We all crave catching zzz’s, and for those of us toiling away in our twenties, sleep is more important than ever. Working 9 to 5 means you can’t just sleep the day away or pull regular all-nighters anymore. So what happens when you aren't getting enough sleep, and what should you do about it? Read on to find out!

1. What your body looks like when you don't get enough sleep

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How do you know if you’re getting enough sleep? “On a weekend, if you can sleep [over] 2 hours [more] than you normally do, then you know on the weekdays you aren’t getting enough,” says Dr. Phyllis Zee, Director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Dubbed ‘social jet lag’ by experts like her, this practice of oversleeping to compensate for your sleepless workweek is the strongest indicator you’re not getting enough. “It is not normal to be sleepy. We think it is because we all do it,” she says.

Related: I Tried to Sleep Eight Hours a Night for a Week

Another way to know: it takes gargantuan amounts of coffee for you to function. You’re certainly not getting enough “if you have to drink a large amount of caffeine during the day to stay awake,” says Dr. Josna Adusumilli, Neurologist and Sleep Medicine Physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Rule of thumb for young adults? Seven to eight hours per night. Less than six hours of sleep, and your brain won’t function at its peak. A few days of this may grant you some embarrassing moments, but long-term sleep deprivation can lead to serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease. In the long run, you’re putting yourself at risk for chronic cardiovascular diseases, significant weight gain and poor cognitive performance. Not good.

2. Ready, set… sleep

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As busy post-collegiettes, we’re constantly on. If you’re sending emails or texts late into the night or anticipating a rush of work early in the morning, the stress might be keeping you awake at all hours. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list to make sure you get the best night’s sleep possible.

Make your bedroom a haven by creating a quiet, calm environment to help you wind down.

• Keep your bedroom temperature slightly cooler, around 65 degrees (bonus: it'll save you money in the winter!).
• Shut your blinds or other places where stray light may filter into the room.
• Have a snoring partner or loud neighbors? It’s worth splurging on some noise-canceling headphones like these Bluetooth over-ear ones ($249.50, Bose). Try a cheaper option with this comfy headband ($29.95, SleepPhones).

Keep a consistent exercise and sleep routine.

Train your body when it should be sleeping and when it should be awake. “Try to wake up at the same time each morning; if you do this, then your bedtime will naturally start to synchronize so that you can fall asleep easier at night,” says Dr. Adusumilli. Exercising regularly keeps you in the groove—so make sure you’re exercising at the same time each day if you can, and no closer to bedtime than 3 hours. That falls under “stressful” activities before bed, which experts agree is a no-no.

Take advantage of your circadian rhythm.

Your circadian rhythm is a fancy term for describing your body’s clock. It regulates your sleep cycle, which is heavily influenced by light exposure. “Exposure to bright natural lights during the morning, before noon, and dimming your lights before you go to bed is one of the most important things you can do,” says Dr. Zee. It’s the most natural way to let your body know it’s time for bed.

Power down.

Dr. Adusumilli says to “try to avoid watching television or working on the computer before bedtime, since these devices emit blue light, which can make the brain more awake.” That blue light confuses your brain into thinking it’s not time to sleep by messing with your circadian rhythm. Most experts recommend shutting off all technology (yes, even Netflix) for at least 30 minutes before you hit the pillow. Keeping your bedroom a technology-free zone can also keep away the temptation to check Instagram. Your sleep thanks you.

Sleep apps can help you snooze.

Even though technology is partly to blame for our lack of sleep, mobile apps like Sleep Time, Sleep Cycle and Sleep Bot can help you catch better quality shut-eye. Though they’re not 100 percent accurate, they work based on movement, so you can tell whether you’re getting a solid block of sleep or something more fragmented. Knowing exactly what your sleep cycle looks like will help you identify when you’re waking up and why, which can help you connect how you’re feeling (like a zombie) to the amount of sleep you're getting (4 hours).

3. Still burning the midnight oil?

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So you’ve been following our advice, but you’re still not catching a wink? It may be time to talk to your health care provider, particularly if you’re allowing yourself seven to eight hours in bed. Says Dr. Zee, “If you’re having chronic problems falling or staying asleep three or more times per week, it’s having an impact on your ability to function throughout the day, and it’s lasting more than a month, it’s definitely time to let your health care provider know you’re having trouble with your sleep.”

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Ultimately, your sleep is the difference between you being a functioning adult and a mindless zombie. Getting enough of it, and of the right quality, isn't just important for your health, but for your overall happiness as well. Who knows? All that extra sleep with these tips could turn you into a morning person!

Whether you went to college in a different state or with your parents close by, the idea of moving back to your hometown or city post-graduation is sometimes frowned upon. After all, adulthood is the time to spread your wings and try new things, right? Not necessarily.

Beginning your first steps in the “real world” in a familiar setting can actually provide benefits for your career, social life and overall well being. Here are a few reasons why:

1. You’ll find it easier to save money and find a first apartment you truly like

If you choose to move back with your parents right away, that is a great opportunity to grow your savings and save up for a career location that you’re excited about.

If moving home isn’t the best option for you and you’d prefer an apartment, finding one in your area will be much more feasible than apartment hunting in an unfamiliar new city. You’ll already have a pretty good sense of which areas you gravitate towards and which you don’t.

Additionally, you’ll have an understanding of the housing market in your state to where you’ll know if you’re getting a good deal on rent in a building or being ripped off. Alaina Leary, a book publishing professional finishing her master’s at Emerson College, made the decision to stay put for a little while on her home turf in Boston before seeing out her dream of living in New York City. She says, “It's cheaper, and I know all the best areas and cities just outside Boston that are safe but still inexpensive enough not to need five roommates. I know nothing about NYC, and it would’ve been so much harder for me to start over there, fresh out of college, with only a small amount of savings in the bank.”

