Unless you've already upgraded to apartment living, you're likely without a front porch at the moment. But, believe it or not, welcome mats can still play a part in personalizing your living space. Whether you place one right outside your front door (even if it's in a hallway) or your bedroom door, you'd be surprised by how much your doormat can say about you. That's why we've collected these 10 adorable DIY welcome mats. Go ahead; give one a try this weekend!

Bold Patterned Mats

Herringbone

A herringbone mat from The DIY Playbook adds just the pop of color you've been missing.

Stripes

Stripes are classic, whether in your wardrobe or as home decor. That's why this You Can Sit With Us project is a no-brainer!

Geometric 

You don't have to master math to tackle this geometric doormat from DIY Squirrel. 

Related: 10 Cute Photo Decor Ideas for Your Dorm

Personalized Mats

Monogram

Claim that front porch, ladies. It's not truly yours until you put your monogram on it, right? This HGTV project does just that!

Inspirational

We all need a little reminder of this on our way out the door. Though this is actually an Etsy original, you can easily replicate it on your own with stencils.

Fun Colors

Welcome home! A little paint is really all you need to make this colorful mat, crafted by A Beautiful Mess.

Greetings

Perhaps, your doormat should speak to your guests. Greet them as they arrive and say goodbye when it's time to go with this Beckham and Belle creation. 

Seasonal Mats

Autumn

Simple and elegant. You can even spice up this fall doormat from Life is a Party by making the leaves multiple colors.

Winter

This Curbly ornament mat is adorable, you guys. Use their template to customize your very own with the colors and design of your choice!

Summer

Summer cookouts, here we come! You can totally conquer this project in a weekend, like The House That Lars Built did.

Whether you choose to add words to your mat, a seasonal theme or just a spunky pattern, these DIY mats will represent your personal style and allow your guests to get to know you even before you greet them with a hello.

A lot of adjustments come with the end of college, and one of the hardest is moving away from your friends. For the past four years, you’ve pretty much spent all day every day with your besties, who were literally across the hall, street or campus. But now, whether you’re living in a new city or all your college friends have moved away, it can feel like suddenly, you have… no friends. But instead of hashtagging everything on social media with #NoNewFriends and comforting yourself with a large jar of Nutella, you should be celebrating the friends you do have, no matter how few or far away. Here’s why!

1. No one actually has 3,572 friends

As much as we love and could not live without Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest, comparing what happens on social media to what our lives are really like is only going to leave you feeling unsatisfied. It all goes back to a famous quote by Steve Furtwick (that you’ve probably actually seen on Pinterest): “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel.” This isn’t just true for the beach and airplane pics on Instagram, but also for the numbers we see on social media—the 5,000+ friends on Facebook, the 80 likes on your latest Instagram photo…

Think about it. Chances are that, unless you run a tight social media ship (i.e. you delete everyone you haven’t seen in over a year), you aren’t really friends with even half your Facebook “friends.” There are hundreds of people from high school that you’d ignore if you ran into at the grocery store, another few hundred from college that you had ONE class with freshman year and a handful of people that you drunkenly met and decided you’d be BFFs with for life… and then never spoke to again. But we often forget all of that when comparing our numbers to others’ (why did she get so many likes on practically the same photo?!).

Of course, this isn’t to say you shouldn’t spend 30 minutes reorganizing your breakfast plate for the perfect shot—we’ve all done it—just remember that comparing your real life to your social media life, or feeling like your life is lacking based on what other people are posting on Instagram isn’t doing you any favors.

2. The people you keep in touch with are the people who actually matter

After graduation, many—or even all!—of your friends moved to different cities. Maybe you even moved to a different country. Since you’re not living with college roomies or spending every waking minute with your BFFs anymore, you might feel like the social life you once had in college has vanished. Back then, you felt so popular—you had friends in classes, loyal gym buddies, even a group of people you went out with every weekend; but without those things in common, there are tons of people you’ve just lost touch with.

Rather than mourn the loss of your dining hall buddies, take comfort in the fact that the people you make an effort to stay in touch with—and those who do the same to keep in touch with you—are the ones that matter the most, says Chloe Dougherty, who graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 2014 and is now teaching English in Israel.

“There are friends from high school and college who I know will be in my life forever and then there are friends that I’ve outgrown and that’s okay, too,” says Chloe.

Part of growing up is letting things go and some friendships aren’t meant to last past graduation. It’s especially common for friendships to come to an end during transitional periods in our lives, like our first year out of school.

“What really gets to me is when one friend isn’t putting in the same amount of work to stay in touch with another friend,” says Chloe. “If you want someone in your life you need to be willing to put in some effort.”

So put in the effort to keep your closest friends, but also don’t feel bad that you haven’t kept in touch with everyone you ever hung out with in college. Instead, appreciate that even though you might not have a designated group to eat lunch with or party with on the weekends, you have friends all over the place that you will always be able to count on. Plus, getting to visit them in new places is pretty fun!

3. You are SO busy

Whether you’re working 12-hour days or studying to be a doctor, chances are you’re a lot busier now than you were in college. So sometimes, when you get home late after a long day of work or studying, the last thing you want to do is go out and meet new people.

“If you are working, recognize that this is the time of life when you need to devote more time to building a career and that you may not have as much time to socialize as you did in the past,” says Dr. Irene Levine, a psychologist and the creator of The Friendship Blog.

While you should definitely make an effort to meet new friends, there’s no reason you need to go out as much as you did in college (especially since you’ve traded in your class-free Fridays for boardroom meetings at 9 a.m.). Plus, bars aren’t the only place to make new friends! Seek out activities you enjoy where you can meet likeminded people.

“If you like to work out, join a gym,” suggests Dr. Levine. “Get involved with community groups, take a cooking course [or] join a book club.”

And if at the end of the day this all sounds too exhausting, pour yourself a glass of wine and call one of your best friends who’s thousands of miles away. After all, it’s important to strike a healthy balance between maintaining your existing friendships and making new friends, says Dr. Levine.

4. It’s a lot harder to make friends after college

Even if you get past the “I-have-no-time-to-make-new-friends” thing, there are still other obstacles to face when it comes to making friends after graduation.

Meghan Gibbons, a recent Boston College graduate who now works as a business proposal writer, still lives in the same city where she went to college. But this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any easier to maintain the social life she had in college or even to meet new people; she says that she hasn’t met many people outside of those she already knew in school.

