Category: Campus Life

The summer of 2021 was hard for many parts of Canada, with heatwaves across much of the country and deadly fires in British Columbia. Elsewhere in the world, floods and fires have been increasing. Scientists believe that climate change is the reason for much of this wild weather. In the fall of 2021, many scientists, world leaders, and others met in Glasgow, Scotland, for the UN Climate Change Conference.

Each year, world leaders, scientists, and other people meet for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The 2021 conference was planned for October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. Normally, thousands of people attend these conferences from all over the world. They participate in talks to deal with issues related to the climate or to report on what happens there.

Officially, the climate change conference is called the Conference of Parties, or COP. The conference in Scotland is the twenty-sixth of these types of gatherings, and so it is called COP-26. Dealing with pollution, especially the effects of fossil fuels like oil and gas, is normally a major part of the conference. Scientists believe that pollution from greenhouse gases coming from these fuels is a major factor in climate change.

Greenhouse gases like carbon come from burning fossil fuels. Methane is often a product of farm animals. These types of gases prevent the Earth’s heat from escaping into space, warming up the planet. Wild weather, droughts, and floods can be the result.

Even though some years are normally cooler or warmer than others, scientists have discovered that the world has warmed up overall by about one degree Celsius. After 1.5 degrees, scientists believe the results could be very dangerous for the Earth.

Finding ways to prevent a climate disaster is part of the COP discussions. Coal is one of the worst polluters. Finding ways to stop using coal is one of the major issues for COP-26. Moving from coal to a less harmful source of power could help reduce the greenhouse gas problem.

Trees are another issue at the conference. These plants help to clean the air and to hold the soil in place. However, many countries are dealing with deforestation, with trees being cut down for agriculture, roads, or city growth. If leaders can help protect trees in their countries, they can help provide a natural way of dealing with climate change.

Besides coal and trees, COP-26 is about cars and cash. Reducing the use of private cars and getting more people to walk or take the bus could help reduce pollution and keep global warming down to a level that might help prevent a climate disaster. Money from wealthy countries is necessary to help poorer countries pay for the changes they need to make.

With help from richer countries, poor countries could afford to switch from using fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy. They could plant trees and invest in transit systems or bicycle paths. Using the COP-26 conference to set up funding for these countries could help them to set up the systems they need to reduce their pollution.

The annual COP conference is important for encouraging that world leaders do what they can to reduce climate change and deal with pollution. The next challenge will be to ensure that the people involved in the conference keep their promises.

 

Bibliography:

BBC News. “COP26: Has the Glasgow Climate Summit Been Poorly organised?” https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59150987.

Harrabin, Roger. “COP26 climate change summit: So far, so good-ish.” https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59150807.

Harvey, Fiona; Ambrose, Jillian; and Greenfield, Patrick. “More than 40 Countries Agree to Phase out Coal-fired Power.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/more-than-40-countries-agree-to-phase-out-coal-fired-power.

NASA. “The Ups and Downs of Global Warming.” https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/upsDownsGlobalWarming.html

United Nations. “Glasgow Climate Change Conference–October-November 2021.” https://unfccc.int/conference/glasgow-climate-change-conference-october-november-2021.

United Nations. “UN Climate Change Conference (COP-26).” https://www.un.org/en/un-climate-change-conference-cop-26.

By Erin Rebello

Over the past few months, our world has slowly been changing gears as we pivot from this pandemic and shift to a new normal. Although many things are going back to the way they were pre-pandemic, one thing that’s definitely here to stay is the shift to working and volunteering in a remote environment. Many opportunities typically held in-person with a fixed schedule are restructuring with more flexible hours and options to work online. Not only does this open up jobs and volunteer positions further away from you, but it also allows for you to get involved when you can.

As a result of this rather sudden switch, more and more students are looking for remote jobs and volunteer opportunities to prepare themselves for post-secondary education. However, when searching for any opportunities, including remote opportunities, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the work is still real work and that you still need to balance it with both your educational and personal time.

Finding a Job:

The first step towards working or volunteering online is finding an available opportunity, which might be easier than you expected! The best place to start looking for a job is by asking people you know; this includes parents, friends, teachers, guidance counsellors, and even previous employers/volunteer coordinators. By speaking with people you’re on good terms with, you might just be hot on the trail to finding the perfect job and receiving a stellar recommendation. The pandemic has opened up many jobs in a hurry, and without rapid marketing or recruitment, many jobs are still sitting open because people don’t know they exist!

