By: Aliana Romo

Winter is often seen as long and boring for many people, although there’s many things to do during the winter that can make it pass more quickly. Since I live in Minnesota, the winters can start from November and last until March, which is a long time to be inside since it’s cold and snowy. I used to dread going out into the snow until I learned how to enjoy it. These winter activities can make the winter season go by much quicker.

My personal favorite activity to do in the winter is to go skiing or snowboarding; it’s a perfect way to get together with family and friends to enjoy time outside. In Minnesota there’s ski resorts such as Afton Alps and Buck Hill that offer amazing views and many different hills for different skill levels. Skiing and snowboarding allows for you to be outside and enjoy the weather instead of staying inside and praying for it to be sunny again. It also helps the winters to go by faster since you can progress at it, over the winter you can get better and better each year, to have something to look forward to.

Another way to get out of the house during winter is by going ice skating. Ice skating is a classic and well known activity to do during the winter since it can be taught easily. It’s a perfect family activity and something to do with friends. Me and my friends like to go ice skating together and then get pizza, ice cream and hangout.

One way to spend time besides skiing and ice skating is to go sledding or snow tubing. Unlike skiing and ice skating, going sledding doesn’t take much money or effort. As long as you use a nice hill and a sled, it can be one of the funnest winter activities there is. I have many memories from when I was younger of going sledding with family and friends while having hot cocoa breaks and sitting by a campfire. Snow tubing is mainly similar to sledding, although it includes going down a much bigger hill and instead of on a sled, it’s a tube. This creates a more fun and exciting experience of sledding.

Playing in the snow is also a simple way to be outside, and enjoy the weather. This can differ from building a snowman, to snowball fights or overall just enjoying the snow. Many times after my family and I would get done shoveling the snow we would begin playing in the snow together. It’s a great way to experience the snow and spend simple time with loved ones.

Being able to get outside during the winter is mainly how winters will be able to go by quickly. Staying indoors for way too long can drastically change how you feel. For me personally, I feel much happier in the summer than I do in the winter, this is because I spend much more time outside in the summer than I do when it gets cold. Once it gets cold it seems unnecessary to be outside. This goes to show that instead of hating the winter and snow, it’s better to enjoy it and make the best of it, since being outside is important for mental and physical health. Overall, it’s best to spend these winter activities with loved ones to get together with people, make memories and create the best winter possible.

By: Chloe Rocha

In life people will experience many different kinds of emotions, they may have their ups and downs. Sometimes when they are down it can be hard to find the right words to say to them. I myself have been on both ends of this situation. When you find yourself upset about something, sometimes there is a specific set of words that you really need to hear at that moment. Those words can vary from person to person, there isn’t a set sentence that can make everything better. But on the other side of the situation, when you see someone upset, people can tend to freeze up and not know what to say. This article is a guide to help you find the right words.

If they are struggling with depression it can be hard to identify that. Here are some common signs and characteristics of depression:

• Feelings of hopelessness.
• Negative thoughts; this can include about yourself or the world.
• Difficulty doing regular and daily activities.
• Sleep or appetite problems

Here are four things you can say that might help more than you expect:

‘It’s okay to not feel okay’
It can be common for a person to feel like something is wrong with them for feeling a certain way. That’s why saying “it’s okay to not feel okay” can reassure them in their feelings.

‘Your not alone’
When experiencing feelings of sadness, the person may feel as though they are alone or as though they should isolate themselves from others. Just those three words can help someone feel very loved and cared for.

‘I’m here for you, no matter what’
If your friend or a loved one is feeling like a burden or unworthy, saying this can help remind them that you’re going to be there for them, not only when things are bad, but for the good as well.

‘Help is available’
When someone feels hopeless, it becomes hard to see the good things, or that things can get better. There are many treatments for people who need it, so reminding them when they aren’t able to think straight can help clear their mind and make a huge difference.

According to Healthline, at least 21 million Americans have or are experiencing depression. If you or someone you know or love is a part of the statistics, there are many resources available to help.

A helpline that you can text is 741-741, text HOME and an automated message will be sent right away as they are assigning someone to your text message.

If you would prefer to call the national suicide hotline it is 988.

By: Alex Martinez Martinez

Why is it so important to get sleep? Sleep plays a big role in how we manage to get through a day and it plays a big part in both our physical and mental health. Sleep helps our bodies and brain to function better.

Getting a good night’s sleep could improve your memory and brain performance. Sleep gives you the energy you need and it can help you to think more clearly and focus better through the day. Not getting the right amount or quality of sleep can affect your mood and how you interact with others; you could be more irritable and feel like not talking to others.

Not getting enough sleep over time can also put you at a bigger risk of developing depression. Sleep is very essential for your physical well being, as research shows that it can affect growth, immune system, appetite and blood pressure. Lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity, infections and heart diseases.

For an adult, on average, they should get 7-8 hours of sleep every night, while teenagers should be getting 8-9 hours of sleep, and younger children should get up to 10 hours of sleep, at least, per night.

It is not only about the amount of sleep but the quality too. Finding and sticking to a sleep schedule and practicing relaxation techniques can help to improve the quality of your sleep.

I have seen and experienced how sleep can really affect our body’s ability to function when getting the right amount and quality of sleep. I notice that when I don’t get the right amount of sleep I’m less focused and motivated in the mornings, but when I do get the proper amount of sleep I wake up refreshed and energized, ready to start the day.

