Posts Tagged ‘mental health’

Niche-ing New York City: Feeling Untalented

Monday, August 25th, 2025
Me in Times Square (the first and only time I went)

It’s been a pleasure, thus far in Niche-ing New York City, to pretend we live in a perfect world – one in which there’s a talent for everyone, everyone has the time and the resources to practice their talent, and no one ever feels lost, exhausted, or untalented. It’s no secret to any of us that this world will never be perfect, and – now that we’ve explored ways to find and hone our skills – it’s important to think about ways to push through the hard parts. There will be times when work, the news, the world will exhaust you to the point that you can’t be bothered to immerse yourself in your talent, to the point that you can try your hardest at your talent and still feel untalented. 

This feeling can have disastrous and lasting effects. When I was nine, my mom enrolled me in an art camp because it was closer – and way cheaper – than the day camps offered by the YMCA. Unknowingly, she helped me discover what would come to be a favorite talent of mine, one that was immune to the mind-numbing effects of being forced to learn a skill in school, and one that I was immediately and inexplicably good at – at least, when I was given the chance to try it. Drawing was all I did from then on, in classes, all over my homework, during every school break. It was fun for me and it was incredibly validating to hear how good I was at it – a combination that, prior, I had never experienced. 

As I entered high school, and classwork and extracurriculars began to take up more of my time, I could feel it dwindling. But it was the COVID outbreak in the second semester of my freshman year that killed it. Like everyone, I was incredulous, then, gradually, depressed. I had the most free time I’d ever had in my whole life – and four years’ worth of art supplies accumulated – and I did want to draw. I just couldn’t.

My mind was numb and nothing inspired me. I was exhausted mentally from a year spent sleeping through my Zoom classes, staring out the window, and doomscrolling on TikTok (though I’m not sure that term was around then). Since 2019, I have been able to complete exactly one (1) piece, and none that I’m proud of. But don’t worry, please – it’s not that my art block lasted six whole years, but that the two years of pandemic-induced art block made me forget that I was good at it, that I enjoyed it. It was, in some way, replaced by writing, a new talent that I discovered when we returned to in-person class – and school kept me busy with it. Then, I made the natural decision to major in English and Communications and spend my free time engaged in work and research, and suddenly I had no time to make up for the six years of skill I had lost.

So how am I going to fix it? And how can you fix this feeling of talentlessness when it inevitably happens to you?

The first thing I did was take my art supplies out of the box they’d been in under my bed. Simply having them out, in my periphery and often in my way, ensured that I couldn’t forget about art again. I took a few of my favorites – my charcoal pencils, my mixed-media paper, and my Copic markers – to school my freshman year and proceeded to do nothing with them. But still they remained in my way. Next, I revisited some of my favorite YouTube artists (if you need recs, DrawingWiffWaffles, Jazza, and elliotisacoolguy) and, in watching them, subliminally reminded myself of certain techniques and skills I now struggle with, and that I actually enjoy art. 

Here’s the kicker (and you can’t make fun of me for this): last fall, I scrolled past a picture of Jeff Buckley some fan account had posted for his birthday. I did a digital double take, and when I scrolled back up I was hit with a rush of adrenaline I hadn’t felt in years – I was inspired. For the first time in two years, I opened my sketchbook and put pencil to paper. I worked for an hour or so, lighting a candle and listening to his music for some added immersion. When I finished, I stepped back with a heaving chest and a manic smile on my face. It was horrible. It was too bad, even, for me to show you here. It might be the worst thing I’ve ever drawn. But I loved creating it. And I learned from it – the next day I flipped the page and tried again to recreate a different picture. It was also bad, but I loved drawing it just as much. 
Your talent is something you can learn to love doing even when you’re bad at it. And it is essential that you do, if you want to avoid the six years of feeling like there’s nothing you are good at. When you can love doing it even if you hate the product, it becomes your best outlet when social media has numbed you, when your nine-to-five has exhausted you, rather than another activity so stress-inducing you’d waste the day bedrotting to avoid it. Never allow yourself to keep it in a box under your bed, to forget the joy it gives you when it feels like nothing will ever make you happy again. If you already have, here’s your reminder to take it back out and put it in your way, give it one last try – it could change your life.


This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Spicy-Moon_hi-res-1024x1024.jpg

Physical and mental health go hand in hand — take this coupon and your Student ID to get 10% off any fitness package at Nimble Fitness!


By Lauren Male

Lauren is a senior at Pace University majoring in English and Communications, with a minor in Journalism. She is pursuing Pace’s M.S. Publishing program. When she’s not reading, Lauren can be found trying new coffee shops, thrift shopping, and spending all of her money on concert tickets.


For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus. Open publish panel

Share

Healing Isn’t Linear

Tuesday, July 1st, 2025

It is in our human nature to believe that you can do everything on your own. In college, there is an unspoken pressure to keep your life in order and maintain the “picture perfect” college image, even when you’re falling apart mentally and emotionally. My depression and anxiety have become a part of my daily life and have intertwined with my college experience in a negative way. Although I have found multiple ways of coping with my mental health, including coloring and doing puzzles, I have found that therapy has really helped me with the demands that come with college. 

I started to entertain the idea of taking therapy when I realized that it isn’t just for people with extreme trauma or people who have deep emotional scarring from their experiences. I didn’t realize that it was a useful tool that everyone could use to feel better about themselves in any setting. When I signed up for therapy, I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous I’d be judged or that nothing would come of it. I was also concerned because I was getting a male therapist instead of a female, which made me wonder if I could be more personal with a man.

