Preparation for Finals
November 15, 2019
Written By Alivia Chenoweth, Marketing Manager
Finals week is approaching, which means stress! A lot of people struggle finding mental health balance during this time, and the motivation to do the final push through classes can be tough. Thankfully, there are 3 weeks until finals season which means there is plenty of time to prepare. Preparation is prevention, so let’s dive into the 5 ways that you can prepare for finals and make it into something positive.
Make To Do Lists
Organizing and prioritizing when you are going to study for each class can actually alleviate anxiety, according to Psychology Today. Lists help combat avoidance and procrastination—they help organize your inner chaos, making your workload feel more manageable.
Back Off the Caffeine
Yep—you read that right. I just stated the unspeakable, and probably the opposite of what you think you should do during finals week. Caffeine is known to increase your alertness, but it also increases anxiety. Focus on limiting yourself to one to two cups a day instead of the normal five to six. You’ll end up sleeping better too and your body will thank you.
Don’t Neglect Healthy Eating Habits
It’s easy to reach for the snacks and foods that are quick and reliable when we don’t … Read More
5 Podcasts to Get You Through Your Workout
November 7, 2019
Written By Katrina Burgess, Aquatics Coordinator
The days are starting to get busy and the weather is getting cold—and let’s be honest, classes and work are beginning to fill the longest days we have seen all year. What better way to get through the day than with a podcast?
So let’s grab our earphones and begin the search for the best podcast for you. Here are 5 podcasts to make the whole week feel like the weekend.
1. The Ken Coleman Show
To start your podcast search off, here is my all-time favorite: The Ken Coleman Show. In each of the episodes within this podcast, the host, Ken Coleman (did anyone else guess that?), establishes the key points to become the person who you want to be in the place where you want to be. On the show, Ken takes calls from people all over the world and listens as they pour their confusion, frustration, and dreams onto his lap. The cool thing about Ken is that he never simply gives the answer to the question, but through the 35-45 minute episodes, he allows the caller with the question to answer their own question!
If you are in the mood for professional life guidance – … Read More
Outdoor Activities for every Enneagram type
November 6, 2019
Written by Maria Campanella
As I’m sure anyone who attends Liberty University has noticed, the Enneagram is a constant topic of discussion. For those of you that don’t know, it is a set of nine personality types and meant to help people understand themselves and others better. The Enneagram Institute has far more information on each type, the correlation between all the types, and how to determine what number you are. It can be beneficial in relationships, the workplace, and to know yourself better to help you grow as a person.
The outdoors are more appealing to some types rather than others, but I feel that the Outdoor Recreation department has something to offer every enneagram type. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what we do as a department and how you can utilize what we have available.
Type One – Ones have a very strong sense of right and wrong and strive for perfection. The Reformers are known for wanting to change the world, and they have goals and visions for how to make a difference. They are wise and discerning and, at their best, know what is best in every situation. Ones often like to have an escape and a way to “blow off steam” which is why I think that our trail races and trail running in general would be a beneficial thing … Read More
Fitting in Fitness
September 26, 2019
Written by Lindsey Johnson, Marketing Employee
It’s important to stay active; we all know that. But what happens when you’re busy and don’t have time to work out? If school or work is keeping you from staying active, here are some tips on how to fit exercise into your routine—no matter how busy you are.
Take the stairs
Instead of taking the elevator up to work, walk up the stairs. Walking, or running, up stairs is one of the best exercises that you can do to build muscle mass while also burning off the calories of that morning doughnut. Not to mention, more often than not, taking the stairs is actually faster than taking the elevator.
Wake up earlier
We know that this isn’t what you want to hear, especially when you’re not a morning person. However, it’s true that you get the most benefits from working out in the morning than any other time of the day. The most prominent benefits from working out in the morning are: it enhances your metabolism, it will help cultivate consistency, it improves your physical and mental energy, and it helps develop strong self-discipline.
Make it fun
If workouts always feel like a chore, you are not going to want to make time … Read More
Being a Conscious Consumer
August 28, 2019
Written by Luke Whitmire
Conservation is a topic that is coming more into the limelight as we continue to realize that our actions are negatively impacting the environment around us. As the conversation continues to escalate, it naturally gravitates towards the bigger issues, such as large-scale manufacturers and consumer habits. While these conversations are important, they can often distract us, as individuals, and what we can do in order to further conservation efforts.
One way to get involved and make a difference in conservation is to change your daily habits and consumer practices in order to favor environmentally friendly pursuits. How do you decide what clothes you buy? What food you are going to eat? Every time you make a purchase, you are “voting” with your money. Just as you should be conscious in the political sphere with your vote and know what a politician stands for, you should be conscious with your money, and support businesses and purchasing practices that support values that you care about.
Here are a few things that you may want to consider:
Buy local, in-season, organically grown produce. It increases nutrients, biodiversity, promotes a connection to food, and local farms often pursue farming habits that are more friendly to the soil, crops, insects, and your produce. Check out the documentary Sustainable.
Animal agriculture, mainly red meat sources such as cattle, are responsible for the … Read More
How is Social Media affecting the Great Outdoors?