Even in grad school, making friends isn’t the easiest task. Carly Montini, a master’s student at William Paterson University, says it’s much harder to make friends now, even though she’s still in school.

“Grad programs are small, so while you’re meeting people in the program and you have a friendship with them, you aren’t meeting new people in every class like you do in [college],” she says.

Dr. Levine agrees. “Most [undergraduates] are seeking to make new friends,” she says. “But that isn’t always the case when you leave college.”

Plus, it’s harder to make friends when not everyone lives within five minutes of one another.

“I go to a grad program that everyone commutes to,” Carly explains. “Some of them live an hour away and my closest friend lives a half hour away so even when you want to hang out outside of school it isn’t always easy.”

The beauty of college was the convenience of having everyone around you; it was almost harder to not make friends! But now that you’re in the real world, friendships require more effort; so it makes sense that you would only go the extra mile for the people who matter the most.

5. You’d rather have four quarters than 100 pennies

A wise person once said quality is more important than quantity and nowhere is this truer than when it comes to friendships.

Meghan has always had a small group of friends, but now, she says she’s glad for that.

“There are too many people I know who had acquaintances on the surface; a group of classmates that were great to drink, party and socialize with,” says Meghan. “But now, in post-college life they complain of feeling lonely because [they lack] those core friends that are so essential to turn to when the stress of a new job, new relationship or new living situation arises.”

Sometimes, having a small friend group in college meant Meghan was out of the loop on campus gossip, she says, but now it means that she has friends that she can reach out to about anything and everything.

Meghan isn’t alone in enjoying smaller groups of friends. Dr. Levine says that people differ in the amount of friends they need.

“Some people are very content with one best friend; others like to be surrounded by a changing cast of people,” Dr. Levine explains.

What is important, she says, is to recognize your own needs and make sure they are met.

“Have at least one or two solid friendships based on mutual respect,” suggests Dr. Levine. “Life is more enjoyable when there are friends to help us share our successes and our sorrows.”

6. You actually have time to spend by yourself

In college, not sticking by your friends throughout the day, every single day, gave you major FOMO. After graduation, you might learn being alone is not so bad—when was the last time you could sit back with your favorite magazine? Have an at-home yoga session in your living room? Get a massage?

Next time you find yourself lamenting that you have nobody to talk to but your cat, be active in doing something you enjoy. Go to your favorite breakfast spot with a good book; take a walk and listen to a new podcast; even try meditating. You’ll learn a lot about yourself—and you’ll also learn to love your own company.

It doesn’t matter if you have two or 2,000 friends, as long as each of those friendships makes you feel good about yourself. And most importantly, never neglect your most valuable relationship—the one with yourself! In our increasingly hectic lives, it’s essential to have some “me” time. So every once in a while, relax with a glass of wine (or two) and watch a few (or ten) episodes of Game of Thrones. You just might love spending time with yourself—and you’ll appreciate the BFFs you do have that much more.

Whether it was a new winter coat for yourself, a makeup kit for your best friend, or a video game for your little brother, you probably scored some pretty sweet deals last week at Black Friday. Meanwhile, nearly 200,000 Americans had a different goal in mind when they went out shopping last weekend—purchasing a gun. According to the Associated Press, on November 27 the FBI processed 185,345 background checks—the most ever in a single day since they started doing the checks in 1998.

The record was broken on the same day that a shooting occurred at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, CO, that left three dead and nine others wounded. The previous single-day sales record was set on December 21, 2012, in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

A common sentiment among Americans seems to be that if the government won’t take action to tighten gun control laws—and it seems like no number of horrific gun-related tragedies, which seem to occur every day, will push them to do so—they’ll have to take matters of protecting themselves into their own hands.

The new sales record does not even include purchases made at gun shows or between private owners, which for some reason don't require background checks—So the total could actually be a lot more. Believe it or not, there’s actually about 40 million more guns in the United States than there are people.

The problem of mass shootings in the United States is an ever-growing one, and it seems to have gotten to the point that the public has become numb to these sorts of tragedies. So why does it seem like more and more Americans believe that more guns are the answer?

How far will people go for more followers?

According to the Dallas Morning News, a 13-year-old middle school student in Dallas, Texas posted a photo on Instagram of an unidentified man holding a gun, threatening to kill everyone at the school. Dallas Independent School District Police Chief Craig Miller said the girl told officers she found the photo of the man pointing a gun on Google and shared it on Instagram to see how many followers she could get.

CBS DFW reports that part of the caption on the photo said, “Everybody at T.W. Browne Middle School is gonna die. I’m going to kill everybody, even 6th and 7th graders."

“The minor could face two to 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 if convicted of making a terroristic threat against her school,” Cosmopolitan reports. Definitely not worth getting a few more followers on Insta.

The post was shared multiple times and was not posted from the girl’s own device.

The Dallas Morning News reports that terroristic threats on social media have gone way up in the last few years just in Texas, which probably means they've been going up around the country as well. Pretty disturbing that even middle schoolers are learning how to do it. Social media may seem like a place where you can post anonymously and get away with anything, but as we've seen in this instance and also in Washington, making a threat on social media can have serious consequences. So if you see anything weird, even just on Yik Yak or Instagram—don't be afraid to report it.

So you’re obsessed with snapping and insta-ing your life. But Facebook isn’t going away anytime soon. It recently implemented several changes to make the platform more relevant to younger users (like us pesky millennials) who may have migrated to other, trendier platforms.

Facebook is adding two new features to the site: live video sharing and photo collages.

Currently, live video sharing is only allowed for major celebrities (still working on that check mark…). Starting with a small amount of iOS users, it allows you to showcase your life in real time. All you have to do is update your status and click “live video” to make the magic happen.

According to the UK Independent, this is just a pilot project. Since only a small percentage of users will have access, there’s a chance these features won’t make it to the public. But it doesn’t discount Facebook’s hunger to get competitive in the video streaming space—hopefully beating competitors like apps Periscope or Meerkat.

To stay up to date on the latest videos from friends and celebrities, you can subscribe directly to their live video feed. Cue the vlogging revolution!

As for photo sharing, the app will transform your recent camera roll photos into a collage, but you can rearrange it and change it before you upload. The new collage feature dynamically allows you to scroll and rearrange photos in your collage as you build it. This comes shortly after Instagram rolled out a similar feature.

