By: Mitali Chaudhary
It’s time for sweatpants, bruised-looking under-eyes, and the I-just-woke-up hair: it’s midterm season. Luckily, exactly 95.87% of the stress can be avoided this year by these helpful DON’Ts for the midterms.
There’s no use in rationalizing the hours you plan to spend on Netflix, or convincing yourself of the reason you need to watch one more episode. You know it in your bones that there’s no way you’re stopping at “one more episode”.
2. Take five-minute Facebook/Tumblr/Reddit breaks.
They’re never five minutes long – the range is more like one to two hours – and you know it. It’s no use even getting on those sites in the first place because they suck you in. No one enjoys that soul-crushing post-surfing oh-my-god-I-wasted-so-much-time-on-the-internet guilt either but we all still do it. Because this activity is so addicting, it’s better not to engage in it in the first place, since we clearly get transported into another dimension where time always breaks the speed limit.
3. Put yourself through six-hour, no-break study blitzes.
Especially the night before the midterm. Although it may seem like a good idea when it first crosses your panic-stricken brain, it’s an extremely counter-productive practice. On average, the human brain can focus on a single task for no more than a stretch of 45 minutes. Taking short, frequent breaks while studying gives the brain some time to absorb what it just learned and gets it ready for another informational onslaught.
4. Become a total hermit.
Sitting in your room all day, only coming out to forage for food, is tiresome. We’re on the edge of Cootes Paradise! Taking short walks and getting some exercise into your schedule improves concentration, gets the heart pumping, and is a good way to spend a study break. It’s also a nice change of scenery—fall is beautiful at McMaster and it’s worth venturing out for before winter comes our way.
5. Procrastinate.
Okay that sounds like the most “duh” DON’T, but avoiding it is the best way to succeed during any time of the year. Dividing your hours up into study and break time as well as time to eat and sleep (good nights of sleep are key!) will help you focus on one thing at a time and keep you on track. Honestly, the hardest part about this is making a realistic schedule—you just have to stick to it afterwards, which is pure willpower. The feeling of satisfaction that comes with completing all your tasks in a day is worth it, I promise.
And with these five tips, as well as some smart studying, you’ll be able to breeze past midterm season with ease to face the more dreaded finals. You’re welcome.
The football team remains undefeated in a 28-19 win over Queen’s in front of a sellout crowd. Quarterback Marshall Ferguson spread the ball to eight different receivers to toss 376 total yards with two touchdowns. Chris Pezzetta also tallied a solid 154 yards rushing. Kicker Tyler Crapigna hit a 41-yarder to give him 76 all-time, and is just one below the record set by Western’s Lirim Hajrullahu for OUA’s all-time career leader in field goals. Sherbrooke’s William Dion holds the CIS record with 82 career field goals. The Marauders travel next to Western in a battle of undefeated teams.
Both men’s and women’s soccer went to Guelph. The men suffered their first loss on Saturday in a 2-1 effort as Mark Reilly scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season with the hope of a comeback in the 77th minute. Sunday’s game at McMaster fared much better in a 3-1 victory over Waterloo with a convincing second half with goals at the 65th, 79th, and 80th minute marks. They slip to third with a 6-1-2 record in the West OUA division.
The women lost the lead late in a 1-1 draw with midfielder Maureen Mai having an unrelenting offensive attack with the team’s lone goal, and five shots with three of those on target. A 74th-minute strike by Guelph resulted in the draw. The return back to McMaster did not fare better as the team was not able to complete the comeback, losing 4-3 to Waterloo. An explosive start to the second half to put Waterloo up 4-1 was nearly nullified with two late-game goals, but it was too little, too late. They slip to sixth with a 3-5-1 record, and travel with the men’s team to face Brock next.
Men’s rugby improved to 5-0 while handing Queen’s their first loss of the season in an 18-13 game. The team was able to respond quickly to offensive pressure in an extremely back-and-forth effort by both teams. With their 18 points, the Marauders surpassed the total of 17 that Queen’s had conceded through their first four games of the season. McMaster travels to face Brock next.
