The end of the semester is approaching fast for college students and that means finals and the stress of getting home for the holidays is looming. Feeling like there are a million things to do can make it hard to relax, leading to more stress and lower productivity. Too much stress has many psychological and even physical side effects. This can include increased irritability, headaches, insomnia, and many more.
This leads to the question of how someone can help reduce stress and reduce these negative side effects. While it may feel counterproductive in the moment, sometimes the best thing can be to take a break. Taking a moment to separate yourself from your schoolwork, or whatever it is that is creating stress, can help relax your mind. Some relaxation tactics could include watching your favorite movie, going for a walk, or calling a friend.
Starting to practice mindfulness can be overwhelming, especially when you have never done it before. There are many variations on mindfulness, however, the basic premise is this:
Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted – for college kids this could be a moment when your roommate is in class, a study room, or even an empty stairwell
Find a comfortable position lying or sitting down so that part of your body is touching the floor
The next part can be changed based on preferences – you could go through each muscle in your body taking a moment to tense your muscles with an inhale and then relax them with an exhale or you could go through each part of your body and make yourself aware of all the physical sensations your experiences
While this can seem silly at first or feel like a waste of time, taking the time to connect your mind with your surroundings can help bring your mind to the present moment and help reduce the overwhelming thoughts of what’s to come.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
College campuses have been all over the news recently, and not for good reasons. Two shattering stories sparked from two different universities just this past weekend. Seven innocent lives were taken. Seven students who were enjoying their college years. Seven families left heartbroken. Four students from the University of Idaho were brutally stabbed to death. Three student-athletes from the University of Virginia were shot and killed, while others were severely injured.
These incidents have left the country in terror. Communities are devastated. College campuses are supposed to be some of the safest locations. Universities across the nation are re-evaluating their security and strengthening measures put in place.
In the small city of Moscow, three girls and one boy were found violently stabbed to death in their home right off of the University of Idaho’s campus. It has been over a week since the bodies have been found, and there are no leads to who the perpetrator is, nor have any weapons been found.
In Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sunday night, a man opened fire on a charter bus returning from a class trip. Three members of the football team were killed, and two more were injured. The killer was arrested and is being held without bond. The college football nation is especially devastated at this tragic event.
These two extremely heart-wrenching murders took place on the same day. It is sickening how normalized violence has become in our society, particularly among the younger generations. These events can hopefully shed light on some of the greatest issues lying within our culture. We can only hope that some changes will be made to prevent more events like these from continuing to happen.
Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan,Stephanie Frappart from France,Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda are the three women chosen to officiate some of the games for the 2022 world dup
There are also other changes based on the simple fact that the game is in Qatar this year. One of the most notable of these changes being that the world cup will begin in November and end in December, the world cup is usually set in the summer months from June-July. The reason for this being that the extreme heat and humidity in Qatar during the summer months. Then there is the very recent development, ruled November 17,2022 FIFA confirmed that no alcohol will be sold at the eight stadiums which will host the tournament’s 64 matches.Qatar is a very conservative Islamic nation and alcohol is for the most part prohibited in the faith. Then there are the overall controversies from this world cup although most world cups have controversies such as if it actually hurts nations, the vast money that must be spent to create the infrastructure needed to host the tournament. Qatar is a nation that has been for the longest been steeped in controversy due to several issues, including human rights abuses accusations, LGBTQ rights issues, workers rights/treatment, and women’s rights in the nation as well. With celebrities such as Dua Lipa and Rod Stewart boycotting the tournament due to Qatar’s past, Dua Lipa did say she would cheer for her home country of England from afar.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the current Emir of Qatar and hope the world cup will help cement Qatar as a legitimate global player
Final World Cup
Several of what many people consider the greatest players in the world have stated that this will be their last world cup. Including Karim Benzema(2022 UEFA Champions League Winner), Luka Modric (2018 World cup Golden Ball Winner), Neymar, Thomas Mueller(2010 World Cup Golden Boot Winner), Kevin De Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Dani Alvez, and Thiago Silva. Although all of these are amazing players in their own right the two that the world is going to be the most saddened are the two players who have both been called the G.O.A.T’s(Greatest of all Time) of football, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentinian Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has even gone on to say that he plans on retiring when he is 40, which is only three years away. Both players are reaching an age where they won’t be able to play at the highest level of football anymore, Messi 35 and Ronaldo 37. Both players have broken several records in their careers and won several honors.
