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Twenty four hours. That’s how much time we have in one day to do everything that needs to get done. And sure, that seems like a lot at first, but once you’ve realized how many things you actually need to do, twenty four hours a day just seems insufficient. That being said, a lot of people, myself,  included, focus on knocking tasks off their list and begin to discard items deemed “unimportant” like sleep.

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Multiple scientists have stated many times that the minimum amount of sleep needed in order to function correctly is somewhere between seven to nine hours. Now, you may be saying, “Well, I have other things to do! Homework to catch up on, and people to talk to; I don’t have seven hours to spare!” But you see, that’s the issue right there. The moment you tell yourself you don’t have the time for it, you start thinking you don’t need it, and that is not true… at all. Sleep is basically what your body uses to recharge, kind of like how you plug in your phone so that it doesn’t die. Much like a phone–or any other piece of technology really–the body begins to shut down or become sluggish when it’s battery starts to shut down. There’s many things that can happen if you don’t get the right amount of sleep. 

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It’s very important to sleep, not just because of the effects that it has on your body and mental health now, but because of what it can do to you in the long term. For example, sleep deprivation has been linked to hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as obesity, diabetes, melancholy, and anxiety. It has also been linked to diminished brain function, memory loss, a weakened immune system, lower fertility rates, and psychiatric illnesses, it can even cause skin problems! On top of this, the risk of being involved in a car accident also increases. You see, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving causes almost 100,000 traffic collisions each year, resulting in more than 1,500 deaths and 70,000 injuries. Sleep is something that, simply put, you absolutely need. Which is why keeping a sleep schedule is so important!

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One of the best ways for this to happen is to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day. This might sound hard to do, especially if you’re the kind of person that usually has a very hectic and uneven schedule with classes. But, the easiest solution to this problem is simply to allow yourself to shorten the list of things you have to do in one day. It’s okay to feel stressed or anxious with the amount of things you need to get done, but what isn’t okay is to give up your health because it seems “unimportant”. 

Your health, and sleep, are two things that aren’t worth the bargain.

~ Teen blogger, Claudia Lopez

By Teen Blogger: Claudia Lopez

I think that we can all agree that this year hasn’t been the greatest. From the presidential elections to the unforgettable pandemic, the last couple of months haven’t been what anyone expected.  Let’s not forget the impactful and life-changing BLM movement, along with issues going on in places like Vienna, Yemen and Tasmania, just to name a few. My point being that with so much going on it’s easy to forget about ourselves. And yes, I’m referring to your mental health. If you were feeling physically ill or broke a bone you would seek out help; the same goes for when you’re feeling mentally drained.

During these hard times, you’ve probably experienced stress, anxiety, fear, and sadness. All can be increased from the events of this year. Surveys show a major increase in the number of U.S. adults who report these same symptoms, compared with surveys before the pandemic.

Now, I’m most definitely not encouraging anyone to self-diagnose but be aware of yourself and habits. If you see that you might need help, seek it! It is so important that we ask for help when we need it. By nurturing your mental health you can also help prevent chronic physical illnesses. So, by caring for your mind you are also caring for your whole body! 

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Now, to talk about ways you can make sure you stay mentally fit. One way is to simply find something you enjoy doing! Maybe that’s music, art, a sport or even skating. Invest some time in that hobby, it could help keep your mind off things, blow off some steam, and it can also increase your productivity.

Another way is to surround yourself with good influences and people you can trust. If there are people in your life that you feel have a negative influence, cut ties with them. Now, I know that’s easier said than done, it also sounds a little rude, but it’s better for you if you know who in your life takes a mental toll on you.

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You should also learn to know your limits and leave room for mistakes. Many times overachievers put a lot of pressure on themselves to be ‘perfect’ at everything. This might make your work-ethic seem strong but it can also lead to anxiety and stress. Lastly, you want to make sure that you are getting your sleep. I cannot stress this enough! The minimum amount of sleep that you need to be getting is 7-8 hours. If you have trouble sleeping, try relaxing routines (which you can find basically anywhere on the internet) before your designated sleep time. Not getting enough sleep can cause depressive episodes and stress… so get your sleep! 

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We need to start practicing self-care both physically and mentally. In the long and short run, your mind will love you. It doesn’t do us any good to not care for our beautiful minds, so let’s do it!  

