Mark Robson's Blog, page 4

How to Create a Home Office on a Budget

Online classes, distance studies, and lots of homework – having a place where you can focus and work on your assignments is crucial. A designated place like a separate room is not always possible, unfortunately. However, there are a few things that you can do to create yourself a perfect home office. We also know that college students often live on a tight budget, so we came up with tips that will let you not break the bank.

Mind Your Needs

Before you start any project, you must set a clear goal. In this case, it is important to understand your needs and how exactly you will be using your home office. For example, if you need a place for drawing or placing a whiteboard, you will surely want to have more space available rather than for a simple office desk.

Your needs regarding studying and working should come first, even if you know that it will not look as pretty as you imagined it at first. Be sure to plan where the main studying area will be and what furniture you need for it – a desk, a chair, a bookcase, specific equipment required, etc.

If you get to choose the space or a room for your home office, be sure to plan the layout beforehand to understand the perfect fit for your needs.

Select the Location

The perfect location for your home office is not always easy to find. It might seem like you have no choice, especially when you are living in a dorm room.  However, even a dorm room might have a different layout. Chances are the current one is not perfect.

So, pick the right spot where the natural lighting is fine and where you can achieve the needed privacy for focus and concentration. It doesn’t have to be a dedicated room, as a separate space will do. For example, a corner that you can use for this purpose.

Organize

Before you can set up your workspace, you need to declutter and prepare the spot. If you have some furniture in there that you need to move or some clutter in the designated room, be sure to take care of it first. You might also need to organize your study materials to ensure everything is in the right order. You will also be able to see how much space you need for the study process, for example, how much space your textbooks will take or something like that.

Organizing and decluttering help a lot in keeping your home office functional and convenient, as well as allowing you to stay focused on your studies.

Save Money on a Desk

When it comes to furniture, there are definitely items that you can and should save on. For example, a home office desk can be definitely thrifted. Visit local garage sales or ads from recent graduates who are selling their furniture.

While a desk is critical for a proper home office, you can save money on it by thrifting or repurposing a table that you can find. Surely, there are many great options for home offices, like tables with adjustable height or with built-in lighting. However, if you have a tight budget, we would suggest not buying a new desk from the store as other things matter more.

Invest in a High-Quality Chair

On the other hand, a piece of furniture that you definitely should not save on is a chair. A proper chair of high quality will let you have long study sessions without any back pain and also feel comfortable and focused on your studies.

Cheap chairs often break or squeak, which is surely annoying. They are also bad for your posture as they don’t provide the needed support for your back. What you should pay attention to when picking the chair is the materials that it is made from. Cheap plastic and cheap faux leather that will break with time can be spotted right away. A second-hand chair is also an option if you can find a good deal.

Organize Cables

When you have a lot of various gadgets, appliances, and devices, cable management should not be neglected. It is a key step to having a perfectly organized home office. What you might try is to tie cables together or separately into neat categories, mark them with labels, or put your cables into a box. You can repurpose an old shoe box for that and create a neat zone under your desk, free from cable clutter.

You can also order some cable accessories online, such as cable handlers, cable ties, or organizers that will help you make the space clean. Be sure to check your adapters and cable sockets occasionally, as they might become dangerous in case of damage.

Set Up Good Lighting

Lighting is crucial for long study or work hours. When the space lacks light, you might feel sleepy, distracted, unfocused, or even completely unable to think properly. Lighting in the work/study areas should be bright enough, neutral, and steady. If you need some extra lighting for your home office, you can check online shops or garage sales for a table lamp. Lamps with dimmers and adjustable colors are the most popular right now, as they provide a wide specter of lighting options.

It’s perfect if you can place your desk near a window as natural light is the best for your eyes. Don’t rely on fairy lights – they don’t produce enough light, though they look very good for home office aesthetics.

Give DIY Solutions a Chance

Sometimes, you don’t need much to create a functional and comfortable home office. DIY solutions for storage or repurposing old furniture can really make a change. You can, for example, make your own organizers or storage items using old boxes, shelves, cardboard, etc. Be creative – you can find a lot of ideas and DIY tutorials online, for example, on Pinterest. You can also use Pinterest boards to gather images of the home offices that you like and get an understanding of the mood and final look that you want to achieve.

Decorate

When you have all the furniture placed and all your study materials, textbooks, cords, and stationery organized, you can get to the final step – decorating. Decorations can truly change the whole picture as it allows you to add a personal touch and make the home office a cozy and motivational space.

The look of your home office might not be perfect, but it is great as long as it suits your needs and motivates you to sit there and study. Add some posters on the wall or framed photographs, lights, plants, and decorations; throw a cozy rug or a pillow on a chair – and here you have a wonderfully set home office.

Conclusion

Set up your home office easily, even if you live in a dorm, with these easy tips. By having a designated place for studying and creating a perfect spot that you enjoy, you can boost your motivation and productivity, so make sure to work on a space to your liking.

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7 Things You Can Avoid Spending Money On in College

College comes with a lot of challenges. For example, managing money for the first time is a thing that a new student should learn how to do, and it never goes easy. Being able to prioritize and stay away from tempting but unessential purchases is one of the huge parts of budgeting in college. If you find it hard to decide whether you should or should not buy something and you definitely don’t want to make a mistake, read this blog post. We will help you save on seven things that you can avoid spending your money on in college.

Expensive Textbooks (up to $800 per semester)

It’s not a secret that college textbooks cost a lot. They are usually required for each and every class, which means that every year you have to spend quite a lot. However, there is another option.

As college students don’t need their textbooks after they complete a course, it is understandable that they want to make some money back. That is where you can use this situation to your advantage. Check the local social media groups, campus, and garage sales to see if there are second-hand textbooks available for purchase. Chances are you will be able to find a few propositions. 

Another option is to find your textbooks online. Some of them might be downloaded completely free, while others would be priced. These online textbooks are added to the database each year, and they have no differences from the actual textbooks. You will only need a gadget like a tablet or an e-book to use your textbooks during the lectures and study sessions. Be also sure to check the syllabus, as there might be useful links for online libraries or databases.

