Lifestyles
Combatting Cabin Fever
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 08 April 2020 17:49
- Written by GIANNA FERRARO | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Over the past few weeks, COVID-19 has completely taken over the lives of people all over the world. The coronavirus has millions stuck inside, which means working, playing, and relaxing all has to be done at home. It also means that cabin fever is most likely to start to set in.
To combat cabin fever, self-care is a great way to start to find peace during this hectic time. Self-care is essential when trying to create a balanced, healthy, and stress-free lifestyle.
When thinking of the term “self-care” one of the first ideas that may come to mind is applying a face mask. Face masks are a great way to relax not only your body, but your skin as well. There are a plethora of do-it-yourself face masks to take advantage of, using all household items.
One great recipe to leave your face soft, and moisturized is a hydrating avocado mask. This mask calls for one half of a ripe avocado, one teaspoon of plain yogurt, and one teaspoon of honey. Mix these ingredients together, apply all over your face, and let it sit for 15 minutes. This mask will leave the skin glowing and hydrated.
Lynelle Scanlon, a junior criminal justice student at Monmouth University, has her own recipe for an at home egg-white face mask that she regularly uses. For this mask Scanlon beats one egg white until it is fluffy, and mixes in one teaspoon of lemon juice, and one teaspoon of honey.
“I use egg whites as a face mask because it peels off leaving my skin feeling fresh and clean. It is so easy to make, and safe for your skin because there are no harmful chemicals in it,” said Scanlon.
Another way to relax, and feel less anxious while stuck inside is to create a mood board. A mood board is a visual tool that communicates concepts, and visual ideas. It can take the form of an arrangement of images, materials, and pieces of text that is intended to express a particular style or concept.
A mood board is a great starting point to get things done. It can help to collate and focus ideas, and define upcoming projects. To begin a mood board start collecting images that represent your personal taste in clothes, music, interior design, goals, and dreams. Next, print
these images out and paste them to a poster board or sheet of paper. These images will work together to tell a story of your life.
Another way to help ease any heightened emotions or tensions you may be feeling at this time is through essential oils. Essential oils are extracted from plants, and are oils that capture the scent or the essence of the specific plant.
William Schreiber, Ph.D., Lecturer and Chair of the Chemistry & Physics department, said, “I think essential oils are relaxing because they generally have pleasant scents, which provides the user with a relaxing aesthetic experience much as other senses can do.”
Certain scents can serve as an aid in self-care. If you find that you are up all night dealing with insomnia, lavender and cedar wood oil can relieve restlessness, and improve sleep.
If you find yourself in a bad mood sweet orange, lemon, tangerine, peppermint, and lemongrass are shown to significantly improve your mood, and lift spirits. Essential oils are simple to find, and usually come in starter packs with various scents. Amazon is a great place to order essential oil sets without having to leave your home.
One last self-care activity that you can add to your quarantine routine is at home exercising. The physical part of self-care is just as important as the mental, and emotional aspects. All you need for this self-care activity is a workout video or plan, which can be found on YouTube or Pinterest. Working out releases endorphins, which in turn helps motivate the body and spirit.
Sam Ciociola, a junior communication student at Monmouth University, has done an at home workout routine everyday of quarantine thus far. “I've been making the best out of it, and finding different workouts on YouTube that use the equipment I have access too,” said Ciociola.
In any sense, self-care is an important factor to incorporate into your daily routine, especially during the stay at home order for the coronavirus. Even though you may not be able to control how long the quarantine will last, you can control how you deal with it. By following any of the above methods of self-care, you will leave quarantine feeling like a brand new person.
Gardening to Reduce Stress
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Friday, 27 March 2020 13:34
- Written by GIANNA FERRARO || CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With spring weather finally approaching, gardening is a common activity or hobby that a lot of people tend to pick up. Now with the Coronavirus knocking on our doors you can enjoy outside, by gardening in the comfort of your own home.
Although a visually attractive backyard is the overall goal for many, some find gardening as a therapeutic pastime for their mind, body and soul. Those who look at it as a chore might not see gardening as a leisurely activity. However, approaching gardening with a positive attitude and an open mind will significantly reduce stress.
In a modern world where people are constantly overloaded with daily responsibilities, it is important to remember to stop and smell the roses. Gardening is a useful tool that is beneficial for people of all ages to get involved in.
Is Mercury in Retrograde a Fallacy?
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 26 February 2020 13:56
- Written by CHLOE BARONE || LIFESTYLES EDITOR
“Nothing is going right for me lately, and on top of it Mercury is in retrograde.” Odds are if you follow the practices of astrology, you have heard of the term “mercury in retrograde”.
Retrograde motion, when observed from Earth, is a planet that appears to be moving in the reverse direction, according to Time magazine.
The Resurgence of Astrology
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 26 February 2020 13:53
- Written by LILY HOFFMAN || CONTRIBUTING WRITER
From a life and style magazine like Cosmopolitan, to a newspaper such as The New York Times, more often than not you will come across weekly articles about astrology and horoscopes. Horoscopes are not only a hot topic among youth, but astrological signs are becoming staples in fashion and jewelry. Popular companies like Urban Outfitters, Alex and Ani, and Nordstrom have created collections revolving around zodiac symbols.