While we may have to wait for the video, Collage starts now for iOS users and Android early next year. 

Facebook may be playing catch up with some of these new features, but it’s still the most widely used form of social media in the world, according to the Pew Research Center. Facebook is a social media behemoth, no doubt about it—And it’s going to keep rolling out features that will make you think twice about leaving your Facebook profile behind.

Tragedy hit San Bernardino, Calif. on Wednesday, when 14 people were killed and more were injured at the Inland Regional Center. Most of the Presidential candidates have responded to the shooting. Here’s what they had to say:

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders framed his comments on the shooting around the idea of gun control measures. He talked about the need for background checks and called for an increase in mental health treatment.

“We need to significantly expand and improve background checks,” Sanders said. “Who is arguing that people who should not have guns because of a criminal background, because of mental problems, should ... be able to purchase guns? Very few Americans disagree with that,” Sanders said, according to the Huffington Post. “And very significantly, we need to greatly expand and improve our mental health capabilities. These people need treatment when they need treatment, regardless of their income, regardless of their insurance status.”

The Huffington Post adds that the NRA gave Sanders an F rating for his gun control policy ideas.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump had a very definitive answer for what he thought happened in San Bernardino: Terrorism.

"It looks like another case. We've got a lot of bad things going on. Radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump told ABC.

He noted the names of the two suspects, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, and felt that that was enough evidence to support his claim.

"Take a look. I mean, you look at the names, you look at what’s happened. You tell me," he continued.

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton acknowledged different aspects of violence that could put Americans at risk, and expressed that she wanted that to stop.

“I want people to feel safe. If you go to the store, or you go to work, you go to the movies, you go to church, you take your kid to school — you should be safe,” Clinton told the LA Times.

She spoke about how the fight against violence is going on in a lot of different ways, and how she believes the U.S. should respond with unity.

“We’ve got too many disagreements, too much division, and people are being kind of negative,” she said, according to the LA Times. And there’s nothing we can’t do if we get our focus together, if we start working with people again. We’re going to have differences. But there’s got to be a way to end some of the hot rhetoric and the negative attitudes that people are spewing forth.”

Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz kept his response to the shooting brief, expressing that he considered this a possible terrorist act and offering prayers for the families.

"At this point the details of what happened in San Bernardino is still unclear. All of us are deeply concerned that this is yet another manifestation of terrorism, radical Islamic terrorism here at home,” Cruz said Thursday to the Republican Jewish Coalition, according to CNN.

Chris Christie

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie mentioned the possibility of a third world war in his comments about the shooting.

"I am convinced that was a terrorist attack," Christie said, according to Newjersey.com

The couple who launched the attack "came there to do something. Every place in America is a place for a terrorist attack. We are in the midst of the next world war," he said. 

Martin O’Malley

Martin O’Malley also responded in the form of a tweet, this time invoking new gun control measures.

“Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it's time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws,” he tweeted.

Mike Huckabee

According to CBS, Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s response was that there were two things necessary in order for a mass shooting to occur, and that both were present at the scene of the San Bernardino shooting.

"One: A mentally unstable person. Two: A gun-free zone. And those seem to be the common denominators,"he told CBS.

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina focused her comments on President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton instead of talking about the victims, the tragedy or what she planned to do going forward, according to ABC News.

"As the tragedy in San Bernardino unfolds, predictably, without knowing any of the facts of what has happened there or why, President Obama and Hillary Clinton immediately came out and made a political statement for gun control. We know, the facts are very clear, that of all the people in the United States that should not own firearms, and there are so many, less than 1 percent of them are ever prosecuted,” Fiorina said in a Twitter town hall Wednesday night. "So instead of, Mrs. Clinton, calling for more laws, why don’t we enforce the laws that we have and as well enforce the Second Amendment."

She also suspected that the attack was a “homegrown terrorist attack” by “Islamist extremist suspects,” according to ABC.

"Everything points to a terrorist attack, a homegrown terrorist attack such as the FBI director has been warning us about," Fiorina said in an interview on Fox. "Our own FBI director said recently that the FBI was 'overwhelmed by the number of Islamist extremist suspects in the U.S. today.'"

Jeb Bush, George Pataki, Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson

“Praying for the victims and first responders in #SanBernardino for a quick resolution,” Former New York Governor Pataki tweeted.

“Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting,” Former Florida Governor Bush tweeted.

My thoughts & prayers go out to those impacted by the shooting in San Bernardino, especially the first responders. -John,” Former Ohio Governor Kasich tweeted.

Thoughts & prayers are with #SanBernardino,” Senator Graham tweeted.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families, and brave first responders during this unspeakable tragedy,” Senator Paul tweeted.

We've all heard it before—Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. There's even a book about it.

But what does that mean, exactly? In the past, people have thought that men and women are wired differently. However, a recent study done by Daphna Joel and her colleagues at the Tel Aviv University in Israel proved that only between 0 and 8 percent of people had fully "male" or "female" brains.

In fact, 35 percent of the 1,400 people studied showed "substantial variability." This means their brains had both male and female traits, Mic reports.

These people, between 13 and 85 years old, had 29 brain regions that differed in size. However, the only significant difference found between male and female brains was related to mental illness: Some mental illnesses are more likely to affect one gender than the other.

"We still don't understand why this is," Michael Bloomfield, a psychiatrist at University College London, told the Guardian. "Understanding this could well help us understand some of the biological mechanisms that give rise to these illnesses, which could then enable the development of better targeted treatments."

In the meantime, claiming that men and women are wired differently is probably not valid.

"Analyses of internal consistency reveal that brains with features that are consistently at one end of the 'maleness-femaleness' continuum are rare," Joel's study said.

Perhaps key differences between the sexes are a product of cultural expectations rather than biological differences. It's easy to claim men act the way they do because their brains work differently than ours, but there may be a better explanation out there.

Less than a week after a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado killed three and wounded nine others, the Senate voted 48-52 against an amendment that would keep intact the government’s federal funding of Planned Parenthood. $450 million of Planned Parenthood’s total budget of $1.3 billion comes from federal taxes.

The amendment was largely supported by Democrats, but actually sponsored by three Republicans (two of whom are women). The White House has stated that President Obama will veto the bill if it reaches his desk—a veto the GOP is very unlikely to be able to override.

