Mount Hood

Apps to make your college experience easier

Rylie Horrall  | Lifestyle Editor

In today’s day and age, most of everything can be easily accessed through our phones. Like most of society, I like to make my life easier by having an app on my phone when I need it and don’t have my laptop. Here’s some apps for anyone to make life easy-breezy for little problems.

There are many free music apps out there, but for college students who have Amazon Prime — thanks to the six-month free trial and reduced payment plan — they have free access to over two million songs and albums on-the-go through Amazon Music. In addition, Spotify connects its users to millions of their favorite artists ⏤ along with connections to streaming services ⏤ for a cheap bundle deal. Both are ideal for those that use music to study or just frequently in their lives.

Studying is typically a critical part of the college experience. Granted, it isn’t the most exciting experience, but can become easier with certain apps. For those enrolled in a foreign language course, Duolingo is a free app that can help with extra practice. Whether it’s reading, listening or speaking, it can help improve any of those skill sets. Another handy study app is Quizlet, which enables the user to either generate their own sets of flashcards for specific classes or find already created sets from other people. Furthermore, it provides various interactive ways of practicing the terms in study sets, such as a matching game and practice tests.

Continuing slightly with the study theme, there’s an app that lets students who don’t own a scanner or a printer turn their phone into a portable one. For iPhone users, there’s Scanner App, which allows the person to take a picture of their homework or assignment and instantly scan it into a PDF with ease. Android users have the app Tiny Scanner that provides the same results, it’s merely a different app for a different brand. Both can connect to Google Drive — or other application — to make uploading the file a breeze.

Any.do is an app that gives the user an easy way to organize the multitude of tasks that they have to take care of. It has a calendar, to-do list and reminder system for anyone that keeps themselves so busy that they need help keeping track of everything in their day-to-day life. It also has the option of sharing schedules and tasks with others — whether it’s letting roommates know what their new schedule is for the term or sharing a work schedule with friends when trying to plan a night out.

Mathway is a dual calculator-equation solver that works as a tutor inside of a phone. If a student is struggling with understanding a math concept, the app will give out a step-by-step process of how the equation works once it’s inputted. It’s a great solution as well for those who need to double check the validity of their answers.

For anyone that struggles with keeping track of their finances, Mint works as a budgeting app so the person knows where they’re spending their money. It can give reminders for when bills are due or coming up so the user isn’t hit with an unexpected withdrawal from their account, and can even keep track of a credit score for those that have a credit card. Venmo is another option that lets people see who they sent money to, what for and when. By letting someone label their payment, it makes for trouble-free navigation of various spending sprees.

Finally, Headspace is an option to help with sleep and stress by providing assorted guided meditations and mindfulness techniques. It gives someone different exercises to manage stress when classes, work and relationships become too much to handle in order to benefit their health. If someone is having trouble sleeping, it also gives sleepcasts, mellow music and miscellaneous ways to help wind down the mind and body.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Kay Bruley

Sweet smoothie recipes

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Smoothies are one of my favorite drinks — or is it considered food? They are great because there are multiple combinations to be made, not to mention they’re healthy. During this quarantine, smoothies can be an easy treat to make and alter, if there’s extra fruit lying around. Here are the basic steps to making a smoothie, along with some fruity combinations to try.

First, grab a blender. Then grab whatever fruit that will be used for the smoothie. Dice all of the fruit up into smaller chunks — they don’t have to be extremely small, just littler pieces than the whole fruit to help with blending.

Once the fruit is diced, add them to the blender along with a couple handfuls of ice cubes. Before blending, make sure the lid is secure to avoid a mess. Blend everything together — some blenders have ‘smoothie’ options, but I personally use the ‘puree’ mode. Adding liquid, such as juice or milk, can make the blending process easier and add more flavor.

There are also other things that can be added to smoothies other than fruits; sometimes I throw in vegetables like spinach and carrots to add extra vitamins. Other add-ins could be coconut, yogurt, flax, chia seeds or honey.

Once finished, pour into a cup — or make a smoothie bowl, if preferred — and enjoy.

 

 

COMBINATIONS:

  • Strawberry, banana, peach
  • Raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry
  • Orange, banana, pineapple, coconut
  • Mango, pineapple, peach, apple
  • Peach, strawberry, mango
  • Raspberry, strawberry, kiwi
  • Peach, coconut, mango
  • Pineapple, strawberry, orange

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Rylie Horrall

How to relieve tension from sitting too long

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Many students may find themselves working for long periods at a desk or table. With our current pandemic, some may note that they’re sitting even longer than normal. While sitting at a table or a desk may be better than working on a bed — according to info.achs.edu, it can decrease productivity due to less space to organize study materials — staying there for long periods can cause the body to ache or become stiff. However, this can be combated by stretching in various ways.