Sleep is very important when it comes to the well-being of your physical and mental health. Make sure you prioritize your sleep over anything because sleep isn’t just about getting some shut eye but about taking care of our bodies, minds and overall health. This is why it is so important to get sleep.

For more information, please visit:

• https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/04/benefits-slumber#:~:text=Sleep%20helps%20you%20think%20more,nightly%20sleep%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Mitler.
• https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/04/good-sleep-good-health#:~:text=But%20sleep%20is%20as%20important,stroke%20to%20obesity%20and%20dementia.

By: Cleo Newton           

There are plenty of things to do during fall like, bake, make art, go camping and more. Here are some activities I think would be fun to do.

Have you ever been in a corn maze before? If not, then here are some mazes in Minnesota you could visit.

One maze, from an article from ‘Family Fun Twin Cities’, that stood out to me was Afton Apple Orchard’s Corn Maze. The main maze here is 15 acres, and for each year, they incorporate a different theme into the maze. If the big maze is too hard for you, or if you want to do a maze that’s better for kids, they have a couple smaller mazes. They have a straw-bale maze, a “No Left Turn” maze, and a Garden hose maze too.

For those who are 2 years old and under, the admission fee is free, kids ages 3-10 cost $10 and must be accompanied by an adult, 11-year-olds and adults cost $12.00.

A few other corn mazes available in Minnesota are, Sever’s Corn Maze, Fresh Acres Corn Maze, and one at Pearson Family Farm.

If you like arts and crafts, here are some fun and easy crafts you can do. One way to make a splatter paint tree is to drop a drop of paint onto the paper then blow on it to create branches. Take an old or unused toothbrush and dip it in tempera paint, then flick onto the branches of the tree to create leaves.

Another craft you can make is the leaf lamp.  It’s really simple and easy, you use mod podge to glue leaves to the outside of a glass jar, then you put a small candle on the inside of the jar and light it.

One last fun thing you can do during fall is baking. A few fall foods from Southernliving.com include: pumpkin bread, apple pie, apple bread, corn bread, and apple cinnamon bread.

After reading this, I hope you guys found some new things you can do this fall. Of course, if you can’t do some of these, you can always rake up some leaves in your yard and jump in it, or take a walk around your neighborhood to admire the falling leaves and trees. I hope you guys have a great fall!

By: Alex Martinez

Birds are fascinating animals; there are many different types of birds, including parrots, budgerigars (budgies), owls, finches, blue jays, and many others.

Budgies are a very unique type of bird. Budgies, or budgerigars, are small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrots. Naturally, the species is green and yellow with black, scalloped markings on the nape, back, and wings.

What is it like to have one of these types of birds as pets? More specifically budgies. Budgies are gentle and docile birds. Budgies are native to Australia’s forest, grassland, and shrub-land habitats, where they roam in flocks and forage for food. These cute little parrots make wonderful companions and are typically docile and simple to train, especially if acquired at a young age.

Budgies are big on brains and personality. Many have been taught to whistle tunes and talk, and are just as intelligent as some larger bird species. A properly trained and tamed Budgie can even imitate human speech.

Having budgies in pairs is recommended to keep each other company but they may not bond as much or well with the owner. Budgies are fun pets as they’re very curious animals and the smallest things you do catch their attention.

Keeping budgies as pets can be very messy and they can be very loud. Taking care of budgies isn’t necessarily that hard, but their food and water needs to be changed many times a day because it could get dirty quite a lot. Not changing and cleaning their food and water constantly could affect their health as they are sensitive little creatures.

It is good for budgies to be out of their cage every once in a while because, like many other pets, they need exercise to stay healthy. Budgies are good at hiding their illnesses, and it’s sometimes hard to notice when they’re sick and asking for help. However, keeping budgies in a safe environment will lead them to be happier and more energetic.

Budgies are wonderful pets and would never fail to lighten up your day with their cheerful chirps. These amazing little creatures will most definitely keep you entertained, as they’re fun and intelligent animals.

By: Jefferson Palma

*Note: This article contains the thoughts and opinions of the author and should not be used in place of medical advice

Meditating is a quick way to reduce stress on a busy day or when you’re tense, worried, and anxious. It’s a reset button on your mind and it could improve your day using such a little amount of time.

It doesn’t need any specific equipment or anything at all, and you can do it basically anywhere: in the bus, in a train, or when you’re in class and the teacher is late. It’s simple, quick, and effective.

Meditation is a complementary medicine that can relieve the mind and help it be relaxed at a deeper level. It could alleviate symptoms from specific medical conditions especially the ones that could worsen from stress.

Some researchers argue that there’s no conclusion to draw about the health benefits, but there’s some scientific evidence that supports the health benefits of meditating.

There are endless types of meditations that you could try but I’ll provide 3 examples to start off.

Yoga is a common practice used for thousands of years. It involves physical movement, breathing exercises, and concentration to calm the mind and body. It can build up flexibility, strength, endurance, and physical well-being.

Another good one is mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation flourishes your natural curiosity about the work of your brain. It helps reduce all the running thoughts crammed into your brain by approaching your moments as momentous and being more mindful by living in the present.

Mantra meditation will be the last example. Mantra meditation is when you repeat a word or a phrase repetitively in your head. Although it requires more focus, it can reduce wandering thoughts and increase more focus.

The earliest documents of meditation can go as far back as 1500 BC in India. It is a practice that ancient people and modern people have been using. There are a variety of mediation techniques that you can find best for yourself and endless ways of exploring it.