“I want to make clear that our amendment does not include any new spending. It does increase taxes, and it retains the current Hyde amendment language which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at risk,” said Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the senators who sponsored the bill, according to The Hill. Yes, that’s right—contrary to what some may believe, federal money doesn’t cover abortions, except in rare cases.

Although—thanks to Obama’s inevitable veto—the rejection is very unlikely to go into effect, the outcome of the Senate vote is still very discouraging. According to NBC News, the vote is likely meant to be a statement by the GOP intended to please conservative voters before the 2016 election. Don’t you just love when women’s rights to their own sexuality become a means for Republicans to advance their own political agenda?

We all think about ~dramatic~ transformations sometimes, and adopting a new color can seem like the perfect way to make that change. But if you’ve never dyed your hair before, it can be an overwhelming process to figure out which color to try, what type of dye job to request and where to go to get your money’s worth. Luckily, we’re here to help! We’ve listed out the five things you need to know before booking your appointment, so that you can feel confident and empowered in whatever decision you make!

1. Consult a professional before you get your heart set on a color

Top stylist and New York City salon owner Riccardo Maggiore says it’s important to meet with a colorist before treatment. “It is more about science and color theory and less about the color you like,” he says. “Your colorist can analyze your skin tone and find the color that best compliments and highlights your best features.” World-renowned colorist Angelo David Pisacreto agrees, adding that “eye color, bone structure and hair texture…play a role in determining the perfect hair color for an individual.” Of course, if you have a general idea of what you want, feel free to take some sample photos with you to your appointment to help guide the process. Just don't get too attached—your stylist's recommendations might be better than anything you could've dreamed up on your own!

2. Cut your hair before you color

It’s always a good idea to get your hair cut exactly the way you want it before applying color, in order to make sure the overall end result is on par with expectations. A cut will also have an impact on the color application. “Hair type, texture [and] porosity” all influence how the final color will turn out, says Pisacreto, and a haircut can alter some of these qualities.

If you’re aiming to save money, try getting a basic haircut at an inexpensive salon first and then going somewhere more specialized for your color. And while you don’t need to drop your entire paycheck on a dye job, you definitely want to put your trust in someplace reputable for your first go-around.

Related: 5 Hairstyling Hacks to Make Your Life Easier

3. Know all of your options before committing

When it comes to hair dyeing, there are lots of options beyond a total color transformation. If you’re nervous about a drastic change, consider a less-serious switch. Pisacreto recommends highlights if “the client wants a more natural look,” while ombré is a good first step for someone worried about the upkeep and commitment of all-over color. Ombré “will brighten up their hair and create the effect of a natural, sun-lightened look,” says Pisacreto. Maggiore also suggests another first-timer option: bayalage. This technique involves the application of color just on the surface of the hair with more saturation at the tips. “The principle idea behind this technique is of ‘less is more’ giving natural looking color,” he says. “With very little maintenance hair colored with this technique grows out beautifully and more naturally so you don’t get an obvious re-growth line of demarcation and can go longer between appointments.” Demi-permanent color is another option, which Maggiore says “lasts up to 24 shampoos, contains no ammonia and gently deposits only color on the hair.” In contrast, a typical “permanent” hair dye will start to fade after four to six weeks, so consider your commitment level before choosing which process is best for you.

4. Beware of damaging products

One of the best reasons to consult a professional colorist is to figure out what products are the safest and healthiest for your hair type. This is especially important because, as Pisacreto points out, some people may even be allergic to coloring agents. “This is why salon professionals perform a strand test,” he says. “The condition of the hair and its texture are key…we always perform a complete analysis before coloring in order to maintain the hair’s health.” This is also why you should think twice before reaching for a box of drugstore-brand hair color, unless you’re 100 percent certain that there are no chemicals in it that might react badly with your hair type!

5. Don’t forget the post-color care

Once you color your hair, it's natural that you'll want to preserve the investment as long as possible! That's why you should aim to choose products specifically designed for color-treated hair. Maggiore recommends products from “Kérastase Réflection because they are designed to be gentle and protective and help prevent color fade.” The brand's three-step regimen includes items intended to cleanse, treat and prime, and you can find their products at your local salon, Amazon or even Target. But if you're on a stricter budget, John Freida and Redken offer some less expensive options as well—just be sure you choose products that are approved for color-treated hair!

All in all, it never hurts to have your colorist recommend color care products, but don’t feel like you have to spend an extravagant amount. Stick with a couple basic items (like a good, color-protecting shampoo and conditioner) and then continue using whatever styling products you’ve already got!

Changing up your hair color is an easy way to feel refreshed and renewed, and with the semester soon ending, there’s no better time to shake up your look. But if you're thinking about a dye job, be sure to invest in the proper amount of preparation to decide what color, treatment and level of permanence is right for you. We’ve all heard horror stories about botched coloring, so save yourself some stress and anxiety by planning ahead!

With a hit show, a super successful movie and an Emmy under her belt, Amy Schumer is one of the busiest women working in the entertainment industry today. But that doesn't make her any less relatable. Here are 15 times Amy was ALL of us.

1. When she made us feel less makeup-challenged

Any girl who can help you out with that tricky smokey eye is a pal for life.

2. When she proved she was just as confused about her relationship status as we are about ours

Seriously, how ARE we single? Then again, how is she single? If Schumer and Bradley Cooper can't make it work, no one can.

3. When she made Kimye extremely uncomfortable and the world cheered her on

That is one brave woman.

4. When she made our sweatpants seem not only wearable but downright luxurious 

Sweatpants = life itself.

5. When she helped us believe that we shouldn't actually feel guilty about our guilty pleasures

And we like Real Housewives, too. Oh, wait…is that not as cool when we say it?

6. When she said aloud the very thought that fills our minds 24/7

We can all agree that doing nothing is the dream, right?

7. When she just chilled on the couch eating noodles

There's honestly no telling what types of old food would come out of our couch if we removed the cushions.

8. When she taught us the importance of pregaming

What? College is all about multitasking.

9. When she admitted that literally no one understands guys

Like, guys don't even understand why they do the things that they do.

10. When contouring tried to take her spirit

Oy vey, what ever happened to a little mascara and some lip gloss?

11. When she explained the magic that is Magic Mike

Only Amy could get away with this joke.

12. When she made the same face we make every time the morning sun assaults us

Been there, sista.

13. When she refused to believe beauty has to be painful

You go, girl! You stand up to that straightener and show it who's boss.