Expensive Gym Membership ($30-$70 per month)

Gym membership is often a tricky thing. You might be promising yourself to start working out and taking care of your health, but it always will be someday in the future. Paying for a gym that you don’t attend or not that often is a mistake that you should avoid. 

Many college students have access to the campus fitness facilities or might get a discount to a local gym with a student ID. Another option you have is to get involved in free indoor and outdoor activities, for example, running. By annulling your gym membership that you don’t use, you can save up to $30-70 per month. As you can see, paying full price for an expensive local gym hurts your budget but is avoidable.

Unnecessary Subscriptions (around $65 per month)

This might be too obvious, but unnecessary subscriptions can make a hole in your budget. It’s not a rare case to pay for apps and services that you don’t even remember subscribing to. Various podcasts that you don’t listen to, photo editing apps, diet and calorie counting programs, streaming services – all of these things are pretty cheap. However, when you are subscribed to a few, which is the case for the majority of us, the sum of money that you pay monthly for all of them might be pretty significant.

Check your subscriptions and your monthly bank account review to spot the subscriptions that you no longer use and thus can cancel.

Coffee to Go (up to $80)

Coffee habits are now pretty expensive. If you like to start your day with a fancy drink from a local coffee place, you might see that it takes a large portion of your budget. And if you drink coffee more than once per day, the situation worsens even more.

What you can do instead if you can’t imagine your day without caffeine intake is to invest in an inexpensive or even second-hand coffee machine/French press and brew your own coffee. There are many tutorials and recipes online that can make you feel like a real barista and treat yourself to tasty coffee every day. 

Meal Plans (around $1,800 per semester)

Meal plans in college are indeed convenient. But they might be too expensive for the quality of the food and the assortment you get. Instead, you can choose to cook your own meals or use coupons for occasional dining out. There might be discounts and various coupons available for students who would like to visit local cafes and restaurants and search for them online. 

Cooking in a dorm can be tricky but it has a few specific advantages. First of all, you can cook whatever you want or need. If you have any preferences or particular products that you can’t consume, it’s harder to make the meal plans work for you. But when you cook your meals, you can do that easily. Another benefit is improving your cooking skills and being more adapted to living by yourself. But what’s even more important is that you can save a lot of money on meal plans. There are many recipes now that will allow you to spend not that much but get a few days of healthy and tasty meals.

Impulsive Purchases

Being a student means being young and inexperienced with what you really need. And that’s okay. Eventually, you will learn to prioritize and make decisions about whether you should or should not buy something. With all the cheap clothes available online or various unnecessary devices and stuff, it’s hard to keep yourself from buying something.

However, you need to be wise about your spending. Ask yourself a few questions on whether you need this item, how are you going to use it, and whether you already have an item of this kind. These questions allow you to be realistic about your purchasing needs and also help you stay away from impulsive purchases.

Credit Card Debt

If you are using a credit card, you know that you should be very attentive and accurate about paying it back right on time. Having a great credit score is surely important but it might be tricky to operate a credit card without causing a debt. Be sure to always check the account status of your credit card, all the payment deadlines, and other conditions. 

Conclusion

Saving money in college can be sometimes hard. But if you avoid spending on unnecessary things, learn how to plan your budget, and use coupons or discounts, there is nothing impossible. Also be sure to check the local social media groups, ads, or listings about the upcoming garage sales where you can purchase campus essentials for a much more affordable price. We hope that you find our tips useful. Wish you the best of luck!

The post 7 Things You Can Avoid Spending Money On in College appeared first on Essay Writer.

Mistakes to Avoid in Your First Job After College

College graduation is a huge milestone. It is a significant achievement and an important event in anyone’s life. But graduation also means that it is the time to start your career. Even if you were working during your college years, you would probably agree that it is not the same as your first job after college. Someone might call it the first ‘serious’ job or the first full-time job. Nevertheless, many recent graduates look forward to being free from college studies and fully committed to their work duties. Learning about the mistakes and pitfalls you can omit to achieve better results and start your career in the best way is crucial. Here are the mistakes that you should be aware of.

#1 Not Researching the Company Beforehand

Every company is different; it is a whole world with its norms and standards, rules and goals, structure and incentives. In order to adjust in the best and the fastest way to the new environment, you need to conduct research and learn as much as you can about the company.

You can learn much from the company’s website or the office’s atmosphere. For example, you can get an understanding of how the company sees its place in the market, its values, and how it treats its employees. Not only is it beneficial for the impression you give during the interview, but it also might give you red flags if you see something shady about the workplace.

Another way to get valuable and truthful information about the work experience for a particular employer is to search for feedback from former employees on websites like Trustpilot, Seek, and Glassdoor to find out about possible pitfalls and mistreatment. Don’t waste your time on companies that do not appreciate or respect the people they hire – you need to focus instead on job opportunities that will allow you to learn and grow professionally and personally.

#2 Not Asking Questions

When you attend your first job interview or start working for the first time, you might feel slightly overwhelmed and anxious. This results in a typical newbie mistake – not asking questions when they are clearly needed. Don’t be afraid to seem unqualified, uninformed, or uncertain – you are there to learn. If the company wants a person who already knows everything and has no questions at all, they don’t hire a person fresh from college with no experience. Hiring you means having resources to coach you.

Write down the questions when you are heading to your job interview. Ask about essential things like days off, daily duties, additional bonuses, or even the closest cafeterias – it’s totally okay to be new to the spot and to the job.

Pay attention during the onboarding process, as you might learn a lot and gain valuable insights on what is expected from you or what useful options and perks you get as a part of a team.

#3 Omitting Active Networking

Networking is a significant part of anyone’s career growth. Meeting new people in your niche can significantly improve your knowledge, experience, and skills. Networking is also beneficial due to opening new opportunities, providing mentoring and guidance, etc.

In order to build your network and establish valuable contacts, communicating with people on your team and outside of it is crucial. You might not feel the need to do it right now or even be scared of it. However, it is an essential part of job experience that should not be omitted.