Cristiano Ronaldo
5 Balon D’or Awards
5 UEFA Champions League Wins
7 League Title Wins
2016 European Football Championship winner
First Football Player to win League titles in 3 seperate leagues (Premier,La Liga, Serie A)
Most Championship goals(140)
Most International Goals( 115)
Current Record Holder for Most Goal Scored for a Football Player (807)
Lionel Messi
7 Balon D’or Awards
1 Golden Ball at 2014 Fifa World Cup
Runner Up 2014 FIFA World Cup
1 Gold Medal 2008 Olympics
4 UEFA Champions League Wins
10 La Liga Wins
7 Copa Del Rey Wins
1 Copa America Win
Most Goals in La Liga (474)
Both players have an impressive roster of awards and records there is one award that eludes both players and that is holding the world cup. Although Messi was very close to winning the award in 2014 against Germany, they lost although Messi won the Golden Ball award at the tournament he looked visibly angry that his team did not win. The world cup in football is seen as the award that all players strive for and want to win, brining home glory for their team and their nation. Messi and Ronaldo are the captains for both of their respective teams and both team are looking stronger than ever, the final game may be down to one of these two teams or past winner France who appear just as strong. All that can be said is that this will be an interesting world cup.
Going to therapy. Seeing a professional about the difficulties you are going through can be immensely helpful. Psychology Today has a tool to match you with a therapist, psychiatrist, treatment center, and/or support group. You fill out your concerns and what kind of professional you want and it will match you based on your location.
Push yourself to be more social. Continuing to interact with others can be an extremely helpful way to cope with feelings of depression. Knowing you are not alone and have a support network can be instrumental in recovery. If you don’t have people in your life you feel you can trust, perhaps consider joining a support group.
Hopefully you found some ways to improve your mental health through these tips. Happy holidays and remember that feeling hopeless is temporary.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
In the entire history of the United States, the youngest eligible voters rarely ever show up to the polls. This year, Gen Z and millennials showed out more than ever before. With record-breaking numbers all over the country. Political figures have been targeting this population to gain more votes, which has finally worked.
In recent years, people have delayed their entrance into adulthood due to the economy. The 2008 recession caused many to live at home and begin careers much later than usual. This resulted in young adults not caring about political matters. “Between 1974 and 2014, youth voter participation in midterm elections never crossed 25 percent and dipped as low as 15.9 percent in 2014.”
Due to the power of social media, younger generations have begun to care about political matters more than ever before. Celebrities advocate in the pursuit of encouraging young people to get to the polls. It is difficult to go on a social media platform and not see a post regarding any election.
There has been much political turmoil and government controversy in recent years. Young adults were particularly motivated by abortion rights, protecting democracy, inflation, and climate change, according to the Fall 2022 Harvard Youth Poll. These circumstances drove young adults to the polls.
The 2022 Midterm Election was historical for young voters. People under the age of 30 broke a ratio of 2:1 against all other voters. It will be interesting to see how this demographic votes in the coming elections.
Organized crime has a big role in American history and in helping the country become what it is today. As immigrants from all over the world poured into the United States beginning at the end of the 19th Century, they brought their old country’s traditions and ideals with them. Some of the best traditions are foods or music, but with the good comes the bad, and one such example is the mafia. Italian immigrants started to pour into the US as Mussolini started to grow in power in Italy, along with the thousands seeking a better life came those in the Sicilian Mafia. By the time the prohibition takes effect in the 1920s, what started as unorganized gangs get turned into profit-making systems end up infiltrating most of American society. But that leaves the question of how, how did they make all their money.
A big part of their success was because of their rules. Everything they did was based on honor, loyalty and respect, and a strict code of silence. If these rules were broken there could be dire consequences, the worst of them being death. The enforcement of these strict rules is how the mafia was able to continue unchecked for so long. The biggest and most successful of the American mafia was in New York City. New York was run by the five families named after their “Fathers,” which were Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Columbo, and Bonanno. Eventually, instead of continuing to fight each other for control and money the heads of these families came together to make “The Commission.” The Commission can be thought of as a board of directors that solved disputes and eventually helped make decisions that would help run the various mafia families throughout the country.
While movies glorify the life of many prominent members of the mafia, it is important to remember that their ultimate goals were to make money, by any means necessary. When money is on the line, murder was not out of the question for these people. They started by offering protection to businesses in their areas that were being robbed by local burgers and gangs. However, this eventually led to those business owners having to pay for protection for the mobsters as well. During the prohibition, they made their money by moving alcohol and any other illegal goods that people wanted. Once alcohol became legal again, many switched to moving drugs like cocaine or heroin. While this was against their code of honor, loyalty, and respect, many continued anyway. The money they could make was too good to miss out on and as the saying goes, there is no honor among thieves.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
General elections have passed, and as the votes are being tallied, we see that while Republicans are in the majority, the red wave that was promised was more like a red stream. The margin in both the House and the Senate are very close. Many of these races have been extremely interesting to watch, but one that particularly caught my attention was the race for Georgia governor. Here, incumbent Brian Kemp was up for reelection with Stacey Abrams as his opponent. And he won.