When I reflect on my time spent in therapy, I love that I am speaking the truth without judgment and that my therapist listened without interrupting. My therapist asked thoughtful and thorough questions that helped both him and me understand why I was feeling the way that I was and how we can take those feelings and turn them into a positive instead of a negative. I also loved that his mentally wasn’t to “fix me” but to help me feel better so that I was able to make my life feel more manageable, allowing me to continue my daily responsibilities.

A college student benefiting from therapy. Image credit: https://charleston.edu/counseling/index.php

In hindsight, therapy hasn’t “cured” me. It has been an important tool to help identify the triggers. It helps me with what my therapist calls my “inner critic”. The biggest takeaways that therapy has taught me is that you are not your thoughts. Even though your mind says something that has a negative connotation to it, that doesn’t make it true. Therapy has helped me challenge those thoughts with evidence of the good things that I have done. I also have learned that coping skills are important. Whether it’s using breathing techniques or writing things down, or in my case, doing puzzles and coloring, simple tools go a long way in important your mental health. The most important takeaway is that healing isn’t linear. Some days you’ll feel amazing and other days you’ll feel like you’re back at square one. Progress isn’t a straight line, and it’s important to recognize that there will be good days and bad days and that’s okay.

Therapy is not weakness, it’s strength. It’s one of the most powerful forms of self-care I’ve ever invested in, and if it’s accessible to you, I encourage you to give it a try. I know in some situations it may feel like a “last resort” but anyone can benefit from it. Most colleges offer free or low-cost counseling services for students. Start with one session and go from there. You don’t have to commit to forever, so just commit to showing up, because the truth is, taking care of your mind supports every part of your life. Your wellness. Your fitness. Your relationships. Your academics. You don’t have to carry the weight of college, or life by yourself. There is help. There is hope. And you are worthy of both.


Although therapy can benefit your mental health, other ways include sitting down at a spa and relaxing. Get 10% off at Spa Joie using your student I.D.


By: Yamilia Ford

Yamilia Ford is a rising senior at Pace University with a major in business management and three minors in journalism, creative writing, and film studies. Her passion for writing allows her to inspire through her own creative lens, giving people the opportunity to relate to her.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

Share

You’re Not Weak… You’re Human

Wednesday, June 25th, 2025

Mental health is one of those things you don’t always notice slipping, especially in a college setting. When I first entered college, I had never really believed in mental health. I believed that mental health was an excuse to not be present and to neglect your responsibilities. Throughout my time in college, I always had the mentally of pushing through the hardships and problems I have had and as opposed to blaming it on mental health.

In the beginning of my spring 2025 semester, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Further into the semester, I was then diagnosed with depression, which is commonly linked with anxiety. These diagnoses made me realize I was not above mental health. I spent a lot of time trying to recognize the factors that played into my depression and anxiety so that I can control my feelings and emotions and be the best version of myself in college. 

At the end of the semester, I had realized that my mental health wasn’t just a personal issue, it was my overall full-body experience. It impacted my appetite, my energy, my physical movement. My lack of motivation led to skipped meals. My anxiety led to late-night scrolling and poor sleep. My depression made me cancel plans, which led to loneliness. The more I ignored my mental health, the worse my wellness and fitness became. 

Then, I learned that these diagnoses correlated with my scoliosis. I also felt very self-conscious of my scoliosis, as in making sure I was covering up my back with a sweater in hot weather or fixing my posture so no one would notice and make fun of what I call “my hump.” When I reflect, I understand that I continue to live in fear of people seeing my back and making fun of it. I also believe that the family and friends I kept around were not very supportive of my health, prompting me to be upset and push my anxiety with my back further.

When it comes to depression and anxiety, I have learned that I need to surround myself with people who are sympathetic to my health and make me feel better about myself and more supported. Going into my senior year of college, I have a few pointers that will help me manage my mental health. The first one is to not minimize it. Saying “I’m just tired” or  “I’m just having a rough day” when you’re actually overwhelmed doesn’t help. Being honest with yourself and your feelings are the most important. The second one is to establish a good routine. Even if it’s waking up, eating, going for a walk, doing one assignment, etc., it can create a sense of structure when everything feels chaotic. The third one is the most important one for me, and that is to stay connected. Isolation can make mental health worse. Reaching out to someone such as a friend, a resident assistant, or a counselor can help you feel seen and heard. The last one is to practice small moments of joy. Whether it’s music, sunlight, journaling, or your favorite snack, the small things you love can spark comfort or meaning.

College is hard enough on its own. Adding mental health challenges can feel unbearable, but struggling doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human, and you’re allowed to pause, ask for help, and heal on your own timeline. Just know that you are not alone in feeling this way and it doesn’t make you broken. You’re doing your best and that’s more than enough.

Whether I’m painting on easels or coloring in my coloring book, art is a great way for me to relax and focus my mind. Bring a group of 8 and use code CAMPUSCLIPPER for $50 off!


By: Yamilia Ford

Yamilia Ford is a rising senior at Pace University with a major in business management and three minors in journalism, creative writing, and film studies. Her passion for writing allows her to inspire through her own creative lens, giving people the opportunity to relate to her.


For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services. At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

Share

Playlist Therapy: 5 Tips on How to Build the Ultimate Feel-Good Playlist

Friday, March 28th, 2025
Zoe Kravitz in High Fidelity: The ultimate playlist curator

Music is a powerful but dangerous tool. It can shift our mood and set the tone for our day. A sad playlist can leave you depressed, starting the day dwelling on the intrinsic existentialism of humanity and the limitations of love (Think Adam’s Ribs by Jensen McRae). Oppositely, starting your day with a song like OKLOSER by Doja Cat builds you up for whatever may come your way, whether it be delayed trains or people who should stop talking. Whether you need a morning pick-me-up, a stress reliever after work, or just some background tunes to keep you in high spirits, the perfect feel-good playlist is a necessity. 

