By: Lanie Brice ‘24

While the beauty gurus 12-step super expensive routines still overwhelm me, I’ve slowly eased into researching the most essential steps to formulating a simple routine I can maintain even on the most chaotic college days. Here’s the steps I use in my morning and evening routine to offer some inspiration if you’re overwhelmed by the skincare world too.

By: Ngai Yeung ‘23

Going to class hours after getting off a 12 hour flight is no fun. Not only was I exhausted from the trip, but I was also jet lagged after being in a drastically different time zone. Since adjusting to a new semester is hard enough when you’re running in the correct time zone, here’s some tips to get through the day.

By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24

I struggled with this, especially with friendships. I’m more of a selfless type of person, and last semester, every time I was invited to someone’s house or to go out to a party, I would say yes. In my head, this was my chance to make friends and have an exciting college experience, but internally, I felt socially exhausted and just wanted to stay home sometimes.

By: Sanaa Alam ‘25

One of the best parts of the winter holidays is cuddling next to the fireplace with a warm cup of hot chocolate or cider, spending time with family and friends, and watching holiday movies! As an avid rom-com watcher, here’s my favorite 90s and early 2000s movies perfect for embracing the holiday vibes this winter season!

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

With the holidays already upon us, you might be scrambling to think of last minute gifts for everyone on your list. This gift guide is focused on keeping gift giving affordable (everything is under $50) and heartfelt. Hopefully it will spark some inspiration to make your friends and family think you read their mind.

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

If you didn’t know already, USC students have free access to both HBO Max and Showtime! Now that winter break is coming up it’s the perfect time to flex your free accounts and have a movie night at home with friends and family. Here are 10 movies to add to your watchlist.  

By: Ani Antonyan ‘24

The colder, shorter days exacerbate seasonal sadness, [but] while it might seem unavoidable as you feel the darkness of campus close in around you , there are ways to help yourself. If you’re feeling extra tired, unmotivated, and sad as the winter progresses, you’re not alone—here are some tips on how we can combat seasonal depression.

By: Tamanna Sood ‘24

Last semester, no matter how hard I tried to take care of myself and go to the gym, I found myself making excuses. I hated going to the gym and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. Knowing my struggles, a friend suggested I try out PHED 104A. It turned out to be one of the best classes I’ve taken at USC! 

By: Ela Rybak ‘25

As USC students, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with work and find ourselves not going outside as much as we probably should. Hiking is a great way to get out and relieve stress, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to find the perfect trail!

By: Juan Miguel Bugayong ‘25

Each breath marked the formation of my inner peace, working towards focusing on not what I needed to do, or what I have done, but what I have in the present moment. If anything, meditation has taught me how to be more present in the day, and with anxiety running through my mind almost 24/7, it gave me room to actually slow down and breathe.

By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24

I can’t stress enough that self care can be anything—as long as you're working towards improving your mental or physical health in big or small ways, you can quantify it as self care.

By: Kristen Adams ‘25

While using wheels to navigate campus can be a fun and fast mode of transportation, it is important to keep safety precautions in mind to avoid injuries and embarrassment on busy intersections. Just last week, I had a friend wipe out on her skateboard outside the Village in front of her crush, an event she has yet to emotionally recover from.