hello and welcome back! This blog is following up on my visit to the quarantine dorms and what life is like post isolation for seven days due to covid. I think it truly was an experience I needed to go through even though I missed my flight to surprise my best friend in Boulder due to the life detour but it really had me being more careful with my time and doing quality things that made me happy. I think the great weather has also been playing a huge role in how my mood has been as we are nearing summertime which is just so exciting. So, I have been making more of an effort to spend time outside whether it’s going on walks, runs, doing work, or playing spikeball which I’m trying very desperately to get better at.

I was lucky enough to go back home for Easter weekend and the week following which was so amazing to spend time with family and I realized it’s something I had overlooked for a long time and didn’t realize why it was so important. Quality time is critical for appreciating, encouraging, and valuing the variations of each family member, while still understanding that everyone is unique in their own way. Allow each family member to be enthusiastic about their own personal interests, and treat them with reverence and patience. You shouldn’t put pressure on your family members to be like you or to suppress their emotions or disagreements. Instead, encourage them to be proud of who they are.

Another option if you can’t see your family members all the time in person is keeping up with them over text/calls. We ought to spend time with our families and connect with friends and relatives when we live in a community. Knowing that there are people in the family who can help your child in a situation can make a big difference in his or her happiness. It also raises their odds of later in life finding good friends.

To sum up, Spending more time with your family will help you develop a closer family bond, and you will stay together in the good times as well as the worse. Show commitment to your families, speak up for each other so that everyone is secure in the family’s love, and work together to find answers as a united front.

until next week!!

Greetings from Eastview Terrace! Yes, sadly it is true, I tested positive for COVID. I have been consistently sick for four weeks and had got tested multiple times since being back in state college but all were negative until St. Patrick’s day when my roommate and I decided to get tested one more time because a close friend tested positive. I knew what was going to happen if I tested positive, at least 7 days in isolation, and worst of all I would have to cancel my surprise trip to boulder to visit my best friends from high school. I had been planning and looking forward to the trip for months. So when I got the email stating in big red letters DETECTED I was in shock and my heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach. I was quickly ushered to the other side of the testing center to get another test and then was told I had two hours to pack up my life and get to the quarantine dorms where I’d be spending the next week. There was a 12-hour window where I thought maybe just maybe it was a false positive and I wouldn’t actually have to uproot my plans after all but it wasn’t a false positive. I had almost every symptom in the book and I tested positive yet again.

Now that you have the back story of how all this went down you must be thinking what I thought these are going to be the worst few days of her life (okay I admit that’s pretty dramatic but circumstances are pretty bad) especially for any of you who also read my last post about being extremely unhappy and homesick. BUT I will share some positivity with you guys. It was good that I got to spend time reflecting and the amount of support I got from family and friends was unbelievably amazing. I was able to catch up on school work, find new music, start rewatching one of my favorite shows, and really reset my mindset. I will however suggest that if you are in quarantine to door dash dinner at the very least because the food is not the best.  But my biggest tips for surviving isolation are to keep a positive attitude, get lots of sleep, call your family, and mentally recharge and reset.

Until next time…

Wow, I never really thought my passion site would never be so applicable to a position I was in until two weeks ago. I got into a very bad patch of being “sad” and “anxious”. I have always overthought very simple things but that week I was overthinking everything from if I like my major to if my roommate hates me. Both of these questions were an obvious no but I went down a rabbit hole of doubting myself for legitimately no reason. Due to this, I missed people from home that ground me and support me even more. This was something I was going through for the most part on my own but when I told my mom about how I was feeling it was so beneficial of her to knock me with some reality. She reminded me that I was overthinking for no reason, that I am always happy and nothing like how I was at the time. I told her I thought the reason was going away to college and becoming dependent on others and she told me that wasn’t the case. I had counted down the seconds until I came back to school because I was so excited and that I was excelling in my classes and made so many amazing friends from virtually knowing absolutely no one. After hearing all this I was taken aback trying to figure out how I got here in the first place.

The bottom line, Everyone has these patches even the happiest people you know. Surprising but it’s true. Besides my mom talking some serious sense into me there were other things that boosted my mood to where I am now. First, I went to the lacrosse game last Saturday with some friends. This was a comfortable outing because I watched loads of lacrosse at home and I love going to any sporting event. Second, change the type of music you are listening to. I know sad music can be very good but I guarantee it is continuously pulling down your mood. I switched over to some country music which has helped so much and is a great pairing with the warm weather we’ve had this week. Last, be kind. It might seem stupid but if you are nice to others around you it really lifts your mood because you a fostering a happy environment by doing so.