14. When she let loose and danced like no one was watching…

…with the BFF of our dreams, Jennifer Lawrence, no less.

15. When she laid down the law

PREACH.

Everybody experiences an awkward moment here and there, but for you it's a constant, daily battle. Let's just say people skills are not really your forte. While the average person might squirm with embarrassment for just a few seconds, you rack your brain for the rest of the day wondering why you made that odd gesture or spoke those foolish words. If you know you're socially awkward, you'll definitely be able to identify with these terrible, terrible scenarios and maybe even feel a sigh of relief since you're not alone.

1. Getting your hair cut

Not to be rude, but is it possible to get a cute haircut without the in-between chitchat?

2. Sitting next to anyone on public transportation

The only safe place to look is down or ahead—that is, unless you're sitting right across from someone.

3. Having to comfort a friend who's crying

You're not a terrible friend, it's just that a pillow would be of better use to her than your "comforting" words.

4. Eating in front of others

Because the whole world is probably judging every bite you take.

5. Figuring out the proper way to greet someone you know

Staying home forever seems like a much better alternative, right?

6. When someone holds the door open for you but you're not exactly close

Great... now you have to run for the door.

7. Reacting to a compliment

We bet you've automatically returned the compliment with a "you too" before realizing it's not even applicable to that person.

8. When you arrive to class first and your professor starts to make small talk with you

Lesson learned: If no one else is there yet, hide out in the bathroom for a few minutes.

9. When your professor makes eye contact with you during lecture

Smile? Uh, no. Stare deeply into his eyes? Definitely no. Look away? Gah!!!

10. Being momentarily left alone with your SO's parents

So... this is some really great pot roast!

11. Getting introduced to new people

Meet to nice you, too!

12. Talking to anyone on the phone

Just pray they'll do all the talking.

13. Pulling up next to someone at a red light

Whatever you do, just act cool.

14. Waving to someone who doesn't notice

Just going to crawl into a hole now, bye. 

15. Any elevator ride ever

The stairs seem so much more appealing now than they did a few minutes ago before you made this fateful decision.

16. Being forced to partner up with someone in your class whom you've never talked to

Hi, I'm from awkward town, how about you?

17. Having to run to catch a bus or train

Running like a fool: It's in your blood.

18. Walking halfway down the block before realizing you should be going the other direction

Pardon me while I just conspicuously disrupt the flow of traffic and walk the other way.

19. Realizing that the person you thought you were talking to walked away a few seconds ago

Cool; I can add "talks to herself" as a new hobby!

Misconceptions are like shoes. They come in every size, shape, color and design. Some common misconceptions for U.S. residents were exposed in a recent Ipos MORI survey.

According to Mic, the Perils of Perception 2015 report revealed many false impressions after surveying 33 countries around the world, including the U.S., Chile, Russia, France and Great Britain. Conducted by Ipsos MORI Public Affairs Managing Director Bobby Duffy and Research Manager James Stannard, the survey's intention was to “continue to build our knowledge in this area and to encourage debate with policy makers, academics and the public on key social realities and public misconceptions," according to the Perils of Perception website.

In the U.S., two of the biggest misconceptions were on the topics of immigration and religion. While American participants believed that immigrants made up 33 percent of the U.S. population, in reality immigrants only accounted for 14 percent. As for religion, Americans thought that 40 percent of their overall population identified as nonreligious (includes “atheists, agnostics, and those who say they do not identify with any religion”). However, they weren’t even in the ballpark as only 16 percent identify themselves that way.

The report covered a range of other topics from health to female representation in politics, and per the survey’s motto, “Perception is not reality," the analysis showcases just how wrong some of us can be. But with every new day comes a new lesson, so hopefully the gap between what we believe and what is true will grow smaller and smaller each year.

Let's be honest––painting our own nails can be hard AF. It's like the harder we try to stay in the lines, the more we fail, because of course. Luckily, Cosmopolitan may have just saved the day for collegiettes everywhere with one simple tip: Vaseline.

It's simple. "Take a baby Q-tip and rub it around your surrounding skin and cuticles before you apply polish,"Alexaundra McCormick of Honey Artists told Cosmo. "If you get the polish on your skin, it won't stick because of the Vaseline." However, you want to ensure that you don't get any Vaseline on your actual nail. If you do, clean it off with rubbing alcohol before applying any polish.

Once your polish dries, wipe off the vaseline and enjoy your ~perfect~ nails!

Move over, Kim—your little sister Kendall Jenner is quickly becoming the queen of Instagram. It’s no news that Kendall has been literally taking the world by storm in the past few months (uh... remember that little thing called the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show?). At only 20 years old, she has 42.8 million Instagram followers, and 13.8 million Twitter followers. Being a part of celebrity royalty, that might not come as any surprise to you.

While Kendall still doesn’t have quite the follower count her older sister Kim has, she did recently surpass big sis for both the most-liked Instagram picture of 2015, and the most-liked #TBT picture of 2015.

The adorable throwback raked in 1.8 million likes, officially making it the most liked #TBT of the year.

The pigtails and baseball hat, according to Jenner, were a part of a family Halloween costume—"since there are so many of us," she explained to Instagram. As for her secret? "A great tbt shows an authentic glimpse into your life, and something adorable or funny always wins extra points," she explained in the same interview. No matter how cute our baby pics are, we're not quite sure we'll reach Kendall Jenner-level... but hey—nobody said we couldn't try!

Women have trained and fought alongside men for years, but not without limitation—that is, until Thursday. In a push for gender equality, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced full gender integration for the American military, leaving more doors open for women in combat than ever before. The New York Times emphasizes just how drastic the change will be, by providing an additional 220,000 job opportunities to female soldiers. Granted rights now include permission to drive tanks and the ability to join the Navy SEALs, for example, as long as ability requirements are met. 

This isn't the first integration attempt in recent years—back in 2011, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was repealed, giving lesbian and gay service members the should-be-unquestionable right to openly serve no matter their sexual orientation. The decision to integrate women follows suit largely due to a deadline set by the Obama administration in 2013. And the military certainly took their time, meeting the deadline of January 2016 by a hair. The delay in implementation points to a hesitancy most likely influenced by both military and civilian backlash—a backlash that hasn't ceased.