Related: The Pros and Cons of Moving Back Home After College

2. You have a built-in support system

Most likely, several of your high school colleagues will disperse to different cities throughout the country post-college. However, it is also likely that a handful of your friends will still be, at the very least, in the same state as you.

Don’t take these nearby friends for granted: they will provide a necessary support system as you navigate the early stages of your career. One of the most difficult aspects of starting fresh in a new city is the struggle to make friends, so by having people to meet up with on weekends, you’ll find your stress and anxiety about socializing slightly diminished and be able to put your focus on your job.

Obviously, having family close by can prove to be a benefit for your emotional well being too. Plus, it’s nice not to have to fork over money for flights home for the holidays!

Colie Lumbreras, a web content administrator from Chicago, knows the value of having family close by. “While sometimes I wish I had moved somewhere far away that is new and exciting, having family close by is everything for me.

"I do dinner on a weekly basis with my mom. I can visit my grandparents at any point. When I am in need of someone to let out and feed my dog last minute, or if I get locked out after my morning run, someone is always close by to help!” 

3. Your career goals align with the job market in your city

If you happened to grow up in or around a major city, such as San Francisco, New York or Boston, it might be a strategic move to stay put at least for a little while.

Depending on your interests, you may find that your industry of choice has a strong presence in your city. You can take advantage of networking opportunities with people you know in your area in order to meet those that will help you excel in your career.

Sarah Enloe, a marketing professional, took advantage of the opportunities in her city by reconnecting with a former employer. She says, “I currently work as a marketing assistant at an assisted living. This is the same assisted living where I had my first job in high school as a dietary aide, and later on as a concierge. I left when I was about halfway through college and always missed it.”

She adds, “This was the first and only job I applied to after college and, had I not gone back home, I never would've been able to apply for this job.”

Related: HC's Guide to Living at Home After College

4. You know your way around, which will reduce stress

This is the most obvious, but probably most beneficial, reason to stay put after graduation. Having a comfort level with your surroundings immediately takes away some of the stress of starting adulthood and can help boost one’s confidence.

When you move to a different city, everything feels new, even foreign for a while, and the adjustment period can be as long as a year or two. Yet when you take that unfamiliarity out of the equation, the only major thing that will take adjusting is your job itself, which will increase your focus and take your mind off of the distractions all around you, because you’ve “been there, done that.”

Starting anew post-graduation is tough for anyone, regardless of where you choose to live. By making the choice to move back to your roots for a little while, you’re ultimately setting yourself up for future success, which is empowering.

You’re the strong one. The one everyone runs to. The shoulder to cry on. The silent listener. The patient advice-giver. The one with all the right words and the tightest hugs. I know you. I am you. I understand.

You turn your cellphone ringer to maximum volume when your friend goes to the bar just in case she needs you and you accidentally fall asleep. You stay up until 4 a.m. the night before your final to hold her hair and tuck her in to bed. You cancel your date night to stay in bed with her and eat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream while she cries him out of her system.

You do it because it’s easier to solve their problems than your own. Or maybe you’re hoping that it’ll solve yours by proxy, like if you help her get through her break up, your broken heart will mend itself. Or you’re just so busy helping everyone else, you completely forget about yourself. It’s easier to give advice than take it, anyway.

But no matter how hard you try, you can’t fix everyone. You’ll just end up hurting yourself in the process. There’s only so much weight one person can carry.

Next time you try to help someone, choose yourself. It’s okay to take a day off from being everyone’s hero. Lock yourself in your room with a couple of your favourite movies, take a hot bath with candles and soft music, go to the mall alone and get lost for a while… it doesn’t matter, just give yourself a break. You were so focused on holding everyone else up you didn’t even realize you were drowning.

Take it from someone who knows, it’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos of everyone else. But just because you’re the one that everyone comes to for help doesn’t mean that you don’t need help too. You’re allowed to stay in bed all day because you just can’t bring yourself to move. You don’t have to cry alone in your bedroom at night; it’s okay to reach out for someone.

You’re the strong one. The one that everyone runs to. But it’s okay to be the weak one sometimes.

Donald Trump has been receiving his presidential briefings only once a week, unlike past presidents who have been known to receive daily briefings to stay updated on the country's affairs, according to Cosmopolitan. After being criticized for this decision, the President-Elect sat down for an interview on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to try to explain himself.

In the interview, Trump basically said that he does not need to receive briefings daily because he's "like, a smart person," and the briefings can get repetitive. He says he feels that with the way things are working out now, he only needs to get briefed when there's a change, adding, "I don't have to be told the same thing and the same words every single day for the next 8 years."

Trump also explained to Wallace that the Vice President-Elect, Mike Pence, attends every daily briefing and informs Trump when there's something new that's come up or a change that he needs to know about.

Each of our last 10 presidents since Harry S. Truman have received a daily briefing every day, even if they may be a little repetitive, Mashable notes. After all, the president kind of needs to know what's going on around the country and the world at all times. The briefings often include important information about U.S. security threats—One famous example that has been declassified, from August 2001, was titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US." Obviously, this came about a month before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. No wonder people are uncomfortable with Trump blowing off a daily briefing.

It's also important to note that in 2014, Trump used Twitter to falsely accuse President Barack Obama for not attending daily briefings, tweeting, "Fact--Obama does not read his intelligence briefings nor does he get briefed in person by the CIA or DOD. Too busy I guess!" For some reason he seems to feel that he does not hold the same responsibilities in his new role as past presidents have.