‘Feel-good’ can mean a lot of things. Some songs get us through 30 minutes of full-body pilates, while others bring a sense of calmness and relaxation, like the Bridgerton instrumental covers. Curating a personalized playlist tailored to your unique taste and emotional needs is key. Whether you’re into upbeat pop anthems, throwbacks, or soothing instrumentals, the goal is to build a collection of songs that lift you up no matter what state you’re in. Conceited by SZA can pretty much fall into every kind of feel-good playlist, so I recommend starting there. After that, the notes below can help you make a personalized feel-good playlist that comes in handy any time of day. Good luck and happy curating!

 1. Define Your Feel-Good Tone

Before you start adding songs, think about the kind of energy you want your playlist to bring. Do you want upbeat and danceable tracks, or something more mellow and comforting? Maybe you’re looking for nostalgia-inducing classics or modern pop hits. Think Bless the Telephone by Labi Siffre, So American by Olivia Rodrigo, or both? 

 2. Start with Your Bangers

It’s important to start with absolute bangers in case of emergency. Have to go to work but feel like you’re going to cry? SOS, need a banger to clear up the emotions. Look for songs that make you excited and energized. Think about tracks that instantly boost your mood, primarily because they remind you of nothing and no one (We don’t want to happy cry either). These personal favorites will serve as the foundation of your playlist. I immediately go to Elian’s Revenge by Leikeli47. You’re drivingggg down Martin Lutherrrrr, it’s half past midnightttt, and you dial my numberrrrr…

3. Mix Up the Genres

Variety is chef’s kiss. Make sure to blend genres—pop, rock, rap, indie, R&B, etc. Mixing things up keeps the energy dynamic and engaging. Maybe Material Girl by Madonna followed by Buy U a Drank by T-Pain. Oye by La Sonora Dinamita followed by Play the Greatest Hits by Wolf Alice. The combinations are endless.

Me when I first was gifted my trusty Beats a while ago

 4. Choose Songs with Positive Lyrics(?)

Mmm, debatable. I say choose songs with lyrics that are strictly not sad to you personally. Yes, feel-good playlists should have uplifting, encouraging, and humorous lyrics that make you feel empowered and happy, but not all the time is that the case. The main point is to avoid songs with sad or overly dramatic themes. For example, Ordinary Girl by Hannah Montana is a very positive lyrical song, but it’s an absolute tear-jerker for me now that I’m not 10 anymore.

5. Incorporate Some Nostalgia

Speaking of Hannah Montana, sometimes nothing brings instant joy quite like a song that transports you back to an exciting time in your life. Throw in some childhood favorites, classic hits from past decades, or even guilty pleasures you secretly love. Nostalgic songs create an emotional connection and add a personal touch to your playlist. Try Knock Out by Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. 

Here’s my current feel-good playlist on repeat:

My fav pick-me-up songs at the moment
Boston and Cambridge Students! Get BOGO 25% with this Campus Clipper Coupon and your student idea at Poke City.

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share

The Mental Health Benefits of Being a Girl’s Girl

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

A few months ago, I wrote about how women perpetuating the patriarchy was taking a toll on me (as if it were new information). I was frustrated by the way I was being objectified by men and women alike, belittled and dumbed down into something along the lines of a rom-com side character scripted by Richard Curtis. I have lived long enough to know that when that happens, someone is simply projecting their own insecurities, but by god is it still so incredibly annoying. 

The truth is I don’t blame women, or men for that matter, for being insecure. The pressures we face today are unimaginable, and the standard of beauty and overall being is simply unattainable. If you’re not living off brand deals and traveling the world, are you really living? If you don’t have abs like Glen Powell, what kind of girl even wants you? And if you aren’t on the list of Forbes 30 Under 30, have you even found a purpose in life? It’s absurd what we compare ourselves to rather than appreciate all we’ve done. 

Societal pressure has left us all insecure at one moment or another, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The point is how we handle that insecurity of ours. Maybe you’re insecure about your body type because the world has told you it doesn’t compare to Charlie’s Angels, but does it really make you feel better to comment “Jeez, put on some meat” under an influencer’s bikini pic? I may not blame anyone for feeling like they don’t measure up from time to time, but I will 100% blame women for putting other women down just to feel good about themselves.

According to Her Campus, “A recent social media phenomenon, the term ‘girl’s girl’ is used to describe women who support other women through every aspect of their lives, and not just the women directly in their lives either.” To be a girl’s girl takes active work. It involves dismantling the competitiveness and insecurities society has propelled onto us, which can be incredibly difficult when it comes to things we’ve been taught all our lives. 

My mom: the ultimate girl’s girl

If you’ve been so fortunate as to have primarily healthy female friendships all your life, you may think to yourself, “Well, I know a lot of girl’s girls, and I thought most girls were girl’s girls, so just how many aren’t?” You’ll be interested to find that someone calls a woman a ‘slut’ or ‘whore’ on X (formerly Twitter) almost 10,000 times per day, and half of those comments are from women, a 2016 Washington Post study stated. More interestingly, The Workplace Bullying Institute found women bully other women up to 80% of the time. And if it couldn’t get worse, a 2020 study by the United Nations found that about 90% of men AND women “hold some sort of bias against women, providing new clues to the invisible barriers women face in achieving equality, and a potential path forward to shattering the Glass Ceiling.” The truth is, the world needs a LOT more actual girl’s girls, not just performances.