Active networking also implies attending niche events, company meetings, teambuilding activities, etc. All of these things help in establishing bonds between coworkers even if they don’t collaborate on a daily basis.

#4 Not Learning from Feedback You Get

Another critical part of teamwork is asking for feedback, testing your soft skills, and getting valuable lessons. Learning is a constant process that doesn’t end with graduation. Learning from your or someone’s mistakes is a part of the process of growth and development.

We highly suggest you pay attention to the critique you get. If you don’t get feedback, ask for it yourself. You should be able to understand what was expected from you and how well you could do your work. Feedback from your manager or team lead is helpful for your self-improvement process and your motivation. Being seen and appreciated is crucial to keeping your motivation high.

#5 Not Building a Security/Emergency Fund

Working your first job opens many financial opportunities that were not available before. Making more money indeed is tempting as now you can afford more expensive stuff, buy something you have wanted for a long time, etc.

However, spending the whole income without saving even some of it would be wrong. An emergency fund is crucial as circumstances might change drastically and quickly. Securing a proper sum would make you more confident about your future and possible unplanned costs.

It’s also time to take care of your student loans. Such a financial burden is never any good, so starting with basic calculations and the payment plan is what you really should do once you get your first job after graduation.

#6 Not Establishing a Proper Work-Life Balance

Recently finishing college and finding your first job might be very motivating and inspiring. You are a young adult with various opportunities and ambitions, so it is totally normal to be fully absorbed in the new work duties.

While trying to show that you are a great employee and deserve this place and future growth, you might be overloading yourself with tasks, working hours, and duties. But that would be wrong. You need to find the perfect work-life balance and remember about essential self-care and self-respect.

Being exhausted from your daily load will not help your career. It might even ruin it. You need to have proper rest and sleep each day to keep yourself energized and ready for a new working day. Having breaks and relaxing weekends will allow you to stay motivated and positive.

Another thing that you should not forget about is taking care of yourself. Exercising and finding time for hobbies, social life, and fun are crucial to support your mental and physical health, which should be your priority.

#7 Not Working on Your Soft Skills

When discussing professional growth, it’s important to understand that improving your soft skills is just as crucial as hard skills. There can be no personal and career development if you resist change and don’t work on time management, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc.

Soft skills are a big part of work ethic. Some employers might even pay more attention to the candidate’s personal traits and qualities than experience or achievements. It is crucial to be adjustable and understand what is expected from you. If you know, for example, that it is hard for you to cooperate and work in a team, you might want to work on the issue and challenge yourself to solve the problem. Even if you don’t see why you should do that now, it might be a huge deal later in life. So why not work on it now?

Conclusion

 

Putting your effort into your first job after graduation is all about learning and thinking critically. It’s crucial to embrace challenges and learn your lessons as you grow professionally.

Your first job after college is indeed a huge milestone, but there should be a healthy approach. Don’t neglect yourself and don’t make it all about only working as you have so many other aspects of life that you should take care of. Plan your day wisely, and don’t forget to stay positive even if you feel like it is a challenging period of life. It’s all going to be okay!

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How to Set Your Emergency Fund in College

College years are an exciting journey that everyone deserves to enjoy. However, sometimes college might come with many stressful situations and unexpected events that no one can be prepared for. But what you can and should do is to make sure you have an emergency fund. By saving money today and making it a habit, you can potentially minimize the danger and damage of unexpected negative situations. Here are a few tips that will help you build your emergency fund and grow it with time.

Unpredictable Events

When we are talking about our future, we usually tend to focus and expect only positive things to happen to us. While we believe that everyone should stick to a positive approach like this, you should still be prepared for small troubles. For example, what if your laptop breaks and you need to study? Or what if you have to pay medical bills that you were unplanned? Such things can surely make the college experience a lot more stressful. That is where emergency funds or sinking funds can help.

Many things might require paying unpredicted bills as soon as possible. You might need to repair your car, visit your parents, or go to a dentist. When you have saved money just in case, you have nothing to be worried about. But when you don’t, it can turn into real trouble.

Surely, who would be thinking about savings when they are young and have too many other things to take care of? College students rarely have any savings, especially separate savings accounts. But we suggest you keep reading and learning more about how you can create your emergency fund easily because, in this hasty world, you never know when you might need one.

Avoiding Debt

We also should mention that many people think they can always take credit or borrow money from family or friends and thus overcome hardships. However, we think that it is much safer to always count on yourself and be able to solve the problem without dealing with bank rates, interest, etc. If you can avoid being in debt, you should do so.

There is nothing wrong with having a credit card and a good credit history. However, owing a large sum of money to the bank might really mess up your future budget for a long time. You don’t need that. That’s why saving your money now and being something like a bank to yourself is much safer and great. Moreover, you will also improve some of your skills and learn how to build an effective budget plan that will help you greatly in the future.

Consistent Savings

In order to be able to build your emergency fund, you need to learn how to be consistent about your savings. Surely, it takes discipline and motivation, but being financially stable and safe is worth it.

But how much should you save? How big should your emergency fund be? It all depends on various circumstances and your financial opportunities. Generally, an emergency fund is suggested to be big enough to serve you for at least three months, including rent, groceries, and other costs. Three months is considered average for a person to find a new job if they lost the previous one, and it is usually enough to pay unexpected bills like repairing a car or a laptop. It might seem like a big sum of money, but by gradually adding to your savings account, you will be able to achieve your goal eventually. What you need is patience.

It’s always about being consistent and committed when it comes to bigger goals. You need to make monthly transfers, preferably right after receiving your monthly payment or allowance. If you fear that you might forget to put the needed money into your savings account, you might try automated transfers that will be completed according to your set schedule.

First Steps

When you are just starting your savings journey, it might be hard to save a lot. It’s always better to start by taking smaller steps, thus achieving your first goal – not quitting after a few months or so. And that would be already an accomplishment.

We suggest you start by putting aside small sums of money first, like a payment for an extra hour or money saved on coffee you didn’t buy that day. A few dollars is a good start, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Even when you have tougher times, and there is not much you can put aside towards your savings, even a small sum is better than nothing.

Establish your monthly saving goal – but be realistic. It’s hard to save 50% of your income, especially if you are not paid much. You surely can be as frugal as possible, but after some time, you will essentially lose your motivation due to pressure and lack of treats. It is much wiser to set a more realistic and achievable goal, but one that you can stick to for a longer period of time. In this case, you can be consistent with your savings for multiple months and even exceed your primary saving goal. It is even better when you have a larger emergency fund; you can always count on this sum and be less worried about your future.

Prioritizing Is Crucial

Talking about savings without mentioning priorities is impossible. When you have a goal to save money, you are going to face a lot of choices that you will need to make on a daily basis. Should you dine out or cook at home? Maybe buy that new shirt or is it better to wear the old one? To take a taxi or to choose public transportation? All these choices are important when it comes to being wise about your spending.

Surely, prioritizing essentials and necessities over impulsive purchases is the right decision; we all know that. But when you face the situation itself and when you see that very nice dress in the store or a new PC, it’s much harder to be disciplined and cool. Remind yourself about your goals, try to be less exposed to various types of shopping temptations, and try reserving the needed sum of savings as soon as you can. Don’t wait until the very last moment. It’s easier to put money aside and forget about it rather than keeping in mind that this is what you should not spend.

Conclusion

Being financially prepared for various unexpected circumstances and events, like medical emergencies, device or car repairs, fines, and bills, is very important. It makes you feel much safer, taking at least some of your worries away, which is crucial during the very stressful college years. You can be sure that you can cope with the loss of work if you need to or help your loved ones in case of need. That is where financial stability starts from. We hope that you will find these tips useful; good luck!

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Boost Your Morning: Productive Routine for Students

The way you start your day is very important. Not only does it set your mood, but it also might be the reason why you end up being non-productive. Sure, many students don’t even think much of their mornings as their main goal usually is to wake up on time and get ready. But what if you knew some great tips on improving your daily productivity by changing your morning routine a bit? Let’s get started and learn how to create a positive morning productive routine for students.

Establish a Consistent Wake-Up Time

Yes, you probably have heard about sleep hygiene and sleep routine not once. And you probably know already that it is crucial to establish a consistent sleep routine that you would stick to throughout your academic years. But we can’t omit this tip as it is the basis for a good and productive morning routine.

Let’s look at a common s of college students. They pull all-nighters, wake up in the morning at different times depending on which day of the week it is, might sleep till noon during weekends, and sometimes have no sleep when preparing for exams. Is that a healthy regimen? Definitely not.

What you should do is create a sleep routine that allows you to have a healthy number of sleep hours (7-9) and also is easy to follow even on weekends, including the wake-up time. For example, you might be getting up each day at 8 am but sleep until 11 am on Wednesdays because you have classes scheduled later in the day. That would not be a good option as it is hard for your brain and your system to adjust all the hormone levels and focus hours to such a weird and non-consistent schedule. If you choose to wake up at 8 am, do it every day.

Sure, it might be hard at first, but once you get used to it, there should be no troubles. You start to feel sleepy around the same time each evening due to your internal clock being all good and set up right; waking up is no difficulty; you feel fresh and ready for the day. Isn’t that what we aim for?

Start With a Glass of Water

After sleeping and rebooting, you need hydration to refresh your system and let it know you are ready for the day.  Water is an essential part of our health, and it is crucial to stay hydrated to complete your everyday tasks, including brainwork.

It surely sometimes takes self-discipline to drink enough water, especially to remind yourself about it in the morning. You can try various helping little things, like an app that counts your glasses of water or sends you reminders. Or you can purchase a cute water bottle to motivate yourself, add fruits and berries, or find the water brand you enjoy.

Keeping a glass of water by your bed will surely help you stick to the habit and keep your productive routine.

Incorporate Stretching or Yoga

Gentle stretching, yoga, or a few light exercises in the morning is what your body needs after sleep. Your muscles and joints should get ready for active daily movements. Even the limited space of your bed or dorm room should be enough to have some morning movement.

If you do yoga, it’s a perfect way to start your morning as it helps to stretch your muscles and get energized.

Set Clear Goals

Morning is usually the time when your day isn’t that busy yet, and you have some time to spend planning and creating a to-do list. Write down all the tasks that you need to complete this day, and make sure you prioritize the ones that are the most important and urgent. For example, if you have an urgent essay writing task, you should put it high in your list.

You might also plan your day, including timeframes for each task, to give yourself some strict guidelines to follow. If you tend to procrastinate during the day, that would motivate you and help you stay more productive.

Spend Mornings With Digital Detox

The best way to improve your morning routine and set the mood for the day is to avoid checking your devices immediately upon waking, which most of us do. It is the time when you need to avoid putting yourself under the press of information consumption and rather have a soft and gentle introduction to a new day.

It is suggested to wait for at least 30 minutes after waking before checking your phone, as it is the time that your brain needs to be fully prepared for daily work.

Have a Healthy and Nourishing Breakfast

Food is fuel for your body and brain. It’s hard to imagine a car that would function without fuel, the same with your system. Having a breakfast that is healthy and nourishing, with all the needed vitamins and elements, is what you need to keep yourself focused and productive during the following hours. It is crucial to eat healthy meals in order to be able to have long study sessions and be a successful student.

Feed Your Mind

After feeding your body, it’s good to feed your mind as well. Some spare time in the morning is also a perfect opportunity of the day to do something that you always put away. We recommend reading a few pages of a book. That is the way to help your brain to adjust, boost your activity, and also finish that book at last.

Reading in the morning, even for 15 minutes, will also help you boost your creativity and get inspired, which is a great start to your day. Choose different books to achieve diversity in topics and genres – it will help you broaden your views and make your morning routine interesting and different.

Set Intentions

Not only your goals and plans for the day are important, but also your intentions and affirmations. Surely, not everyone might find this method useful but it all depends on personality as some people can motivate themselves and set the right mood by using visualization and affirmations.