The Washington Post reported in 2012 on the claims that Obama was skipping his briefings, explaining that he was briefed daily, but chose to get his briefings in written memo form a lot of the time. After reading the briefing, he would bring questions and comments to a daily national security meeting. Several presidents, including Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, have chosen to read their briefings instead of meeting face to face with intelligence officials. But given Trump's noted aversion to reading, it's probably safe to say he's not going to start getting the written briefings. It's fine, though, because he's "like, a smart person."

Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt are making us feel some major friendship envy. While appearing on BBC Radio One’s "Scott Mills" show to promote their newest film Passengers, the costars had a hard time fighting back laughter as they played a game called Playground Insults.

As if we didn’t already love them enough for the social media trolling that's been going on during their press tour, they gave us a five-minute escape from the world of finals with this dose of pure hilarity as they took turns trading insults. The goal was to make each other laugh, and trust us, they succeeded, breaking their composure within the first few seconds.

We definitely have our favorite insults among the bunch. Pretty early on, Jennifer said, "You're so stupid that your three-year-old son has probably taught you everything you know." Then there was Chris saying, "It's such a shame to meet somebody you thought you'd like."

He eventually lost some steam with this one, which only made it funnier: "You were given an Oscar for best actress, but you'd also get one for being the worst." 

"I think I just lost about 20 points on that one," he remarked shamefully.

Check out the game below:

We can't wait to see what this always-entertaining duo does next.

This has to win an award for the most "dad" moment of the year. Reddit user _gina_marie_ shared her father’s cute, and, well… clueless gesture to the subreddit Makeup Addiction. While her father was in the hardware store gathering supplies to paint a helmet, he “saw the sponges on a stick and thought, 'well, she does put on makeup with a sponge, so why not get her one on a stick so it'll be easier to control.'”

While there's no doubt in my mind that a tool used to slab paint onto a wall wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective as a Beauty Blender that is intended for your delicate skin, it's the thought that counts. Considering most fathers (mine included!) wouldn’t know the difference between an eyeliner and a brow pencil, it's sweet that this doting dad payed attention to his daughter’s beauty routine.

This isn’t the first time that Gina Marie’s father has been exposed to the wonderful world of makeup. After the post captured the hearts of other users in the online community, she added to the thread “His mother modeled for Estée Lauder and I think it makes him think of his mother when I talk about new foundations I'm trying or new lip colors. He says I look like her, too. It's something nice we can talk [about] and bond over.” I'm not crying; I have mascara in my eye.

Gina thanked her dad, and promised that she would try out the new sponge. Who knows—maybe this could be the latest beauty hack. But maybe hold on to your Beauty Blender for now.

On Dec. 8, California congresswoman Rep. Jackie Speier introduced a new bill requiring any college student who has been expelled from a university for sexual misconduct to have the reason for expulsion noted on their college transcripts.

The requirements of the bill, known as the Safe Transfer Act, have already been implemented in both New York and Virginia. Speier hopes to make this requirement a national one.

Without the reason for expulsion noted on a student’s transcript, students found guilty of sexual assault and misconduct can turn over a new page at a new university, putting other students at risk if they go on to reoffend. Plenty of schools will currently put a note on transcripts if a student was expelled for academic misconduct, like plagiarizing or cheating, and officials and victim’s advocates hope to achieve similar results for sexual misconduct.

“Sexual assault is a far more serious offense that deserves at least as much, if not greater, scrutiny,” Speier said in a statement to the Associated Press.

BuzzFeed News notes several horror stories where students accused of sexual assault at one school ended up being able to hurt more people. Jesse Matthew Jr., for example, went on to murder two college women in 2016 after being accused of sexual assault twice, at two different schools, when he was in college in 2002 and 2003.

 If the bill is passed, students found guilty of sexual misconduct would be allowed to write a statement to accompany the notation on their transcripts, according to Motto.

Those opposing the bill claim the requirement would unfairly label the suspects, as these charges are filed by universities instead of law enforcement, and could drastically limit the rights and safety of those accused of misconduct. When it comes to finding someone guilty of sexual assault, universities have a much lower burden of evidence—they just have to prove that there's a greater than 50 percent chance that the assault happened.

The bill is supported by End Rape on Campus, The National Organization for Women, and the Association of Title IX Administrators, but correspondents from Motto claim that whether the bill will pass is still very unclear.

If you haven’t watched This Is Us, you’ve probably heard that it’s the newest show breaking hearts across the U.S., and when the Golden Globe nominations were announced yesterday, fans weren’t surprised to see that the show received a few mentions.

The incredible Mandy Moore received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a television series, along with her equally amazing costar Chrissy Metz. But the best part might be that Mandy only found out about her nomination through a text from her on-screen husband, Milo Ventimiglia!

“I certainly was not expecting to be recognized for the show,” Moore told EW. “Milo was actually the one who texted me and was like, ‘Congratulations, Mandy!’ I was like, ‘Wait, on what? The show got nominated?’ He’s like, ‘No, you did!’”

This only makes us love them even more. While Milo wasn’t nominated, the show received a nomination for Best Television Series. Congratulations to Mandy, Chrissy and the entire This Is Us cast and crew. We can’t wait to see how it all shakes out at the Golden Globes.

Maybe you were a straight-A honor student in high school, with the occasional B or C in a really tough class. Maybe you’ve even maintained an impressive GPA in college up to this point. But somehow, the unthinkable has happened: you’re failing a class. The semester started normally enough, with that one extra-challenging class that you knew you’d have to work your ass off in just to pass. Usually, a semester of office hours, tutoring and hours of studying pays off and against all odds you earn your way to a passing grade.

Except this time is different. No matter how much blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into doing your best in this class, you can’t seem to master the material or save your grade and you’re failing the class.

