Your Biggest Fear In Your Early 20s

We’ve been prepped for extraordinary lives.

Your commencement speaker told you anything was possible. So did your advisor, over coffee in your last few weeks of your undergraduate career. Great things are ahead, they said.

So after college, you move. You pick a new city. You settle into your first apartment. New place, new roommates. Find a new relationship. A new job. It sinks in: This is your life now. Your new, real life.

It’s supposed to be magical. It’s everything you’ve been working for. It falls short and just seems ordinary. Basic, even.

The years following college graduation are anticlimactic. We’ve put so much emphasis on the theoretical future, that we’re lost when it comes to the practical application. We’ve been training, like athletes looking ahead to the Olympics. We have our eyes on gold. A golden job opportunity, or finally being reunited with our significant other. As happens in the Olympics, not everyone wins gold.

We fear mediocrity.

Your life’s purpose up until this point has been preparatory. In middle school, you took accelerated math courses and sought the coveted spots in gifted and talented programs. You were pushed to read at a ninth grade level. The first two years of high school were about getting into the right AP courses and extracurriculars so that you’d be set for junior year, when you started looking for colleges. You applied, categorized, studied and vetted. You got in.

You went off to college. Four years preparing you for one of two things: graduate school, or real life. (Or both.)

College is over in a montage of tears, hugs and well wishes at graduation. You didn’t just spend 4 years preparing for your “real life.” You spent 22 years preparing. So it needs to culminate in something amazing. You’ve been given every opportunity, and now you’re going to put it to good use.

And that’s the problem with being given every opportunity. We are so fortunate to have gone to college, and thankful to our families, but there’s pressure that comes with being given the world. It’s a conditional gift. It’s waiting for you to do something with it.

And you’re scared you can’t. You’re scared you’ll fuck it up somehow. You’re scared that in your search for greatness, you’ll land at mediocre and settle.

These are the years when you question everything.

We start our first job, need more money, move to the next job. Do the entry-level thing. You love it. Or, no, that’s right, you actually wanted to kill yourself. Our mothers and fathers worked grueling office jobs so that we could pursue our dreams. Instead, we are beginning our pursuit of the same shitty office jobs and it feels wrong.

We start dating someone – or we graduate with our college or high school sweetheart by our side. Is this it? Now that we’re in real life mode, do we move in and get married?

We’re scared of calling it too soon. We’re scared to get comfortable in our relationship, because what if it’s not right? What if we’re just holding onto a relationship because it’s the only constant we have?

We can’t commit to a location. It may not be the right one for our career. Our soulmate may be waiting across the country and what if we pick the wrong place and never find the right person? We worry we’ll be stuck in our dead-end jobs 20 years from now. We are scared we’ll end up in a loveless marriage.

We’re scared our decisions will be set in stone.

They won’t. So right now, in the midst of all this confusion, you need to just make a decision. Stop complaining about your choices and start following through. Pick a city. Maybe the right guy isn’t waiting for you there, but the wrong guy is and maybe he’ll be more fun. If you’re trying to pick a job, stop griping and choose based on your instinct. If you don’t have the support of your parents or friends right away, trust that it will come. The worst that can happen is that your instincts fail you and you leave that job.

This uncertainty won’t last forever and your decisions are less permanent than you think they are. You aren’t a victim of your own choices unless you let yourself become one. Anything can change as long as you aren’t stagnant.

So look at your life in this moment and decide what you want to keep. Do you want to hold on to your relationship? Do you want to pursue the field you’re in? Purge your life of the things weighing you down. If you’re struggling with a choice, remember that you are only non-committal when you aren’t actually excited about what you’re committing to. Commitment is easier when you know it’s what you want.

As clichéd as it sounds, great things really are ahead. Maybe you’re going to accomplish all of your career goals, maybe you’ll realize you have none and will have to tear apart everything you’ve learned. Either way, there’s an amazing journey ahead.

Originally posted on Thought Catalog.