A scroll through the comments section of the New York Times report shows just how sexist many Americans still are. While some viewpoints are more explicit in their words, expressing rage and laughter at the thought of women in combat and exhibiting what psychologists call hostile sexism, others express more subtle signs of chauvinism (known as benevolent sexism), feeling the need to argue the decision in order to "protect" the "fragile" women in their lives. Either way, the backlash proves that inclusion is only the first step. Clearly, long-held gender stereotypes will take much longer to abolish than any out-dated policy.

All in all, many questions remain. What will this mean in terms of a potential draft? Is it a good thing that the military may grow, putting more lives at risk? Can a simple change in rules reverse other, more hidden forms of gender inequality present in the armed forces? With issues like sexual violence against women grossly unacknowledged by the military, we fear we still have a long way to go before true equality takes hold.

How do you weigh in, collegiettes?

We’ve all heard about “beauty sleep,” but unfortunately, we don’t always wake up like that (despite what Beyoncé says). With our crazy schedules, we’re usually lucky to get a full six hours. So it’s time to give our definition of “beauty sleep” a little boost. Fortunately, there are tons of products out there that are overnight miracle workers, so you’ll still wake up looking refreshed and ready for the day—even if your body’s time to repair itself is cut short. Here are five things you can do right now to help you wake up tomorrow even prettier than you already are.

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

No matter your skin type, applying moisturizer is essential for helping your skin repair itself while you sleep. Your body will create more oil overnight if you don’t give it enough moisture before bed. Stock up on lotions, body butters and face creams, and don’t forget the parts of your body that aren’t as obvious, like your hands, feet, lips and under your eyes. Try a body butter ($21 at The Body Shop) that will really absorb into the skin, not just moisturize the top layer. Plus, it comes in tons of different yummy scents.

2. Try an Overnight Treatment

For your face

If you browse the aisles of any Sephora or ULTA, you’ll find tons of products marketed as overnight miracle products. Overnight treatments are great, because the skin does most of its repair work during this time anyway. These treatments just give your body a little help. They all target tons of different issues, like breakouts, dry skin, dark circles and split ends. So, if you want to wake up with glowing skin, try this overnight mask from Clinique ($33 at Sephora). But don’t let the thought of leaving a mask on overnight freak you out! Most overnight masks like this are lightweight and absorb into the skin, so you won’t even feel it while you’re sleeping. You simply apply it before you go to bed, and you’ll wake up looking like you had a facial overnight.

For your hair

Try a treatment that’s designed to work as you sleep. Slathering on a traditional hair mask before bed can get messy, and the thick formulas could cause breakouts when they transfer to your pillow… and then to your face. A treatment like Living Proof’s Night Cap Overnight Perfector ($28 at Sephora) is great, because it absorbs into your hair so you can still sleep comfortably. All you have to do is apply it before you go to bed and either rinse it out or style as normal in the morning.

3. Protect Your Hair

It’s time to banish bed head for good. If you take the proper steps before bed, you’ll wake up with hair that’s practically ready to walk out the door in the morning. When you go to bed with wet hair, try braiding it in a loose French braid (or simple pigtail braids). This will keep your hair smooth while you sleep, and you’ll wake up with frizz-free waves. If you prefer to style your hair at night, preserve your blowout by tying your hair up in a loose bun before you sleep. Ditch your old hair elastics for a hair tie that’s a lot less damaging, like these ribbon hair ties ($9 at Sephora). These won’t leave annoying dents in your hair and will cause less breakage over time.

4. Change Your Pillowcase

If you’re suffering from stubborn breakouts or even split ends, your pillowcase could be the culprit. Sleeping on the same pillow every night collects oil and bad bacteria that could clog your pores. Try to change out your pillowcase at least once a week, or every other night for even better results. If you really want to make an investment in your beauty sleep, try a satin pillowcase. Traditional cotton pillows create a lot of friction with your hair while you toss and turn in your sleep. This friction leads to frizz and even breakage, but the smoother silk fabric can help prevent that.

5. Get Your Tan On

Want to wake up looking like you just got back from a tropical vacation? Try putting on a self-tanner (along with your moisturizer, of course) that develops overnight. All you have to do is apply a product like St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse ($44 at Sephora), go to sleep, then rinse off any excess product in the morning. Warning: make sure you let your tan dry before hopping into bed, to avoid the product rubbing off on your bedding. You want your skin to wake up glowing, not your sheets.

And that’s it! Whether you choose to do just one of these, or really commit to the full routine, we promise you’ll wake up feeling a little more confident, and ready to take on the day.

When it comes to going on expeditions in nature, no matter the length, it seems like less is always more in terms of packing. These essentials are a no-brainer for your favorite camper, hiker or nature-lover to take with them on their next trip!

UNDER $25

Kelty Eco Camp Pillow, $14.99, available at Sports Authority

Packing a backpack before a longer expedition can be a real drag, especially when you can't get everything to fit right in your pack. The Kelty Eco Camp Pillow was made to be easily compressed to save space, and it's made from recycled material!

Sea to Summit Mini Stuff Sack Set, $22.95, available at REI

An avid backpacker will really appreciate these stuff sacks, since they compress clothing and other camping gear and make sorting and evening out the weight of a backpack (which can weigh up to half of the person carrying the pack) way easier!

Nature and Selected Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, $12.76, available at Barnes and Noble

Ralph Waldo Emerson's works about his time out in nature are super influential. Inspire your favorite hiker by giving them a book full of his thoughts and experiences about camping and the connection between nature and humanity.

Rite in the Rain 980 All-Weather Universal Field-Flex Book, $15.15, available at Rite in the Rain

Hikers love keeping track of what they see and do out in the backcountry or on the trail! Help them out by giving them a notebook built to withstand rain, wind and other weather events that could put a damper on their field journaling time.

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, $13.30, available at Barnes and Noble

Ah, the sweet song of the American yellow warbler. Or wait—was that a Florida scrub-jay? Your outdoorsy friend can find the answer to all of their bird-related questions in this handy field guide. 

UNDER $50

40 oz. Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Vacuum Bottle, $36.95, available at REI

With space being a definite issue on any camping trip, vacuum bottles are a must-have. They can keep whatever is in them at the right temperature, whether it's cold alpine water or hot soup. And at 40 oz., you'll hardly have to go back and refill. 

Trailblazer Headlamp, $29.95, available at L.L. Bean

Don't leave your favorite camper in the dark! Help them see at night and still be able to use both of their hands to make dinner and lay down their sleeping bags with a headlamp.

