It is the spring season, and while we love the return of green grass, chirping birds, and beautiful flowers, we do not enjoy the return of cumbersome allergens.
It is such a nuisance to have to overcome allergies day in and day out, when you’re already busy studying for exams, trying to pay attention in class, and going out with friends.
Here are a few tips on how to overcome allergy season, and finish the school year successfully.
Guide to Keeping Allergens OUT
Do not put damp shoes and clothes away, let them dry first, and wash those items before wearing them again
Use the fans in your bathroom to help get rid of humididty
Make sure to frequently wash bathroom rug
Make sure to wash face, hair, arms, and legs after outside activities
Do not keep gardening or outside clothing in the home, and if you do wash it immediately
Choose the “circulate” setting for homes to avoid airborne allergens from outside
Wash bedding weakly to avoid dust mites
PETS are a large source of allergens in the house. If you are going to let them run around outside make sure that you clean them before bringing them in the house.
Spring fever much? To the rest of you out there that also cannot believe that we are half way throughAPRIL already, take this moment to silently freak out and then move forward.
With graduation less than a month away, summer tans, flip flops, and bonfires on the beach on our minds, who can blame us?
For this week, I want your UPkeep to be a little self-reflective. Before this last month escapes us, decide what you want to get out of it.
Do you want to shape up that bikini bod you told yourself you would get toned before spring break? Get on that elliptical, woman!
Do you still need to lock down a summer internship and/or actual grown up job if you are graduating? Keep on that job search grind, you can do it.
Want to cross off some things on your bucket list? Grab a pen and make it happen.
“The man who says he can and the man who says he cannot are both correct.” It is up to us to make things blossom in our lives.
Time and time again, I think we find ourselves so restless in the spring because there is a combination of pent-up energy from winter and anticipation for the upcoming summer. UPkeep is all about improving our lives, making ourselves and our lives the best possible versions they can be.
If you are tapping your foot with anticipation of what’s to come, know that May will be here before you know it. Make the best of right now. Finish strong in school. Spend time with your friends. Wake up that extra 5 minutes earlier to make it a better day.
The weather is getting colder and now being outside takes dedication. Walking to and from class has become a chore, when all you want to do is sprint back from each classroom and tuck yourself into bed with a warm cup of chai tea. But don’t let the frigid temperatures keep you from your daily workouts! Here are some great cold weather options to get you feeling courageous enough to brave the low temperatures.
Head Gear
Headbands - great for keeping hair back and keeping your ears from freezing as you work out. The thicker the headband the more coverage it gets, and your ears will appreciate it. Check out your local workout stores such as lulu lemon or Nike for this item.
Cold Weather Cap - This head piece gives full protection from the cold while keeping your hair secure and out of your way. However, it may become uncomfortable the warmer you get from working out. Test out the headband and the cap to see which item works best for you.
Upper Body
Base Layer - a good base layer lets your body have free range of motion, keeps you warm, and keeps you dry and comfortable. You can find different base layer shirts at your local Dick’s Sporting Goods, or Nike/Adidas outlets.
Insulating Layer - the outer layer should be rain and wind proof, while also being able to protect you from the cold.This Nike Element Shield Running Jacket fits all the requirements of a great outer layer. It is dryfit to help with sweat and has a laminate finish to keep the wind out and the warm in.
Lower Body
Running Tights - One of the greatest cold gear workout inventions ever created! Running tights are perfect for the frigid temps because they are comfortable, they protect your skin from the harsh wind, the dry fit material takes care of all the sweat that you produce, and most importantly they keep you warm!
Hands
Exercise gloves - When you run or exercise outside, your fingers are not going to forgive you. Sometimes its hard to concentrate on finishing a workout when your red frozen hands are in so much pain! That is why investing in some light weight thermal tech run gloves would be a smart idea.
Staying warm during workouts is the key to staying healthy and preventing injuries. When your warm your muscles aren’t as tight and it’s easier for your body to get loose and ease into a workout. Also cold weather brings down your immune system, and if you’re not keeping warm you’ll become vulnerable to getting sick and catching a cold.
Remember stay light but ALWAYS layer. You don’t want to dress to heavily because your body will get hot, and half way through your workout your going to want to shed the heavy sweater. However, layering is key! A few light layers will do the trick and keep you happy and toasty during your exercises.
Make sure to apply Vaseline or Chapstick before heading outside. There is nothing more annoying and painful then having dry cracked lips that take a week to heal.
Looking for ways to tighten up soft spots and crank up muscle tone, but struggling to make time?Rather than committing to daily workouts’ regiments that take chunks of time out of your day, try introducing just a few simple exercises that you can do no matter where you may be!
Equipment needed? Your self
Time needed? 30 seconds-4 minutes
ARMS
-Circles
What it does? Tone, strengthens, and defines your arms.
How to do it? Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Extend your arms out to the sides and rotate them forward in large, controlled circles. Make sure to contract the muscles of your arms while circling them. Start with 10 circles forward and 10 circles backward. Gradually increase to 20 circles in each direction.
Where to do it? While lounging at home, watching TV, brushing your teeth (alternate arms)
-Half-Moon Rotation
What it does?Tones and firms all the muscles of your arms.
How to do it? Stand up straight with legs shoulder width apart and extend your arms out with palms facing down. Slowly rotate your hands so that palms are facing up while keeping your arms stretched straight out and your muscles contracted. Rotate 30 times.