It’s important for us as women to remember that being a girl’s girl extends far beyond just watching another girl’s drink at the bar. It’s in the way we speak to each other, the way we act with each other, and the way we stand up for one another. It’s in the way we stop ourselves from falling into sexist rhetoric, from using gender as an insult, from objectifying each other more than we applaud one another. Like the scene from Mean Girls, I’m sure we could all raise our hands and admit we’ve said things we regret about another girl. You’d think, though, that once we reach Ms. Norbury’s age at the latest, all the weird ‘girl-on-girl crime’ would just… fizzle out? 

In our 20s, it seems to just take on more forms. A random back-handed compliment from a friend here, an insulting up-and-down glance from a stranger there, A humiliation fetish disguised as a joke everywhere! Not to mention, it’s SO second-hand embarrassing for me and for everyone I tell afterward (Yes, I will absolutely gossip about the hurtful thing you said to me. It’s my way of coping). You should see the grimaces and furrowed brows that glide over everyone’s faces, the cringes and widened eyes that follow suit, and the “Um wtf!” texts that fly in like clockwork. If non-girl’s girls knew they came off this way, would they change their ways, like Regina George? Or would they still play victim, siding with misogynists, calling women hormonal b-words? I’d like to think they can still be saved.

Tally: another ultimate girl’s girl

If we support one another, uplift one another, and stand up for one another, it won’t only make us better people, but actually make us feel better, too. A study from the National Institute of Health states, “Friendships among women can provide critical social resources and promote overall wellness, feelings of self-worth, and empowerment. Findings from studies that examine these relationships among women indicate that the quality of friendship support is more important than the mere number. Supportive friendships, which are characterized by intimacy, nurturance, loyalty, and prosocial behaviors, are associated with heightened psychological and physical well-being.” 

Being a supportive girl’s girl is so important, especially in a world that has always been and still is against women. Uplifting other women creates a sense of community, which means we’ll have more people to hear us out and learn from in times of need. Hyping up our friends and strangers also shifts our mindset away from toxic comparison, because life is hard enough without mentally competing in a game no one actually wins. Plus, acts of kindness release feel-good hormones, so we’re not just being nice—we’re chemically hacking our own brains into happiness. At the end of the day, why make enemies out of the very people who could be your biggest allies?

“I love my husband, but it is nothing like a conversation with a woman who understands you. I grow so much from those conversations.” – Beyonce

Boston Students! Get free chips and salsa at Chivo Taqueria in Cambridge!

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share

Ashwagandha and Goji and Rose Hip, Oh, My!

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

I was recently watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta, season 15 (I know, I’m behind). There was a scene where the girls were dishing out some gossip, not over tea or coffee, but instead over Vitamin IV drips. It was a peculiar sight, but not one I hadn’t seen before. The reality stars of Selling Sunset also had a very similar scene. Still, I can’t get past the casualness of it. It reminded me of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives where they all meet up to gossip at the Botox office, inhaling the laughing gas like oxygen. Okay, maybe that one is a little different, but whatever happened to talking crap at the nail salon? Or while grabbing some appetizers? More than likely, I’ve simply become too exposed to reality TV ever since I bought a Peacock subscription. 

Most vitamin IV drips, also known as vitamin therapy, include vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and electrolytes like Sodium and potassium. The anticipated plus side of using vitamin therapy as opposed to taking vitamins by mouth is that they enter the bloodstream directly, which users have expressed makes them feel better more quickly. Vitamin therapy has also been used specifically for hydration, especially in sports (or, in the reality TV world, hangover cures). 

Cynthia Bailey from RHOA getting a “Fountain of Youth” IV drip

While vitamin IV drips have definitely become a rising trend, especially for the rich and famous, I prefer to steer clear of needles. They make me feel queasy.

The idea of vitamin therapy, though, has me thinking about all of the different kinds of vitamins, supplements, and teas people take for a variety of desired effects. According to a study by Harvard University, approximately 50% of adults take a daily vitamin, and about 33% take a daily multivitamin. On any given day, over fifty percent of the American population drinks tea.

Most of the people I know are heavily into supplements. My mom used to take a handful of gas-station vitamin supplements a day when I was a child, and probably before that, too. Now, she takes more dignified vitamins from a vitamin store, of course. My sister and I take probiotic vitamins and multivitamins. My friends take magnesium supplements and calming gummies and gender-specific one-a-days. My boyfriend takes melatonin like it’s no one’s business. The list goes on.

Besides multivitamins, the only time I lean towards taking supplements is when they offer some kind of calming effect that I am desperate for. 

POV: You and I spill the tea over lavender stress-relief tea served in a Madame de Pompadour tea set.

I am no medical expert, but I do have a list of supplements, whether it be in pill, gummy, or tea form, that I choose from when I’m having an anxious or stressful day. They could be placebo, they could be legitimate, or they could be somewhere in between. Regardless, these are my favorite go-to supplements for calmness and relaxation:

*These recommendations are my own opinion and should not be taken unless consulted with a doctor. 