12 Texts Girls Send When They’re Trying To Friend Zone You

1. The “Have a good night!” text.

People read this as flirty and think it opens the door up to a “sweet dreams baby”-type response. No. Wrong. She doesn’t want to dream about you. She’s politely trying to end the conversation. “Have a good night” does not mean she is going to sleep thinking about you. It’s a world away from “Good night ;).”

2. The “Work is crazy right now talk to you later” text.

There’s no apology, nor is there any punctuation. That’s because it’s a text sent from one friend to another. This isn’t an invitation for you to say, “oh no, bad week? I can come over and make it better.” Really, it’s just a text she sends when she has better things to do than respond to you.

3. The less-than-5-word text.

This is a strategic way to avoid blatantly ending the conversation. She doesn’t want to be rude so this exit is disguised as a participatory response.

Example: A guy tells a joke and the girl responds, “oh lol!” She’s not necessarily discouraging you, but she didn’t leave anywhere for the conversation to go. She’s hoping you stop responding first so she doesn’t have to.

4. The “Can’t talk now, I’m having a girls night” text.

This is a real thing. Sometimes girls like to gather and decide that “no boys allowed” includes anyone on the receiving end of their texts. To be honest though, if a lady’s really into you she’ll find a way around that rule or she’ll definitively say that she intends to text you back later.

5. The after the fact response.

Sample conversation:

Potential suitor: Hey, are you free this Friday? Maybe we could have a drink.
Girl (on Sunday): Sorry, this week totally got away from me! Did you have a good weekend?

6. The response that pushes for a group hang out.

If this happens to you, accept it: She’s not interested in you sexually. She really just likes you as a friend. So she strategically only invites you to things she knows will become group events. This is the text that reads, “Hey, I can’t do drinks on Friday but (insert mutual friend here) is having a party Saturday. You should come!” If she wanted to sleep with you, she’d be trying to see you one-on-one.

7. The “Hey, how’s everything going?” text, in response to you starting a conversation.

It seems like she’s interested in you when she’s receptive to your text. In reality, it only proves that you don’t bore her as a person. If a girl is into you, she’ll make it known by asking what you’re up to this weekend, etc.

8. The half-response text.

In which she engages only on the part of your text that’s safe to respond to. Sample conversation:

Guy: Hey, how’s your week going? Do you maybe want to grab a drink with me on Friday?
Girl: Mine’s great so far, how’s yours?

9. The text that evades setting an exact date and time.

When you ask if she’d like to get drinks sometime, it’s easier for her to say yes to some vague plans in the distant future. The initiator (understandably) takes that as a “yes” and then tries to set a specific time at which point the girl mysteriously “loses her iPhone” for a week.

10. The text that grossly overuses exclamation points.

When she’s flirting with you, she’ll use exclamation points sparingly. When she feels guilty that she isn’t interested, she’ll over compensate with 3+ exclamation points. Sample response: I have no idea what my schedule is like this week, life is soOOOooOo crazy!!!!

11. The text that deliberately classifies you as, “friend,” “bud” or “pal”

If she were actually into you, she’d be way too embarrassed to use nicknames. But she isn’t, so she’s calling you “friend” because she wants to JUST BE FRIENDS.

12. Radio silence

(Read: Not interested. BYE.)

Originally posted on Thought Catalog.

To Those Studying Abroad, Go Have Sex

I didn’t move to Paris because it was something I’d dreamed about as a little girl. I went because I wouldn’t know anyone and I wanted to be surrounded by a language that wasn’t English. I had a small advantage – my family speaks fluent French – but mine is a shaky mess of jumbled pronouns and unconjugated verbs and bears traces of a Canadian accent.

I was reserved. Something about the harsh winter air and subdued Parisian personalities pushed me into my shell. I wanted to be daring, but it didn’t come naturally. Luckily, I fell into a good group of friends and felt more at home.

My closest friend began a flirtation with our professor. (It’s France, what did you expect?) I admired her boldness. I was too timid to approach any man in France – for fear of roofies and physical attention from anyone that wasn’t a boy I’d known for three years.

Finally, I became frustrated with my own self-censorship.

