6 Tips to Combat Stress

Fall is in the air, leaves are covering the ground, and pumpkin spice lattes are fill all the Starbucks with their aromas. It’s hard not to love fall, unless you’re a college student reaching the end of your semester. Then your fall is made up of term papers, tests, and endless all-nighters, and stress may be at an all-time high. You can’t let that stress consume you though, and that's why this post is focused on 6 ways to end your stress. 

How to Negotiate Your Salary

Hey everyone, welcome to part two of 10 Things I Wish They Taught Me in College, How to Negotiate Your Salary. For many people, the past few weekends have been focusing on college graduation and with the finale of your college career came that feeling of panic of finding a job. While finding a job you love is your main focus, you would also like to avoid living out of a cardboard box, eating ramen, because you are unable to pay back student loans. Never fear, I have researched far and wide to help you negotiate a good salary for the job of your dreams!!

Research, Research, Research: Like many other things in life, negotiating your salary requires some prep work. Use websites like Glassdoor to look up the average income of people with the job title you are trying to achieve in your section of the country. Then look up the company itself on Glassdoor and find more about the amount people with titles similar to your potential job make. This will give a good idea on what kind of salary amount you can feasibly negotiate with for this specific position.

State Your Number Clearly: What do I mean when I say state your number clearly? I mean that you must tell the employer the amount you would like to make with a distinct number, instead of saying a general ball park. You should state this number in an assertive tone and make eye contact when you state your amount.

Counter Offer the Counter Offer: Remember, if the prospective employer gives you an opportunity to negotiate, then this means they want you, and are usually willing to negotiate further to get you. If the employer is adamant about being unable to pay you your goal salary, then negotiate for job perks, like extra vacation time, or a larger annual bonus. Just please keep your negotiations realistic.

Be Polite: This one should go without saying, but please be polite to the person you are negotiating with. The negotiator is a human being who is most likely not out to get you, so don’t be evil to them. Remember that you may be working with this person in the future.

I hope that these tips help those of you out there currently on a job hunt. Do any of you have any negotiating tips that you found helpful? If so, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

How to Choose the Healthcare That Is Best For You

Hello again everyone, and welcome to the start of my first miniseries: 10 Things I Wish They Taught Me in College, or TWTTC. Since most recent college graduates join the workforce in the summer months, I have decided to focus my first post on one of the most important decisions you must make when starting a new job, choosing the best health insurance for you. If you are anything like me, then you have probably never been taught what the differences between PPO coverage and HMO coverage, even though this is something that we will all need to know at some point in our lives. This is why I have decided to do the research for you guys.

According to the Humana and Medical Mutual websites there are a few key differences between a PPO policy and an HMO policy. Here are the main things that vary between PPO and HMO plans:

PPO:

·      PPOs do not require you to have a PCP (primary care physician) referral to cover the cost of seeing an specialist

·      You are still provided some form of coverage when you go to a medical facility outside of your network area, although you will pay a little more than if you go to a facility within a coverage area

·      If you go to an out of network healthcare provider, you may have to file a claim to get reimbursed for your expenses

·      Monthly Premiums tend to be higher than those of HMO plans and there is usually a sizeable deductible

HMO

·      PCP (primary care physician) referrals are required to receive coverage for a trip to a specialist

·      There is no out of network coverage for healthcare

·      Lower monthly premiums and deductibles than PPO plans

So which plan should you go with? Well, most of this will depend on the area you live in and which insurance company is your provider. If you live in a rural area or an area where you are considered out of network for most healthcare facilities, then I would recommend choosing a PPO plan because it provides you with more flexibility. If you live in a city or an area where the vast majority of healthcare facilities fall under your network, then I would recommend choosing an HMO plan.

I hope you guys have found this information helpful. Do you have any recommendations for choosing a healthcare plan? If so, please leave your advice in the comments.

10 Things I Wish They Taught Me In College

          Hello everyone, I’m very sorry that this post is so short, but I felt it was important to announce my new miniseries, the 10 Things I Wish They Taught Me in College. This series of posts will focus on all of the things that you need to know how to do in life, but were never taught in school. I will be discussing how to do your taxes, how to find a great apartment, and many other things. New posts will appear every week for the next ten weeks. Check it out!

3 Tips to End Your Writer's Block

Writer’s block, the two words that every can make every student cringe with anxiety. It can creep up at the worst possible times, whether it be before a major assignment is due or when you just want to write for enjoyment, writer’s block disrupts your train of thought. That is why I have decided to dedicate this blog post to four ways to combat writer’s block.