Swiss Army Huntsman Knife, $36, available at REI

With 15 different uses, including a reamer and a wood saw, this Swiss Army knife is an essential for any camper at any park. 

Full R2 Blanket, $45, available at Patagonia

Make sure your environmentally-conscious camper stays warm when they're out in the backcountry or even just at home in their bedrooms with this polyester blanket made with 63% recycled materials. 

Suunto MCB Amphibian Compass, $30, available at REI

It's a little difficult (okay, maybe a little impossible) to use your iPhone to guide you on your entire camping trip. Help your hiker stay on trail and orient their maps with a compass!

Mountainsmith Trekker FX 7075 Monopod/Walking Staff, $29.95, available at REI

Hiking, especially on an incline, can be really hard on a person's knees. Ease that stress for someone you love and help them keep their balance even with a heavy pack on by giving them this hiking pole. 

UNDER $100

Women's North Face Venture Rain Jacket, $99, available at REI

Weather any storm in style in this rain jacket! It's windproof, waterproof and has storm flaps and zippered pockets. 

Men's North Plains Mid-Leather Waterproof Boot, $82.50, available at Columbia

The North Face Wasatch 20-Degree Sleeping Bag, $89, available at Sports Authority

Sleeping in the great outdoors can get pretty cold, especially without electricity or much room in a backpack for lots of blankets. This sleeping bag will keep campers warm in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and can wrap neatly around their heads to keep them cozy and snug all through the night.

Swiss Army Champ Knife, $79, available at REI

For the more hardcore campers among us, this comprehensive Swiss Army knife is a huge help. Scale a fish, sew new strings into your tent, cut your lunch or do countless other things with it. 

Women's Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boots, $67.50, available at Columbia

Keep your feet warm and blister-free in these waterproof, lightweight, non-marking boots. 

The Unit Tide Watch by Nixon, $87.46, available at Backcountry

Surf's up, bro! Or maybe not right now—the Unit Tide Watch will help surfers figure out if it's safe or not to surf at 270 different beaches for the next eight years. 

OVER $100

CamelBak Fourteener 24 Hydration Pack - 100 fl. oz., $145, available at REI

Hiking, biking and backpacking (or really any outdoor activity) can get pretty tiring pretty quickly. Make staying hydrated on long trips easier and more convenient with this 100 fl. oz. hydration pack.

Suunto Ambit3 Sport GPS Watch, $300, available at Backcountry

Don't lose your loved one the next time they go camping! They can keep track of their location and make sure they're following their maps correctly with this stylish, functional GPS watch. 

Osprey Stratos 36 Pack, $159.95, available at REI

Backpacking requires one thing for sure: a backpack! Get out into the backcountry with an Osprey pack. They come with detachable "brains" that function as removable fanny packs when you don't want to take everything up to the peak with you.

Women's Nano Puff Jacket, $199, available at Patagonia

Stay warm, dry and cute in this Patagonia puff jacket. It's easily compressible for when the weather actually wants to be nice to you, and super insulated for when the weather isn't quite as nice. 

Bushnell H2O Binoculars, $129, available at L.L. Bean

Your favorite nature-lover is going to love you even more than they already do when you buy them a pair of binoculars. They don't even have to worry about dropping them when they're watching water fowl, since these binoculars are waterproof. 

ICYMI, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcomed their baby boy to the world on Saturday. While the world is speculating about the child's name (South?), we're over here thinking about how amazing of a big sister baby North will be. We came up with a few reasons, but there are many, many more.

1. She can ward off all the paparazzi

If they try to bother her little brother, they'll have North to deal with.

2. She can be his personal stylist

Ever notice how a 2 year-old dresses better than you and then get sad? Yeah.

3. She'll give him the biggest bear hugs

Sorry, Penelope Disick, you're gonna have to share the love.

4. She can give him her coat when it gets cold out

With this fabulous fur number, the newest West family member will look just like his dad.

5. If he's lucky, maybe she'll share her candy

We said "maybe."

6. She can teach him all the moves

Ballet, baby.

7. And also how to swim

This girl has all the talents.

8. She won't take any funny business

She'll be a cool big sis, but he better not try to pull her hair.

9. She'll be his trick or treat buddy

OMG, who else is DYING to see the baby's Halloween costume next year??? Okay, we are calm.

Why will North West be a great big sister, collegiettes?

As we hit crunch time in the semester and final papers, projects and exams take over every aspect of our lives, stress begins to pile up as well. And the worst part is, we’re so consumed by the things that are stressing us out that we don’t even notice the toll it’s taking on our mental and physical health. We asked both collegiettes and an experts to weigh in on some signs that indicate you're way too stressed and what to do when that stress is becoming too much to handle.

1. You’re breaking out

One of the most common stress-related complaints from collegiettes is that when they’ve got too much going on, their skin breaks out. “I’m not getting enough sleep when I’m stressed, and I’m not really taking care of my body how I should be,” admits Amber Layfield, a senior at Appalachian State who notices that her skin tends to act up during stressful times. She adds that when she’s busy, important daily parts of her routine—like washing her face every night—sometimes get put on the back burner. Though it can be easy to abandon these habits because you’re so busy (or just because you forget), when you’re stressed out, taking care of yourself becomes all the more important.

In addition to always being sure to wash your face and remove makeup before bed, try to incorporate a little something extra into your routine, like a weekly face mask. Feeling Beautiful Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Mask clears pores, prevents stress-related breakouts and has a calming, aromatherapeutic scent. It’s also less than five dollars at most drugstores—what’s not to love?

Related: How to Deal with Stress & Anxiety in Your 20s

2. You’re tensing up

Auburn University senior Lindy Olive notes that her “eyes twitch and back aches” when she’s feeling stressed. “Yoga is a must,” she adds. “I always find time in my schedule for yoga and a workout.” So, yes, it is possible that the key to reducing stress may be to add yet another item to your already-packed schedule. However, setting aside time for the many positive physical and mental benefits of yoga (or another exercise routine you find enjoyable) can work wonders for your health.

Stress might seem to be purely a mental thing, but it tends to manifest itself in physical ways. Dr. Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist, public speaker and author of Breathe: 14 Days to Oxygenating, Recharging, and Fueling Your Body & Brain, says we must be careful to avoid “forward head posture, which gives you neck and shoulder pain. You’re jutting your head too far forward, and this has long term severe health consequences.” This happens because we’re stressed out and spend so much time in front of computer screens and looking down at our phones. Get in the habit of sitting up straight and keeping your shoulders down instead of tensed up close to your head and neck—though it takes practice, your body will stop sending out the extra stress signals, and you’ll save yourself a lot of muscle pain in the long run.