If you’re in this position, the first thing you need to do is breathe, take a step back from the situation and decide on a plan of action to get yourself back on track to academic success. To help you do this, we’ve compiled a list of the six most important dos and don’ts for when you’re faced with a failing grade at any point during the semester.

If it's early in the semester

Do: Know your college’s deadlines for changing your schedule

Scheduling classes isn’t an exact science, and colleges know that. Everything from your work schedule to family life and more can impact your ability to keep up with the classes you picked months earlier. That’s why colleges usually give somewhere around a two-week grace period for you to change your schedule with no repercussions. This means that if after a few classes you still feel like your physics professor is speaking a different language when she’s explaining the Theory of Relativity, you can drop the class and find a tutor for next term, when you have the time to invest in doing well in the class. The best part is that if you drop the class during this time, it won’t show up on your transcript!

Don’t: Take too many difficult classes at once

After a great semester (or high school career) of earning high grades, it can be tempting to challenge yourself and take several difficult classes in one term. But it’s important to be realistic about how much you can handle. Sara Ott, a junior at University of Wyoming explains how she had to learn this from experience. “My sophomore year I was an accounting major and thought I should get a jumpstart and took two of the harder accounting classes in the same semester. I ended up getting a D in one and failing the other. I was really torn up for quite some time afterwards," she says.

Related: The Opposite of Senioritis: When You’re Doing Too Much

When midterms week rolls around

Do: Be proactive about using your resources

You can probably think about literally anything you’d rather do than dedicate several extra hours a week to the class that makes you cringe more and more each time you check your grade. However, if you’re already past the grace period your college gives, and you’re failing exams and quizzes, it’s important to know that you have many resources, including your academic advisor, professor, TA and campus tutoring offices, and that they can provide assistance and support for you if you’re struggling. After all, your university wants to see you succeed as much as you want to. All it takes is a quick email or office hours visit to start getting help! “I failed my statistics class freshman year,” says Sydney Brodie, a sophomore at University of Florida. “The sad thing is, I didn't really do anything to help myself or try to improve my grade. I kept telling myself I needed to get help (from my professor, campus tutoring, something!), but never sought it out because I was a scared and nervous freshman. I didn't even know dropping classes was an option because I didn't get help from my advisor! Obviously this was a huge learning experience for me, but it's probably my biggest regret in college so far,” Sydney says.

Don’t: Refuse to consider withdrawing from the class

You may wonder how a ‘W’ compares to an ‘F’ on your transcript. Basically it means that if you withdraw (within the required deadline) you will receive a ‘W’ on your transcript for that class, and your GPA will not be affected. In most cases, having one ‘W’ on your transcript won’t be the end of the world, but it can save your GPA from the damage of failing the class. Every school’s policy for withdrawing from a class is different. Schedule a meeting with your advisor to learn about your school’s policy for withdrawing from a class and how factors—like whether or not the class is required or whether withdrawing will compromise your status as a full-time student—can impact the rest of your college career.

After final grades are released

Do: Evaluate if your major is right for you

Final grades have come out, and as much as you studied, went to office hours and wished for good luck before your final, an ‘F’ is looking back at you from your grade report. If it was a major-required class that you failed, now would be a good time to look at your academic strengths and weaknesses and decide if your major is really for you after all. “I had always thought accounting was for me, but [failing an accounting class] made me realize that what you think your path is, isn't always the right path for you. I'm now a senior and a marketing major and couldn't picture my path any other way,” says Sara. Plus, just because you change your major doesn’t necessarily mean you have to start your course credits from scratch! Oftentimes majors within the same college (i.e., business, engineering, liberal arts, etc.) have the same general education requirements.

Don’t: Tell yourself that you’re a failure

Whatever you do, it’s important to remember that failing a class does not make you a failure. It’s normal to be disappointed that you didn’t earn the grade you wanted, but telling yourself that you’re stupid or that you don’t deserve to be pursuing your degree will only start a negative and unhealthy pattern of self-directed thoughts. After you’ve had time to think about how you (and your plan of study) will recover from the emotional roller-coaster of having failed a class, surround yourself with positive thoughts by rejoicing about all the ways you’re killing it in college!

While not ideal, failing a college class is a learning experience that leaves a lasting impact on you and your attitude toward school. If you carry that knowledge forward with you, you can easily overcome this bump in the road of academia and still be incredibly successful!

Bella Thorne is not known for having a filter online, and we're definitely not complaining. The former Disney Channel darling is using this new phase in her life to be true to herself—like in August, when Bella was praised for being vocal about her sexuality after confirming that she is bisexual. 

Along with having the freedom to speak out about important issues, Bella has also figured out how to put her haters in their place. Recently, when Thorne chose not to shave her legs before attending the American Music Awards, a Twitter user called her out, providing close-up photos and writing, “SHAVE UR LEGS!!” 

Bella's response was right on point:

Although we're all guilty of freaking out over online negativity, Bella is proof that we're far more than what these haters say. "I stopped listening to people telling me that I needed to be this and that," she told NYLON earlier this year. 

We also love the brutally honest feelings she shared with Maxim. "Sometimes I just want to say, ‘Fuck ‘em, get off my socials, dawg.” Um, same.

Props to Bella for teaching those trolls who's boss! 

Actress Meghan Markle has been relatively quiet since it was revealed she's dating Prince Harry, but now she is making her voice heard by writing a brave essay about her biracial identity for Elle UK.

"Being biracial paints a blurred line that is equal parts staggering and illuminating," she writes, explaining how challenging it was for her growing up. “To describe something as being black and white means it is clearly defined. Yet when your ethnicity is black and white, the dichotomy is not clear.”

In the essay, Markle shares experiences of growing up with an African-American mother and a Caucasian father, including how her mother was always mistaken for her nanny when she was an infant.