We went out on an uncharacteristically warm night, to a spot in the 10th arrondissment. It wasn’t a touristy area – no one was speaking English. I saw him almost immediately. He was tall, with a strong jawline and a smile that was familiar. (You know, when you see someone and their grin makes you feel like you’ve seen their face before?) He was pushing 30. I had just turned 20. Again, it’s France.

I wouldn’t approach him, or even move in his direction. In true middle school fashion, a friend physically pushed me into him. He caught me. I tried to emulate the pleasantly windswept look women pull off in movies, but was unsuccessful. I got out a “je m’excuse,” but before I could shuffle off, he coaxed my head upward and I couldn’t help it. I wanted to stay.

He came over a few days later, after a multitude of texts exchanged in broken English and grammatically incorrect French. I made friends go down to greet him and assess whether or not he might be a serial killer. He wasn’t. He was lovely. He brought wine.

I didn’t have wine glasses. I didn’t even have real furniture and I sure as fuck didn’t have a clue what I was doing with this beautiful man in my apartment. We talked and talked until I’d physically run out of things I could say in French (which surprisingly, took a few hours). When I’d run out of conversation topics, and figured I couldn’t keep my charm going much longer, I did what I’d want to do all along. I kissed him.

It escalated from there. Though not quickly, because in France you’re taught to savor not only your meals and your wine, but your sex too.

I don’t think I said much for the (insanely long) duration – there was truly no reason to interrupt him. What was I going to say? “T’as fini?”

If there was something I wanted to express, I didn’t need to do it verbally.

It is a very surreal experience to have sex in a language you don’t really speak, in a city that is not your own, with a man you don’t really know. But it was beautiful, in a way that nothing else in Paris was – which is saying something, because every inch of Paris is filled with beauty and I’d just like to publicly apologize to Monsieur Rodin, for the sacrilege of valuing this experience more than his museum.

I never saw my Frenchman again. It was just those two times – the night we met the night I had him over to my tiny studio in the 14th. I never reached out – I didn’t want to. Every romantic experience I’ve ever had came with baggage, but that night was perfect. I didn’t ever want to do anything to tarnish that memory.

The point to all of this isn’t that you should fly to Paris and jump the first garçon with a beard and skinny jeans. The point is that on any given day, you can have an experience you never thought you were capable of having. You can approach someone and make them fall for you. It’s an empowering thought – even if you don’t go home with them.

You don’t need sex to have a fulfilling study abroad – but you have to go experience something. Anything that elicits a feeling you’ve never had before. This is the one time in your life when you have no rules. Your financial concerns are minimal, you’re in good health and all the terrors of transition are muted because you know you’re going home in four months.

Stop shutting yourself out because you don’t speak the same language as everyone around you. Stop shying away from experiences you aren’t fearless enough to have. Don’t let your predispositions get in your way.

Get lost in Paris. Take a flight to Milan because it’s 9 Euros. Let an elderly Italian man teach you his language at a coffee shop, as you lean up against the coffee bar and drink your miniscule cappuccino. Go to a country you never thought you’d have any interest in and be amazed by its history.

Be braver. Beautiful things happen when you stop being scared of unfamiliar experiences.

 

Originally posted on Thought Catalog.

20 Affirmations For Those Who Have Ever Struggled With Mental or Physical Illness

If you’ve fought a disease in the past or are currently fighting one, these affirmations are for you. They are also applicable if you’re constantly worried about your health, or are trying to practice a healthier lifestyle. Repeat them to yourself slowly, with deliberate breaths. Try to find your own rhythm. You can say them all in succession, or focus on repeating one that specifically speaks to your situation:

1. I love myself and I am perfectly healthy.
2. I always feel good. As a result, my body feels good and I radiate good feelings.
3. I treat my body as a temple. It is holy, it is clean and it is full of goodness.
4. I breathe deeply, exercise regularly and feed only good nutritious food to my body.
5. Healthy, wealthy and wise is my motto. My body is healthy, I am wealthy and my mind is wise.
6. I need not worry
7. God gave me a healthy body and in gratitude, I take good care of myself.
8. I always contribute in healthy ways to my body.
9. I AM living a long and healthy Life.
10. I eat healthy, nutritious and digestible food every day.
11. I drink large amounts of thirst quenching water every day.
12. I have a healthy spirit, mind and body.
13. I have a healthy heart and a strong set of lungs.
14. God has healed my body and in return, I will forever praise His name.
15. My strong body will fully recover and heal.
16. My health does not define my life. I live my life well in spite of my disease.
17. I have the strength to continue.
18. With every passing day, my body becomes stronger and more energetic.
19. I am thankful for the life I have been given.
20. I am full of vitality and I have a strong heart.

