These days I feel like everybody is moving so fast paced that it is hard to even catch a breath. We work, go to school, and are involved in extra curriculars, sometimes I think that I’m going to miss an assignment or something important if it take time away from my schoolwork. I’m sure I’m not alone in this mentality, and that many other people feel the same way as I do. With this in mind, I don’t always feel like I can take a break. And aside from that, I don’t really want to take a break. I feel like the only time I will allow myself to take a break will be when the semester is over, and all of my schoolwork is completed.

I am also a student athlete here at UMBC, and our athletics are finally winding down for the winter break. However, I play a spring sport and it is essential that I come back in the spring ready for our season. I think sports have also played a role in this struggle to take a. break. Coaches have always told us that if you take a break, somebody out there is practicing and getting better than you. Some athletes are even taught to play through minor injuries and illnesses because their coaches do not want their players to “lose their edge.” This mentality has caused athletes to push themselves to the limits and devalue relaxation.

The moral of the story is that we all need a break, especially during this time of year. Finals are starting and we are experiencing extreme levels of stress in school. I think in some cases it’s hard to take a break from everything you have to do, but our bodies need it. Our bodies physically and mentally cannot sustain a life where we don’t take breaks. I think during college it is hard to take time off because it feels like you have so many responsibilities piled on to each other, but it is so important for our health to be able to take a step back. Now from the other perspective, I think that too many breaks can also be an issue. However, there is definitely a happy medium that might be different from person to person. I think finding this medium can help to ensure that you will not burn yourself out later in life.

TW: talk about ED, weight, and obesity.

I know most of us have probably tuned in to watch shows like “The Biggest Loser”, “My Big Fat Fabulous Life”, or “Revenge Body by Khloe Kardashian.” Trust me, reality TV shows are my guilty pleasure so I have definitely watched some episodes from all of these shows. But why? From a more negative standpoint, do we find pleasure in knowing that the people on those shows are less fit that us to make ourselves feel better about our lifestyles? Or from a more positive standpoint, do we enjoy seeing the end result of weight loss and feel secure in knowing that if you put in the time and effort, you could lose stubborn fat if you wanted to just like the people on the show?

I think that the focus on weight and how to morph your body to fit society’s standards has been an issue for hundreds of years, but the media we experience today amplifies this issue. There are pros and cons to these types of shows and I can see how they can be beneficial for extreme cases. Obesity has been a significant problem in the United States and a healthier lifestyle can cause many health benefits. But are these shows really the answer? Probably not. One reason being the potential creation or relapse of eating disorders that can be encountered from either the contestants or the viewers watching the show. I also would like to know the percentage of contestants that can maintain their new lifestyle and not fall back into old habits.

The moral of the story is that the producers of these shows are not focused on the health of the contestant, they are focused on the number of views they are going to receive. For that reason, I do not think these shows should gain popularity anymore. If someone wants to make their lifestyle healthier, I think it is their own journey and not one for the entire world to see. It is your body, and you can choose what you want to do with it, but it should not come to the expense of your, or anybody else’s mental health.

The growing topic of concern when it comes to safe sex. Birth control. These days there are many different types of contraceptives that can be used to help prevent pregnancy. To name a few, there is the pill, an IUD, a shot, a patch, and so many more. There are so many options, choosing one should be easy right? Not quite in some instances. Some questions that might arise when it comes to choosing a birth control could include, how much does it cost? Where can I get it? Is it hormonal? How effective is it? And those are just some questions that scratch the surface of obtaining birth control.

To speak for myself, I have been on birth control from a very young age, about 8^th grade to be exact. Just to be clear, I went on it for medical reasons. I had very irregular periods, so my doctor prescribed me birth control to regulate my menstrual cycle. In my experience, it was basically a no brainer to go on the pill because it was easy, efficient, and I didn’t really think about the effects it might have on my body in the future. It wasn’t until I got to high school that I learned about all of the other methods that my friends used. I also have recently been seeing Tik Toks about some experiences of women going off hormonal birth control and how, in their opinion, it made their lives so much better.

Nobody’s body reacts the same way to birth control, so it is solely your decision which type you chose, if any! I think that hearing other’s stories can help to spark questions about what you feel is best for your health, but ultimately, it is up to YOU. In my opinion at least.

It is rare to see a picture on social media that is free of photoshop or Face Tune editing. Many people edit their face or body to fit within society’s beauty standards. I’m sure many of the people you follow on social media have at least one picture on their page that is Face Tuned or photoshopped. Today, the beauty standard is to have a small waist, yet be curvy everywhere else. This preferred body type, in my opinion, became popular due to celebrities and other figures in the media posting images that are unattainable.

I think the most notable examples of photoshop can be found in the Kardashian family. On more than one occasion, the public has noticed photoshop fails seen within the Kardashian’s social media or ad campaigns. Here is just one example of Kim Kardashian failing to notice poor editing in a picture. You can see that the doorframe in Kim’s Instagram photo is clearly distorted, probably with the hope of making her figure appear curvier.

I think that celebrities using photoshop to edit their bodies has a huge effect on body image in young adults. We as the public look up to these people because they are trendsetters. This is problematic because younger audiences believe these images are real and will likely feel a sense of dissatisfaction with their own bodies. Since so much time is spent on social media, many people are looking at images of unattainable bodies and wondering why they can’t look like these “perfect” celebrities. This leads to a variety of mental health struggles and an increase in body dysmorphia. It is extremely sad to see this, because all bodies are beautiful in their own unique way. To decrease the amount of body dysmorphia seen in young men and women, celebrities need to admit to photoshopping their photos, and/or post pictures of themselves with no editing to show the public what they really look like.

On the other hand, it can be argued that small edits to make an individual feel more confident online is not a horrible thing because nearly everybody does it. Celebrities are people too, all having insecurities like the rest of us. They should not be scrutinized by the public for everything they do, especially online. However, it is a problem when celebrities don’t admit to photoshop because this creates a negative online space, and it effects the body images of so many people.