3. You’re never feeling 100 percent

How often do you complain to your friends or roommates that you’re tired or feeling sick? Probably a lot more than any of us would care to admit. “Many of us are actually stress addicts,” says Dr. Vranich. We try to take on more tasks (whether they’re academic, professional, extracurricular or even social) than any person can reasonably handle, and then suffer long-term health consequences as a result. She adds that feeling chronically tired, sick or achy is often stress-related. “You might be having backaches, but told that your back’s okay, you have migraines even though you’ve done everything you’re supposed to, you have stomach problems even though you don’t have any food allergies—having something wrong that isn’t being resolved is usually related to stress.”

Dr. Vranich compares being stressed out to having a cup of strong coffee—when we’re high on caffeine, we feel like we can accomplish anything. When we’re stressed out, we feel a certain high from being busy or feeling important. But in the long term, after the caffeine wears off, we come crashing down and feeling energetic becomes difficult again. If you’re getting headaches or you’re achy and lethargic for lengthy periods of time, try some yoga or deep breathing instead of reaching for a bottle of Advil and see if it really is stress at the root of your problem.

4. You’re not winding down

You've heard a million times that you should be getting your eight hours of sleep every night, but it's a heck of a lot easier said than done. “Most people nowadays can’t go to sleep right away, wake up too early or are just having bad sleep altogether,” says Dr. Vranich. “Part of it is that we go from running and running and running all day to just wanting to switch off the light and go to sleep. Your body just doesn’t work that way.” She advises to come up with a nightly routine to wind down with—which is definitely much easier said than done, when we’re often at club or group project meetings until late at night or studying for exams into the wee hours of the morning.

“I have started to force myself to go home at a certain time so I can make dinner and rest for about an hour and a half, and make sure I go to bed at a decent hour,” says Amber. “It's better to get enough sleep and start your day early than not get enough sleep and force yourself to get up early the next day!” Amber also adds that she avoids caffeinated beverages after 2:00 p.m. every day.

Investing in a planner and setting aside a little bit of time at the start of the week to figure out when you’ll be able to get your work done (without having to cram an entire project into one night) will help you visualize your week and incorporate your eight hours each night. And of course (you’ve probably heard this a million times, but it never seems to be enough), you should try to stop checking your laptop and phone at least thirty minutes before you hit the hay.

5. You’re not breathing right

Surely you’ve heard that taking a few deep breaths can do wonders when you’re stressed out or in a panic. But did you know that there’s actually a right way to breathe? Dr. Vranich explains the importance of horizontal breathing, as opposed to vertical. Most of us are vertical breathers, meaning we use only part of our lung capacity to take in air, making our breaths shallow. When we’re stressed out, we tend to tense up our shoulders and neck and use them when we breathe in—which sends signals to our body to increase heart rate and release cortisol, inducing even more stress. Instead, we should be making use of our abdomen and diaphragm and expand them outward—horizontally—when we take in air. This is why Dr. Vranich also refers to this as “belly breathing”—it allows us to make full use of our lung capacity.

Because breathing is something we do without thinking, it can be difficult to change the way we do it—but it can happen with a bit of focus and practice. A physical sign of stress is less oxygen in the blood, and the only way to get that oxygen back is deeper, more focused breathing.

6. You’re not prioritizing

Dr. Vranich suggests that each day we ask ourselves, “What do I have to do today, and what don’t I have to do today?” We take pride in being busy and a go-getter, because we see it as a sign of being successful. However, there’s a fine line between being accomplished and neglecting our health. We have a false idea in our heads that the world will fall apart if we take even a short time away for ourselves—“and most of the time, it won’t,” she says. “There should be a point where sleep becomes sacred.” We should be sure that we are spending our precious time doing things we really need and want to be doing; it can be as simple as not checking Facebook after a certain time, or deciding to leave a party early because you know your eight hours of sleep are more important than hanging back at an event you aren’t even really enjoying.

Of course, when we’re balancing school, part-time jobs, internships, clubs, friends and family, eliminating stress completely will probably never be possible. But there does come a point where it becomes too much to handle, and you know you need to scale back. Learning good stress-relief habits now will help you later in life, both personally and professionally. Never feel guilty about taking some time for yourself—self-care is as important as any of your other myriad of responsibilities!

College is meant to enrich our lives and make us lifelong learners. But we’ve all felt a bit exasperated with the seemingly useless, not-remotely-applicable-to-the-real-world lessons we’ve been taught. While we may never need to know algebra at our day jobs, these topics do prove there are just some things you can’t learn in a classroom.

1. How to travel

There’s a lot that goes into traveling. Not only do you have to make excruciatingly detailed travel arrangements but you have to learn to go with the flow and interact peacefully with other people.

2. How to complete a proper binge-watching session

As we all know, Netflix is a dangerous habit. That’s why learning how to binge-watch without consequences is something you can only learn with lots of practice.

3. How to be a good friend

Everyone has that one friend they complain about constantly. But every now and then, you have to take a step back and check whether or not you’re living up to your own standards of friendship. It goes both ways!

4. How to be alone

It’s good if you can learn to be alone. You don’t always need people surrounding you. Take some time to yourself, and you’ll be surprised at the recharge it gives you.

5. How to deal in a work environment

The real world is not like college where you only see your peers a couple of days a week. You have to learn how to work with people who don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with you. While your professors may have you believe this is the purpose of those endlessly annoying group projects, it’s a bit different when it’s a long-term arrangement.

6. How to get (and know) what you want

The first step in getting what you want is knowing what you want. Most importantly, never settle. This applies to your career, your dating life, and even your grocery list.

7. How to lose control

You can’t control every situation, and there’s no sense in worrying about things you can’t change. Although it’s tough, don’t stress yourself out. Rather, let go and lean in.

8. How to love the little things

For all its fun times and serious efforts to make us successful, functioning human beings, college doesn’t exactly show us how to enjoy the simpler things in life. When it’s all said and done, you’ll be much happier if you appreciate small joys.

9. How to be yourself

Learning to be comfortable in your own skin is tricky. But this one takes time and adjustment. You’ll be better for it on the other side, too.