Were you invited to a Super Bowl party but don’t know who’s playing? Maybe your best friend is a huge fan of the Baltimore… Bills? Don’t know who Patrick Mahomes is and at this point you’re too afraid to ask? Look no further, this is the article for you. 

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest television events of the year. It’s the one day when it seems like everyone, even those who don’t care about football the other 364 days, suddenly come out with very strong opinions about what a bunch of millionaire men do or don’t do with a ball. I’m not here to turn you into a die-hard fan. If you’re tired of “Superb Owl” jokes, or saying you only watch for the commercials, or having nothing to talk to your friends about until the halftime show, then I’m here to help. 

These tips are applicable to most sports, but particularly to team sports, and can be adapted at your own discretion. Here are my top five things to say while watching a sporting event to convince others that you totally understand what’s going on: 

1. “Consistency”
How to use it:
“So long as we stay consistent…”
“If we can just stay consistent…”
“I’ve been saying it all season. It’s in the consistency.”
When to use it: When the conversation turns to discussing performance or strategy, also known as couch coaching or armchair quarterbacking. It’s particularly useful when the team your friends are cheering for messes up. This kind of talk is typically critical, but this is a good and versatile phrase to use. It’s also unique enough that you shouldn’t be suspected of simply parroting buzzwords. 

2. “Stay healthy”
How to use it:
“The players need to stay healthy.”
“We need to play smart and not get hurt.”
“There’s been a lot of injuries this season.”
Keep your tone light while still sounding like what you’re saying means something. Don’t be so serious as to let them think that you have strong feelings about a particular player or incident.
When to use it: Like talking about consistency, this is a good neutral option. You can throw this one out during small talk pretty much anytime. During a game, you can say this whenever someone on your team gets hurt. 

3. “Let’s hold on to it”
How to use it:
“Let’s see if we can hold on to the lead.”
“We need to hold on to the lead.”
“Alright, in the lead, let’s hold on to it.”
When to use it: This one requires you to be sure that the team you (or your friends) want to win is the one currently winning. Toss this out during the celebration moment after they’ve taken a lead, or when the other team scores and gets close to overtaking your team. This is a good one to use when your team is winning near the end of the game. 

4. “Big plays”
How to use it:
“Let’s see some big plays out there.”
“We’re playing too much small ball.”
“We need a big play. Make something happen.”
Repeatable. 
When to use it: When things are getting boring and your team isn’t doing great. At some point past the halfway mark, there’s bound to be a lull in the proceedings. This is a good thing to say to kindly pump some energy back into the room. You can also use this one anytime your team hasn’t done anything exciting in a while, especially when losing. Some games are just bad to watch, and this is a nice, optimistic contribution. 

5. Pick a non-score number on the screen and say it like it means something. 
How to use it: 
“Only eight minutes left!”
“Fourth-and-5.”
“52 passing yards already?”
Repeatable.
When to use it: This tip requires you to pay attention a bit to the function of the scoreboard. The score should be easy to find. Don’t say that one. There might also be a small number that keeps counting down separate from the game clock that starts at either 40 or 25. Don’t say that one either unless it’s about to hit zero. For all other numbers, you’re probably safe. The game time is a good one because it’s easy to find on the screen and will make it look like you’re staying invested in following the game. If you still aren’t sure, take note of what numbers everyone else is saying and use those. 

6. Extra: Just ask questions 
How to use it:
We all love to talk about the stuff we like. Sports fans love to talk about sports. Odds are that whoever you’re watching with won’t care if you don’t know a touchback from a technical foul, and if they do, they probably won’t be fun to watch a game with anyway.

Let yourself be curious, but don’t expect them to walk you through every single second. Ask about words you don’t understand, rules that you can’t figure out, or what a statistic is measuring. Try guessing what the referee is going to call or complain if they make a call against your team. Throw in your two cents about the slow-motion replay. 

Whatever you do, remember that at the end of the day, it’s just a game and games are supposed to be fun. Get out there and have a good time!

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Something about early November always creates the most unproductive energy. Now that midterms are over and Halloween has passed, I thought that I would feel like I crossed a finish line. The only problem is… we’re not finished. There’s still another month left in the semester – man, even writing that makes me feel exhausted. So, now that both your mood and my own are ruined, how can we deal with this feeling of burnout?

What is ‘burnout’?
Burnout is a feeling of emotional, mental and physical distress or fatigue. It is usually caused by extreme or constant stress, commonly arising in work and school environments. Although burnout can look different for everyone, some common symptoms are unhappiness, lack of motivation, constant procrastination, excessive tiredness, lowered self-esteem, feeling helpless and emotional detachment, according to the World Health Organization.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, keep reading! If you aren’t but you know someone who is, consider sending this article their way.

WAYS TO COPE WITH BURNOUT

Self-care
There are many types of self-care, so set aside some time in the morning or the evening for yourself. For physical stress relief, try napping, yoga, going on a walk, exercising or having a snack. For emotional wellbeing, try journaling, venting to a consenting friend and meditation. And for personal happiness, you can never go wrong with a facemask and manicure – and a RESPONSIBLE shopping trip.

Time your breaks
The ”Pomodoro Technique” helps with focus and productivity through timed breaks. First, set a timer for 25 minutes before beginning a task, then when those 25 minutes are up, take a five-minute break. Repeat this four times, and the fourth break will be longer. This method incentivizes you to get as much done before the timer goes off – kind of like a game. If 25 minutes is too long or if five minutes is too short, play with the numbers until you find your groove!

Ask for help
It can feel daunting to talk with your professors about mental health and burnout, but I have learned that many of my professors have experienced these same frustrations and don’t mind sharing their tips! Nine times out of ten times, your professor will be understanding and willing to work things out with you. If you need an extension on a paper or if you need to take a day off, just communicate with your professor about your needs so that they can help you before it’s too late. Remember, they were (and maybe still are) students, too.

Talk it out
It has been shown that talking about your problems helps. Putting your feelings into words helps your body release that tension, making it easier to sort through the negative emotions. Find a friend who is willing to listen for a different perspective on your issues or try out a therapist for a professional opinion. Journaling and writing out your frustrations can help with organizing thoughts and finding solutions on your own.

Set boundaries
Time and time again, people end up stretching themselves thin by trying to do everything others ask them to do. This is NOT healthy! Your time is valuable and important, so manage it well. Make sure that you are giving yourself enough room to do what you need and want to do before you hand it over to others. When you end up agreeing to things you don’t want to do, it shows either through body language, tone or (usually a lack of) planning. It might feel bad for the first five minutes, but saying no can save a lot of physical and emotional energy.

Try something new
Hobbies can help get your mind off of the hard stuff. But if you are too good at something, multitasking becomes a lot easier. Finding something new to do like knitting or dancing to keep yourself busy can help you find fulfillment until you can deal with other things. But remember, hobbies are hobbies and should not be used to avoid dealing with life.

RESOURCES ON CAMPUS
There are plenty of people and places around campus that can help support you when you’re feeling mentally, physically and academically down. Here are a few options.

Counseling Services
Located on the intermediate level of Curry Hall, the Counseling Services provides confidential psychological support and mental health resources. The Counseling Services offer individual TeleHealth therapy through AcademicLiveCare (ALC), where students can connect with professionals for psychotherapy, 24-hour crisis and support services, nutrition, psychiatric services, discounted prescription programs and urgent care. 

Additionally, students can talk with the Counseling Services every weekday through Let’s Talk, a brief in-person counseling meeting for more problem-solving issues. If you just need to talk, then Let’s Talk is for you!

Monday and Wednesday: 11:00-11:50 a.m. and 2:00-2:50 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30-10:20 a.m. and 1:00-1:50 p.m.
Friday: 10:30-11:20 a.m.

Lastly, the Counseling Services provide group support sessions where each week a relevant new topic is discussed.

Accessibility Services
Down the hall from the Counseling center in Curry Hall, the Accessibility Services provide support and resources to those with disabilities as well as learning, academic, housing and dining accommodations at Jewell.

Health Center
Also on the intermediate level of Curry Hall, the Health Center is free for all current students and $15 per visit for graduate students and employees. The Health Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Telehealth medical visits are also available and can be used for health services like medication refills, allergies, asthma, stomach issues, colds and flu, infections, sprains, injuries, rashes and so much more. If you have something going on, our nurse practitioner can help! To get in touch with Telehealth services, email heathcenter@william.jewell.edu. 

Student Success Center
The Student Success Center offers many resources and support systems to ensure that your time at Jewell is… well… successful. The Student Success Center offers tutoring, writing labs, test preparation and more. For more information on the Student Success Center and its resources, you can enroll in the Brightspace course (from the homepage, click ‘Discover’, then search ‘Student Success Center’ and enroll in the course!)

Do you ever feel like a walking zombie in your day-to-day life? Are you constrained by obligations for school, work and other people? Taking back control of your life can seem impossible to achieve when you are constantly on the go and committing your time to everyone except yourself. As college students, maintaining a sense of self over course work, athletic responsibilities and social relationships takes some practice. For anyone looking to recalibrate their life, here are a few tips that might help you find some balance.

1. One step at a time

Waking up is one of the most difficult things to do when you have somewhere to be. Lazing around in bed for a few more minutes sounds much better than showering, finding clothes to wear, gathering your necessary belongings and leaving the house. When thinking about the things you need to do, it can become harder to achieve them – a common problem for those who struggle with time management. Rather than actually doing a task, you may start to overthink about how to start the task, how long the task will take and each individual step along the way. 

