Spectator Brand Studios

The phrase “We’re all in this together” has never hit quite as hard as it does right now. Most of us—no matter where we are—are in self-isolation or quarantine. Just two months ago (although it seems like way longer, right?), we were surrounded by our closest friends in an incredible learning environment with access to the benefits of one of the greatest cities in the world. Our lives have been flipped upside down, so it’s okay to feel like you haven’t been taking care of yourself—physically and emotionally—during this time of uncertainty. As the school year ends and social distancing continues, creating a new, healthy routine may be challenging, but here are twelve ideas to help you get started! We hope that you try some of these creative ways to take care of yourself and your mental health during this pandemic.

Columbia has spoken: Here are the ways our students have broken their phones in dumb ways. Be prepared to say “yikes”; these stories will make you want to buy a protective phone case and get some insurance for your phone before anything happens to your beloved device.

Name: Gillian

Four by four by four… 64 cubic feet... Why do we bring up 64 cubic feet? Seems random, huh? It’s because Manhattan Mini Storage offers all kinds of units, from closet size units to extra large rooms, but 64 cubic feet is the smallest unit that you can rent with them. 64 cubic feet might not sound like much, but you’d really be surprised about the magnitudes that such a small space can contain…

Leaving home can be a hard step to take, whether home is 10 miles away or on the other side of the world. And from the first night you sleep on the navy blue twin XL mattresses, you might wish you were back at home, laying on your own bed, looking at your own posters and photos on your wall. At first, you might not feel that you need to make changes or decorate your room, but as you understand you’ll be in college away from home for at least 4 years, you might want to start to individualize your living space to feel more comfortable. That’s why creating a “home away from home” may ease your life and better your time at college. And decorating your room to make a home does not necessarily mean that you should create an “Instagram-able” place where you can show off. Rather, it’s what you feel that’s important when you get into your room. A place which can speak up your identity and personality, and your feelings. The more you get into creating “your space”, you’ll see that adding up to feeling at home, you will also be able to share your vision and character with your friends.

While you might expect darkness in a place described as “infamous,” in fact, Amsterdam Avenue’s newest opening, Infamous Bistro, has none of that. Instead, light pours in through a wall of windows and into the spacious and verdant new neighborhood spot. On a spring afternoon, the restaurant comes alive with sunshine and the smell of the fresh cut flowers that rest on every table. But the warmth of the space is not just the product of the windows and the interior design; it is the product of being in a place where the staff are deeply connected and loyal to each other. In other words, a family. Jelena, the Creative Director of Infamous Bistro, explains, “My title used to be general manager, but I didn’t like that. I mean, I’m not managing anybody. I see these people every day and, even when we’re not at work, we’re still together and hanging out. We’re friends, but we’re also family. I’m not a manager of my family.”

Looking for a fun date but you’re totally out of ideas? Take this quiz to see what date you should go on based on your likes, dislikes, and interests! Fun options lie ahead!

Here I am, on another lousy date. Midway through, I re-downloaded a dating app and started swiping on people under the table. This seemed like a “good match” when I met him in Human Nature and Evolutionary Biology, but I really couldn’t be more bored than I am right now. So it’s back to scanning, swiping, and sorting. I get a few matches, and they all fall into the same essential categories: terrifying and not terrifying. How have people figured out so many gross ways to tell you that they just want to hook up?