions, they probably won't want to try to build a relationship with you. Meet as many people as you can, even if you go to a large school. Some of my best friends that I've made during my freshman year, was during the first week of school and we all walked into each other's rooms and just started talking.
Have a specific game plan for studying and staying on top of homework. During the first day of classes, professors give you a syllabus for their class. In high school, I usually tossed them aside. But they are your life-line for classes. Professors do not typically remind you when a big paper or project is due. They just tell you to refer to the syllabus for deadlines and important dates. When I get a syllabus, I find it helpful to grab a highlighter and highlight all the important dates. Then I grab my agenda and write down when each assignment is due. I also find color-coding my classes helpful and my desk stays tidy. Organization is key in college, and high school doesn't always emphasize this skill. Keep a file folder handy, and makes sure to keep everything until you are absolutely positive that you no longer need it.
Get to know your professors. They will tell you when they have office hours. Use this to your advantage. You are going to struggle in some classes. That's just part of the college package. Instead of freaking out, be brave and visit your professor outside of class. This shows them that you care about their class, and want to take responsibility in your education. They will see that you are trying and doing your best, and may be able to really help you out. Even if you're not struggling in a class, go talk with your professors and get to know them. My creative writing professor and I are pretty close because we've met outside of class and talked about school and my goals. Not all professors are scary and unapproachable. Office hours are a beautiful thing.
Budget wise, do NOT buy books from your college's bookstore. Bookstores are experts on putting ridiculous price tags on relatively inexpensive supplies. Do your research carefully when it comes to purchasing class supplies. Slugbooks.com is a wonderful resource for saving money on textbooks. You don't buy your actual textbooks from this site, but it compares prices and finds the cheapest seller/vendor. Also, buy and sell your books to and from other students. I only paid $15 altogether for my literature class, which required four books since another student was selling their books. The bookstore would have been at least $40.
Those are my key tips for now. Enjoy the festivities of your final high school experiences. Don't be afraid of next Fall. If you put a little preparation in, college is a blast. You will be pushed to grow and learn, but also meet incredible people, experience fun and new things, and learn how to be an independent adult. It's up to you to make the most out of your college experience and explore new boundaries.
Love and peace,
Chloe
First off, I know this is really cliche and you probably hear this from any adult, but your college experience depends on how much you invest into it. You get out of college what you put into it. That being said, GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS! There are so many cool clubs, and organizations, and there's something for everyone. Most schools usually have a clubs/activities fair during the first week of school. Go the fair and meet new people. Put yourself out there, and don't be scared or intimidated. You are special and people want to get to know you. You are guaranteed to find something that interests you, if you brave the crowds and potential awkwardness.
If you live on campus, keep the door to your dorm room open when you're inside. This is especially helpful during the first few weeks of school, when everyone is trying to meet their floor mates and build friendships. An open door signals that you want to meet new people instead of being clingy to old friends. If you do not outwardly show people that you are open to conversations and interactions, they probably won't want to try to build a relationship with you. Meet as many people as you can, even if you go to a large school. Some of my best friends that I've made during my freshman year, was during the first week of school and we all walked into each other's rooms and just started talking.
Have a specific game plan for studying and staying on top of homework. During the first day of classes, professors give you a syllabus for their class. In high school, I usually tossed them aside. But they are your life-line for classes. Professors do not typically remind you when a big paper or project is due. They just tell you to refer to the syllabus for deadlines and important dates. When I get a syllabus, I find it helpful to grab a highlighter and highlight all the important dates. Then I grab my agenda and write down when each assignment is due. I also find color-coding my classes helpful and my desk stays tidy. Organization is key in college, and high school doesn't always emphasize this skill. Keep a file folder handy, and makes sure to keep everything until you are absolutely positive that you no longer need it.
Get to know your professors. They will tell you when they have office hours. Use this to your advantage. You are going to struggle in some classes. That's just part of the college package. Instead of freaking out, be brave and visit your professor outside of class. This shows them that you care about their class, and want to take responsibility in your education. They will see that you are trying and doing your best, and may be able to really help you out. Even if you're not struggling in a class, go talk with your professors and get to know them. My creative writing professor and I are pretty close because we've met outside of class and talked about school and my goals. Not all professors are scary and unapproachable. Office hours are a beautiful thing.
Budget wise, do NOT buy books from your college's bookstore. Bookstores are experts on putting ridiculous price tags on relatively inexpensive supplies. Do your research carefully when it comes to purchasing class supplies. Slugbooks.com is a wonderful resource for saving money on textbooks. You don't buy your actual textbooks from this site, but it compares prices and finds the cheapest seller/vendor. Also, buy and sell your books to and from other students. I only paid $15 altogether for my literature class, which required four books since another student was selling their books. The bookstore would have been at least $40.
Those are my key tips for now. Enjoy the festivities of your final high school experiences. Don't be afraid of next Fall. If you put a little preparation in, college is a blast. You will be pushed to grow and learn, but also meet incredible people, experience fun and new things, and learn how to be an independent adult. It's up to you to make the most out of your college experience and explore new boundaries.
Love and peace,
Chloe
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