Where to do it? Sitting at your desk at work, on the phone (alternate arms), while making dinner.
LEGS
-Calf Raises
What it does?Tones calves, legs, and glutes
How to do it? Raise from heal to toe for 120-130 repetitions.You can increase the resistance and work your balance by doing it on one foot at the time
Where to do it? While brushing your teeth (a great option because the exercise should take about two minutes), in the shower, at the copy machine at work, while pumping gas
-Wall Sits
What it does? It works the entire muscular system of the lower body, but primarily targets your quadriceps and glutes.
How to do it? Find an open wall to press your back against. Try to get as close to sitting in a 90° angle as possible and keep sitting.Try to hold these squats for 2-4 minutes at a time and build up as you get better!
Oh Summer, it’s been fun … but the school year is right around the corner and there’s no time for nostalgia!In only a few weeks, it’ll be time to make the trek back to campus and we need to make sure we’re prepared physically and mentally for an amazing year!
Its finally time to attack that list of “Things to Do” that we’ve been compiling into our iPhone memo for the past three months. No more procrastination, UP is here to give you a back to school checklist to make sure you’re ready to take on the Fall semester .. and you’ll even have a little time in between to watch the US Women’s soccer team take GOLD!
UP’S BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST
-Order all school books online!Ordering your books online at amazon.com or ebay saves you hundreds of dollars on textbooks and allows you to beat the mad rush at the bookstore.Warning: Order at least a week in advance from your first class to ensure your books reach you on time.
-Get Organized!Buy a planner and start taking note of all the things that need to get done and when so that move in week isn’t a stressful mess!Being organized will also allow you to have a fun relaxing last week at home with your family and friends.
-Look over your school emails and website to keep up to date with readings or assignments.Yes, we know its awful.But some professors WILL give you assignments over the summer, and yes some professors WILL send emails with information they expect you to know for the first day of class.So make sure you are up to date with your emails and use your planner to stay on top of things!
-Get all your clothes back from your younger sister.Make sure when you’re packing your back to school bag to double-check that you have everything you need.It’ll be easy to forget your favorite sweater or wedges that’s probably hiding in your sister’s closet.
-Stimulate your brain!Get active and eat healthy!When your body feels good your brain feels good and we’re going to need all the brainpower we can get to make it through those 300 level classes.Try to add a lot more green to your diet, drink A LOT of water, and make it a point to try Up’s Back to school body workout!It’ll help you in and out of the classroom.
-Get your last minute summer shopping in!We all know how hard it is to fit in shopping days during the school year.Between studying, homework, and “extra curricular” activities it’s hard to find time to leave campus.So get in your last minute shopping for all of your MUST HAVE fall items (check out Leather Lovin’ for some ideas) and also check out IKEA, pbteen.com, or dormsuitedorm.com for some cool accessories and ideas to spruce up your college room.
-Live It Up!!Most importantly, live it up for your last few weeks of summer!Spend quality time with your family, and make sure you go out to dinner with your friends.Make important memories these next few weeks that will carry you happily into the Fall semester.
I’m sure you all may have seen the commercials and advertisements across the spectrum. I just wanted to get these delicious & healthy drinks onto the UP radar. Check the facts below for yourselves. Literally, only 50 calories? Can life be this sweet? Starbucks has yet again found a way to up keep your day.
These drinks are perfect for morning beginners, afternoon pick-me-ups, or end of the day sweet tooth satisfaction. I have tried the ‘very berry’ one so far and loved it. If you’re trying to be healthy, along with getting your Starbucks fix, this is the way to go. Happy Upkeep readers!
In these humid summer months, skin care is something that all of us are consciously worrying about. For this week’s blog I have decided to help us all out and find some information on skin care products, cover-up, sunscreen, and more! There are some products out there that are awesome and other that you may never have expected to be so scary unhealthy! And to all of you twitter addicts out there, @acneskinsite is an awesome account that a couple of my friends and I follow and absolutely swear by! Check it out!
Okay, so first, let’s talk about moisturizer. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST during this season. There are products for sensitive skin and other skin types from Neutrogena that are popularly known and recommended regularly by dermatologists. I use this moisturizer for sensitive skin by them every morning and my skin is healthier than ever. If you are looking for something to start your day off right and keep you fresh all through the day, get on the moisturizer train.
Second, sunscreen. No, I am not going to be like our mothers and lecture on how important sunscreen is or even pretend that all of us are going to wear it during our everyday life. I for one, don’t usually wear sunscreen. If I do, it’s SPF 8 tanning oil. I know that it’s not a good choice for my skin and one day I could pay for these choices. But, one positive thing that I am promising to do for myself is wear moisturizer with SPF. If some of you feel the same way, this could definitely be a good move for you too! If you do wear sunscreen, shout out to you all for doing something great for your skin! Awesome UPkeep for your life!
Last, we will finish off our positively radiant summer skin with some help from the face wash category. Having sensitive skin, I find products with that component first and for most. I am a Neutrogena girl after trying a number of different product lines, so if you don’t know what line to use, I recommend it highly. No matter what line you use, it is important to make sure you are getting the things that meet the essentials of a skin care product. You need moisturizing, replenishing, gentle, and dermatologically safe tested products. Skin is something I feel like a lot of people look past or forget about. We get wrapped up in losing weight, eating right, or sleeping more, when skin care is something that is super important to our UPkeep in life!
Check out Neutrogena’s website for some awesome UPkeep products:
