How to Procrastinate Wisely

Back in college, I was an all-star procrastinator. Paper due? Bring on the Red Bull and pull an all-nighter. Exams coming up? Go yet more hardcore with caffeine pills and two consecutive all-nighters.

So alert! So awake! So much TMJ!

Let me tell you, things have changed. It turns out that at 26, I’m no longer capable of performing minor academic miracles while grinding my teeth into nubbins and leaping to catch pencils that aren’t actually rolling off my desk. Staying up all night not only breaks my brain, but also makes me old-lady tired the next day—you know, at my actual adult job. The problem is that for those of us who go to school while working full-time, the urge to procrastinate can be pretty potent. The last thing I want to do after a long day at work is write a paper, and the idea of working over the weekend is even less appealing. Yet the more I procrastinate, the more anxiety I generate and the less productive I am, leading to more anxiety and yet more procrastination. Thankfully, there are ways to break out of the vicious cycle.

Living Summertime Through the Movies

Every year, without fail, August sneaks up on me. It feels like summer has just begun, and then all of sudden we only have a month left. This year it seems to have snuck up especially fast since I’ve been working and taking classes all summer.

If you’re having a particularly busy summer like me, one in which you may not be able to get away and enjoy the season, here are some movies imbued with the spirit of the season to stir up some nostalgia. Unwind from a busy day spent inside and lose yourself in summer for a bit.

What Does It Mean to Be an "Emerging Adult?"

Photo Credit: Abac College / Wikimedia Commons

A recent survey commissioned by Clark University of more than 1,000 young adults has revealed some interesting characteristics of the "emerging adult" set. As someone within that set, I found myself wondering if I would agree with any of the conclusions the researchers arrived at.

The Clark University Poll of Emerging Adults was conducted online and by phone, and surveyed young people across the country between the ages of 18 and 29 in April of this year. One surprising finding was that "young people widely see the value of taking their time to get a college degree," and that "the potential debt waiting for them after graduating" is well worth it. While I would agree that getting your college degree is of the upmost importance in this job market, I've always tried to finish my degrees as quickly as possible. Who would want extra loans when you could work a little bit harder and finish sooner?

Healthy, Happy...and Gluten-Free

Food allergies are terrible. To name just a few ways in which allergies can be the worst things ever: Some people with nut allergies experience such a severe reaction to even infinitesimal amounts of nuts that they can’t go to baseball games because they might inhale particles floating around from all the peanut shelling. People with milk allergies get to discover that “whey,” a cheese-making byproduct, is in everything from ice cream and cottage cheese (where you’d expect it to be) to pastries and crackers (well, obviously, once you put the cheese on there…no. BEFORE the cheese. IN the cracker). And to people with soy allergies: respect. You guys are soldiers. I don’t know what you eat instead of food, seeing as soy is added to just about every product in the Western world, but whatever it is, you give me hope.

Unfortunately, millennials and subsequent generations seem to be more afflicted with food allergies than generations past, possibly because the Western diet has made us more susceptible to developing such sensitivities.

Obtain Your Desired Beach...I Mean Winter Body

Image source: jonathanrick.com

If you are like me, the Summer Olympics brings a sense of pride for our country as well as a sense of overwhelming adrenaline of wanting to get your body in shape. I mean who doesn't sit in front of the television and think about how great it would be to look like that swimmer or that gymnastics competitor? Sure it would be great to be able to spend hours at the gym each day or to pay for a gym membership, however we all know that with our busy lives, this just isn't possible, until now.

Turn Your Kitchen into a Spa

If it were up to me, I would spend every weekend in a spa. Think about how you would look and feel with limitless facials, pedicures, body scrubs, massages… The possibilities for indulgence are endless. My bank account, however, is not – so I survive those terrible months between spa visits with DIY treatments. Here are three easy ones: you’d be surprised how simple and inexpensive it is – and how many ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

For the Non-Animal Lover

 This is not to say that I am an animal hater. I just never had pets growing up. Like an only-child who grew up without siblings and doesn’t know how to act around babies, I don’t know how to act around animals. Now, I am living with a cat (my roommate’s) and we have been co-existing as peacefully as humans and vampires since I moved in two months ago. In that time, I have established a few guidelines to maintain this civil relationship. While “contained” animals (birds, fish, turtles, etc.) are easier to avoid, the following steps can be applied for any non-animal-loving situation:

Please Stay Home

"Are you okay?" I asked my coworker as he filled up his water bottle in the kitchenette. His voice was raspy and his nose was all plugged up.