Originally posted on Thought Catalog.

25 Affirmations For Those Looking For Love and Happiness In All The Wrong Places

It’s not for me to say if you’re looking happiness or love in the right places. If you feel like you aren’t, that’s probably a good indicator. Often we search in the wrong places when nothing is going according to plan. When the pieces aren’t falling in the way we hoped they’d fall, we search frantically for a path. Stop looking for happiness in everything you do not have. Instead, remember all of the blessings that you do have in your life. Realize how filled they are with love. Appreciate them. Express your gratitude and remind yourself how deserving you are of love with these affirmations

1. Thank you for everything, I have no complaints.

2. I feel an abundance of gratitude for everything I have and receive every day.

3. I am grateful for all the great health, love, and goodness that my life has revealed to me.
4. I am grateful for everything I experience in this lifetime. I overcome, I grow, and I prosper all the time. My abundant blessings, as well as my difficulties, all make me better, stronger, and more alive.
5. I appreciate everything I have and I show my sincerest gratitude to my loved ones.
6. I express my deep gratitude to God and everybody in my life. I am aware that I am incomplete without you all and thank you all for coming into my life.
7. I give gratitude for God’s endless treasures.
8. My needs and desires are generously met. For this I am thankful.
9. I clearly see the beauty of life that flourishes around me.
10. I give out love and it is returned to me multiplied many fold.
11. The partner I seek is also seeking me.
12. Every new day starts with happiness, is full of joy and ends with contentment.
13. Happiness is contagious. I spread happiness to others and absorb happiness from others.
14. Being rooted in my own happiness will help me find the one I will love.
15. I touch many lives. My happiness makes all these people happy, thus making it one big happy world.
16. I may already be impacting the life of my future partner.
17. I perform my random act of kindness regularly. Kindness breeds love.
18. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. God has blessed me with happiness and my journey is endless.
19. I do not have to feel joyful in every second to be happy.
20. I am grateful for each blessing in my life, and I will rid myself of resentment.
21. My faults do not define me, they are part of my journey.
22. My past relationships have no effect on my future relationships. They do not define me. They have no control over me.
23. I cannot change others, but I can improve myself and surround myself with the love I deserve.
24. I deserve love and I will receive it in abundance.
25. Happiness is a choice. I base my happiness on my own accomplishments and the blessings I’ve been given.

Do not feel guilty if you are repeating these words and you don’t feel like they are true. You are not the first person to feel that way, and you won’t be the last. Just keep repeating them, in the hopes that the idea will consume you and drive you to make the statement true.

“The mind and the body are like parallel universes. Anything that happens in the mental universe must leave tracks in the physical one.” — Deepak Chopra.

25 Affirmations For Those Who Struggle To Value Themselves

Affirmations are meant to strength your confidence, lessen your anxiety, increase your gratitude and legitimately improve your health. The idea is to focus on what’s in your head and use it to your advantage. If you really are what you think, then you need to train yourself to think in the way that’s most beneficial to you.

This is especially true with our self-confidence. Our primary source of negativity and lack of confidence is ourselves. It’s internal. When left to our own thoughts, we start in on our vices and all of the ways we’re in adequate. And that’s when our confidence falters.

For the purpose of self-confidence, think of affirmations as a stabilizer – a way to root your thoughts in confidence and purge your negativity.

1. I approve of myself and love myself deeply and completely.

---

2. I am self-reliant, creative and persistent in whatever I do.

---

3. I am energetic and enthusiastic. Confidence is my second nature.

---

4. I face difficult situations with courage and conviction.

---

5. When I breathe, I inhale confidence and exhale timidity.

---

6. I always attract only the best of circumstances and the most positive people in my life.

---

7. I acknowledge my own self-worth.

---

8. Whether I have been valued in the past is irrelevant. I value myself in this moment and I will be valued in the future.