However, even when she felt torn between two ethnicities, Markle always had support from her parents. "I can tell you what it was like for me—how they crafted the world around me to make me feel like I wasn't different but special," she says. Embracing both sides of her culture was something Markle’s parents instilled in her early on—her dad even went out of his way to create a mixed race family out of dolls for her. 

Perhaps the most powerful piece of wisdom from this essay is when Markle states that she doesn’t want to have a “murky” idea of who she is. “So you make a choice: continue living your life feeling muddled…or you find your identity independent of it,” she writes. “You introduce yourself as who you are, not what color your parents happen to be.” 

We definitely recommend reading Markle’s essay in full. She reminds us to never let others dictate who we are and to not confine ourselves to a single label. 

’Tis the season for holiday parties, gift exchanges, and family get-togethers galore. With an array of different events and activities to attend, it is inevitable that you’ll run out of outfits, or if you’re like me, be forced into being an outfit repeater on more occasions than you’d like. How can a girl spruce up her wardrobe this holiday season without breaking the bank? Accessories from Dogeared!

Accessories are the perfect way to add some flair and transform any outfit instantly. That’s why we have teamed up with Dogeared to gift two lucky winners with a beautiful necklace this holiday season! Not only will the karma on a beaded chain necklace or sparkle chain Y necklace look amazing on you, but you’ll feel great knowing that Dogeared is a tangible expression of something greater than jewels themselves!

For Dogeared, it is about much more than jewelry. Dogeared believes good things happen, and embraces the stories, happy moments, milestones and experiences that celebrate, connect and inspire customers. As a company founded by a woman and dedicated to empowering women locally and around the world, Dogeared is redefining success in business to drive social, environmental, and economical benefit to their employees and community. Made with love in the USA, Dogeared designs feel-good gifts for every girl.

Her Campus and Dogeared want you to look and feel your best this holiday season, so get into the holiday spirit and enter below for a chance to win a beautiful necklace from Dogeared!

Dogeared Necklaces Giveaway

Yik Yak, once a mega-popular social media app targeted at college campuses, has become more and more irrelevant to students over the last two years.

Last Thursday, Yik Yak CEO Tyler Droll announced that they were laying off quite a few employees, saying they "recently made some strategic changes at Yik Yak in line with our key areas of focus for the company." He added, "We are incredibly appreciative of their contributions toward making Yik Yak the special place for college students around the world that it is today."

However, USA Today College points out that it may not be such a "special place for college students." When speaking to students at a few different campuses, the general consensus seemed to be that the app has been almost forgotten. Boston University sophomore Tyler Armey said he deleted his a year ago, and although someone occasionally talks about the app, he feels, "It definitely has no where near as strong of a presence as other platforms like Facebook and Snapchat."

To give a numerical value to its drop in popularity, the app made it to #3 on the iOS apps charts in 2014 but is now at an unimpressive #447, Business Insider reports.

One of Yik Yak's biggest draws was its anonymity. People could post anything they wanted without others on the app knowing their identity (although a few high-profile cases showed that if you did something illegal on Yik Yak, like make racist threats, authorities could find you). But when an update came out forcing students to create a username for themselves which was then attached to anything posted, like a Twitter handle, the app's popularity dropped.

While forcing users to attach a username to their posts may have seemed like a bad idea, it was likely implemented to stop the cyberbullying that was becoming common on the app. The issue got so bad among younger students that the founders teamed up with company Maponics in 2014 to create a geo-fence around every elementary, middle and high school in the country to prevent students from being able to use the app while at school, the Huffington Post reported.

Unfortunately, it seems like Yik Yak can't win their popularity back. Now that many students have given up on the app, it doesn't seem like reverting back to optional usernames is going to bring the app back into the limelight on college campuses.

In a not-so-shocking but still-a-bit-jarring turn of events, Kanye West has officially met with President-Elect Donald Trump. Yes, you read that right. In his second public appearance since his hospitalization, the 39-year-old controversial rapper and producer walked into Trump Tower to meet with President-Elect Donald Trump early on Tuesday.

Following the meeting, both Trump and West appeared in the lobby of Trump Tower. When asked what they spoke about, Trump said they spoke about "life" in general and called West "a good man". Trump also said the pair had been friends for "a very long time." West, however, didn't say nearly as much as the president elect, saying that he was only there for a picture. West didn't discuss anything else with the media on hand, not answering questions about his alleged 2020 presidential bid or his vote. 

Shortly before his hospitalization for exhaustion, West gave one of his signature rants to say that he did not vote in the election, but if he had, he would have voted for Trump. This rant and the one following caused many people to question his mental state. Eventually, West was admitted to a hospital and canceled the rest of his tour, citing exhaustion. Despite his recent release, "Yeezy" continues to hold this political support for the president-elect. This political view is at odds with his wife and estranged friends alike. Kim Kardashian West, Beyonce and Jay-Z all showed open support for Hillary Clinton. But he is in line with Kardashian step-parent Caitlyn Jenner, who has been a supporter of Trump since the beginning of his presidential run. 

People have criticized both parties regarding the meeting. Ana Navarro, an adamant Trump critic, tweeted that the situation is "crap" as Trump has time to meet with Kanye West, but apparently does not have the time nor the interest for daily intelligence briefings. Kanye fans also criticized the rapper, saying he needs to change his ways, and remarking that Jay Z and Beyonce were right to stay away from West at this time in his life.

West is among the latest to join the ranks of Trump's celebrity supporters which includes Paris Hilton, Scott Baio, Dennis Rodman and Stephen Baldwin.