"Yeah, yeah. I thought it was allergies but it turned into some kind of freak cold that won't go away," he explained. "But don't worry; it's not contagious anymore."

I should have known better.

Simple Aromatherapy at Home

Throughout the day we're surrounded by synthetic fragrances and toxic cleaning chemicals. The effects these fragrances and chemicals have on human health is up for debate. The debate, however, isn't: "Are they OK to use?" or "Are they bad to use?" But rather: "They may be harmful," or "They are DEFINITELY harmful."

OK, enough said about that. The point of this post isn't to be a downer or an alarmist. The point of this post is talk about aromatherapy, which you may need to start practicing to relax yourself after thinking about synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals. 

Take a Nap

photo by Eric McGregor

I find myself coveting preschool children and their nap time. Those tots don’t appreciate the precious value of a good revitalizing nap— all they want to do is play. Ha. One day they too will long for the days of the hour nap, the comfy cots, the time-out from a hectic day of coloring outside the lines. They don’t know how good they have it.

If your day is anything like mine, then you too are desperately in need of a nap. I’m out of the house from 6am-11pm between work and grad school. When I get home, I can’t just fall asleep because I’m still keyed up from a long day, which means I’m not falling asleep until 12:30. And just as soon as I’ve fallen asleep, it feels like ten minutes later the alarm is ringing at 5:00 am. I’m over worked and tired. I need a nap.

In the Wake of Tragedy

Just a over a day ago 12 people were shot and 58 people were wounded in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. This tragedy took place at the midnight screening of the latest installment of the Batman trilogy Dark Knight Rises when one James Holmes (24) walked in through the rear theater door in a gas mask and protective gear and opened fire on the audience. 


James, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience up until very recently fled the scene and was captured in the parking lot with four heavy artillery guns all of which were legally obtained. He'd stockpiled the guns and over 6,000 rounds of ammunition over two or so months and rigged his apartment with approximately 24 lethal booby traps which took a full day to partially disarm. James was described in all accounts as quirky, quiet, and benign. 


This is my post because in spite of all the hectic moments that make up my life this story brought me to a full stop. Many of the known victims were age 27 or younger and one was a six-year-old with the same name as me: Veronica. Their whole lives were ahead of them and in a single act of completely unexpected violence they're no longer with us. The stories told by survivors and witnesses are inspiring in their bravery and also chilling. 

Food (And Drink) For Thought

Until this past winter there were few things I looked forward to more than nice meals out and a few cocktails to wash them down. It was my reward for slaving behind a desk all week.

And then, come January, I found out I was pregnant.

Websites to Make Your Morning

There are mornings that start off badly. I'm talking about those mornings you wake up late because you slept through your alarm. The mornings you're late and you run later because the person in front of you tries to pay their train fare in Sacagawea coins. Or how, morning after morning, your Starbucks barista can't understand that you're happy about the prospect of coffee, not conversation, and that you'd rather not discuss whether your last name sounds more Portuguese or Scandinavian. On these mornings, I take to the internet for a quick laugh and the comfort of delighting in absurdities other than my own. 


Check out two of my favorite (and highest rated) humor websites:

Beating old habits, one trade-off at the time

From www.junkfoodforlife.com

Trying to find a nutritional and effective meal plan to have energy in a natural way is not easy. I used to have the worst eating and sleeping habits, and by making small trade-offs with my self, I have figured out what eating right means.

The Battle of the Frizz

Why can't it just come that way?

I understand the urge to tame the summertime frizz. In fact, I’m something of an expert when it comes to extreme frizz-busting measures—to such an extent that I once got bamboozled into getting a Brazilian blowout on top of my already Japanese-straightened hair. Granted, I was on a cruise—anything goes, right?—and the hairdresser who talked me into it assured me that it was no big deal. There were no harsh chemicals to worry about, he claimed; the blowout functioned solely by virtue of the magical properties of the acai berry.