The power of visualizing your goals and dreams is kind of like the power of positive thinking. It truly needs to sink in before it works, but after it starts to look silly. There is nothing bad about spending a few minutes in the morning thinking about what you want your day to be like, so why not try?

Pick the positive affirmations that resonate with your aspirations. For example, about your confidence or your memory, or your communication skills. Be sure to visualize the steps towards your goal – not only the goal itself.  It might be a great way to make it all work in reality – create a plan, visualize it, get in the right mood, and start your day confident about your opportunities and abilities.

Conclusion

A planned morning, productive routine, and the right approach truly set the tone for the day. It is important to find the routine that helps you maximize your potential, energy, and motivation. This is the key to having your tasks done, as well as being active and positive.

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Overcoming The Challenges of a Gap Year

A gap year is a period of time that often lasts up to a year when a student takes a break from education. Commonly, students take a gap year between high school and college, but it can vary. The increasing popularity of taking gap years among students can be explained by the unstable economic situation and the desire to travel, find true passion in life, redecide a major, etc. And while it might be the best decision at the moment, you need to understand that there might be challenges and difficulties that you will have to overcome. And while you might not be fully prepared for them, it’s crucial to understand what you should do in this situation.

The Appeal of a Gap Year

So, as it was said earlier, there might be different reasons why one might want to take a gap year. Finances and the need to create funds for the upcoming college are one of the most common reasons. As the cost of higher education is rising all the time, it is crucial to get as much prepared as you can – and working for a year to save some money might be very helpful.

Another reason is the uncertainty about what you want from life, who you want to be, and even whether you need college at all. Some high school graduates have no clue about which college to pick and how they see their future. Taking some time to explore your inner passion and true interests can help a lot.

And one more reason among the most common ones is that some students fail an opportunity to get into the college they were planning due to some unexpected circumstances or application mistakes, etc. In this situation, some people choose to go to another college, while others wait for another chance to apply.

When considering this decision, many people focus on the potential benefits of a gap year, such as personal growth, career opportunities, cultural immersion, and skill development. But in order to make a wise decision, it’s crucial to be acquainted with both sides.

Common Challenges Faced During a Gap Year

While it might seem that a gap year is full of joy, exploration, positive and important experiences, it might be far from all of it. In order to prevent being truly disappointed with your gap year, you should know how to cope with issues. Let’s take a look at the most common difficulties that you might face during your gap year.

Financial Issues and Budgeting

Financial struggles during a gap year are real. Especially if you are on your own in this journey and have no one supporting you financially. This is the time when you need to learn how to make money and take care of your budget yourself.

If you are traveling, it is easy enough to break your budget and spend more than you can afford which can also lead to poor results. If you want to avoid these mistakes, you need to create a plan with all your necessary expenses written down, so you can plan your spending. You also need a stable source of income and sinking funds, just in case.

Uncertainty and Future Planning

The anxiety some students may feel about postponing formal education or career plans can be pretty tough. It may seem like you are losing or wasting your time while your peers are getting into colleges. Or it may seem like you are the only one who can’t make a decision. However, you need to remember that it is not true, and there are many other students just like you.

There is nothing bad about taking your time to make an important decision. It is also not bad to postpone something that you are not ready for yet, emotionally or financially. That is what you need to remind yourself about whenever you feel down.

Lack of Opportunities During a Gap Year

Sometimes it’s not going as it was planned, and a gap year is no exception. If you were planning on finding great gap year jobs and making the most out of this year, you might find yourself doing nothing and really having no opportunities to grow.

That is not the brightest situation during a gap year, but it’s also not the worst. Be sure to remain positive thinking and keep searching for the best options for you, even if it’s not the job of your dreams or not necessarily in the chosen field. Or you might try other gap year ideas, like educational courses, volunteering, etc.

Lack of Motivation to Continue Education

It might also happen so that you are getting less motivated to actually go back from your break. Maybe you have a lot of fun and don’t want to start classes again, or maybe you are getting too involved in your new job – it all can happen.

Surely, it depends on you whether you should or should not continue, but generally, we would suggest you remind yourself about your goals and your aspirations. College is one of the opportunities everyone should grab because it gives you more in perspective. But it is solely your decision to make.

Embracing Growth and Transformation

While a gap year can be a period of challenges and difficulties, you should remember that overcoming them can lead to self-discovery and personal growth. We all learn from our mistakes, and we all get the experience that makes us a new version of ourselves. That’s why having to cope with challenges is actually not bad.

When taking a gap year, you also get an opportunity to gain knowledge outside of traditional educational settings and try yourself in various scenarios, fields, and settings. You can try different jobs or learn something new while attending courses or gap year programs; you can devote this time to yourself – your health, for example, both mental and physical, or you can simply take a break to rest and get motivated. Anyways, you decide on what you want your gap year to be, and only you can put your effort into making it so.

Transformation and maturing are important phases in anyone’s life. Be sure to focus on important for your future skills and traits, like adaptability, flexibility, patience, teamwork, etc.

Conclusion

A gap year can really become a year of self-discovery, self-improvement, and important experience. The quality of it depends on your goals and your willingness to put effort into achieving them. It is very easy to get distracted from what you really want by all the small things, circumstances, routines, habits, and comfort zones. But you should not forget about your real goals and the reasons why you’ve set them. Wishing you the best of luck!

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Staying Healthy on a College Budget: Tips for Affordable Wellness

Prioritizing health and wellness in college is one of the important steps toward success and a positive college experience. Feeling unwell or sick can definitely make it impossible to be focused on your studies. It also negatively affects productivity and mental health. That’s why taking care of your physical health should be prioritized as a basis for academic achievements.

Many students though face difficulties while trying to stay healthy on a budget. There is this belief that in order to stay healthy, you need to spend a lot of money on gym, healthy foods, yoga sessions, etc. However, that’s not exactly true as you can maintain your health even with a tight budget. Here are a few tips on how you can do that.

