Samantha Saiyavongsa

As much as we hate to admit it, our phone is constantly attached to our hands. Ever since Apple revolutionized the idea of apps, our phones became our personal assistant, physical trainer, healthcare doctor, teacher and mom – all in one. While it’s tempting to fill up our phones with apps like Angry Birds, Draw Something and Temple Run, there’s four FREE apps that every collegiette should have that’ll make life just a little easier. Thank you, modern technology. 

My Days – Period & Ovulation Calendar: Ever wondered when your next period was coming but couldn’t remember when your last period was? My Days makes it really easy to keep track of your periods and even when to expect your next one. It’s a lifesaver knowing when to expect a period during a major event or vacation. 

Sincerely Ink Cards: How do our moms always know when to send greeting cards so they reach people in time? With Sincerely Ink Cards, you too can send beautiful greeting cards directly to your loved ones straight from your phone. For only $1.99, the app sends a real greeting card through the good old postal system in as little as two clicks. The result? A beautiful greeting card personalized with your photo and personal message for every major holiday, or just to say thank you or congrats.

Just around the start of March we start feeling a little restless. Midterms are over, the temps are getting warmer and it’s starting to stay lighter out for longer (thank you, Daylight Savings Time). As it becomes increasingly harder to focus, this might be the most opportune time to finally clear some space both physically and mentally. Cleaning can be relaxing, even therapeutic, and it can sure make us feel like new again. 

If you have 30 minutes…
The easiest way to breathe a sigh of relief and feel somewhat organized without having a load of time on your hands is organizing your digital space. Clearing out your email inbox, deleting old files and categorizing new ones can help you stay on track for the remainder of the semester and will seriously make you feel so much better once your inbox is down from 431 unread emails and when you can actually see your desktop again.  

If you have two hours…
Haven’t seen your bedroom floor in two months? Instead of doing the usual pick-it-up-and-throw-it-in-the-closet routine, consider going through your clothes and getting rid of the items you no longer wear. Places like Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads and local consignment shops will actually pay you for your gently used clothes, especially if it’s in season and still in style. Whatever these stores don’t buy, make sure to drop by the nearest donation center on your way home or hold a clothing swap with your friends!  

The difference between having a successful semester and a semester where you’re sort of just hanging on for dear life all boils down to one thing: early preparation. It might seem obvious, but registering for classes takes some finesse to create just the perfect schedule for the next semester. When it comes time to register for new courses, doing the legwork early on can really pay off in the end. 

Do meet with your advisor before you register for classes. If you have a question or are worried about your requirements, the best person to help you is your college advisor. 

Don’t wait until the last minute to check out the course catalog. Planning out your schedule before registration can give you some time to visualize what your semester will look like.

Do check out RateMyProfessors.com for reviews on instructors and courses left by other students. 

Don’t shy away from emailing a potential instructor. Are you wondering about particular topics being covered? Sometimes a professor can give you more of an idea if the course will be the right fit for you than the course description can say in a sentence or two. 

Do challenge yourself. Mixing difficult courses with fun courses, like yoga and Urban Anthropology, can help balance out your semester (and your mind). 

Spring in Chicago means it’s still cold but with the mildly warm weather we’ve been experiencing lately, it’s hard not to notice that everyone’s busting out "springier" clothes (we’re loving brightly colored denim, pretty chiffons and platform sandals!). Even though it’s not quite March yet, we’ve already caught spring fever. It might be a bit premature for Chicago, but even a couple months of winter have us pining for spring. Here are a few easy ways to start transitioning without putting your winter clothes away just yet! 

Beauty – Changing your beauty routine can help you get in the mood for a new season, whether it’s switching out your winter rotation of brown and navy for pretty pastels and chic corals, like Essie’s latest collection, to ditching ultra-moisturizing non-scented lotions for a lighter (and fresher smelling) daily moisturizer with SPF.