Women’s rugby gave up a 17-point lead to draw against Guelph 27-27. With McMaster captain Cindy Nelles in the penalty box, Guelph capitalized with two tries and one hit convert to make it 27-22. In the dying moments of the game, Guelph made the try, but the potentially game-winning convert hit the upright and bounced wide. The team faces Toronto next at McMaster’s Back Ten field.
By: Daniella Porano
As a university student, money is always tight. My decimated bank account is used to cover the basics of classes, food, rent, and my personal favourite, $200 hundred-dollar textbooks that professors never end up using. To my great sadness, this leaves virtually no room in my budget for purchasing new clothes and creating a dream wardrobe. Fortunately, basics that most university students have can be reworked into easy outfits that feel fresh and new.
The first step to having a wardrobe that is functional and versatile is investing in quality basic pieces. Step away from the Forever 21 denim rack and think about pieces that need to last. If you’re like me, buying cheap “fast-fashion” clothing at discount retailers in the mall feels wasteful, especially when they tend to fall apart after the first wash.
On the same note, while I love reading fashion magazines and browsing designer boutiques, the cheapest of pieces are still completely unaffordable to most university students. The compromising middle ground for us underfunded fashionistas is searching for quality pieces to build your outfits around. To do this, look for proper and in-line stitching, nice material, and a great personal fit, and don’t be afraid to spend some time in big box stores like Winners or even secondhand stores like Value Village, where quality (and designer) pieces can turn up for fractions of the original retail prices.
Most importantly, do not ignore your footwear and bag choices. The easiest way to jazz up the most basic of outfits is to subscribe to the power of a statement bag and perfect shoes. Although, I’d argue it’s important to invest in timeless pieces like neutral coloured boots (combat, riding, heeled booties, or other lasting styles) and similarly with bags, there is room to play with trends and vibrant colours and patterns. To make sure this works well and to ensure your style remains affordable, select pieces that mesh well with your basic pieces. Consider your current wardrobe whenever you go shopping for colourful or trendy pieces that accent your outfit and bring your personal style to life.
For example, I live in all shades of blue (particularly navy), black, and varying hues of gray, so when I shop for statement pieces I gravitate towards complimentary maroons, reds, and pinks. Keeping an inventory of the colours and styles of your basics makes shopping easier, more affordable, and keeps clothing from the dreaded ‘do-not wear’ pile at the back of your closet.
Every pair of quality dark-wash skinny jeans I own are quite possibly the best purchases I’ve ever made. The key to this style is simple: find a few pairs that fit you extremely well and build outfits around them. I’ve styled my own black and dark-wash blue jeans with everything from dressy peplum tops and colourful heels to a plain white t-shirt and combat boots with perfect ease. To change it up, try colourful denim alternatives like oxblood, military green, or dark gray.
Collared button-up shirts are one of my favourite pieces to wear. More fun than simple t-shirts, and not as dressy or demanding as silky blouses, they’re the perfect pieces to build an outfit around. Chambray/denim, solid colours, or even plaid, have the effect of looking prim and proper when buttoned up with a statement necklace, or looking cool and easy paired with boyfriend jeans and smoking slippers. Experiment layering under chunky knits or fitted cropped sweaters for fall for a cozy and refreshing outfit. Alternate between pairing with flared skirts and formfitting denim. Tuck them in or leave them loose. Button them up or leave them open with a great tee underneath. The options are limitless and perfect for chilly weather.
As Canadians, we can’t survive without a sturdy fall coat. Invest in a coat that goes with the majority of your wardrobe and that makes you feel instantly put together when you put it on. For me, it’s my navy military-esque trench, but it can be anything depending on your personal style. A perfectly cut leather jacket or a worn distressed denim jacket, a camel coloured trench or a cozy blanket coat, can be all that is required for a perfect fall outfit.