Eating Well on a Budget

Meal planning when you are on a budget is the first and most important element that you should work on. Of course, it might take time each week to create a plan for the next week and write down a grocery-shopping list, but it is surely worth it. When you have a plan on hand and you know what you are going to cook, you spend less time, less money, and also stress less. By implementing meal planning in your daily routine, you can improve your health and stick to a healthy affordable diet while also avoiding wasting groceries and living on a budget.

While it might be a little more convenient to eat out, for example in the campus diner, it is actually healthier and more budget-friendly to cook yourself. Even if you are living in the campus dorm and have limited access to cooking supplies, it is still possible to cook healthy, affordable, and tasty meals.

For example, you can purchase a rice cooker, a hot plate cooker, a microwave, a small fridge, and other essential cooking tools. There are a lot of various recipes that you can find online and try them yourself. You can also invest in some cooking books or watch some online cooking lessons, etc.

Staying Active Without Breaking the Bank

As not every student has money to visit expensive sports clubs or gyms, they might benefit from exploring free or low-cost exercise options on campus. There might be more sports options that you know about, for example, student fitness facilities and recreational programs that you can take advantage of.

Be sure to also invest your time to explore various outdoor activities and DIY fitness routines that you can find online or find a sports buddy. Working out with a friend surely improves your motivation and makes it easier to force yourself when you are feeling lazy.

Mental Wellness on a Budget

Though you might not have money for a therapist, you can still find free or discounted counseling services on campus. 

You should also try practicing mindfulness and stress-relief techniques, like breathing techniques, meditations, engaging in low-cost hobbies, etc. Such things can really improve the quality of your life, reducing stress while costing very little or nothing at all.

Healthy Affordable Self-Care Practices

Another thing that you can do to improve your health is to make sure you spend quality time with yourself and take care of yourself. It surely all depends on what you like, but you can try for example:

DIY spa treatments. Hot showers or bubble baths, face steaming, face and hair masks, oils, etc.Utilizing inexpensive self-care products and alternatives.Creating a self-care routine that fits your daily schedule.

Personal hygiene is super important for your health and for your social life. No one likes people who do not take care of their appearance, do not bathe, or do not use deodorant. No more words are needed.

Preventive Healthcare on a Budget

The importance of regular check-ups and vaccinations is hard to overestimate. Not only it allows you to keep your health good as well as the quality of your life but it also allows you to save a lot of money on medications and procedures. Once you visit a doctor more or less regularly, you can detect any issues long before they become a real problem.

Utilizing student health services and clinics is one of the things that you should definitely take advantage of. If there are any opportunities for students of your learning institution to get free or discounted health care, you should take it. Another option you have is to explore low-cost health insurance options available to you, for example, local programs for students or special deals.

Time Management for Balanced Living

In order to stay healthy and also succeed as a student it is important to learn how to balance academic commitments and wellness practices. For example, you can create a schedule with your routine, classes, training, and healthy routines written down. 

Creating a schedule that prioritizes health without sacrificing studies means making sure that you spend an adequate portion of your day focused on studies, while also having time for a walk before bed, or doing yoga. It actually doesn’t take much time to go to a gym or cook yourself a healthy meal if you don’t procrastinate and have your day planned.

Incorporating short wellness breaks into daily routines, for example, doing a few exercises during the breaks in your study sessions, or quick meditation sessions in between your classes is another way to combine studies and health.

Conclusion

Investing time and money in your health when you are so young might seem like an excessive thing. However, it is crucial to understand that now you are creating a base for your future mental and physical health. The way you treat yourself now might be the defining point for how you feel in the future. Smoking or drinking alcohol is what many college students try without caring about possible consequences. But you need to be careful and wise about what you do to yourself.

Eating healthy, having enough sleep, and taking care of yourself are the basic things that you should pay attention to. Additionally, having an adequate amount of physical activity in your life, mental health sessions, and regular check-ups will surely help you keep yourself healthy and happy. And it will not break your budget, if you follow our easy tips.

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Keep a Healthy Relationship with Parents After Leaving for College

Leaving for college is a thrilling new chapter in your life, full of greater freedom and personal development. However, it is important to recognize the value of keeping a strong connection with your parents at this time of change. While college may provide new difficulties and possibilities, maintaining a healthy relationship with your parents may offer a crucial support system throughout your academic career. Here are a few tips on how to make the period of college less stressful for your relationship with your parents.

Prioritize Communication 

A successful parent-student relationship is built on open and constant communication. Make a habit of checking in with your parents on a regular basis, whether via phone conversations, video chats, or text messages. Share both ups and downs of your college experience to develop a stronger bond and keep your parents interested in your life.

They might also give you a great piece of advice and make you feel less lonely or homesick. The first few months of college are the most important for this connection between you and your parents, so be sure to put your effort into communication.

Set Realistic Expectations

As you begin your college adventure, it is critical to establish reasonable expectations with your parents. For example, you and your parents should understand that timetables, interests, or priorities might change throughout your college years. This means that everyone should be ready for these changes and avoid pushing their interests or demands on others. Managing both parties’ expectations will assist to minimize unneeded friction and allow for a smoother transition.

Define Boundaries

Maintaining a strong connection with your parents is vital, but so is setting limits. As you embrace your newfound freedom, express your need for personal space and autonomy explicitly. Find a way to express your individualism while yet keeping a respectful and loving relationship with your parents. It means establishing the time for calls or visits, making your own decisions, and finding or explaining the difference between being advised and being pushed. 

If you feel like you have too many calls with your parents or they make you visit more often than you feel comfortable with, talk about it. Every adult has boundaries, schedules, needs, and interests that should be respected.

Encourage Independence

College is a wonderful place to hone your independence and decision-making abilities. Involve your parents in talks about key life decisions, such as choosing a major or researching employment opportunities, but ultimately accept responsibility for your decisions. Making educated selections will win their confidence and build your connection.

Yes, you are not that little child anymore and you need to make your mistakes, learn from them, and find your passion in life. Though, some of the bad decisions might be avoided if you listen to your parents’ advice.