  • L-Theanine – I think of L-Theanine as my brain’s cuddle buddy. Found in green tea, this little amino acid boosts feel-good neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin, helping me stay relaxed yet focused. It’s perfect for those days when stress is high, but I still need to get things done (which is pretty much every day).
  • GABA – When my brain feels like it’s in overdrive, GABA tends to slow it down. As the body’s natural calming neurotransmitter, it helps quiet racing thoughts, reduce anxiety, and even improve sleep. I like taking GABA at the end of the day to wind down before bed.
  • Chamomile – A warm cup of chamomile tea before bed isn’t just cozy—it’s science-backed stress relief. Chamomile’s antioxidants interact with our brain’s relaxation receptors, helping to melt away anxiety and promote restful sleep. I drink chamomile tea during the day when my anxiety is high, or at night when I want a good sleep. I like to throw in some lemon and ginger in there when I’m feeling a bit under the weather, too.
  • Ashwagandha – Period! This powerful adaptogen helps balance cortisol (our stress hormone), making us more resilient to daily pressures. Whether you need a mood boost or better sleep, ashwagandha has been known to help with anxiety and stress. Ashwagandha tea and gummies have always helped with my anxiety.
  • Lavender – There’s a reason lavender is in so many spa products. Its soothing scent and calming properties help reduce anxiety, lower stress hormones, and even improve sleep. Whether in tea, essential oils, or supplements, lavender feels like a cute lullaby for my nerves. I like throwing in a lavender shower steamer or two for extra relaxation after a workout. 

All in all, vitamins and supplements can be helpful to add to your diet, with many of them being scientifically proven to improve your mood, cognitive function, and stress tolerance. However, not every vitamin supplement is the magic cure marketers want you to believe—unless your wallet is feeling a little too full, like the reality stars and their extra IV drips. Before you start popping pills like a medieval king trying to avoid the plague (RIP King Henry the 8th, you would’ve loved vitamin B12), chat with your doctor to see what, if anything, you actually need.

Boston Students! Get 5% off with a cash payment at MG Hair Artistic Studio in Allston.

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share

Candle Ceremonies, Pinterest Boards, and the Art of Manifesting

Tuesday, March 4th, 2025

One of my closest friends was recently flipping through pages of her journal from a few years ago. She had written down manifestation statements back in 2021, setting up goals for herself to actualize in the next few years. “I’m so happy I was able to buy a house in the Dominican Republic by age 24” was one of them. “I’m so happy that, by age 25, I found someone who is right for me, loves me, supports me, and makes me a better person” was another. She cringed while reading them, but she also started tearing up because those two statements came true. 

I’m the kind of person that will try anything as long as it can’t hurt me. With manifesting, I always figured nothing necessarily bad could come out of it, so why not try it? When I first moved to Boston, I went to Salem and bought ‘magic’ candles from a witch store. They were color-coded to what aspect of life one wanted to manifest good things for: green for finances, white for peace, yellow for intelligence, and so on. I went home and lit the red candle, symbolic of love and attraction, and I let the wax melt onto a piece of paper where I had written about my crush on my now boyfriend. Did I feel silly, trying not to set off the fire alarms as I performed a ritual in my bedroom? Yes. Would I do it again? Probably. And THAT’s on girlhood.

My boyfriend’s and my new shoes: manifesting at its finest

I’ve been using the word ‘manifest’ a lot over the past few weeks, and the people around me have been using it as well. In our 20s, we’re all manifesting new jobs, better relationships, and internal peace. “Please manifest for me!” and “I’m manifesting it” and “Manifest good shit” have a surprising amount of hits in my text message results. I’ve never considered myself a believer of pseudosciences like astrology or chakra alignment, but I do think there’s something to be said about the mental energy that goes into getting what you want, along with the inherent determination that comes with it.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, to manifest is to “imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen.” The word ‘manifest’ was looked up almost 130,000 times on the Cambridge Dictionary website in 2024, making it one of the most-viewed words of the year. In the United States, the idea of manifesting has grown less taboo with time, with many people turning to it daily.

Today’s concept of manifesting can be traced back to the New Thought Movement of the late 19th century, which is based on the idea that our thoughts and beliefs can have an influence on our health, prosperity, and success. The New Thought Movement emerged in the United States and Britain, drawing influence from the literary transcendentalists, the celebrity mesmerists, and, most prominently, Hindu philosophy. In Hinduism, manifestation is connected to the belief in Karma, meaning that our thoughts, intentions, and actions directly influence our reality.

In 2006, Rhonda Byrne published a best-selling self-help book, “The Secret,” exploring the topics of manifesting and the Law of Attraction, which centers on focusing your thoughts and energy on positive desires to attract positive life experiences. “The Secret” went on to sell over 35 million copies worldwide. The rise of celebrities like Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey, and Will Smith speaking about their practice of and belief in manifestation aided the book’s sales and reputation despite its lack of scientific foundation. 

Manifesting was brought back into the mainstream media during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with people turning to the concept as almost a coping mechanism for the tough times ahead. During 2020, Google searches for the word ‘manifest’ rose by over 600%, and trends on social media skyrocketed with practices like positive affirmation statements and the 777 method. Pinterest saw a 565% increase in searches related to creating vision boards based on the cultivation of desired self-images. The conviction of social media participants seemed to be split in half, some manifesting comedically and others religiously. 

A few examples of the affirmation memes that circulated the internet during COVID.

From candle ceremonies to Pinterest boards, the art of manifesting today has become a staple in Gen Z’s self-care and wellness culture. New research from American Express reveals that nearly seven in 10 Gen Zs (69%) engage in manifestation practices, with over half saying it’s to help them achieve their goals.

While there is certainly no evidence to support the idea that manifesting gives you exactly what you want without any work involved, there are legitimate mental health benefits to practicing it. If we look at manifesting as not just a trend, but not a whole identity, either, we see that it can be something of a self-care practice, promoting positive self-talk, long- and short-term goals, and confidence in those who participate. Many of us are ‘manifesting’ without even knowing it.