1. Map it Out: If you are having trouble writing an assignment, but know the general things you need done, then make a map. When I am suffering from writer’s block, I create a bubble web of the main things that I need to accomplish. Then I connect some of my ideas for each section and mark out the ones that won’t flow in the finished project. (If you like going the more traditional route, then you can do a traditional outline like this one.)

2. Take a Shower: Yes, this may sound bizarre, but doing some menial task like showering can help get your creative juices flowing. If you just showered, are away from your bathroom, or just don’t want to take a shower at this time, you can try going for a walk, doing laundry, or another task that doesn’t require the majority of your focus.

3. Steer Into the Skid: If the project you’re working on lets you choose the subject, then you can write about your writer’s block or procrastination. This will allow you to express your unique perspective on the subject.

I hope you found these tips helpful. What do you do to combat writer’s block? Please share your answer in the comments and check back next week for how to decorate your apartment on a budget.

3 Distractions to Help Deal with Stress at the End of the Semester

The end of the semester is coming up for many of you guys, and while I am sure that you are excited about classes wrapping up, the end of semester can be a very stressful time. That is why I am dedicating this week’s post to three distractions that will help you keep your sanity at the end of the semester. Hopefully these three distractions will help make the stress of end of semester projects more bearable.

1. Hiking: It’s no secret that physical activity helps relieve stress, but going to the gym might not be your cup of tea when it comes to exercising. Now that spring has finally arrived, it’s time to take advantage of parks near you and going for a nice spring hike. It will give you a chance to see the beauty that spring has to offer and to get your daily dose of vitamin D.

2. Game Night: Another great way to relieve end of semester stress is by doing a friend game night. You can play games like Cards Against Humanity or Quelf that will help you make each other laugh and temporarily forget about different stressful projects. These games are also great to for creating inside jokes that will make you guys laugh for years to come.

3. Spa Day: If my first two suggestions aren’t good stress relievers for you, then try a spa day. You can pamper yourself by doing facemasks, getting massages, doing your nails, and binge watching your favorite TV show. By the end of the day, you’ll be so relaxed that you’ll be ready to take on the world.

I hope these tips help you find a great feeling of relaxation. If you would like more tips on how to deal with stress during the semester, then check out my previous post on stress management. What do you do to relieve stress?

3 Tips to Help You Survive the Stress of Midterm Week

Since it is the middle of the semester for most universities and midterms are about to be in full swing, I have decided to focus this week’s blog post on how to handle stress during your crazy school weeks. I will say before going further in this post that I am using tips that have helped me deal with stress and that these tips may not work with everyone. If you are truly experiencing severe stress and/or depression, then please speak with your campus counseling services or doctor for help with managing stress and/or depression.

1. Exercise: I know that many of you guys feel that there is no time during you busy week to exercise, but you should make time. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which make your body feel better and reduce your stress levels. Exercising also helps when you are dealing with writer’s block because physical activity can help give you that surge of inspiration you need. If you don’t know what exercises you have time for, I suggest searching the BeFit channel on YouTube for an activity that works for you.

2. Give Yourself a Brain Break Between Study Sessions: Even, if it is just watching a funny video on YouTube or drinking a cup of herbal tea, doing something that relaxes you will make midterms bearable. Taking a breather will also allow you to come back to work with a fresh perspective that may help you solve a problem you are stuck on.

3. Meditate: No, I am not asking you to sit cross legged and to say “Ohm!” for an hour straight, although if that helps you relieve stress, then go for it. I’m talking about practicing mindfulness, which is where you focus on the current moment you are in. To do it, you need to close your eyes and focus on maintaining deep breaths. Then you need to focus on trying to relax each part of your body one section at a time. Doing this only takes about ten minutes, but if you want to do more a more in depth version of meditation, then download Pacifica (available on iOS and Android), which will walk you through step by step.

I hope this tips will help you survive your midterms. If you have any questions or comments for me, then you can post them in the comments or tweet me, my Twitter handle is @JoieBieger. Stay tuned next week for tips on how to make your resume rock.
What kind of things do you do to make stress more bearable?

4 Things to Remember When Apartment Hunting

If you go to one of the larger universities across the world, chances are after your freshmen year, you will have to find off campus housing. Finding off campus housing that isn’t in a dangerous neighborhood or obscenely expensive can seem like a daunting task, but if you follow my tips and advice, this task will be much more pleasant.

1.     Ask Upperclassmen for Advice: If you find yourself having trouble figuring out where to start on your search, then ask upperclassmen where they recommend living. Chances are they know the best places to live.