An easy one I always do is a ‘one armed hug’; reach one arm across the body and place it on the opposite shoulder, then use the other arm to push back on the elbow. Another way to do it is to extend the arm out instead of placing it on the opposite shoulder, so it’s draped across the chest. 

A stretch I generally pair with the previous is one that I usually call an ‘up-and-over’ stretch. It’s done by putting one arm up and bending it back so the underside of the arm is facing the back of the head. Like the stretch before, use the opposite arm to push the elbow back, which will stretch the triceps.

To stretch the lower back, there’s a few options to help with stiffness and pain. There’s back extensions, which can be done a couple different ways — with palms placed flat against the lower back and then leaning back, or by interlocking hands above the head with palms facing the ceiling and pushing upwards. Both of these can be done while standing as well. Another option is a seated twist; by crossing one leg over the other then twisting the body towards the leg on top, this will stretch, and maybe pop, the lower back. Variations include crossing the arms over the chest, or using the arm of the chair to pull into a deeper stretch

For the legs, try sitting in an upright position and straightening the legs, then folding the body towards the toes. When I do this stretch, I like to try and touch my toes with my fingertips for a deeper stretch to my hamstrings. An important thing to keep in mind with this one is to keep the back as straight as possible.

There are some simple things that can be done while continuing to work or study. For instance, rotating the neck in a circle or even just tilting the head from side to side and front to back is an easy way to relieve neck pain caused by looking down for too long. Shrugging the shoulders and rolling them back can alleviate stiffness, and rotating the wrists in a circle counter-clockwise and then clockwise will help with pain.

An important thing to note is to pay attention to posture and to sit with the chair close to the desk or table to keep from hunching over. Sit back in the seat, and, if possible, try to keep a computer level with the eyes.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

From in person classes to Zoom meetings

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Like most universities in Oregon, Western has switched to having entirely remote classes for spring term. Unlike having only one or two online classes during a term, having to manage all courses online is a challenge for both students and professors. Sure, maybe there’s more time to get homework and assignments done, but is there really? For me, being at home 24/7 can make it difficult to get everything done, so here are a few tips to help with managing an online class schedule.

With no reason to commute to campus, students have an opportunity to sleep in more. But now, there’s the risk of literally sleeping through classes. Set alarms to, one, give enough time to make some coffee and eat breakfast — or lunch, depending on the time — and two, make sure those Zoom and WebEx meetings aren’t forgotten about. 

For some courses, professors have chosen to only hold meetings once a week or even every other week. This can further lead to overlooking the gathering dates, if a person isn’t careful. Mark the days on a calendar when a class assembles; if this is done on a phone calendar, it will send you updates at set intervals, such as 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting. Additionally, this can be done for assignments and tests.

To keep up with assignments, put aside designated times where classes aren’t appointed for homework and studying. It’ll probably be easier for assignments that have a set due date each week, as the elected time can be the same each week as well. That being said, have some free time set aside for those projects that do not have a consistent schedule; if there isn’t more studying to do, then congrats — relaxation time begins early.

For students who are struggling with these online classes due to poor internet access or lack-there-of, Hamersly Library is offering WiFi hotspots to students on a first-come first-serve basis. To get on the list, visit library.wou.edu/hotspots-waitlist/ or look at the library’s website for more information.

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo by Rylie Horrall

Talking about mental health during a pandemic

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

COVID-19 has impacted the world significantly — certain restaurants have closed their doors for the time being or for good, and some businesses have to temporarily shut down and schools and universities have switched to remote learning. All of these things have been done for the safety of the public and people are left to self-isolate in their homes. However, as a result of trying to stay physically safe, some people may find themselves struggling mentally or emotionally. According to apa.org, “social isolation with adverse health consequences including depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function and impaired immunity at every stage of life.”

Self-isolating has been highly advised during this pandemic — some states, such as Oregon and Washington, have even issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders to keep the populace from spreading and contracting COVID-19. Because of this, many people have had their daily routines disrupted; numerous students have left the dorms and are now having to adjust to online classes back at home; adults are struggling with paying bills and handling a household because they were laid off; and children cannot see their friends or play outside and may feel antsy about being cooped up in the house. Some people could be completely isolated from loved ones out of fear of transmitting sickness and are stuck at home alone. For each of these groups, their routine has been disrupted, and grief over losing that regular life can be tricky to adjust to. 

