On today’s blog, a different senior will be presenting you with different ways to have fun!

Her name is Nikole Devereaux. She is an environmental science major with a concentration in legal studies. I asked her what she liked to do for fun and this is her response!

These are Nikole’s top 14 ways to have fun in Lowell on a budget:

“There’s so much to do in Lowell any time of the year. Take free wheelers bikes, drive (free parking on Sundays), or hop on the Yellow Line to downtown to discover all that Lowell has to offer. This city is very unique and has a lot of history, it could take a while to finally have the chance to check out what’s behind every corner. I know I fell in love with Lowell the first time I came here and I hope you do too.”

1. Mill No. 5
   1. Shopping center that looks like an old street front inside of an old mill
   2. 250 Jackson St Lowell, MA
   3. Thrift stores, apothecary, local businesses, boutiques, record shops, coffee shop (Coffee and Cotton)
   4. Coffee and Cotton sometimes has live music at night
   5. Luna theater
   6. Sunday farmers market- fresh vegetables and local crafts
2. Sweet Lydia’s- candy store
3. Humanity- high end boutique
4. Uncharted- restaurant/bar that usually has live music at night
5. Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
6. Flower Mill– flower arrangements, succulents
7. Restaurants
   1. El potro
   2. Tremonte Pizzeria
   3. Fuse Bistro
   4. Ramen Bar
   5. Live Alive
8. Coffee shops
   1. Brew’d Awakening
9. Brush Art Studios
10. Winter Fest- February 24-25th– different activities all around downtown
11. National Park Services
12. Museums
    1. Quilt Museum
    2. Boott Cotton Mills Museum
    3. National Streetcar Museum
    4. Whistler House Museum of Art
    5. Mill Girls & Immigrants Exhibit
13. Tours
    1. Mill and Trolley Tour
    2. Canal Tour
    3. Usually go through the spring, summer, and fall
    4. Self-guided tours
14. Parks to ride bikes/ walk through
    1. Lucy Larcom Park
    2. Decatur Way Art Space next to Ucrossing
    3. Jack Kerouac Park

Typical. Once again, you’ve made your New Year’s Resolution to tone up by Spring break and you’ve only driven past the gym ONCE. You know there are two recreational centers at UMass Lowell, but the thought of trying to lift weights or figure out the elliptical seems daunting. Plus, what if you run into a classmate? And they judge you?

Starting a  healthy lifestyle does NOT have to be scary!

In fact, a simple way to stick to your resolution while making friends is to join a club sport or intramural. Continue reading →

We are almost there folks! In about three weeks the most grueling part of being a student arrives, *drum rolls* finals week. Finals week isn’t as bad as you think. There are ways to make it possible to study for exams and to write those papers… as long as you don’t procrastinate. Procrastinating is a dangerous game my friend, especially so close to the end of the semester. 

Now, as awesome as procrastination is when you are hanging out with friends or taking millions of naps, it’s awful when you’ve waited till the very last minute to do all your work. So try, your very best to avoid procrastinating. Set up a schedule that works for you and allows you to complete all the assignments in a reasonable time. You’re questioning how does one study for 3 exams and still have the time to write 2, 5-7 page papers? TIME MANAGEMENT. This is one of the most important things you’ll learn as a college student.  You need time management skills in order to maintain those good grades. Finals week will be a breeze, as long as you don’t listen to Spongebob!

Exhaustion is beginning to set in as December 21st comes closer and closer. The good news is, you are almost there! You are making it through your first semester here at UMass Lowell and you should be proud. Give yourself a round of applause. Now do it again! 

It’s hard staying motivated at the end of the semester. All you want to do is watch Netflix and nap…  (maybe that’s just me getting a little too personal).. But do not forget that finals are approaching, which unfortunately means we have lots of studying to do and papers that won’t write themselves! The more we let procrastination get to us, the more we are putting our grades in jeopardy. So here are 5 things to do to make sure you never lose that motivation, especially this close to the end of the semester!

     5 ways to stay motivated:

Watch Ted Talks

Surround yourself with positive people

Dream about your goals

Focus on the present

Don’t be too hard on yourself

                                                ONLY T H R E E WEEKS LEFT! 

    For most Americans, November 23rd is full of family, food, and traditions. There is no school and most jobs are closed or have limited hours. This day is a time of reflection. But what if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving? Here are some Thanksgiving survival tips for those who don’t “do” Thanksgiving.

1) Make plans with others who don’t celebrate Thanksgiving beforehand.

By putting yourself out there, you’ll find others who share this commonality with you. Try going to see a movie or try cooking a meal together! You may end up making a new best friend while surviving the holiday.

2) Volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen.

Moral of the story- do not mope around! You may not be celebrating the holiday yourself, but you can always help someone who is less fortunate have a memorable Thanksgiving.

3) Still use the time to appreciate family and friends.

Take this opportunity to reach out to people. Especially those you haven’t connected with in a while. If they celebrate Thanksgiving, understand that they might be preoccupied, but it is the season of gratitude! Your thoughtfulness will definitely transcend and when things quiet down, they’ll give you a call back.

4) Treat yo’self!

You have the day off; use it as a time of rejuvenation! Sleep in! Try a facial mask! Pamper yourself! Order your favorite meal!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

What started as a community psychology assignment has exploded with 290 likes on Facebook and 265 followers on Instagram.

Originally, Humans of Umass Lowell was under the care of 3 upperclassmen. However, as there enrollment waned to an end, the upperclassmen wanted to pass on their class project to those who were capable of maintaining it. However, years prior, Michaela Goss and Katrina Desrosiers had decided they wanted to do something similar to complete their Honors requirement. When the chance came, the girls jumped at the chance of getting interviewed and were chosen as the new owners of the Humans of UMass Lowell webpages.

This dual Honors Thesis/ English Capstone has taught the young ladies about the styles of photography and how to write intriguing and positive articles based on interviews.

The meeting goes as follows- The ladies identify random people at UMass Lowell and ask them if they want to be interviewed for about 5 to 6 minutes. A random question generator chooses the questions each participant will receive. There is a list of infrequently asked questions that is chosen from. The interview starts with 5 random questions (e.g. What’s your favorite color?) and 1 thought provoking question (e.g. What does success look like to you?). This is based off of Humans of New York. Then whoever is interviewing will take a photo of the interviewee however that person feels the most comfortable.

In an interview with Michaela Goss, she told me that the goal of these interviews is to create a sense of community by showcasing the amazing people at UMass Lowell. Although social issues aren’t addressed, they do attempt to bring a sense of unity to the campus by allowing people to say whatever they want and capturing the essence of that person through the corresponding blog and the picture that goes along with the blog.

Here is a link to my own interview.

Freshman 15

Everyone might have heard about the “Freshman 15”. Some of you might fear about the Freshman 15 reality but some might consider it a myth. I want to make it clear first that don’t stick to the number 15 as it is just a number that was made up but you might end up gaining 3-4 Lbs. While some of you might gain weight, some might even lose it. The reason for this change is mainly the Drastic change in the Environment, routine and living habits. In this blog, we will be looking some ways to avoid the Freshman 15:

1.Exercise

Make use of the services provided by the Campus Recreation Center and the various Zumba, Spin and many other classes offered by them. If you don’t like any of those try swimming, biking or hiking.

2. Stock Healthy Snacks

Instead of stocking Goldfish, Chips, Doritos or Cheetos go for healthy snacks like fruits, greek yogurt, hummus, whole grain cereal and some veggies. This is essential as late night homework or  stress can lead to binge eating.

3. Avoid the Soda and Sugary Food.

Most of us find this sweet treats easily at McGauvran, Starbucks or Subway. But try to avoid this instead go for some healthy options. The Soda is made full of sugar which can leave you gaining more calories so try to avoid it next time when you go for meat at Fox or McGauvran.

4. Eat slowly. 

Avoid This!

Yes, I get it that you have your class and you are in a rush but plan accordingly and spend enough time in eating. Te problem with eating fast is that you might end up consuming more calories before even realizing that you’re full. Research says that it takes twenty minutes for your brain to realize you’re full and send a signal of fullness, so take your time!

So,You can’t gain fifteen pounds overnight, just like you can’t lose fifteen pounds overnight. So, it is perfectly alright to eat your favorite foods and reach for seconds and thirds sometimes. Moderation and balance are what will help you enjoy your food and keep off those pounds!

As you all may know we have a residence hall right in the heart of the city. If you take the Yellow Line it will take you to the Inn and Conference Center, and from there you are free to explore Downtown Lowell. You will find so many unique shops and great restaurants!

Here’s a list of some of the places you should check out! But be aware, there’s so much more! And thanks to Student Government Association, many places Downtown will give you up to 10% off if you show them your student ID!

1. El Potro

2. Lowell Burger Company

3. Humanity

4. Wings over Lowell

5. Sweet Lydia’s

6. Mill No. 5

7. Tremonte

8. Coffee Mill

9. Ramen Bar

10. Brew’d Awakening

It’s your first time being away from home for this long. You’ve been away for two months and the feeling of being homesick is finally kicking in full gear. Homesickness is very common for every college student. You miss your mom’s cooking, your puppy but most of all your bed. There’s a whole bunch of ways to stay connected with your family even if you can’t go home to visit them.

1. You’re busy with classes, your parents have work, and your siblings have their own stuff going on. This is perfect for a group message. Send them funny memes to sum up your day.
2. If your family lives very far, have them send you postcards! This will warm your heart with all the cute things your parents will say since they have not seen you in months. (then when you’re back from school they are asking when move in is)
3. Care packages! Ask your parents to send you care packages if they can! Ask them to include FOOD, school supplies if you’re running low, and some basic necessities!Just remember its completely normal for you to be homesick. Keep in contact with your family as much as you can. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you can’t make it home then, Winter Break will be here before you know it! You got this! 

Not Sleeping:

• Limit your ability to learn and recall information
• Makes you more prone to acne
• Is a risk factor for obesity
• Inhibits brain function (similar to alcohol intoxication)
• Puts you at a greater risk for heart disease or stroke 
• May worsen mental health issues, such as depression

Tips for good sleep:

• Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule
• Don’t drink caffeine four to six hours before bed 
• Don’t smoke, especially near bedtime or if you awake in the night
• Avoid alcohol and heavy meals 
• Exercise regularly
• Minimize noise and extreme temperatures where you sleep
• Develop a regular bedtime schedule