Seek Help and Advice

Keep in mind that your parents have a lot of information and experience to share with you. When confronted with a dilemma or a tough choice, don’t be afraid to seek their assistance and help. Their assistance may be helpful during times of apprehension, and integrating them into your college experience can make them feel more connected and appreciated.

And just as much you might need the support and help from your parents, you might also need some assistance with your homework. Don’t put your assignments away but have them done for you instead.

Thank for Support

College may be a difficult and transformational time in your life, but it’s crucial to recognize your parents’ support. Thank them for their advice, financial aid, and emotional support. Sending a handwritten thank-you letter or surprising them with a nice gift may go a long way toward cultivating a strong parent-student connection.

Share Your College Experience

Share your college experiences with your parents, both thrilling and difficult. Discuss your courses, on-campus activities, and new acquaintances. Take them on a virtual tour of your school or show them images of your dorm room. Involving them in your college life allows them to better comprehend your experiences and fosters a feeling of closeness.

Be Aware of Financial Issues

College sometimes entails financial obligations, and it’s important to have open and honest talks about money with your parents. Discuss your budgeting strategies, potential part-time jobs, and any financial issues you may have. You may build a healthy attitude to financial management and alleviate any possible difficulties by exhibiting accountability and openness. 

Learn to Manage Conflicts

During your college years, you and your parents may have disagreements, particularly as you negotiate your newfound freedom. Conflicts must be approached with respect, active listening, and understanding. Choose your words carefully and, wherever feasible, seek compromise. Remember that disagreements may be opportunities for development and understanding in your relationship.

Foster Mutual Trust and Respect

Above all, a strong parent-student relationship is based on mutual respect and trust. Be dependable, keep your promises, and keep lines of communication open. Thank your parents for their knowledge and support. By establishing trust and respect, you set the groundwork for a lifetime friendship that will expand as you enter adulthood.

Wrapping Up

Maintaining a healthy relationship with your parents while at college involves effort, open communication, and mutual awareness of the difficulties and changes that occur during this time of transition. You may cultivate a healthy and supportive connection with your parents throughout your college years and beyond by applying the 10 tactics mentioned in this blog article. Remember that a solid parent-student relationship may be a useful resource during this changing period in your life, giving emotional support, direction, and a feeling of connection.

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Dating in College: Recognizing Toxic Relationships

Dating is an important part of the college experience since it allows students to make meaningful connections and experience love relationships, build trusting partnerships, and even explore yourself. To preserve your well-being, you should be aware of the indicators of toxic relationships that might be your helping tool to avoid dangerous relationship. Recognizing toxic dynamics early on may help make better choices and develop a healthier and more thoughtful approach towards dating. So, keep reading and you will learn some of the most important signals that you should not omit but rather pay attention to in any type of relationship, especially a romantic one.

Understanding Toxic Relationships

Toxic relationships are defined by patterns of manipulation, control, and emotional abuse, which may be harmful to one’s mental and physical health. To avoid long-term damage at college, when students are managing newfound freedom and emotional fragility, it is critical to understand the symptoms of toxicity.

While you might know the term “toxic” as it is now widely used, the patterns of this kind might be unknown to you. That’s why the following list might be very helpful, especially if you don’t have much experience in relationship. Omitting toxic partners might not always be that simple as you obviously need time to recognize some red flags. However, the sooner you understand that this type of person is not going to bring you healthy emotional support, the easier it might be to end this relationship.

Let’s take a look at the most common red flags that will help you understand if you are in a toxic relationship.

Red Flag #1: Lack of Respect and Boundaries

A lack of respect and boundaries is one of the primary symptoms of a toxic relationship. It might be a red sign if your partner routinely disregards your thoughts, minimizes your accomplishments, or pushes your limits. Mutual respect is essential in healthy relationships, when both parties recognize and encourage one other’s uniqueness.

If there is something fishy or hurtful about the way your partner talks about you or to you in front of other people, it’s also a bad thing. So, be sure to pay attention to what they are saying and the way they are doing it. It’s easy to see the level of respect for you when there is someone besides you two and who might be the audience for a toxic person.

Red Flag #2: Emotional Manipulation

Another feature of toxic relationships is emotional manipulation. Manipulative partners may dominate and manipulate their significant others via guilt, fear, or other means. They may discredit your emotions or cause you to distrust your own observations. It is critical to recognize these patterns in order to defend your mental well-being.

Red Flag #3: Constant Criticism and Insults

In a toxic relationship, criticism becomes the norm. A toxic relationship may constantly criticize and dismiss you, destroying your self-esteem and self-worth. Instead of incessant negativity, healthy relationships should offer development, support, and encouragement. So, it doesn’t mean that you should not point to mistakes and the way they might be avoided or fixed. It is rather the approach and the frequency that matter a lot. 

Red Flag #4: Isolation from Support

Toxic partners often attempt to separate you from your support networks, such as friends and family. They may discourage you from spending time with loved ones, which may lead to feelings of isolation and reliance on the toxic partner. This is their goal – to make you feel miserable and dependent on them so that you have no one else to go to when you are feeling down. It is critical to maintain good ties outside of the relationship and seek help from reliable people.

Red Flag #5: Jealousy and Control

A toxic relationship is marked by jealousy and domineering conduct. A toxic relationship may be possessive, continually reading your communications, tracking your locations, or excluding you from social activities. They might control you to the point that you don’t have time for anything else, even studying. These dominating behaviors may become more severe over time, resulting in a loss of personal independence and autonomy. Jealousy is one of the most common issues that start fights between partners and might be a very dangerous sign of a possessive person.

Red Flag #6: Communication Gaps and Unresolved Conflict

Open and honest communication is essential for healthy partnerships. Communication, on the other hand, becomes strained or non-existent in toxic relationships. Partners may avoid addressing sensitive topics, resulting in unresolved issues and growing tension. A lack of appropriate communication stifles the development and emotional connection required for a happy relationship.