2.   Research the Neighborhoods: Learn about the neighborhoods surrounding campus. Find out how safe the neighborhoods are, the average pricing of apartments for rent, the average price for utilities, and how far away these apartments are from the places you would like to go. You’ll need to know if living in that area will make you happy.

3.   Search the Student Housing Website: If your school has a student housing website, then they probably include available apartments in your area. The listings on school websites tend to include housing off campus that is created exclusively for college students, so you can feel like you live on campus and have the benefits of your own room.

4.   Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions: When you first start searching for apartments, it may be overwhelming to try to check for everything included on a tour. This is why it is good to ask questions about if utilities or internet is included in your monthly rent, because it may be cheaper in the long run to choose the more expensive rent if it includes these amenities. You should also find out where the washers and dryers are and if there is any form of security because your health and safety is very important.

I wish you guys luck on searching for your apartments and hope you found these tips helpful. Check out my blog post next week for four healthy meals to make on a college budget.

6 Tips for Finding a Good Workout

In college you are busy with classes, jobs, and friends, and this can sometimes make it hard to find time to exercise. Your issue might also be that you have the time to exercise, but no money to afford the gym or different exercise classes. I have six tips to make exercising easier.

1. Take Advantage of Your University Gym: Most colleges offer a free gym membership to their students and many of the larger universities have state of the art gym facilities, so take advantage of what your tuition helps pay for.

2. Attend Group Gym Classes: If part of your problem with exercising is motivation, then you should join a group fitness class, which are usually a free part of your campus gym membership.

3. Gym Buddy: Another way to motivate yourself to exercise is to schedule a gym date with a friend so that you will feel guilty if you miss your appointment.

4. At Home Workouts: If you have no time to go the gym during the day, then you can still get your exercise at home. Workouts like the one pictured above can be done anytime and anywhere because they require no equipment.

5. Use Fitness Apps/Videos: If the workouts above aren’t your cup of tea, then you can use fitness apps like JeFit (GooglePlay) and Daily Workouts Free (GooglePlay) or stream videos on YouTube channels like Yoga with Adriene and the BeFit Channel.

6. Invest in At-Home Gym Equipment: If you want to do any at home weight training or yoga you should invest in kettlebells and a yoga mat. You can find affordable workout equipment on Amazon and at Target.
I hope these tips help you have a nice workout. If you have any other suggestions or tips for finding a good workout, please leave a note in the comments. Enjoy your week and stay tuned!

7 Tips to Help You Ace Your Next Test

         

Hey guys, welcome back to A Millennial’s Survival Guide to College, get ready to put your thinking caps on because this week I am going to help you study better. The tips that I am about to present to you should help you focus better while studying and retain more information. I will be honest, not every tip will work for everyone, and this post just serves as a general guide to help you figure out which study habits are most effective for you.

1.    Pomodoro Technique: This technique is a personal favorite of mine because it involves giving whatever topic you are studying 25 minutes of focus and then a 5 minute break from your task. This helps you retain more information and produce better content because it helps you prioritize what you need to get done in the 25 minute window and then you get a 5 minute brain break. For more information on the Pomodoro Technique, check out their website: http://pomodorotechnique.com/

2.   Quiz Yourself: Chances are you’re going to be tested on the information you studied, so why not test yourself to see what you really know. You can use the quiz questions from the end of the chapter in your textbook or you can use apps like StudyBlue (available in IOS and Android) to create your own questions and quiz yourself with ones created by fellow classmates.

3.   Write Your Notes By Hand: Yes this tip sounds tedious, especially during a lecture with a professor who talks way too fast, but it has been scientifically proven that you retain more information this way. Isn’t that more important in the long run than the hand cramp you might get?

4.   Get Paper Textbooks: Yes, you may hate carrying around these books and paying for the paper version, but chances are if you grew up using paper books and paper textbooks, you are more likely to remember content from the paper version than the digital version.

5.   Exercise:  This may sound like a random piece of advice, but getting those endorphins going and that heart rate rising actually helps you retain more information, so go to Zumba, do your Crossfit, and do whatever gets your pulse racing.

6.   Teach Your Peers: If you really want to be sure that you know what you need to know, then you should try to teach your peers about the subject. This will test what you really know.

7.   Ignore Social Media: If you want to spend your time studying, then avoid Twitter, Pinterest, and Snapchat. You will be so busy scrolling through posts that you’ll end up wasting all of your study time on social media instead of learning the content you need to learn.

I hope you find these tips helpful and good luck with your next test. Do you have anything you do to help you study?