The Awkward Dinner Party: Part II

In part II of this two-part series I talk about ways to throw a dinner party that your guests might possibly enjoy. Check out my earlier post for tips on how to survive such a party from the guest perspective of things.

First things first: I've never actually thrown a dinner party, so if you'd like to stop reading now I completely understand. However, I have hosted enough Thanksgiving meals for non-family members that I feel justified in offering at least a few tips on keeping twenty-somethings entertained around a dinner table. Here they are:

Ahead of Time

Don't invite every friend you have from every walk of life. Stick to a core group of people who know and like each other, with maybe a twenty percent mix of friends from another circle. Most people find it exhausting telling their abbreviated life stories thirteen times to thirteen people in the course of an evening. This way you'll gradually mix your social circles without making your guests work for it.

Eat With Your Eyes

Just because you're busy doesn't mean you can't eat a beautiful breakfast. Whether it's the weekend or a weekday there are little things you can do to make your morning meal look delicious.


Even if it's just yogurt and granola, think about the dishes you use. For those in big cities, take a look at stores like Fishes Eddy where you can find everything from classic pie plates to unique cutlery for $1. If you put a little work into what you eat off of you'll enjoy the result over and over again.



If you're not near a quirky dish ware store there are other options. Weck jars, are gorgeous, heavy glass canning jars that make for great bowls, pitchers and condiment jars. These are particularly useful for those who will have move in the near future (they hold up well to travel) and you can buy a set of four to six for under 20 bucks. It certainly beats the $40 dish sets at Target.

Own Your Stuff, Don't Let It Own You

Last fall, I packed up my apartment in Chicago and moved east to start grad school in Boston. Moving is never a pleasant task, but this move was more stressful than others. For the first time in my life, I could no longer fit all my belongings into the back of my station wagon. I’m not just talking about the big stuff I had acquired like my bed and couch. I now had cupboards full of dishes, a Cuisinart, guest sheets, a Swifter, too many shoes, and certainly too many books. I was drowning in stuff and I’m not a hoarder. I simply required all this stuff to live a pretty basic existence as a functional adult.

Comedian George Carlin opens his famous 1986 standup comedy sketch on “Stuff” with a few lines explaining his tardiness: “I would have been out here sooner, but they gave me the wrong dressing room and I couldn’t find any place for my stuff… You know how important that is. That’s the whole meaning of life isn’t it? Trying to find a place for your stuff.” Comedic and oh, so wise. I have spent many an hour trying to find a place for my stuff. 

Fitness at your fingertips: Free classes in your city

For busy, cash-strapped young people, a gym membership can feel like a luxury. Not only is your precious time consumed by work, school, relationships (and the list goes on), but also, who can afford spending upwards of $80 per month on a gym membership? Not I.

Luckily my status as a graduate student and full-time employee of Emerson College grants me free fitness center privileges on campus. Obviously, this is amazing; but sometimes I miss being able to take classes not available at my gym (like most college campuses, the gym is pretty much a ghost town during the summer when the majority of students are gone, and no classes are held).

Charles River Esplanade
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Esplanade Association (TEA) of Boston runs a program of free fitness classes over the summer called Healthy, Fit & Fun. Designed with working professionals in mind, most classes are scheduled after the workday, at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. (with the exception of Fridays, on which the class takes place at 9:30 a.m.). They’ve got a running group, Zumba, yoga, and even a boot camp class. Did I mention this was free?

All the classes meet at locations on the Charles River Esplanade, and are sponsored by local gyms and athletic clubs. Don't live in Boston? Other cities offer similar programs; for example, there's also Shape Up NYC. Your city's parks and recreation department's website should list classes available near you.

Boot camp after work on Thursday evenings? Yes, please. Because nothing is more stress reducing than working out along the lovely Charles as a drill instructor barks orders at you.

It Takes a While to Heal

Sure we all have succumbed and used credit cards to get the latest gadgets, clothes, trips, gifts, or simply have relied on them to survive rough times.

A few years ago I started my first real job, I figured I'd be done with debt by the first months while I enjoyed my new well deserved income going out for food and drinks, 3-4 times a week and buying lunch everyday. As wrong as I was, it took me 2 years to finally end card debt, a few months to figure out how to do it, and several lifestyle adjustments.