Red Flag #7: Gaslighting and Emotional Abuse

In toxic relationships, gaslighting, a kind of emotional abuse, is common. Gaslighting is the practice of altering someone’s sense of reality in order to make them question their memory, sanity, or experiences. It’s critical to detect these indicators of emotional abuse if your spouse repeatedly invalidates your emotions, distorts facts, or denies their actions. Sure, gaslighting is now covered in media and is commonly referred to when talking about toxic relationship, so you might already know why it is dangerous to mental health. But the reality is that sadly knowing about it is not enough as not everyone is able to spot gaslighting towards them.

Red Flag #8: Trust Issues and Betrayal

Toxic relationships can entail concerns of trust and betrayal. A toxic relationship may regularly break your trust, whether via adultery or broken promises, making it difficult to establish a healthy and safe connection. Any relationship is built on trust, and repeated breaches weaken that basis.

Seeking Help and Prioritizing Self-Care

Recognizing and admitting that you are in a toxic relationship is the first step. Seek help from friends, family, or a counselor who can guide and assist you. Concentrate on self-care, fostering your own well-being, and re-establishing your self-esteem. Remember that you are entitled to a loving and supporting relationship just because you were born into this world.

College dating may be a transforming and joyful experience, but it’s critical to recognize the warning signals of toxic relationships. You can make educated decisions, prioritize your well-being, and establish healthy relationship patterns if you recognize toxic dynamics early on. Trust your instincts, seek help, and remember that you deserve a relationship based on mutual respect and progress.

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Tips for Building a Portfolio as an Art Student

Building a solid portfolio is one of the most important aspects of your academic and professional experience as a college art student. Your portfolio is a visual depiction of your artistic abilities and development. It not only exhibits your creativity but also your distinct style and potential to future employers or admissions committees. Let’s figure out the importance of developing a portfolio throughout your college years, as well as take a look at practical ideas for creating one yourself.

The Importance of a Portfolio

A portfolio is a selected collection of your greatest artwork that demonstrates your creative progress and ability. It is an effective instrument for communicating your creative ideas, talents, and potential to others. A portfolio serves as a visual résumé that speaks for your talents and enthusiasm, whether you are going to art school, seeking internships, or pursuing a career as a professional artist.

Portfolios are usually the only way for a client to pick an artist or for an employer to find out if this person is a great fit for the company. That’s why it’s important to build your portfolio wisely, understanding the importance and the role of each work included. By picking the arts that you feel are the most relevant and in line with your style.

How to Build Your Portfolio

Building your portfolio surely takes some time and effort, but we hope that you will find the following tips useful in case you are working on one of your own.

Begin Early and Update Frequently

Begin constructing your portfolio as early as possible in your undergraduate career. Capture all stages of your artwork, including academic assignments, personal projects, and experiments. As your creative growth progresses, keep your portfolio updated with fresh and improved works. This not only helps you chronicle your progress, but it also keeps your portfolio current and relevant.

You might want to revise your resume frequently and remove art pieces that are no longer actual. For example, if your art style changes or the overall tone.

Curate Your Best Work

Prioritize quality over quantity when picking items for your portfolio. Create a collection of your most powerful and representative artworks. Choose works that demonstrate your technical abilities, originality, and distinct creative voice. Remember that a well-curated portfolio of fewer excellent items will create a better impact than a vast, dispersed collection. In fact, if there are too many artworks combined in your portfolio, for example, if you are trying to show your productivity, it might have the opposite effect and be distracting.

Demonstrate Diversity and Range

When choosing artwork for your portfolio, aim for variety in terms of subject matter, style, and media. This exhibits your creative diversity and ability to adapt to a variety of artistic problems. Incorporating a variety of artwork also helps you to demonstrate your progression and study of various styles and topics during your academic career.

Consider Presentation and Organization

How you show and arrange your portfolio has a big impact on how others view it. Consider the arrangement, sequencing, and flow of your artwork. Consider utilizing a real portfolio case or an online platform to professionally display your work. Make sure your presentation supports and increases the impact of your work.

Seek Constructive Comments

Request constructive comments on your portfolio from reputable mentors, teachers, or other art students. Their perspectives may assist you in identifying areas for growth, providing a new viewpoint, and refining your pick. Constructive feedback is crucial in improving the overall quality and consistency of your portfolio.

Tailor Your Portfolio to the Audience

When applying to art schools or looking for work, tailor your portfolio to the institutions’ or companies’ unique criteria or preferences. Investigate the selection process’s expectations and criteria, then arrange your portfolio appropriately. Customizing your portfolio exhibits your attention to detail and adaptability in diverse circumstances.

Include Sketches and Rough Drafts

In addition to the completed artwork, consider incorporating sketches and work-in-progress photographs that give insight into your creative process. This reveals your creative thinking, problem-solving ability, and passion for your art.

Create Your Artist Statement

Include a well-written artist statement with your portfolio. This written component gives you the opportunity to express your creative aims, influences, and aspirations. It gives visitors context and a better understanding of your artwork, as well as demonstrates your ability to successfully express your creative vision.

Make Use of Digital Platforms

Having an online presence is critical for artists in today’s digital era. To promote your artwork, consider constructing a professional website or using online portfolio services. These platforms provide access and reach to a larger audience, which may include future employers, gallery owners, or art consumers.

Importance for Future Career

A solid portfolio is essential for obtaining career chances in the art industry. Employers sometimes require portfolios when applying for employment, internships, or freelancing work in order to evaluate an artist’s talents, inventiveness, and fit for their business. A well-presented portfolio that shows your creative path and successes will help you stand out from the crowd and open doors to new prospects.

Creating a portfolio while in college is an important investment in your creative future. It demonstrates your development, talents, and distinct creative voice. You may construct a compelling portfolio that stands out by selecting a selection of your greatest work, adjusting to different audiences, and leveraging multiple presentation strategies. Remember that a solid portfolio not only improves your chances of admission or a job, but it also demonstrates your devotion and enthusiasm as an artist. Accept the chance to share your creative experience, and let your portfolio serve as a tribute to your artistic aptitude.

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