~ Teen blogger, Claudia Lopez

Follow more of Claudia HERE

Ramen has become the staple meal for any broke college student. It’s cheap and easy too make, which is why it’s the go-to meal option. Now lets mix it up! Here are three ways to enhance your bowl of ramen and take it to a gourmet level!

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Tis the Seasoning! | Try adding some extra seasoning to your bowl of ramen. Sautee some garlic in a pan and add it in along with a little garlic powder and onions.

Breakfast Ramen | Add an egg (whatever style) along with some crumbled bacon. Now there’s no excuse for skipping breakfast anymore!

Spice it up! | If you like a little spice, add in some sriracha. Try a few drops for a little kick and a couple squirts for the spicy lover in you!

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-Tia Banks, Content Editor

Scroll through the STYLE diary of Toronto based teen vlogger + model, Schymera! 

Style is showing who you are with out having to speak! Name your top 3 trends you’re feeling this season?
This season I’m really feeling bandeau tops, off the shoulder tops, and jean skirts. Whenever I wear any of these three things, I feel like I can stand out in my own way and express who I am. Bright coloured bandeau tops or off the shoulder tops looks amazing on sunny days and I wouldn’t change it for anything else.

If you had 30 seconds to grab your 3 favorite style pieces, what would they be?
I would most likely grab a bandeau top of any colour, jean skirt, and either a jean jacket or a light sweater over depending on where Im going or how I’m feeling. This is an outfit that I would feel most comfortable in and able to move around in if I’m with friends. It also shows off a bit of my own style.

Style inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate fashion icon + why?
I honestly have so many fashion icons but I am stuck between Ariel Martin (@babyariel) and Daniella Perkins (@daniellaperkins). All of their outfits on instagram are just stunning and gives me different ideas of what to wear when I’m going to different places.

Getting ready in the morning can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s your go-to look if you’re in a rush?
If I were to be in a rush which is very often, I would probably throw on a nice pair of tights, and top and a sweater to go over. This is my go to outfit because its not too fancy but it shows enough style while being super comfortable. I would also wear my favourite necklace and small bracelet just to spice up the outfit a bit.

What’s your number 1 rule when it comes to style?
My number one rule is to dress as yourself and in something that you can be yourself while being comfortable in. I had to learn that the hard way because I always dressed to impress and it never fit who I was and it looked off. So always wear what you can be yourself in and forget about the criticism.

Follow more of Schymera’s style here! 

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It’s time to re-energize and start shifting your focus! Moving forward is an important part of growth. But sometimes we hinder our own growth and don’t realize how detrimental it can be. Here are three ways you’re sabotaging yourself from being the best you can be:

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Hit The Brakes On The Negative Thoughts- This is probably the most common issue people have. It’s so easy to think “It’s never going to happen” rather than “Just because it didn’t happen today, doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying”. Positivity is like karma. When you put it in the atmosphere, it will come back around to you.

Skip The Comfort Highway- It’s okay to be comfortable but don’t let comfort allow you to forget about your goals. The ease of being in a daily routine can make the thought of something new seem inconvenient.

Override Fear-If an opportunity presents itself and the fear of failing kept you from going for it, you’ve already lost. Despite how people seem to be living their best lives on social media, they’ve had failures too. Everyone does, however, often times you grow from them.

Yeah, you got it!

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Summer is in full swing + so are those part-time checks from your summer gig! Don’t fret; we’ll cover our eyes on how you’ve already spent your money on clothes, beauty goodies and concert tickets for the first half of the summer. Well, for the rest of the month we’re going to give you 3 reasons why saving your money is “not your enemy” in your life!

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Clouds Are Rolling In!– Have you heard the saying “save for a rainy day” in life? Well, with all this global warming happening you never know when a storm will pop up. Okay, so maybe not a real life tornado but a shift in your money flow. An extra book for your college course? Your basketball uniform? I mean it’s always good to have a little cushion.

Hands Out Syndrome– So your parents love you and your homegirls have your back but let’s be honest they are not your personal ATM. Always asking for someone to spot you or cover you can be a bit draining and can even break up friendships. Keep a stash and play it safe.

Shrug That Feeling– It’s as simple as that feeling. We all know that feeling. That feeling of finding a quarter is an upgrade to our empty accounts. It’s cool to look fly but when you have an empty account can take away from your fab life.

So get to stacking!

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Happy weekend, loves!