Although campus is partially open and more students are living in or near New York City, the negative impacts of the pandemic are still present. Long hours on Zoom alone have caused common feelings of fatigue among many students and teachers, with peace of mind becoming increasingly rare during these anxiety-inducing times. Here are some activity ideas that are both easily accessible and fun to help you relieve stress and regain a sense of serenity.

Vocalizing stories about mental health can destigmatize seeking help and initiate honest discussions about these issues.

Finding and creating lasting memories with your roommate(s) is one of the most exciting parts of college. During a pandemic, it is especially important to be cautious about whom you decide to cohabit with. Roommates can make or break your experience. Murky boundaries can lead to unpleasant exchanges. Based on our own highs and lows, here are tips for choosing a roommate or getting along better with current ones, and a sample roommate contract for you both to talk through!

It’s a week before finals and you are swamped with work: Essays need to be written; tests need preparing for; and labs need to be done. Speaking from personal experience, the hardest part of the week isn’t the excessive coffee-drinking or the all-nighters––it’s the helpless feeling of simply not knowing how to solve a problem or structure an essay. In those moments, the best solution is to reach out and get help. Detailed below is a series of Columbia’s undergraduate resources that one should make the most of.

Welcome to the end of October: sweaters are on, leaves are multicolored, stores are filled with pumpkins, and we are counting down the hours until the spookiest day of the year. While dressing up in costumes and participating in other traditions may not be possible this year, there’s still time to cozy up with a movie and get in the Halloween spirit. There’s something for everyone, whether you thrive off of jump scares and paranormal activity or prefer to live nightmare-free.