---

9. My body is healthy, my mind is brilliant, my soul is tranquil.

---

10. I release all ill feelings in me about people, incidents and anything else. I forgive everyone associated with me.

---

11. I have been given endless talents, which I will begin to utilize today.

---

12. Creative energy surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas.

---

13. I am courageous and I stand up for myself.

---

14. Today, I abandon my old habits and take up new, more positive ones.

---

15. I am blessed with an incredible family and wonderful friends.

---

16. Though these times are difficult, they are only a short phase of life.

---

17. My life is just beginning.

---

18. I am at peace with all that has happened, is happening, and will happen.

---

19. My efforts are being supported by the universe, my dreams manifest into reality before my eyes.

---

20. I am the architect of my life; I build its foundation and choose its contents.

---

21. I possess the qualities needed to be extremely successful.

---

22. I am superior to negative thoughts and low actions.

---

23. I refuse to feel under valued by people around me.

---

24. I am worthy of all I have been given and I will give back.

---

25. Thank you for this moment, in which I am more confident than I was in the moment before.

 

Originally posted on Thought Catalog.

The Official Millennial Recap of 2014

When we were kids, 2014 was just “the future.” An unexplained, far off time that would never actually come into existence.

And then it did.

And now it’s almost over.

A clean slate is right around the corner. As we wrap up our year and take inventory of memories and experiences, our excitement often wavers. For all that we’ve accomplished, there’s always a goal left unachieved. Or there’s a goal we achieved only to find it wasn’t what we wanted. (Or maybe you killed it this year, in which case, cheers to you.)

Regardless of which category you fall into, here’s proof that 2014 didn’t just pass us by. Turns out, a lot happened.

President Obama issued an executive order and appeared onBetween Two Ferns this year.

Among its new 2014 entries, the AP Stylebook added the words “buffalo wings” and “vegan.”

In 2014, Megan Trainer brought booty back, eight years after JT brought sexy back.

2014 is the year the CDC gave us an ineffective flu shot.

In October, we put our social lives on hold because Gilmore Girls came to Netflix.

The cronut celebrated its 1st birthday.

Bob Dylan turned 73. Britney Spears turned 33.

Brad and Angelina got married. Ryan Gosling became a father.

2014 is the year that Girl Scout cookie sales went online.

The Best Ad was Anna Kendrick’s Super Bowl commercial.

A petition to add a taco to the iPhone emoji list circulated.

Victoria’s Secret manufactured “I Woke Up Like This” panties.

Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia all legalized Marijuana for those over 21 in the 2014 midterms.

The Dems lost the Senate. The Palin family got into a bar fight.

We lost Robin Williams, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and 298 lives on Malaysia Airlines Flight #17.

Germany won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

This year, Whole Foods tried to sell collard greens as “the new kale.”

Everyone started 3D printing… everything.

In March, Ellen DeGeneres ordered pizza at the Oscar’s. Brad Pitt handed out the plates and napkins.

The first iPhone came out 7 years ago. 9/11 happened 13 years ago. The game “Bop-It!” was released 18 years ago and yes, you can still buy it on Amazon. The first episode of “Friends” aired 20 years ago.

What happened to you in 2014? This was the year I moved from upstate New York to Los Angeles. In true L.A. fashion, it was also the year I partied with Leo DiCaprio and Lukas Haas. (And contrary to the rumors, they were perfect gentlemen.)

My father learned the word “selfie” this year and my mother learned how to edit a Wikipedia page. My grandfather celebrated his 96th birthday.

What did you celebrate? What milestones appeared? What challenges did you encounter?

Maybe this wasn’t the year we figured it all out, but we learned something about ourselves, and something about the rest of the world.

Find light in 2014, whether you got your dream job, or got turned down for your dream job. Making it through is a triumph in itself. Celebrate the moments that shaped us and brought us here to the portal of 2015. Have your way with the coming year.

 

Originally published on Thought Catalog.