July 11, 2019
Written by Joe Frey
I was not always an outdoors enthusiast. Sure, I loved being outside playing catch or going for a swim, but when it came to going on a hike to an overlook or kayaking in the bay I began thinking of excuses for why I “couldn’t go.” If I’m being honest it wasn’t for a lack of motivation, it just didn’t really sound fun.
Fast forward a few years and I am in high school. I had various social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and noticed my friends posting amazing pictures and awesome things in the outdoors. So that Christmas I asked for a GoPro. An indestructible camera that magically motivated me to go explore and seek out the next post for my Instagram. Many of you who are reading this may have experienced this same drive. I found myself seeking the next adrenaline rush simply to capture the video or picture. Regardless of whether the desire was for status or for excitement, I wasn’t exploring to appreciate God’s incredible creation. I just wanted to snap the perfect photo.
Looking at the pictures I have taken over the years, it was clear that I broke many rules to capture more than a few of them. I was oblivious to the “No Trespassing” and “Danger” signs that are posted, much like many other adventurers. But why … Read More
I L-O-V-E Virginia
June 25, 2019
Written by Carter Brackman
I love Virginia.
The first memory that I have of myself enjoying the beauty of Virginia was when I was six years old. My family and I drove up from Charlotte to visit my grandparents. I remember my granddad taking my brother, my golden retriever (Bunker), and I to the Peaks of Otter. The eight hours that we spent driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, jumping into swimming holes, and exploring seemed to pass in an instant. This day is still one of my favorite memories as I reflect on my life. Even as a six year old, I saw that this world was meant to be enjoyed and loved. If there was ever a single state that make this clear, Virginia is it.
If you’ve spent any significant amount of time in the state, you will create meaningful experiences and utter these 3 words of sentiment. “I love Virginia”. It is literally the slogan for our state. Virginia is for lovers! Virginians are not just proud of this idea, but use it as their main promotion as it can be seen entering the state on every welcome sign.
LOVEworks around Virginia
So the question arises, “how does Virginia plan to show this concept for all people to see? Well it is obvious, look for the signs. I don’t mean the dramatic, intangible signs that … Read More
Outdoor Adventure Movies
March 18, 2019
Written by Maria Campanella
It’s pretty obvious during these rainy springs, that not every day is a perfect “outside” day. Everyone has days where they want to stay inside or times where the weather forces us inside. It is on these days that I get to combine two of my favorite things; the outdoors and movies.
These are four movies that focus on the outdoors, traveling, or adventure. Obviously, your opinions may differ, but these are the movies that I have enjoyed watching and make me appreciate and enjoy nature and the fun of adventures. I encourage you to give them a watch, they are well worth the time!
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
This movie is all about adventure and accomplishing the things you dream about. Walter Mitty is an employee of Life magazine and he works with the negatives of a cryptic photographer, Sean, whom Walter has never met. He also has a continual daydream problem and regularly “zones out”, thinking about the things he would do if he was bold and brave. Walter seems to be missing a crucial negative and he realizes that he will need to come up with it or be out of a job. Walter summons his … Read More
Not to Be Your Mom—but Quit Slouching!
March 15, 2019
Gabi Mims- Marketing Employee
We’ve always been told posture is important, but how important is it really? It feels impossible to maintain good posture, since we’re constantly sitting in class, hunched over a laptop or notebook desperately trying to jot down notes. Even when we’re outside of class, we’re working tirelessly on our homework, and our constant forward-bending persists still.
Keep reading to see exactly how poor posture affects you and how to counteract it.
Effects of Forward-Bending
Constant forward-bending has a variety of physical effects. One of the most noticeable is a change in the spinal curve. This can cause an increase in pressure in your spine and can diminish your body’s ability to absorb shock and maintain balance. This added pressure can also cause chronic back pain and disc degeneration.
One of the lesser known side effects of poor posture is digestive issues. When your spine is unnaturally curving forward, you compress your organs, making them incapable of functioning how they should. This not only slows down your metabolism in the short-term, but it can also impair your body’s ability to digest food in the long-term.
Having poor posture can also restrict blood flow throughout your body, hindering it from getting the circulation it needs. This can … Read More
Habits- Breaking and Starting Them
March 8, 2019
Lexy Rutt- Marketing Employee
If you’ve maintained your New Year’s resolution this long, congrats! You’re in the 8% of people who actually stick with theirs. If you’re like the other 92% of us who had good intentions (or chose not to make one in the first place), well… this is for you.
Everybody has at least one bad habit they’d like to kick and ideas of good ones they want to start. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait until next January 1st rolls around to initiate lifestyle change. Start today by taking that first mental step!
Of course, some habits may take more concentrated effort to break or form depending on what they are. Keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for you, and that’s okay – don’t give up! No health magazine, motivational speaker, or lifestyle blog (not even this one) has the answer to what you’re specifically going through, but the following tips can point you in a direction that may help.
Positive Reminders
Some people say it takes 3 weeks to form a habit, others say it takes 66 days – in reality, though, it depends on several factors. It may feel like it’s taking forever to get rid of a bad habit or start a new one, but remind yourself why … Read More