Until next time:)

I think to really understand how happiness and these joy exercises work best for you based on what you know about dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in the brain. Basically, it acts as a chemical messenger between neurons. Dopamine is released when your brain is expecting a reward. When you come to associate a certain activity with pleasure, mere anticipation may be enough to raise dopamine levels. It could be a certain food, sex, shopping, or just about anything else that you enjoy. For example, suppose your “go-to” comfort food is homemade double chocolate chip cookies. Your brain may increase dopamine when you smell them baking or see them come out of the oven. When you eat them, the flood of dopamine acts to reinforce this craving and focus on satisfying it in the future. It’s a cycle of motivation, reward, and reinforcement. Now imagine that you’ve been longing for those cookies all day, but your co-workers scarfed them down when you were sidetracked by a conference call. Your disappointment might lower your dopamine level and dampen your mood. It might also intensify your desire for double chocolate chip cookies. Now you want them even more. This makes sense as since I realized that I love to surf and be at the beach all I want to do is be at the beach surfing.

Based on the things we know about dopamine it’s important that you don’t get addicted to the toxic form of happiness such as drugs, greed, vanity, etc. Picking things that make you happy are best when they aren’t “pay to play” activities or negative consequenced items. Picking something simple is ideal as you can use it as a coping method like the example I talked about last week when singing in the car. That is an extremely cost-efficient simple and therapeutic way to feel a rush of dopamine. Another thing to remember is to not get caught up in the nitty gritty on any type of exercise as it is supposed to be zero stress and only a positive contribution to your life.

The activity of the week is going outside (if the weather is nice enough) at night and looking at the stars. This can be an amazing opportunity for meditation but also you could put on some chill music, whatever floats your boat by all means incorporate it and make it your own.

I’m excited to say I will be transitioning this blog to a site that is committed to finding new ways each week to self-care and look for happiness that might be hidden in our explicit views of our lives now. This has been a topic I’ve recently become passionate about and seen amazing results for during this pandemic period but my goal is to continue my practices long after COVID has stopped affecting our daily lives. When I was younger I assumed that every moment that I wasn’t upset I was happy which in a way was true as I was young and everything excited me but it was also false in a sense that when I got older I realized that there are more definitive moments in my life when I feel elated and content. These for me currently include spending time with my friends when we are laughing so hard we can’t breathe, when I’m watching a sunset/sunrise, taking off and landing in a plane, etc. Now, I can’t actually give and tell you how to experience these situations as that would make the feeling less genuine but I thought I could document my experimentations and findings on this and you can use them as inspiration at the very least.

Okay, so now is my first documentation of sorts or whatever you want to call it. Listening and singing to music in the car with friends or you can also do this alone totally up to you. There is no better feeling of serotonin in my opinion than screaming words to a song you relate to way too much or just a song that is an absolute banger. Some songs like these include:

Drivers License- Olivia Rodrigo 

Flare Guns- Quinn XCII, Chelsea Cutler 

The Way I Loved You- Taylor Swift 

Where Is My Mind?- Pixies (slow and not really a singing song but definitely something you vibe to)

By The Way- Red Hot Chili Peppers

Kids- MGMT (another more vibes song, great when driving home from the beach)

This is such a simple way I pick up my mood as it’s free besides the price of gas if you choose to drive and jam out you could also do so in your room. It’s amazing how those memories of singing different songs with my friends have been engraved into my memory and definitely will be something I will never forget.

This week I’d like to focus on putting together healthy meals. I have recently felt like I’ve fallen out of good habits of eating healthy. Here are some tips to keeping dieting in a healthy way. 