One thing that can make that process easier is to try sticking to certain time frames that were in their usual schedule. For instance, if a person normally works from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., get up and still get ready as normal — and this doesn’t have to involve jeans, try just swapping out pajama pants — and fill that time slot with something else. This could be cleaning the house, doing a load of laundry, meal-prepping for the week, whatever the person wants to get done.

For those who are missing the social interaction, know that many others are feeling the same way. I’m definitely one of those that is yearning to go out with my friends and have the option to go somewhere else other than the store and my living room. While meeting up in person probably isn’t the best idea, reaching out through calls, facetiming and social media are still valid ways of minimizing that feeling of being alone. As a plus, remote communication allows others to check in with each other and make sure people are healthy without jeopardizing one’s own health.

Beth Scroggins, director of the Student Health and Counseling Center on Western’s campus, stated in an email that “our mode of delivery services have changed to phone visits (video visits coming soon!),” and indicated that students can still set up appointments with the Student Health and Counseling Center in person, but that it was limited to certain consultations.

Even though we’re all supposed to stay in our homes, a person can still step outside for some fresh air to clear their head; spending a few moments on a patio or in the backyard can help with the frustration and stress of being cooped up in the house. Another method to help with stress is meditating or working out, as the former will relax the mind and the latter can relax the body.

This is a stressful time that we’ve all been thrown into. Worrying about oneself and loved ones takes its toll, and feeling vulnerable is something that will probably affect each of us. It’s going to be difficult getting through this, and it’ll take time — but we can all do it. Staying healthy applies not only to our physical health, but mentally as well. Remember to eat, get enough sleep, don’t sit for too long, wear a mask if going out is unavoidable and wash your hands.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

How we #HowlFromHome

The Western Howl Staff

Rylie Horrall | Lifestyle Editor

Puzzles have been my go-to during quarantine. Coupled with a TV show I can binge-watch, lately it’s been “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and I’m good to go.

 

Caity Healy | Managing Editor

My family and I have set up virtual trivia nights, where we each pick our categories and come up with 10 questions to quiz each other on. It’s a great way to feel connected, even if we’re in different states.

 

Sean Martinez | Copy Editor

Aside from going through all the Pixar movies, I’ve also been trying to listen to new songs and albums. It makes the seemingly tedious tasks of washing dishes and deep-cleaning the kitchen a lot more fun. 

 

Kyle Morden | Designer

Quarantine has been great — I love going outside. As soon as I wake up, I like to leave my house and do a bunch of outdoor activities: gardening, shopping and talking to residents. Did I forget to mention that my life now belongs to Animal Crossing: New Horizon?

 

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow | News Editor 

My life has literally not changed. Is this a cry for help? Hmmm… maybe. Anyways, take your dog for walks. Drink exorbitant amounts of tea. Play Uno online while intoxicated. Contemplate the unknown. Start thinking you could totally make it as a singer or Youtuber, then delete all the evidence out of shame. The world’s a stage and it’s up to you to burn it.

 

Cora McClain | Editor-In-Chief

Eating has consumed my life. With enough time to just sit and enjoy a meal, I’ve tried some new recipes, improved my knife skills and used my blender for the first time this year. My mom even added me to this little email chain letter, but instead of death it’s about sending recipes to try. Long meals also mean lots of time to catch up on trash TV. Also, I don’t cook, I just do the dishes.

Handmade face masks

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

Many people began buying face masks in bulk when COVID-19 was starting to sprout up, which resulted in an exuberant amount of stores to start limiting purchases. Other alternatives that individuals have begun using are painter’s masks and bandanas, but another option can be to make homemade masks — or to find someone who is sewing savvy to make one for you.

 

SUPPLIES AND TOOLS:

Cotton fabric

Some type of elastic

Basic sewing supplies

 

DIRECTIONS:

Cut out two pieces of the fabric out; for precise measuring, measure from the bridge of the nose to the chin and then the distance from one side of the jaw to the other — ten inches by eight inches is a good standard size to use.

Place the two pieces of fabric together with the wrong sides out, and leave a mark along the edge of the shorter side every inch and half. This marks where the pleats will go. Then sew along the edge of the longer side, leaving a few inches unsewn to turn the mask inside out. 

Cut two pieces of elastic around six inches in length and insert into the corners of the open ends of the mask. Pin them and sew across the sides to secure it into place. Alternatively, hair ties or cut up headbands can be used in place of elastic.

Turn the mask right side out and press the seams flat. Fold up the pleats on each side, and make sure they are folded in the same direction. Pin them into place, and then top stitch around the whole mask, closing the opening and securing the pleats.

 

For a step-by-step visual tutorial, JoAnn Fabrics has a video titled ‘How to Make a Face Mask’ on YouTube.

 

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photos by Caity Healy

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