Implementing manifestation tactics like positive self-talk, personal affirmations, and goal visualizations into our daily lives has been shown to improve self-esteem, stress management, and well-being, as well as reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. In studies by the National Institute of Health, self-talk specifically has beneficial effects on attention and emotion regulation and is widely used for performance enhancement in sports, academic engagement, and regulating anxiety or depression. Additionally, according to BetterHelp, “The latest research shows that the brain does not recognize the difference between real or imagined scenarios and that “rehearsing” future scenarios with visualization can build new neural pathways, calm anxiety, and increase confidence as you work toward your goals.”

Affirmation: I will catch the train on time. I will not miss the train and wait outside in 20-degree weather. The T is on my side.

Olympians across the globe have discussed the mental training that goes into achieving their dreams, from visualizing their race over and over again like Grant Holloway to posting manifestation statements on Instagram like Noah Lyles. It’s clear that the activities involved in manifesting are more than just wishing and wanting; they’re active steps taken to achieve one’s dreams. 

The truth is, when we show up our best, we do our best, both mentally and physically. If we are constantly telling ourselves that we don’t deserve something, that we aren’t good enough, or that we don’t believe in ourselves, it’s more likely we won’t even put the time or energy necessary into our goals. With that, how are we ever supposed to get what we want, or get closer to getting what we want? No one is saying you can just sit on your couch, light a bunch of candles, and wait for a million-dollar check to fall into your lap. Likewise, there’s nothing wrong with being mentally diligent and committed to your goals, either. 

I like to think of it as a self-fulfilling prophecy. A self-fulfilling prophecy, in a gist, is when what you predict to happen becomes what actually happens because it is what you expected to happen (I know, it’s a bit wonky). Basically, your actions end up aligning with your expectations. For example, let’s say I was going to a party, but I was afraid that no one was going to talk to me, and I wouldn’t make any friends. The self-fulfilling prophecy here would be that I went to the party, was too afraid to talk to anyone for fear of rejection, and consequently did not make any friends. I fulfilled the prophecy I set out for myself because I didn’t visualize a different outcome. It’s similar to people who say, “I’m going to fail the test anyway, so why even study?”

However, if I had told myself–whether it be by writing it down in a journal, visualizing the scenario in my head, or using positive self-talk to affirm my wants–that I was going to make friends at the party despite the chances of no one talking to me, I may have been more inclined to talk to people myself. I most likely would start up conversations with strangers and make friends via my own determination and confidence to get what I want. This is how I see manifestation: taking the time and energy to be specific about your desires and how you’ll fulfill them. “I will study, and my hard work will pay off.”

Of course, things don’t always go the way we want, and we can’t expect life to be all smooth sailing. We could easily talk to people at the party only to find out they’re kind of annoying and not really our speed. We could easily study all night and still fail the exam. We could easily be on time for the subway only for it to stand by at the stop before ours for 20 minutes. However, the point is that by focusing on the possible positive outcomes, we open ourselves up to opportunities that we may otherwise not have. If nothing bad can come out of it, why not give it a try?

Boston Students! Get 10% off at Cambridge Naturals with this coupon and a Student ID.

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share

Dodging Office Saboteurs: How to Stay Strong in a Challenging Work Environment

Monday, February 17th, 2025
Common Statistics of Workplace Bullying in America.

We like to think of bullying as something only kids go through when they’re learning about social hierarchies and how to approach people’s differences. Most of us are taught at a young age about the cycle of bullying and how to break the chain, however, as many as 45% of Americans say they have been bullied during adulthood. Often, adult bullies are more calculated than those we can recall from our childhood, as they tend to teeter the line between being domineering and unambiguously committing a form of harassment. This leaves workers questioning themselves, feeling uncomfortable, and struggling with their mental health.

According to the WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey conducted in January 2021, “30% of Americans have experienced workplace bullying; another 19 percent have witnessed it; 49 percent are affected by it; and 66 percent are aware of its occurrence.”

It can be hard to tell just what constitutes workplace bullying, but a lot of the characteristics are the same as what we learned in grade school. The Workplace Bullying Institute defines bullying as “repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators that takes one or more of the following forms: verbal abuse, offensive conduct/behaviors (including nonverbal) which are threatening, humiliating, or intimidating; or work interference – sabotage – which prevents work from getting done.”

In a 2017 study, the Institute discovered that nearly 75% of workplace bullies are men, with 60 percent of that portion targeting women. Moreover, two-thirds of women workplace bullies (referred to as “mean girls”) target other working women.

When work issues get the best of me, I like to turn to my hobbies to bring me joy. Here’s a coconut lemon pie I made from scratch, which was sooooo delicious! Baking has become a very therapeutic pastime of mine.

 Aside from the more commonly known experiences like written or spoken personal insults, name-calling, or public shaming, workplace bullying also includes:

  • Intimidating or undermining employees by demeaning their work standards
  • Setting them up for failure and constantly reminding them of old mistakes
  • Threatening employees’ personal self-esteem and work status
  • Withholding Information that involves them
  • Making unreasonable demands, creating undue pressure and stress, and overworking employees
  • Giving constant and unfair criticism
  • Blaming without factual justification
  • Giving hostile glares and other intimidating gestures
  • Purposely excluding or isolating a coworker
  • Deliberately insulting others and taking part in behind-the-back putdowns
  • Monitoring another excessively
  • Ignoring personal boundaries

 A meta-analysis based on 140,000 participants showed an overwhelming amount of evidence that toxic work environments have an incredibly negative impact on mental health. This can even generate chronic stress and burnout, and it can lead to the worsening of any pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Chronic stress has been linked to issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. After all, we spend about ⅓ of our lives working, so it’s no wonder how a negative work environment could impact us so tremendously. 