If you catch yourself overthinking, take a deep breath and start one step at a time. Breaking down your tasks into manageable pieces is less likely to overwhelm you and will also provide you with short-term motivation to get up and do it. 

2. It’s okay to say no

Scheduling events, classes, dates and other important occasions might be stressful and draining. On the other hand, the fear of missing out – commonly abbreviated as FOMO –  is also anxiety-inducing for some. Remembering that life will always go on whether you say yes or no to a commitment is a pretty big pill to swallow even if it seems obvious.
Remember that it is necessary to say no sometimes. Staying at home at least one day a week – perhaps during the weekend – to cleanse your mind, body and living space may make a positive difference in your life. Having time to yourself is just as important as maintaining a good image with society. This does not mean you should cancel plans when you just don’t feel like going. Instead, make your plans with caution and remember the commitments you’ve already made.

3. Mistakes will happen

Nobody is perfect and one mistake isn’t going to ruin your whole life. It’s okay to feel bad about problems that have occurred in the past, but at some point you need to learn from it and move on. Fixating on old troubles and mistakes can become unhealthy and learning to let go of these thoughts could be the key to your growth. Accept that the past is the past and prioritize living in the moment. 

Writing down everything you feel is holding you back and then throwing it away may help you move on from past mistakes. Just because you did something bad in the past doesn’t mean you can’t grow. Our lives are linear – they move forward no matter what.

4. Keep yourself on track

Loosely plan out your day. You don’t have to plan all the way down to the minute but try to have an arranged time for work, relaxation and sleep. By scheduling your day, it will become easier to accept or decline plans from others. You will start to feel like you have more free time to do things you want or need to do. Sometimes you might forget what you were supposed to do in a day or you might forget you have an appointment somewhere – this is where scheduling might help. 

One way to keep yourself on track is to have a journal or planner to write down what you did that day and what you’d like to achieve the next day.

5. The Law of Attraction

You are more likely to find things you desire if you believe that good things will come to you. The Law of Attraction suggests that positivity attracts positivity. Keep a positive attitude and find ways to relax. There is always good happening around us even if it’s small.

 If you are having a bad day, try to find one good thing around you that makes you happy. Whether it’s your cat or a favorite shirt, you will always have something that will make you feel good.

While you do have obligations, learning to balance your selflessness and selfishness will help you in the long run. Make yourself feel accomplished and happy with your life.

I come from a large family. As the holidays approach I can’t help but think about how the many traditions we are so used to are going to have to change due to COVID-19. As cases continue to rise millions of Americans are going to have to make some tough decisions with regard to the safety of their loved ones. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) have outlined many tips for families during the holiday season. 

There are many risks involved when having any sort of social gathering. Family and friends should consider the number of COVID-19 cases in their surrounding communities when deciding whether to plan a holiday event. Information on the number of cases in a particular area can be found on the area’s health department website. 

The location of the event is also an important factor. Outdoor gatherings or indoor gatherings with plenty of ventilation – such as open doors or windows – are recommended. Families should also keep in mind that longer events and large groups of people pose more of a threat than shorter events and small groups. 

The CDC does not have a recommended number of attendees but states, “The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees, the risk of spread between attendees, and state, local, territorial or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.”

When hosting an event it is a good idea to inform guests of COVID-19 procedures set in place to keep everyone safe. This includes staying as socially distant as possible – six feet is recommended – and wearing protective gear like face masks or shields. Encourage guests to wash their hands frequently and deter them from any physical contact with other guests. 

Consider the locations guests are traveling from as well, and research the current COVID-19 levels in those areas. Encourage guests to consider avoiding contact with those outside their households for 14 days before the event if possible to further reduce risks. Avoid inviting those who are known to not follow these regulations or guests with health concerns that give them a higher risk. 

During the event, make sure all commonly used areas are frequently sanitized and consider touchless garbage disposals. If there is food or drink involved make sure all guests wash hands for at least twenty seconds before preparing, serving or consuming food. Instead of having a potluck, consider asking guests to bring food only for themselves and members of their own household. If serving food, consider having one server only to reduce risk and use single-use dressings, condiments, utensils, plates etc. If choosing to use reusable items, wash and disinfect before and after each use. 

After the celebration, consider staying home for 14 days and avoiding contact with those outside the household. It may be wise to then get tested for COVID-19, especially if experiencing any symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, fever or cough.

Take all of that into consideration, it may be best to just stay virtual. Planning a live online event – like a Zoom Halloween costume contest or Thanksgiving recipe share – is ultimately the safest option with no risks involved.