Month: March 2023

My “Go To” Apps as a Young Adult

On March 31, 2023

In 2023, we will use our phones more than ever. And even if I try and break the bad habit, it is hard to rationalize it because of how easy it has made my life. So, although apps play a huge role in an organized life, I will show you my top apps for young adults!

Google Calendar

Yes, I have raved about this app in other posts, but that shows how much I use it! My boyfriend and I use google calendar for everything. For example, we share a calendar called “Zoe and Drake’s Calendar.” On this calendar, we put EVERYTHING. I mean from work shifts to when the trash cans must be pulled out to the curb, expiration dates, and more. We both have a busy schedules, so google calendar has been a lifesaver. We can see when we have time for dates and what our upcoming week looks like.

Suppose you feel overwhelmed with house responsibilities, classes, and appointments. I cannot say enough good things about this app!

Mint

Mint is another heavy hitter for me. Being a young adult comes with financial struggles for most people. Especially when you are in school! I downloaded Mint the day I turned 18 to manage my credit score and practice financial literacy. On the Mint app, you link your bank account and credit information. Once connected, you have all of your finances in one spot. Mint tracks your spending habits and graphs them for you weekly.

Mint also gives you a sum of all the money in your accounts, showing your net worth. On Mint, you can also add different assets, such as properties.

I love the mint app as it helps me keep track of student loans and spending habits and gives me a broad look at my financial situation at any given time.

Provided by Intuit (creator of Mint app)

Yelp

I feel that Yelp is one of those apps that everyone knows about but doesn’t see the full potential of the app. Yelp provides every single detail you need to know about a business before you try to visit it. Yelp has been fantastic in keeping business hours updated and preventing me from wasting time, money, or gas. I also love Yelp because the app provides a “featured” tab- letting you explore new restaurants, spas, and other things in your area. I love this aspect because it is a common struggle of never knowing what I want to eat or getting sick of the usual restaurants in my area.

Yelp also allows users to leave reviews; this feature has been a holy grail. I have been interested in going somewhere several times, and I checked the reviews and was happy I didn’t. So again, Yelp saves you time, money, and effort.

Fig

This is definitely for a more niche group of young adults with food allergies.

I have severe gluten intolerance and struggle with finding food as quickly as others. For example, the grocery store used to be a two- or three-hour excursion, and now with the fig app, I can scan an item, and it tells me if it has gluten in it.

There have been instances where I thought a product at the grocery store was “gluten-free,” and it turns out it wasn’t. So now, when I utilize the Fig app, I don’t have to worry about hidden gluten ingredients; I can only buy what I can eat.

If you try any of these apps, let me know how you like them! They have made my life a lot more efficient and organized, and as a young adult, that is critical.

Why I chose Public Relations

By Zoe Taylor

On March 31, 2023

In Uncategorized

Choosing a major in college is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I went through several majors as I took courses in high school, and I changed again during my first year. As a sophomore wrapping up their semester, I am confident In my major, Public Relations. So… how did I get here?

The first major I selected was Political Science. I am very passionate about politics and believe that they can change every person’s experience in this country. However, as I took a few courses, I realized, “wow, this is a lot of talk about the internal side of the government.” I quickly fell bored with discussing the processes by which the government does things. I had a different idea in my head of what I wanted to do: advocate!

Wanting to use my voice and advocate led me to Journalism. Journalism was a fun major; I worked for my university newspaper and took a writing class. I fell in love with writing and planning to strategically use my words for different outcomes. However, there was a catch: interviews. I hated conducting one on ones with people. Half of the time, people would cancel last minute, or I just felt that I liked to be the “big picture” person and create the interview goals, not do them!

This led me to where I am today, a public relations major. I wanted to use my strategic frame of thought but not have to dig for content. I loved writing and creating ideas that would later translate into public relations campaigns.

I would love to say that I arrived at this swift conclusion alone. However, I have to give credit where credit is due. My best friend is a senior at the University of Oklahoma, and she chose public relations as her interest. As I went to her for guidance is selecting a career path, she displayed her love for public relations and truly inspired me to take it on. Now a year later, I love it more and more every day.

Aliana Head (Public Relations Bestie) is on the left side.

Why Am I So Excited?

Honestly, utilizing social media (specifically TikTok) has given me the idea of an actual “day in the lives” of public relations specialists, and I couldn’t be more excited. I love interacting with brands as a consumer, and getting to interact with the public on account of a brand is even more exciting. I plan to showcase my drive, attention to detail, and creative communication style to excel in the field.

If you have any interest in the public relations field, do it! I have had a fantastic time educating myself about the area, and I hope always to stay learning.

