Lifestyle

Sunday, September 7, 2025

(Lesser Known) Hacks for Life's Problems

The Sims 3 © Electronic Arts

Wouldn't it be great to feel happy 100% of the time and sad 0% of the time? For whatever reason that's not possible, but these lesser known strategies can help make the shitty moments not as shitty...(hopefully)

1.

Problem: You Can't Get Over Someone

Imagine your situationship flips a switch and ghosts you (don't ask). The first thing you're likely going to do is put on headphones and listen to music to drown out your thoughts. STOP. When you listen to music while you're having strong feelings, those feelings become associated with the songs you listen to. At some point you will start to feel better, but once you put your headphones on again, you're going to get transported right back to how you felt the day you got broken up with...and it takes awhile to untie the feelings you tied to your favorite songs. While this might seem drastic, it does help—don't listen to music until you're over it (or at least not sobbing about it).

2.

You're Depressed for No Apparent Reason

While there isn't a clear-cut solution here, you know what makes things infinitely worse? Watching the news. If you take a week-long break from staying up to date on all the current and awful events happening around you, I promise things will feel at least slightly better. Ignorance truly is bliss—have a friend carry the burden of seeing what's going on and only telling you about things that are relevant to you.

3.

You Hate Your Life

Speaking from experience, the best way to dissociate when you hate your life is by building your dream life in The Sims. There's endless DLC, giving you the ability to live out the life you actually want. The reason why this is a hack is because building your dream life without real-life's roadblocks getting in the way might actually help you identify what makes you happy—and you can change your real life accordingly. (Not me discovering that I didn't want to be with my boyfriend when I didn't build him into my sims dream home.)

4.

You're Trapped in a Routine and Life Feels Like a Simulation

I cannot stress this enough: give yourself side quests to embark on (the weirder the better). For example, I wanted an invite on someone's boat—who doesn't want to go on a boat? I took my sketch pad and pencil down to the marina and acted very interested in illustrating (I don't draw). There was an older man cleaning up around his boat and when we made eye contact, I waved. He immediately got off the boat and walked up the dock to talk to me. I told him I was getting back into drawing to which he replied "That's so interesting!" Not even 2 minutes into the conversation he told me his boat was all mine. Before embarking on this quest, the plan for that day was looking at Instagram reels. Which sounds more interesting?

Friday, July 11, 2025

Is Pilates Worth the Hype?

Every girl in San Diego is on the Pilates wave right now, raising the question—is it worth the hype? As someone who has tried almost all of the pilates studios in the 92109 (thank you ClassPass free trials), I feel qualified to speak on this topic. The origin of pilates dates back to the early 20th century. Joseph Pilates initially named this method of exercise “contrology”, emphasizing the mind’s control over the body. Pilates encompasses a mind and body connection with slow and controlled movements combined with moves that require balance and coordination. I think it has gained so much popularity recently because the movements can look very “aesthetically pleasing” and “graceful” by nature. Pilates studios also provide a very feminine atmosphere for girls to feel comfortable as opposed to regular gyms, which are male-dominated spaces. In short, yes, I think it is worth the hype, but I will list some pros and cons so you can decide for yourself (based on my experience with reformer-based pilates classes).

Pros

It's fun!! using the straps and equipment changes things up and keeps things exciting.
It’s low impact and allows for gentle stretching.
It’s usually accompanied by fun hype-up music to keep you motivated.
The instructors help correct your form and encourage you along the way.

Cons

You might be judged by the girl in the matching Alo set next to you.
Some of the poses the instructors put you in will have you questioning your life choices (genuinely how did someone come up with these).
You might fall/lose your balance and embarrass yourself in front of everyone.
The intensity of the workout is fully dependent on the mood of the instructor that day.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Summer Playlist

Day

Night

If you hate yourself:

Party Girls—Grant Ellis (The Bachelor)

Friday, June 27, 2025

Summer Sports: Our Ratings

If you're wondering which sport to pick up this summer, we can help. And if there's anything we know a lot about, it's balls. Kickball, volleyball, spikeball, and pickleball—which one is our fave?

Pickleball

Fun: 2/5
Pain: 1/5
Crowd: 3/5

An arguably NOT better version of tennis. The crowd can be questionable sometimes, but a simple vibe check before a match goes a long way. Since the court is smaller for pickleball than for tennis, the physical exertion is kept at an acceptable level. PSA: You may want to watch out for thirsty men with this sport.

Kickball

Fun: 3/5
Pain: 1/5
Crowd: 4/5

The fun to pain ratio is pretty good for kickball, making it a solid choice this summer. Sometimes running a lot can hurt, but making it through all the bases in one go makes it all worth it. We recommend joining a team with a group of friends to make it even more fun.

Volleyball

Fun: 4/5
Pain: 5/5
Crowd: 5/5

This might be the most painful summer sport but the crowd and level of fun make up for it. Be prepared for wrist bruises, sand and sun burn, neck pain, and getting stabbed in the foot with pieces of shell. You get to be on the beach, though!

Spikeball

Fun: 2/5
Pain: 1/5
Crowd: 4/5

Another beach sport but this one tends to attract a certain type of man. I don't know how to describe who they are as individuals but they are oddly competitive when given a tiny ball and a mini trampoline. Please proceed at your own risk.

Babes on Beryl Magazine

Pages