If you've been keeping up with Trump's Presidential Advent Calendar of Millionaire Cabinet Picks, it's time to add one more. Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson has been chosen as his pick for the post of Secretary of State. The 64-year-old has been the CEO of Exxon Mobil, a massive energy company, since 2006, and much like Trump, Tillerson has never held public office. People are citing his international deals as acting CEO of Exxon as foreign experience. But many lawmakers have expressed concern about this choice due to Tillerson's close dealings with Russia. 

According to NPR, Tillerson began at Exxon in 1975. During his time at the company, Tillerson moved up the ranks to finally occupy the position of CEO. Many hope he'll bring the skills he used to make profitable deals with other countries to the post of Secretary of State. Tillerson has forged multi-billion dollar deals with Russia's state oil company, Rosneft, and even earned an Order of Friendship award from the Kremlin, according to BBC News. Tillerson has also spoken out against sanctions imposed on Russia, and Exxon's relationship with the country has withstood all changes in the political climate with the United States. He has openly defied the State Department at times, even undermining the department in 2010. 

Tillerson's selection has gotten a mixed reaction from Washington insiders. While heavy hitters from within the GOP establishment have given their blessing, many others aren't sure about Tillerson. Former Secretaries of State James Baker and Condoleeza Rice have come out in support of Tillerson, as has Defense Secretary Robert Gates. But Rice and Gates have previously worked under Tillerson as consultants of Exxon—just a small conflict of interest. Others, like Sen. John McCain and Sen. Marco Rubio, have called his Russian alignment into question. Many worry that the foreign country will be able to influence Tillerson due to past business dealings. When coupled with the recent scandal over a possible RNC Russian hack, Tillerson's appointment is pretty worrying. McCain does promise that he'll give Tillerson a fair hearing during the confirmation process. 

Tillerson was chosen over Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts and Trump adversary. That's not surprising, but Tillerson also beat out Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and an ardent Trump advocate. It was believed that Giuliani was guaranteed a space in Trump's cabinet, and Romney openly pined for the position, at one point meeting with Trump despite many months of open opposition. But the president-elect has sung the praises of Tillerson, even calling him "the embodiment of the American Dream."  In a statement, Trump said Tillerson will be a "forceful and clear-eyed advocate for America's vital national interests and help reverse years of misguided foreign policy," which Trump believes has weakened America's standing in the world.

His confirmation, by all accounts, will take place in early January. By the looks of it, this pick's confirmation will be just as interesting as it is polarizing.

The men’s cross country team from Amherst College in Massachusetts was suspended Sunday for disturbing racist, sexist and homophobic emails and social media comments shared between the members.

The messages were first reported in Amherst's student-run magazine, The Indicator, which shared a series of emails and messages sent from June 2013 to August 2015. Many of the messages were sent to incoming freshman, USA Today reported. The college ordered an immediate suspension of all team activities and are investigating.

According to The Indicator, a junior on the team released a list containing eight names and details about the women’s alleged sexual history. One woman was referred to as "a walking STD," while another was called a "meat slab" and a third was called a "stuck up, snobby, bitch; AKA the perfect formal date for the desperate members of our team." When another player responded to the email saying it was "one of the most fucked up things ive read in a while," the other team members tried to backtrack, saying that the team isn't misogynistic and that the author of the email had simply gone too far with a joke. But right after apologizing, the team went back to making inappropriate comments on the thread.

Amherst President Biddy Martin said the messages were "appalling" in a statement on the college website. He also called the messages "cruel and hateful," and said that "no attempt to rationalize them will change that."

Don Faulstick, Amherst’s athletic director, also commented, saying that the cross-country team’s behavior was "disgusting" and that their actions had "no place on our sports teams or anywhere at our College."

The Amherst cross country team has since apologized, releasing a statement in The Indicator. "We, the members of the Amherst Men’s Cross Country Team, sincerely and deeply apologize to the entire Amherst community for the pain caused by our recently published remarks. There are no words to justify what was said and we are all responsible for the harm inflicted by our team’s comments," the statement read.

While it is notable that the team has come forward to address these hateful and insensitive comments, more needs to be done within the cross country team environment to ensure that these incidents won’t happen again. The men's soccer team at Harvard and the men's wrestling team at Columbia were recently suspended for similar incidents—there's clearly something going on in the male locker rooms of America that needs to be changed. It's time to stop for men acting as if women and minorities are just around for their amusement. Guess what? We're people too, and we're not going to let men get away with this stuff anymore.

From her country roots all the way to the Big Apple, Taylor Swift has taken us along her fearless journey. Today, for her birthday, we are taking a look back at all her best outfits from throughout the years.

1. School-Girl Chic

This understated look is effortless yet elegant—just like Taylor!

2. Pleats, Please

We wish we could be this graceful.

3. Cool Girl 

Nothing like a pair of sunnies to make a statement.

4. Color Block Queen

All. Of. The. Goals.

5. Winged Unicorn

Because Tay is a magical unicorn fairy princess, obv.

6. Dark Angel

We love us some silk and lace.

7. New Romantic

This get-up may not be suitable for everyday wear, but it is gorgeous.

8. Tulle Forever

Again, the picture of grace.

9. Sexy Sequins

Ooh la la!

BRB, listening to "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" on repeat. Happy birthday, Tay!

Sometimes it feels impossible to live in a world where the ideal, beautiful size is a zero. There have been thigh-gap trends, bikini-bridge fads and thigh-brow hashtags that constantly paint a picture of what women should strive to look like. Because of these unattainable weight and body goals, diet fads and quick ways to lose weight have become a common thing in our everyday lives. But how can we become a healthier version of ourselves without the BS and with as little exercise as possible?

Most experts say one of the most important things you can do is to put an emphasis on “health” and not “weight.” A majority of women won’t ever be a size zero; bone structures and typical weight loss just don’t allow for that. But you can lead a happy and healthy life by following these tips.

