Absolutely no one asked for this, but here are my 5 current favorites.
1. April – I was talking about this specific month with my roommate earlier. It came up as I was sitting in her room while she was getting ready, finding myself looking rather intently out her window. There was nothing of particular interest but a frat house and a large tree completely barren, damp from the moody weather. The sight of it alone, and the dreary, almost blue light that crept in the room gave me a certain sense of nostalgia for April. April is now decidedly my favorite month. It is not necessarily the most beautiful month, with no lushness of green, rather buds decorating the trees and the wind persists to have a certain bite to it; but I do think there is a charm to all of these factors. The air smells so fresh, the sky begins to clear, and campus seems to be rumbling with a tone of joy as summer approaches.
2. Emma Chamberlain’s Podcast – I have never been a huge podcast person, but I absolutely adore Emma Chamberlain. Since I have watched her YouTube videos for years now, I had recently decided to give her podcasts a try. The topics range from fashion, funny stories, advice sessions, and even the discussion of difficult topics. With a certain raspy voice, blunt sense of humor, and ability to formulate well-thought-out topics, her podcasts are always a joy to listen to. I would highly recommend giving her a try as you’re doing mundane tasks as it feels like you have a friend sitting by your side to entertain you.
3. Running – I definitely have a love-hate relationship with running. The first two miles are always horrendous, and I question why I do this to myself. Then I am blessed with a baby runner’s high and am having the time of my life. Running, of course, has so many benefits, but the most I’ve experienced consist of better lungs, glowier skin, and greater physical results than I have seen with other forms of exercise. I recommend blasting songs you love (I have been obsessed with Noah Kahan as of recent) and mouthing along with the words. Makes it go by faster!
4. Eva Meloche’s YouTube – After the whole TikTok ban scandal, my attention was really brought to my poor attention span. I always knew it was getting worse, but those 18 hours without that blessed app were tough. I have been trying to watch long-form content for a bit now, and I have noticed that my ability to retain information and stay focused, in class specifically, has increased! I typically do this through a comfort show, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or through YouTube. Besides Emma Chamberlain, Eva Meloche has been a top channel for me for a while. She posts vlog-form videos, either of her traveling to a variety of places or her life at university. Eva is incredibly articulate with her words, discussing current assignments or books she is reading with such an elegance only an author could match. She rekindles my joy for learning every time I watch her. She also does a lovely job with editing the videos, almost turning them into small, comforting movies.
5. Kittens – My family got two kittens, which we have named Joey and Frankie, and I am completely and utterly obsessed. That’s it.