25 Wake Up Calls That Remind You You’ve Entered Adult Life

Cue “What’s My Age Again?” Actually, cue any Blink-182 song and it will probably suffice. Here are 25 things that will inevitably make you ask, “Am I really old enough for this?”

1. The first time you have to book (and pay for) your ticket home for the holidays.
2. When your first friend gets married. Not when your older sibling gets married, or your sibling’s best friend, but when your first close friend ties the knot.
3. When you manage to regurgitate the information your dad told you about a 401(k) and pass it off like you know what you’re talking about.
4. Paying your own rent and utilities, when it comes out of your hard-earned money, not money someone put in your bank account.
5. When crying doesn’t get you out of a speeding ticket. It’s weird that we can’t use the “I just got my license” line because that hasn’t been true for 7+ years.
6. Getting your own health insurance. Look down at your insurance card. Does it have your family’s name on it, or your company’s? If it’s the latter, feel free to freak out.
7. When your metabolism starts to slow down and you realize you actually aren’t hungry all the time.
8. Booking your first vacation sans parents.
9. When you pass by your old high school and the freshman look like toddlers.
10. The first time you have to book your own dentist appointment.  BTW, your parents made you brush your teeth because cavities are obscenely expensive.
11. Buying bleach.
12. Actually being able to step in and buy your parents a cup of coffee, or lunch, and not just because it’s their birthday.
13. When someone over the age of 40 tries whatever appetizer you brought and says, “You must give me that recipe.” (The only time this has ever happened to me was with my spinach and artichoke dip at a holiday party. I was too embarrassed to tell the woman that reason it’s so good is because I use an unhealthy amount of cream cheese.)
14. Facing the realization that you will not end up with your high school sweetheart. Unless of course you’re married to your high school love, in which case, God bless.
15. Breaking down and buying your own gym membership, instead of just using your mom or dad’s because you look enough alike.
16. Deleting Snapchat because it’s a waste of time. Let’s be clear, you’re going to download it again in 3 weeks, but that’s okay.
17. Checking the weather before you leave the house and remembering to wear layers.
18. Reminding other people that it’s going to get cold so they should probably wear layers. This could also be a sign that you’re becoming a control freak, but I’m going to call it “adulthood” instead.
19. Getting your first paycheck with a comma in it.
20. Realizing that your first paycheck with a comma in it has to last you two weeks and pay your rent.
21. Taking out a loan to buy a car/television/XBOX.
22. Planning a bachelor or bachelorette party.
23. Signing up for a frequent flyer card, or having a frequent flyer number. (I really have no idea what the right terminology for this is because I haven’t quite checked this one off the list.)
24. Hosting Thanksgiving.
25. Getting a call, email or text from someone in college, because they think you might actually be able to give them advice. 

Originally published on Thought Catalog.

The 6 Hottest Workout Trends that are Actually Worth Trying

Recently, we’ve entered a workout era where Zumba seems tame and spinning seems ancient. I can always get into a good spin class, but have you noticed that movies made in 2005 had a spinning scene (Fever Pitch), and the movies made recently always have a scene in a yoga studio (and ScoJo as a yoga teacher)?

There’s an aerobic version of just about anything these days. The variety of exercise classes in which you can experiment (yes, I meant for that to sound sexual), embarrass yourself, and work your glutes all at the same time is insane. I don’t know why I’m surprised. After all, we’re also in the era of the standing desk. Here are a few of the latest workout trends you should consider trying:

1. Pole dancing.

People have been talking about stripper workouts for years, and we’re now officially at the point where you can stumble upon a pole dancing studio on your way home from work. When that happens, go in. Don’t underestimate the amount of arm strength you’ll need. The whole “be sexy on command” thing is a bit much for some, but if you can let yourself go, you might find it helps you loosen up. Plus, what’s not to love about spinning around a pole?

2. Aerial yoga.

“JACK, I’M FLYING.”

No, really. While it may not be the most strenuous type of yoga, it’s the most daring. Talk about “elevating your practice.” Everyone needs a break from the good ol’ downward dog. By the way, they make you sign a waiver.