1. Don’t treat exercise as the end-all be-all

We read it in magazines, see ads on TV and spend hundreds of dollars on outfits for it: working out. But is it worth it? Some say, not really. “If you want to talk about weight loss then exercise has very little impact,” says Todd Whitthorne, a prominent national speaker and the president of ACAP Health Consulting. “In fact, for some folks, it even makes it harder to lose weight.” This doesn’t mean not to go for your morning run or stress-relieving yoga session. There are so many other benefits from your workout; however if you’re doing it solely to lose those few extra pounds or become a new person, size wise, it’s not going to cut it -- at least not by itself.

“Exercise has about a thousand benefits but weight loss is not one of them. It does help in weight loss maintenance and in the prevention of weight gain…but not in weight loss,” says Whitthorne. According to him, this is a very important takeaway, especially for college women trying and not seeing results.

2. Eat well, not with fads

To put it simply: diets do not work – at least not in the long run. There may be a change, possibly even a quick one; however this is most likely due to a smaller intake of food and will only undo itself soon after. It’s more important to worry about the types of food you’re eating and not necessarily how much. “There’s a lot more to eating than just the number of calories we consume,” says Whitthorne. “Yes, the quantity is certainly a factor to consider. However, I believe that quality is of even greater importance.” If you’re eating a small bag of chips a day, yes, you’re consuming less calories than others. However this is far inferior to a diet that includes multiple meals a day with foods containing actual substance, like vitamins and proteins, that your body needs.

Whitthorne recommends something along the lines of a Mediterranean diet, although not as a diet, but as a great starting point when thinking of exactly what foods you should and shouldn’t be eating:

• A perfect foundation for meals include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, legumes, seeds, herbs and spices

• Try to eat eat fish and seafood at least twice a week

• Chicken, turkey, eggs, cheese and yogurt are good in moderation

• Obviously limit red meats, sugar and excessive salts

Carly Lockman, a certified holistic health coach, agrees. “Limiting or completely removing processed foods, especially processed sugars, from your diet is paramount,” says Lockman. And if you’re having a tough time making these health changes because you can’t see yourself giving up processed food? She says to give your body time to adjust to the real stuff. “We were created to eat real, unprocessed foods, so I think on a primal level, given enough time to detox from a processed foods diet, the mind really begins to gravitate toward, and love, healthy, whole foods,” says Lockman.

“Staying busy will also keep you from mindless snacking, which is extra, pointless calories,” says Sophia Walker, a senior at Bowdoin College. Walker is an athlete and picked up some good tidbits from her trainer. “Paying attention to what you eat is easy, too! Lots of healthy things have way more calories than you think they do! Peanut butter, for example.” She says that counting calories isn’t the most important thing, but that paying attention to what you’re consuming is the key.

Related: 5 Reasons Why You’re Always Hungry

3. Workout when you want to

Alright, so even though exercising isn’t going to make you lose weight by itself, it will help maintain the body you’re getting from eating right!

Stuck on what workout tape to pop in or what new lifting method to do? Successful exercise mechanisms can be super simple. “In fact, it can be argued that practices which mimic more natural patterns of movement, like cleaning, yard work and gardening are more beneficial to the body overall and more effective at helping a person to maintain their optimal weight than hitting the gym,” says Lockman. And actual collegiettes agree! “Taking the stairs is always a great option, especially if you live in a dorm building,” says Amanda Goecke, a junior at Carthage College. “That way, you're getting in a little stair workout every day without really thinking too much about it.”

Lockman also says that “sitting is the new smoking,” so as long as you get moving, you’re doing the most! We all sit in class or at work way too long sometimes, but she said even stretching for 20 minutes will help and make an impact in the long run.

4. Eat to power your body, not just because you’re hungry

Conscious eating is definitely an important factor when thinking about effortless ways to lose weight. Some people like to munch when they’re bored or snack as soon as they get home. While you might think you’re hungry, you should ask yourself: “Am I really, though?” And, of course, if you decide that you need to eat, get something with protein or that’s healthy.

This can also be said about breakfast. In America especially, we assume that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whitthorne mentioned the 2014 study done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that showed breakfast “had no discernable effect on weight loss in free-living adults who were attempting to lose weight.”

But if you’re on the pro-breakfast train,  it is a way to fuel your body for the rest of the day and hopefully curb your hunger until lunch. Goecke is of this mindset. “Eating breakfast with a full glass of water is always good rather than skipping it - that way you wake up your metabolism,” she says. “I also recommend talking to a doctor or doing an online calculator based off of your weight, age, activity level, etc. to see how much water you should be drinking! Proper water intake helps curb unnecessary snacking.” Goecke ran cross country and track in college and has had her fair share of experience with doctors and nutritionists.

For a great breakfast to power you all the way through the afternoon, Whitthorne recommends something full of fiber, such as Greek yogurt with Kashi cereal, granola and almonds, an omelet or scrambled eggs, or oatmeal. A breakfast smoothie as also a quick option!

And going for coffee with your breakfast is a good idea too (or anytime of the day for that matter, because let’s be honest, who only drinks coffee in the morning?). “Coffee suppresses your appetite and raises your metabolism,” says Walker. “It can be dehydrating though, so make sure to drink water to compensate. Black coffee has no calories, if you like it black!”

Related: I Ate Like A Gilmore Girl For A Day & It Was Torture

So, in case working out seems tedious or scary to you, start slow and know that you don’t need to do that in order to lose weight. It’s important to orient your health around you. Eat foods that you enjoy, work out when you have the most fun and adopt healthy habits that not only benefit you and your body, but that are easy for you to do. Trying to change yourself or your habits just because society has told you that’s what’s acceptable won’t stick. Be a healthier you because for yourself and you’ll surely see results.