Ask Chloe
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 19 February 2020 14:04
- Written by CHLOE BARONE || LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Ever since my friend got a boyfriend she only spends her time with him, she has become distant from our entire friend group. This is making me upset. Should I say something?
- Anonymous
Anonymous-- I’m sure you have heard the saying, “Love is blind” before. Sometimes the relationships we are in have the power to cloud our minds and judgments. Suddenly when you are in love, you may not evaluate your own actions.
Is Your Facial Roller a Skincare Gem?
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 19 February 2020 14:02
- Written by ALLISON DEGRUSHE || CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In recent years the beauty industry has developed an obsession with skincare; from tweens to middle-aged adults, people are dying to talk about their routines.
Recently, a new trend has emerged in the skincare world: facial rollers. A facial roller is made with two stones, either jade or rose quartz, on either side of the handle that work to massage and enhance several features of the face.
According to Energy Muse, a blog focused on educating the public about crystal energy, the jade stone is the “ultimate good luck charm.” Jade works to calm and nourish the soul, as well as protect it from harm.
For Valentine's Day, Try Being Realistic
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 12 February 2020 13:43
- Written by JESSICA PAK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ah February, the month of love. A time to display tenderness, and affection, to the ones we admire most.
February can be an exciting month for both single and taken people, however if there’s one month that has the power to stress everybody out, it’s this one.
In fact, a study conducted at Arizona State University found that relationships are 2.5 times more likely to end between the week leading up to Valentine’s Day and the week after Valentine’s Day.
So how does this two week period increase the chances of you breaking up with your partner? The results of the study from Arizona State University further concluded that Valentine’s Day can magnify, or even exacerbate existing issues. The pressure of creating the “perfect” Valentine’s Day can cause partners to question whether or not they actually have the “perfect” relationship.
Ask Chloe
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 05 February 2020 14:00
- Written by CHLOE BARONE || LIFESTYLES EDITOR
I have a crush on my friend who is in a relationship. What do I do? How do I know if they like me back?- Anonymous
Anonymous-- - Although this seems like a sticky situation, it is one that only you probably know that you are in. It seems as though you have already come to terms, and recognized, that you have a crush on someone who is at the moment unattainable to you.
There is good news, your feelings are not wrong. Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Psychology has specialization in social psychology with an emphasis on close romantic relationships involving such topics as relationship initiation, interpersonal attraction, love, relationship maintenance, infidelity, and relationship dissolution, had a few thoughts.
Oh Sheet! Is Your Bedding Eco-Friendly?
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 05 February 2020 13:57
- Written by GEORGANNE NIGRO || CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Interested in becoming more environmentally friendly around the house? Replacing your typical microfiber and non-organic cotton sheets with organic cotton bed sheets, eucalyptus sheets, or bamboo sheets can be a start. Just as children are scared of what’s hiding under their covers adults, now more than ever, should be concerned about what’s in them. Non-organic cotton has been reported to harm the environment and has been given the title of the “dirtiest crop on earth’’, by bedding company Swedish Linens.
So why should you make the switch? The truth is organic cotton sheets are better than those that are non-organic because they lack harmful chemicals that non-organic cottons sheets are comprised of.
According to Tiffany L. Medley, lecturer in the Biology department at Monmouth University, “The worst sheets for the environment are microfiber sheets. Microfiber essentially is synthetically made from petroleum, and is of plastic like material. When washing, the smallest microfibers make it through the drains and into a waste-water treatment plant where they are not filtered out. They end up discharged into water bodies and consumed by filter feeders and others which then as part of the food chain end up in the bodies of other animals. If we eat these animals (fish, shellfish, etc.) the plastic ends up in us,” said Medley.
Commercials: The Super Bowl's Main Event
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 29 January 2020 13:21
- Written by CHLOE BARONE || LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Three words. Super Bowl Sunday. Whether you just rolled your eyes after reading that, or are heavily anticipating the upcoming showdown between the San-Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, there is one thing that most viewers of the event agree on; the commercials have become a phenomenon that put the “super” in Super Bowl.
For many Americans the Super Bowl has become an honorary holiday since it was first established, according to the NFL, in 1966 when it was called the ‘AFL-NFL World Championship Game.’
The Power of Crystals and Essential Oils
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- Category: Volume 92 (Fall 2019 - Spring 2020)
- Published: Wednesday, 04 December 2019 11:58
- Written by ALLISUN ROMAIN || CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Stress, moodiness, anxiety, tiredness, lack of motivation; these are all things most people deal with on a day-to-day basis, and more often than not allow to get the best of them. Often, we pop an Advil or take a nap to deal with these troubles in hopes that they will go away, and never come back. Unfortunately, these troublesome and inconvenient treatments never seem to truly help…at least not on a long-term basis, or without adding undesired hassles in our busy days.
Now, what if someone told you that there was a quick and easy way to get rid of all of this (and more) …something relatively cheap, simple to do, and completely free of harsh side effects or byproduct?