1. Learn proper portion size. To avoid eating too much of even the healthiest foods, keep track of how much you’re eating. For most people, meat servings should be about the size of a deck of cards and other servings vary by the type of food.
2. Vary your meals. When the cafeteria has your favorite foods daily it can be easy to return to those old favorites every day. Changing up your diet from day to day is an important part of good nutrition so take advantage of the variety of selections available to you.
3. Eat breakfast. Start your day off right with a good meal when you get up. Whether you’re rolling out of bed at noon or up at the crack of dawn for class, make sure you start your day with a balanced, healthy meal.
4. Keep healthy snacks around. It’s easy to eat healthy if you keep the Cheetos at bay and stock your dorm room with fruits and other healthy snacks. You’ll be more likely to reach for these than junk food if you keep them nearby or in your backpack.
5. Drink moderately. While college students are known for their partying, you can still have a good time without consuming all the calories that come along with binging on beer, plus you’ll avoid the hangovers and other negative effects. Drink in moderation and you can have a good time without hurting your health.
6. Don’t fight stress by eating. It can be tempting to reach for a bag of chips or some cookies when you’re stressed out about an impending exam. Eating won’t help your stress go away, so avoid filling up on snacks. Try working out or taking a break instead.
7. Drink water. Drinking enough water can help boost your concentration as well as keep you from overeating. Make sure to keep hydrated as you go through your day by bringing water with you.
8. Limit sugary and caffeinated beverages. Beverages may not fill you up, but they sure can help fatten you up and have a detrimental effect on your overall health. You don’t have to completely give up soda and coffee, but you should scale back in order to keep yourself in tip top shape.
9. Try to eat fruits and veggies. Even if fruits and vegetables don’t comprise some of your favorite foods, try to incorporate at least a few of them into your diet each day.
10. Limit junk food. Junk food is fast and easy and many students end up eating a lot of it while they’re on the run to class or to work. While a little fast food now and again won’t really hurt you, make sure it doesn’t become a habit.
11. Make it convenient to eat right. Don’t make it hard for yourself to eat right. Buy healthy foods and stock your fridge and room with them to ensure they’re the first things at hand when you get hungry.
12. Don’t skip meals. With so much to do, it’s easy to forgo eating to run off to class or the library. Don’t skip meals. Set up foods you can eat on the run so you’ll have the energy to keep going.
13. Indulge every once in awhile. A little treat now and then is a great way to reward yourself for eating a healthy diet. Give yourself a break and indulge in a food you love but can’t eat all the time.
14. Take vitamins. If you feel like you aren’t getting the nutrition you need from your diet, don’t hesitate to supplement it with some multi-vitamins to stay healthy and illness free.
15. Get help for eating disorders. While many groups focus on helping students lose weight, there are those who need help fighting eating disorders as well. If you are worried you have an eating disorder and want help, don’t be afraid to reach out to campus resources for help. 

In this entry I want to focus on the importance of mental health besides all the physical health tips that are given in my blog. Here are some of my favorite tips i’ve found.

1. Take a nap. If you have the time during the day, a short nap can do wonders for your energy levels. Just make sure not to nap too close to bedtime or for too long, and a nap will do your body good.

2. Don’t do work in bed. Working in bed can make getting to sleep harder. Keep your work space separate from your sleep space to keep insomnia at bay.

3. Get a full night’s rest whenever possible. While the amount of sleep each person needs varies, most people need 7-9 hours to feel fully rested. While this may not be possible every night, try to sleep a full night whenever you get the chance.

4. Create a routine. If you get yourself in the habit of studying, working out, and sleeping at certain hours, it will be easier to fit in all the things you need to do in a day without feeling too stressed out.

5. Put limits on work hours. You can’t work all the time-fun and relaxation have to be part of your routine as well. Limit the times when you will work to give yourself time to sleep and rest up so you won’t get sick.

6. Give yourself a break. If you’ve been working steadily for hours, give your eyes and mind a chance for a rest by taking a break. You can come back feeling more refreshed and ready to go.

7. Be realistic. Sometimes there’s just no way you’re going to get done everything you’d like to in one day. Be realistic about your goals and understand that you can only do so much.

8. Understand you can’t do everything. While you might want to go to class, work, play a sport, and participate in clubs and social activities, the reality is that sooner or later you’re going to get run down by trying to do so much. Focus on doing the things you truly love and forget about the rest.

9. Get help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out and ask for help from professors and friends. They may be able to give you more time or help you to complete projects and studying more quickly.

10. Keep in touch with family and friends. You can help beat homesickness and loneliness by keeping in touch with friends and family members.

Until next time…  

This week’s post will be concerning Northside Dining which is conveniently located in the North Halls residence area in Warnock Commons. I have been to North the least of all the dining halls as it just isn’t close to me but it is definitely a good place to count on to get some good food. I cant vouch for the healthy options as the times I have been that had very little selection.

For many students, Warnock Commons remains a mystery. It seems as if the name “North” was made up just to complete the cardinal directions of dining halls.

The amount of students who live in North is very low, so it’s difficult to actually find opinions on the dining hall.