Another thing I do when the going gets tough is remind myself of how far I’ve come and where I’m headed. This is from December 2023 when I found out I was going to Emerson! Reminding myself of the small wins I’ve accomplished (like Emerson and being a part of Campus Clipper!) is a great way to stay positive and push through difficulties.

The most common tell-tale signs of toxic work environments that are often supplemented by frequent bullying include a lack of organization, high turnover rates, poor communication, gossip, a general absence of trust, micromanagement, and inappropriate work-life expectations. Often, we are unaware of just how toxic a work environment can be until we’re knee-deep in it, searching for a way out. Of course, many people are not in the privileged position to simply quit a job without having another one lined up immediately. What, then, do we do after we’ve found ourselves stuck? Surrounded by workplace bullies?

  1. Focus on the Positives, if Any 
    • Focusing our attention on the positive things about our work can help protect our mental health by shifting our mindset away from stress and frustration and toward moments of gratitude and personal growth. Finding small wins here and there can boost resilience, making it easier to maintain motivation and emotional balance, at least while you try to find a new job. 
  2. Keep Good Company
    • Having supportive colleagues can provide a sense of belonging, validation, and encouragement amid workplace stress. By building positive connections, we can also help counteract negativity, making it easier to navigate challenges and maintain our sanity.
  3. Leave Work at Work
    • Setting a boundary with yourself to leave work at work allows us to protect our personal time from stress and negativity that doesn’t belong there. Disconnecting helps us recharge, focus on self-care, and maintain a healthier work-life balance.
  4. Connect with HR
    • If your workplace has an HR, contacting them is incredibly important for your mental health and self-care because it ensures that acts of harassment and bullying are being documented and addressed, helping us create a safer and more respectful environment. Speaking up also reinforces the idea that we deserve to be treated with respect, and we won’t expect anything less. Most importantly, workplace laws protect employees from harassment and unfair treatment, and HR has a responsibility to uphold these standards to ensure a fair and lawful work environment. 
  5. Quit! 
    • Quitting a toxic job sometimes is the only way to protect our mental health. As we know, staying in a harmful environment can lead to overwhelming stress, anxiety, and burnout. It can cause us to lose self-esteem and feel like things won’t ever get better, and the consequences can be long-lasting, both mentally and physically. Prioritizing our well-being by leaving allows us to reclaim our peace, build confidence, and seek a healthier, more supportive workplace. Being upset every day you go to work is no way to be spending ⅓ of your life. Your future self will thank you.
Boston Students! Head to Cambridge Naturals and kickstart your health and wellness journey with 10% OFF using this coupon and your student ID!

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share

How to Stay Somewhat Sane

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025
Another week of trying my best to not end up like Georgina Sparks

It’s 6:30 p.m. on a Sunday, and I’ve just had dinner—sausage and roasted asparagus. I head upstairs to fold the laundry and hang my dresses as reality TV plays in the background. When I finally crawl into bed, I shed a tear, and then a few more, and then a lot more. With blurry vision, I find myself clicking “pay” on a transaction for vintage Coach ballet flats I don’t need, and then I pour myself a tall glass of Prosecco. With a damp sleep mask over my eyes, I fall asleep to the sounds of 40-year-old narcissists screaming over Andy Cohen. I toss and turn throughout the night, and when I wake up, I’m puffy, nauseated, and a bit disoriented. 

This past weekend, I had brunch downtown with my two friends. We waited outside in 30° weather for gourmet omelets and signature lattes (they were luckily worth it). In between conversations about crispy tofu and men with anger issues, my friend Grace asked us if we’d been to Pressed, which is a popular cafe with a main location in Boston. My friend Amber and I thought Grace said, “Have you guys ever been depressed?”

 Slightly caught off guard by the apparent switch of topics, Amber responded with comedic elegance, “Yes, but it’s seasonal, and I have a happy lamp for that.” I followed, “I mean, hasn’t everyone from time to time?” The miscommunication was sidesplitting once we realized Grace was talking about hot paninis and not mental health issues, but it did get me wondering how many people might be feeling some variation of downcast lately, whether it be because of the season, politics, issues in their personal or work life, or just their biology. 

The signature latte in question

January was, in essence, the taking down of cheerful holiday lights, the drives back to work that grow drearier by the day, and the slow realization that the insolent Jack Frost is here to stay. Many Americans start falling into the rut of being low-energy, negative, and struggling mentally. With an election year on top of it, the levels of stress and anxiety around the country have only served as the cherry on top.

Some of us turn to escapism tactics like online shopping and celebrity drama. All in good fun, too much of anything is a bad thing. One Sunday night of wine and tears is excusable, but frequenting such activities is—say it all together now—self-destructive and detrimental to our well-being. I may not have all the answers or even relatively decent ones, but I’ve decided a list of ways to stay somewhat sane this winter is as good a start as any. Like Voltaire said, “Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.”