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie during the holiday season? We’ve got the classics, like Home Alone,The Holiday and White Christmas. But then there’s the Hallmark Channel. For those of us who love a mushy, lovey-dovey Christmas movie, Hallmark is the perfect place to go from the beginning of November all the way through January. Too bad those romantic Hallmark Christmas movies can give us unrealistic expectations for our own love lives. 

1. If you have a regret and make a wish to go back, that wish will come true.

2. But once you realize how great your life already was, you’ll be able to go back to your real life. 

3. That cute guy who you meet at the airport or on the plane…

4. Or who hires you to do his Christmas shopping…

5. Or who greets you in the town you’re visiting…

6. Or who you bump into at the Christmas tree lot…

7. Or pretend to be dating or engaged or married to...

8. Will end up being the love of your life.

9. Or the guy you’re already dating will turn out to be a prince, obviously. 

10. Even though you only met sometime at the beginning of December, you’ll know by Christmas that you’re in love.

11. You might even get engaged!

12. Or married!

13. A Christmas wish will land you the perfect guy.

14. And that guy you end up with will be absolutely perfect.

Seriously—he’s gorgeous and doesn’t seem to have any flaws.

15. Santa is a great matchmaker.

Tell him all of your wishes, especially if they’re about love. 

There’s nothing wrong with getting caught up in the romance of Hallmark Christmas movies. It’s the perfect way to end a long day of studying for finals or Christmas shopping. Sometimes it’s just important to remember that love isn’t so perfect, but that’s what makes it even better. Happy Hallmark holidays, collegiettes!

Everyone handles the college application process differently. Some are ready to go and have their applications sent as early as possible, while others sneak them in just in time. Whether you embrace this right of passage or absolutely dread it, we bet it might have something to do with the stars. Are we right? Read below to see how your horoscope matches up to your college admissions process experience.

Sagittarius

You are more than ready for college —in fact, you can barely stand the wait. When it comes to your college apps, you are ready to go. Sagittarians love new experiences, and college couldn’t come at a better time. You’re not even worried about whether you’ll get accepted or not. You’re confident! Your apps have long been filled out, and everything is signed, sealed and delivered. All that’s left is waiting for your decision letters—December can’t come soon enough.

Capricorn

Capricorns are organized, methodical and complete perfectionists. Chances are, you have already applied to every school on your list (and it’s an impressive bunch). From polished essays , to beaming recommendations, you are more excited than worried. The only problem will be figuring out where to go once you hear back from all your schools. Surely a few pros and cons lists will be necessary for that.

Aquarius

Your college application is most likely filled to the brim with volunteer work and humanitarian accomplishments. In fact, there’s hardly enough room for you to include everything. Although the process may be stressful, an Aquarius will always stay positive. Your studious nature and upbeat personality has kept your sane during the waiting game. With a stellar academic track record, you’ll be sure to find success.

Pisces

As a Pisces, you’re probably freaking out about the whole college admissions process. Remember, deep breaths! You got this. Pisces love to overthink and double-check everything, so even though you’ve reread your essays five hundred times, you’re still not satisfied. Just remember that you’re prepared and ready, press send!

Aries

By now, you’ve definitely sent out most of your applications—to your favorite schools, at least. Your essays are bold and creative, and as an established leader, you have plenty of accomplishments on your application, as well.  Aries are also known to have an impulsive attitude though, so chances are you also applied to a few random schools too!

Taurus

If you’re a Taurus, you probably have a well-rounded list of schools you applied to. None of them are too much of a reach, but you also don’t have any that are well below. Your patience kept you on track and on time during the application process, and it’s also keeping you sane during the waiting process. You know your strengths and where you’ll fit best, so you aren’t sweating the pressure. Chances are you’ll to use the same mentality to narrow down all your acceptance letters.

Gemini

Gemini are strong communicators, and that’s sure to shine through in the killer essays you’ve submitted. For you, the application season is a little tumultuous. You probably have no clue exactly where you want to go yet. The list of schools you have is pretty varied, and you’re hoping that hearing back will help with the decision.

Cancer

Cancers are probably sign to get most stressed during this time of year, although it’s not because of a lack of effort. You’ve spent plenty of time pouring over college apps and making sure everything is perfect, but when it comes to hitting the “send” button, you cramp up. Remind yourself that the process is exciting and all your hard work is going to pay off!

Leo

The creative mind of a Leo is not a huge fan of the college application process. You probably see it as a bunch of paperwork you would rather avoid, but you force yourself to put in your best effort all the same. At least you get to show off your creativity in your essays! You’ll probably get your apps in at the last minute, but think about how exciting it will be to hear back.

Virgo

Virgos are hard workers who love to analyze, so chances are that you finished all your application materials long before you actually sent them. Although ensuring all your accomplishments are displayed may have caused you distress, sending your apps out is a huge sigh of relief. You’ll all but forget about them until your first acceptance letter comes in the mail.

Libra

Libras don’t love the college application process, and the fear of getting a rejection letter is all too real. But, with such a keen mind and plenty of knowledge gained from lots of reading, you have nothing to fear. Your giving nature comes through in all of your volunteering and extracurricular activities.

Related: Which City Should You Work in, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

Scorpio

Although Scorpios are usually super accomplished academically, you probably didn’t start your college apps super early. Not only did you apply to some of your top choices, but you also included some reaches. Chances are you brains and ambition will yield some amazing results. Just try not to let your negative side get you down before you even hear back from your schools. Stay positive, because your efforts will pay off.

Stressed? Calm? Anxious? Excited? Were the stars right?