The only real thing about North that I’ve heard is that there is grilled cheese. Apparently, it’s pretty cheap grilled cheese. Though it seems pretty rare to meet anyone who has lived in North, the only thing they mention about Warnock is that there is grilled cheese. Are there any other food options there for the lactose intolerant students? The answer may remain unknown.

However, North does have its benefits. For those who aren’t interested in long lines or loud dining halls, North remains relatively relaxed during the day — even during rush hours. If you’re feeling like you need a break from the world, North may be the place to escape to.

Something slightly off topic I want to talk about is the Redifer Grill at South Dining Hall which has become my new go to for when I don’t like the options in the buffet or am in a time crunch. You can order off of the Penn State Eats App and you are able to order philly cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, etc. You are also able to do so for an extremely cheap cost. My go to is a full philly with grilled peppers, water, and a side of fries (which is a lot of food that I often can eat for two meals) for the low cost of $5 which is cheaper than the buffet dinner cost and never misses in my opinion. Like it could arguably be my favorite philly cheesesteak I’ve ever had. I will say I haven’t had many philly’s in my lifetime as I live in California and they aren’t nearly as popular there as here but they still are my favorite order-able food on campus currently.

This week’s post will focus on the dining options provided by West Dining at Waring Square. I will say I kept pushing off this and North’s review as their facilities are pretty far from me and I hardly find myself being on those sides of campus due to the fact that classes are online. Although, next year I should have a lot of classes close to West as I’m a liberal arts college student and the building is very close.

I have some good friends that live in West and truly love it besides the long walk to the other places on campus. Their dining options are also quite expansive, and they have the most selection I’ve seen on campus thus far. Just for lunch alone they have a grill section, pizza& pasta, the west wing grill section, and deli. These options get even broader at dinner as well. Also, my biggest tip to those visiting West is to go for brunch as I hear they have amazing breakfast options on the weekends.

With all these options it’s a great place to find food items to balance out your diet. There are consistently good choices of vegetables and salads which I always lean towards. If you ask a West Halls student resident they will probably tell you that “West is Best!” Known for fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies, you are sure to find something to delight you at the various stations…Pasta & Pizza, Center Stage, the Veg Works or The Grill. Or visit The West Wing for a delicious sub, salad or sandwich to go! It’s always great to look ahead of time to see the menu for the day and weigh your options. I’d also suggest every once and a while picking up a online ordered pizza which are always great if you are eating with a group and want to all go in on a buffalo chicken pizza and have a picnic somewhere on campus outside. 

Overall, West dining is very similar to everywhere else on campus when it comes to dining halls but stands out specifically due to its large variety of options. I would highly suggest trying it out if you haven’t been and if you are stuck in a pickle and can’t get back to your regular dining hall not to be afraid of trying out a new dining hall.

Until next time…

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to dine and try out some of the downtown off campus restaurant options. Downtown provides food similar food that I’d eat when I went out at home. It is a good reminder that food other than dining hall food exists. Eating downtown is very convenient for me as all I have to do is walk down Shortlidge Road and there you are! Of course, I’m in Pollock so that is probably closer than most of the freshmen that are mostly located in East. Even then I do believe it’s worth it to try out at some point this semester.

The first place I tried out was Chipotle. I walked down with a few new friends the second day of school and it didn’t disappoint despite the hour wait. I think Chipotle is crazy consistent over any coast since my California burrito tasted almost exact to the State College burrito I had that day. If you have never had Chipotle and this is the first time you are hearing about first where have you been??? Secondly, Chipotle is Mexican fast food that prides itself on real, fresh ingredients that create really amazing flavor.

The second place I tried out was The Federal Tap House. This is located right above Target and H&M. We have been there twice for birthday dinners and once again was a great place. I had a burger the first time which was absolutely amazing and then mac & cheese which also was extremely good. The service was also really great and the prices weren’t too expensive for the average college student to splurge on every once and awhile. They also have options that are for any of your friends even the most picky!

The third place I have tried downtown was BRGR. This was by far my favorite place I have tried. Worth the wait on a weekend trust me! I went with a few friends on a Friday which was really fun and we all got dressed up since it feels great to get out of sweats every once and awhile. The place is mostly “GOURMET BURGERS HANDMADE SHAKES”. The Fire in the Hole burger was what I got which was so amazing and not as spicy as I was afraid it was going to be. I also got a side of sweet potato fries which were also very delicious. For dessert I also treated myself to a PB cup shake which was so great. It did Make me feel the need to workout extra that day but it was worth it.

Until next time…