Immersing myself in art is always a great way to get out of my head and appreciate my surroundings
  1. Practice Daily Gratitude: 
    • Focusing on things we’re grateful for can help shift our perspectives and make us feel less overwhelmed, especially during challenging moments. Whether you write out a list or just say it to yourself as it comes, practicing gratitude can encourage you to remember what you have, no matter how small, and foster a sense of stability within you.
  2. Accept Your Emotions: 
    • Acknowledging our emotions instead of hiding or trying to change them can help us prevent emotional build-up. We shouldn’t judge ourselves for feeling upset but instead, accept our negative emotions for what they are and use them to navigate our life with more clarity. 
  3. Get Off Your Phone:
    • Taking a break from our phones can help reduce stress and anxiety by limiting our exposure to negative news and social media. It also allows us to be present and make deeper connections with what is right in front of us daily.
  4. Set Small, Achievable Goals:
    •  Setting small goals can lead to more celebrations that boost our confidence and make progress more satisfying. By breaking up our long-term goals into more manageable steps, we can make our dreams feel more attainable. 
  5. Laugh With Friends:
    • Getting together with friends provides us with a sense of belonging that can help offset the stressors in our lives. Additionally, our friends serve as a great support system that can lift our dopamine levels!
  6. Avoid Negative Language: 
    • Positive self-talk opens our minds up to the possibility of things going our way. If we are constantly looking for the bad in us and our surroundings, we’re more likely to find it in everything. This can cloud our perception and send us into a spiral. Oppositely, if we train our brains to look for the good first, we can actually lessen our anxieties.
  7. Get Yourself a Little Treat: 
    • Of course, rewarding ourselves with even something small provides a psychological boost and solidifies a method of self-care during tough times. It serves as a reminder that we deserve kindness and moments of joy, especially when we need it most.
  8. Ask For Help
    • If you’re feeling like your emotions are weighing heavier than you can handle, it’s important to reach out to a professional who can offer support. Talking to a therapist or counselor can help you navigate through any kind of tough time. We don’t have to go through it alone, and there’s no shame in asking for help when we need it.
Have yourself a warm Sunday brunch at Cafe Landwer! Boston Students can get $10 off their first mobile order when they use the code LANDWERSTUDENT

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. She is currently a teacher, specializing in middle school history. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share

The Digital Detox: Taking a break from technology or each other?

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025

At one time or another, we’ve all seen a dramatic announcement on someone’s Instagram story. Their vague text post reads a little something like this:

Deleting Insta. If you need me and you’re important enough, you have my number. To the rest of you, good luck finding me.

While I enjoy a casual cup of tea, these updates from random acquaintances always fall a little flat. There’s a notion to send a “Hope you’re okay!” DM, but they’re supposedly deleting their account any second now. Then there’s the passive-aggressive ‘Good luck’ that’s a bit off-putting. I can only envision myself responding to something like this if a close friend posted it, to which I would reply, “Lol, delete this.” 

Another kind of ‘logging off’ post I’ve seen an uptick of since New Year’s is the foreshadowing announcement, which says, “You may have inside access to my amazing life now, but one day I’ll disappear, and you’ll be left to wonder!” I’ve provided some examples:

Digital Detox posts about leaving social media eventually.

Is it… poetry? Is it… a Divergent aptitude test? Is it a rhetorical speech prompting us, who are tied at the hips of social media moguls, to revert to nature and solitude like the transcendentalists of the 19th century?

Even if we are leaving, we want people to hear our footsteps and notice our absence. It is human nature to want to be seen, to be known, and to want others to care; these desires are the origins of these posts. Even though it’s easy to see through the attention-seeking nature of it all, an interesting conversation is raised about the broader topic of digital detoxes and their effectiveness, or lack thereof.

A digital detox is ​​an active choice to disengage from social media, or even all media-related electronics, for a specific time. The forms of limitations depend on the person. Many people just delete social media off their phones and log back in at the end of the day, week, or month. Other people go as far as not using their laptop outside of work and choosing to read instead of watch TV.

In our chronically digital age, how far does a digital detox really go? And is it more performative than anything? One has to wonder if you couldn’t announce it to the world, and if no one even noticed your absence, would so many people really be preaching about temporarily deleting social media? 

Social media posts about digital detoxes.

People go on digital detoxes for various reasons, including to protect their mental health, be more active, live in the moment, and be more grateful. As more users struggle with social media addictions, taking a break from the apps can also help them regain control over their time. While I see the benefits of a digital detox, I feel that the true problem is something deeper. 

Perhaps what people need the biggest break from is the facade-filled algorithm, and there are two ends to this dilemma. Suppose you’re constantly seeing videos and pictures of people with their Mercedes, MiuMiu bags, marble kitchens, model boyfriends, and more. In that case, you’ll likely start to think everyone else has hit the jackpot in life, and you’ve been left in the dust. This, of course, can cloud your perception of reality, hurting your mental well-being.

I think Whitney from Momtok really sums up the whole deal.

The bold and the beautiful swarming your feed can do damage, but I’d argue what’s worse is the number of ordinary people closer to home who are constantly faking their realities on the internet, too. Truly, how many times do we have to see a millennial post their scrub partner and/or their feral children when we know, behind half-cracked doors, they’re having affairs and are on the brink–God willing–of a divorce that their friends would be most pleased about? I’m all for showing off your new set of acrylics or your latest winter read, but showing off a life you’re not even actually happy with? Unnecessary, and a bit sad. 

Whenever I see someone announce their digital detox, it is usually because someone else online has bothered them, and they want everyone else to know it. They are calling attention to the fact that we’re not our true selves when we’re behind a screen, and sometimes, we’re way worse. Though they may be annoying, they’re not totally wrong. We’re performing for each other, and it’s not the far-away influencers that get to us in the end, but the people we know personally who got the ‘social’ part all wrong. We should know by now not to share everything, but not to masquerade either. 

It’s time we start navigating social media with more authenticity and more autonomy (and possibly fewer pictures of babies? Thanks). Next time you’re feeling like taking a digital detox, don’t announce it, but do ask yourself: Is it too much MiuMiu, too many daddies hiding behind alcohol dependencies, or both? 

Take a break from your phone and treat yourself to a tech-free spa day at Best MG Spa in Allston! Students get 20% off with this coupon and student ID.

Brenna Sheets is a graduate student in Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing M.A. program. She is currently a teacher, specializing in middle school history. Her hobbies include going on long walks, watching bad television, reading, and writing.

Share