3. Barre classes (Pronounced “bar.” The extra “re” is just to make it look extra pretentious via text.)

The fact that you need to have any sort of ballet training for barre classes is false. Barre training is mainly about strengthening your core. It’s methodical, repetitive and very controlled. The perk- other than feeling like a pretty, pretty ballerina – is that it’s no impact, so you’re never straining your knees too much, or hurting your wrist on a punching bag.

4. Hula-hooping classes.

They originated in Venice Beach, CA. (No one’s surprised.) These hoop classes use the heavy, good-for-your-abs type of hula hoops. You really kill two birds in one stone: tone your core and get ready for your next music festival. Toss your hoop up in the air, and prepare to be surprised when the heaviness makes your arms sore the next day.

4. Bootcamps.

Most gyms and dance studios offer a “bootcamp” type class, and now there are even a few centers that are solely bootcamp outlets. The name’s a giveaway- it’s army type workout. Sit-ups. Push-ups. Burpees. Repeat. It’s literally the “let’s see how fast we can have everyone on the ground begging for mercy” class. If you find a good place to go, walking’s going to be difficult the next day. Kim Kardashian’s known for attending a bootcamp in LA, and we can all see how well it’s working out for her.

6. Martial arts/self-defense

I know martial arts have been around since the dawn of time, etc, etc, and most of us grew up with a sibling who did Tae Kwon Do or Judo. But it’s one thing to be forced to take a self-defense class when you turn 16, and another thing to actively seek one out. Self-defense classes have become extremely popular on college campuses. It’s good for you to learn how to protect yourself, and it’s a good workout. And if you can take it on a campus for college credit, so much the better. 

I’m not saying we’re all destined to become aerial champs, or avid pole dancers. What I’m saying is: When else are you going to get a chance to learn what it feels like to glide around a pole with a pouty face?  When else are you going to get a chance to fly through the air and hang upside down in yoga class? Now’s the time.

Why You Should Wake Up with theSkimm

There are a lot of things I like to stare aimlessly at in the morning. My coffee maker, my view, my cereal box, my coffee maker, my running shoes, which I wish I’d avoid acknowledging because I’m not going for a run, and my coffee maker. The thing I find most helpful to stare at, especially once my cognitive reasoning and caffeine kicks in, is theSkimm. It’s an e-newsletter that gives you a concise, fun version of the day’s top stories. Here are five reasons it should be part of your morning routine:

1. They make dick jokes

The tone of theSkimm is what makes it readable. The headlines are pithy, humorous and to the point. It’s a treat when the lead of a story reads, “In other crotch grabbing news…” Also, when the first line of the story reads, “Are you ready to unveil the D?” it guarantees that I will keep reading. (Hey, I’m not perverted. I’m just your average 23-year-old.)

2. You’ll have something to say when people start talking about current events

Whether you’re in college, in the working world, or somewhere in between, current events are going to come up. When someone says, “Hey, did you hear about blah blah blah?” it’s nice to know what they’re talking about. Wouldn’t it be great if you could say, “Yeah, I can’t even believe that Blah would make a statement like that”? Trust me, it’s pretty gratifying.

3. It’ll take you 5 minutes to read

In the amount of time you waste waiting for your coffee to brew, or waiting in line at Starbucks, you can read theSkimm. Don’t get me wrong, I love sitting in front of my computer clicking through eight different news outlets. Sometimes, though, there just isn’t time. That’s where theSkimm comes in to play.

4. You need a hip start-up to get behind, anyway

It’s 2014, what’s your favorite start-up? Whether we admit to it, or don’t, we want to be in on the hip, new thing. This, in my own humble opinion, is it. They started from the bottom, now they’re on Oprah. If theSkimm starts trending on Twitter, you’ll be glad you know what it is.

5. Because OPRAH

That’s right, Oprah skimms. In fact, her network, OWN, and theSkimm now have a fancy digital partnership. If there’s one influential lady you want endorsing you, it’s Oprah. She’s featuring theSkimm’s “Things to Know” section on her website. It’s the section that taught me about Ello and bulletproof coffee (coffee with butter in it).