Seeking Out Mental Health Services During your Time in College

By Zoe Taylor

On March 31, 2023

In College Help

Featured Image provided by NPR.

Mental health can be a slippery slope for some people, and it can be incredibly hard to value your mental well-being during college. So I want to help others navigate the difficult world of bettering their mental health!

So I recently had an experience regarding my mental health that made me realize how difficult it can be to try and seek help as a young adult. I am notorious for not feeling like a real adult or having imposter syndrome.

I find it hard to do tasks like going to the doctor because there are so many things that I feel like I still do know as a young adult. But, come on, a 20-year-old, freshly moved out, is supposed to know her co-pay?! Especially in the United States, where the healthcare system depends on insurance. This adds another layer of fear that people seeking help have to conquer.

Well, I did it! With very little help from my parents, I braved of going to a physiatrist and trying to figure out to be the best version of myself regarding my mental health.

From my experience, I want to advise other young adults when they feel they need mental health services!

Check your University for Services

Most universities offer mental health services to their students. For example, I attend the University of Oklahoma, and here we have an entire webpage dedicated to all the mental health services provided.

The University of Oklahoma provides free counseling to its students and other treatment services for a discounted price.

Make sure to check your university (no matter the size!) for their way of providing mental health services to their students.

Check your Insurance

This is where it can start to get tricky. If you want to go outside the university’s services, you must check if 1) you have insurance and 2) (if you do) what that insurance is. From here, you have two options; if you do not have insurance, you will want to check your state’s government-provided insurance program and see if you qualify. If you have insurance, you can type in whatever you want. For example, I love using “Zodoc.”

This website lets you say what type of doctor you are looking for, where you are located, and your insurance! Once you do this, you will be asked questions to find the best doctor. In addition, many will have their appointment system hooked up, allowing you to do telehealth visits.

Lean on Friends and Family

If you are still lost and have no clue where to start: reach out to those around you.

Many students may lack a familial figure; however, being a university student, you have a built-in system for support. Reach out to trusted professors and peers with shared experiences, and even call the Counseling Services office to ask questions if you need to!

Asking questions is the first step in getting help and is essential to getting the treatment you need. Being a student can be challenging; lean on your resources and never be afraid to ask for help!

Balancing work, school, and relationships as a college student!

By Zoe Taylor

On March 31, 2023

In College Help

Finding time in a schedule as tightly packed as a student who works can feel impossible. However, every student has struggled with finding the right tiering of priorities, and I have found the ways that help me best to allocate my time wisely!

Visualizing your time

Utilizing apps such as Google Calendar and Apples Calender can change your time management. Taking the mental load off of remembering your commitments and having them all in one place allows extra time to spend on hobbies and self-care.

I like to color code my Google Calender by the type of activity. For example, Red is for school-related things, blue is for work, and green is for plans with friends and family.

Reclaim.ai Blog

Utilizing a calendar is essential to see where I can fit last-minute plans and study times and when my free time is.

Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries with work, school, and even family and friends is another critical aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while balancing work and college. I struggle with this, as I typically think I have more hours in a day than I do. This leads to committing to things when I haven’t allowed myself enough time to recharge.

Creating these boundaries and saying no to work shifts, extra credit assignments, and plans with friends allows students to breathe and exit their “fight or flight” mode. Exiting “fight or flight” mode provides time to reflect on your college career and check in with yourself and your future goals. I also found that when I lack “recharging” time, I can become irritable and not feel engaged during things that matter to me.

It can be hard to set these boundaries, but if you can’t put energy into something, you’ll never reap the benefits of your hard work.

Getting Rid of Unachievable Expectations

This can be very hard for those who struggle with perfectionism. However, taking a step back and seeing that not every assignment you turn in has to receive a 100% grade and that you don’t have to be the highest performer at work can relieve a level of stress off your shoulders.

Being a student is a job in itself, and when you pile in relationships, internships, work, and so much more, it is near impossible to do every single one of those perfectly. So avoid burnout by realizing that sometimes you can only give half your usual effort, which is okay!

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Lastly, one of the hardest lessons every student must learn is that it is okay to ask for help! Many professors, parents, and counselors even encourage it. It takes deep self-reflection and humility to ask for help, and it should never be looked down on! Leaning on your peers during this time should be highlighted more in college because we wouldn’t have a support system without our peers.

If you feel overwhelmed by your daily life, use these tips to ground yourself and get the most out of your days. You are in control of your life and should feel that way! Prioritize your mental well-being and learn ways to achieve your long-term goals healthily. Good luck!