Here is the problem with this. When the United States Supreme Court ruled that the right to an abortion was no longer a constitutional right, states that have long had an issue with the ruling of Roe v. Wade jumped at the opportunity to limit women’s reproductive rights. Under Gov. Kemp, Georgia was one of these states. When Stacey Abrams came on the scene, she was a breath of fresh air to those who seek things like affordable housing, healthcare, and reproductive rights. She is an eloquent black woman with well-thought-out plans for Georgia that Gov. Kemp has never even addressed. I certainly thought that if she did not win, it would be by a close margin and that she would have the majority of the female vote.
Looking at the demographics of the exit polls, we are told a different story. Looking specifically at the demographics of women, I was shocked at what I found. While black women voted overwhelmingly blue, white women voted overwhelmingly red. Here’s what I don’t understand. The uproar that came from Georgia once the six-week abortion ban, a bill that Kemp wrote back in 2019, was put into place indicated to me that a large majority of women, especially white women, had bone to pick with Governor Kemp. As this issue came so close to the general elections, Stacey Abrams should have been a sure win, as she promised to loosen significantly the restrictions on abortion in the state.
White women did not show up. Whether Republican or Democrat, Kemp has shown that he has no regard for reproductive rights. If he was willing to place a six-week abortion ban on Georgia, there is no telling how far he will go in this direction. This may even touch the lives of women who don’t believe in abortion. So this is my problem. Voting as a woman is fundamentally different from voting as a man in this country regardless of which side of the aisle you resonate with. The reason for that is the large disparity between men and women. While the majority of white women from Georgia may think that they have done something great for their party. They may soon come to find out the disastrous effect this may have on their sex.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
With cold weather right around the corner, many people are starting to bundle up as they head outside. This change in season brings along with it a type of depression that “occurs during certain seasons”—Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Engage In Social Activities During The Fall: Because people tend to stay indoors more often than they do in the summer time, it can cause a feeling of isolation and hopelessness. Founder of the Pediatric Psychology Center in Rockville, Maryland, Kim Burgess, Ph.D., advises “people to join social activities or clubs that help improve their mood and physical health”—as it will assist in keeping your mental health in check.
Make sure to speak with your doctor if you believe you may be experiencing SAD. There are antidepressants that can be prescribed if needed. And remember, there’s no shame in asking for help.
The recent midterm elections were a surprise to many political observers as what was predicted to be a so-called “red wave” with the Republican party regaining a substantial majority in the House and Senate turned out to be a mediocre showing. While Republicans are on track to regain a slim House majority, it is well under the projected 20+ seat majority. Senate races were also below expectations with the only meaningful Republican win being in Ohio with J.D. Vance’s victory over Tim Ryan. Other high profile races such as Blake Masters in Arizona and Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania ended in defeat while Herschel Walker in Georgia will have to compete in a runoff election against incumbent Rafael Warnock, with many predicting Warnock’s re-election as Democrats historically have more success in runoff elections and the absence of Gov. Brian Kemp on the ballot means the absence of Walker benefitting from the ‘coattail effect’.
In contrast, Republicans in Florida had a dominating performance with Gov. Ron DeSantis garnering a 1.5 million vote victory, Republicans flipping several House seats, and minority groups (especially Hispanics) shifting in favor of Republicans. These results are in contrast to previous years where Florida was considered a purple swing state. It now appears that Florida Republicans have successfully transformed the state into solid red. It will be interesting to observe how Republicans react to Republicans’ lackluster performance nationally in contrast to Florida and whether they will use DeSantis and his leadership as a blueprint for a national strategy come 2024.
Whether you are going through a rough time or just need a mood boost, these are three tips to increase your mental well-being.
Track your mood in a journal. This may seem small, but trying to get out how you feel on a page can be extremely beneficial. If you’re stressed, you are taking the time to un-jumble your thoughts and make a clear action plan. If you’re feeling down or anxious simply writing down why can be like telling a close friend.
Meditation. There are plenty of youtube videos and apps that can guide you through meditation. Clearing your mind is a great way to challenge negative thoughts or even just to give yourself the time to look at your problems in a new light.
Image via BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Make a new friend. Whether it be through work, school, or just someone you meet on the train, making a connection can give you the social interaction people crave. Try calling an old friend or making plans to get coffee with a new one. In any case, getting out of the house can often be helpful.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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