If asking around isn’t your style, or if you’re not getting the results you want, you might want to try taking your job search online. Using websites like Indeed or LinkedIn allows you to search for jobs or volunteer opportunities that meet your specific needs. You can even use specific filters and keywords to focus on the types of opportunities you’re particularly interested in.

Making Sure It’s a Good Fit:

When job hunting, you not only need to ensure that you meet an employer’s needs, but also that working for the employer meets your needs. When messaging recruiters or speaking with managers during an interview, it’s important to ask questions to see if the job meets the needs of your lifestyle. Some common topics you might want to ask about are:

• The type of work you’re being hired for
• The amount of money you are being paid (and how you’ll be paid)
• The typical hours required (and whether you can commit sufficiently)

Benefits and Consequences:

It’s also important to zoom out. Look at the bigger picture from time to time when searching for online work, considering the specific benefits and consequences of getting a job. You should try to make your own pro/con list, but to get started, here are a few common benefits and consequences that modern teens might consider.

Benefits

• Receive real-life work or volunteer experience that is helpful when searching for future jobs.
• Develop skills that make you an asset.
• Save money or rack up volunteer hours to either help with saving for university or when applying to scholarships.

Consequences

• Working, even remotely, can be a huge time drain, taking out large chunks of your weekly routine.
• Having a job can be extremely tiring, sapping you of energy you might have wanted to use during your free time.
• It can be hard to balance school and work, and you might end up neglecting either one or both commitments.

Striking a Balance:

If you’ve carefully considered your options and are still looking for remote ways to break into the job or volunteer market, the next item on your agenda should be learning how to keep a balance between school and extracurricular involvements. There are many aspects of striking a work-life balance that you should thoroughly consider. Here are a few things to bear in mind when trying to strike a balance:

• It’s important to keep track of school and work priorities.
• You will need to prioritize your deadlines in terms of importance.
• Don’t bite off more than you can chew; just because it’s virtual doesn’t mean it’s not real!
• Open communication with teachers and employers can be harder via email but is very important to keep communication lines open.
• Do a bit of research into more efficient study strategies, and try them for yourself.
• Try to work with both your teachers and employers for potential considerations they can make for your situation. If earning money is crucial to obtaining education, you might be able to speak with your teacher for reasonable extension accommodations, and with your boss for hours that work with your class schedules.

Overall, a virtual job is a great way to break into the workforce, but you should also remember that it is a real job. Lots of consideration should go into whether or not it would be a good fit for your lifestyle and prior commitments.

Having a bit of extra money is always helpful, whatever your age. If you are still in online school, you might have some extra time to earn some money. Doing some remote work could be a good way of getting both money and experience for future work. Various opportunities are available if you look for them.

During the lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic, you probably became familiar with remote learning. You would watch classes online and do your assignments at home, and your teacher would mark them. Your schooling might run on a specific schedule or be quite flexible, allowing you to fit it in with other activities like eating meals with your family or walking the dog.

Remote work can be similar in many ways. Tutoring is a good possibility for anyone who likes to help others. If you are good at mathematics, science, or grammar, you might be able to help other students with their studies. You can do this online if both you and your student have good Internet connections. You can even meet with several students at once and have formal classes, or you can work with students individually. Normally, the student and tutor arrange specific times for classes, although some work may be necessary outside those hours.

Writing is another good way of earning money. You could write for a blog or local newsletter and earn a small amount of money for each article. If you have a special area of knowledge like animals or sports, you could look for magazines or online sites that deal with these topics. Some magazines, including Reader’s Digest, pay quite well for short stories about topics like family, school, and friends.

Except for established authors, much writing work is freelance. This means that you are unlikely to find a regular weekly or daily writing job with a magazine or website until you have experience, and even then, it can be difficult. However, you can write for many different magazines if you want, and the pay can add up to a large amount.

Often, publications will give submission guidelines that give the topics and the number of words that they want for each article. Staying close to those guidelines is a good idea, because the editors are unlikely to want to spend a lot of time revising your article. Reading other articles in the same publication can give you a good general idea of what the editors want, including how formal the writing is and how personal the articles are.

Starting your own blog is an option if you know how to make money from it. In a blog, you could write about a topic you know well and then find ways of earning money through sales or advertising. You could even sell some of your artwork or crafts through your blog or website if you are able to make something that sells well.

Taking online surveys for pay is also a possibility. Each one pays a small amount for information on topics like shopping habits or pet care, and people can take the surveys whenever they have time. A free half hour every day might be enough to make some money through surveys.

If you are good with computers, other options might be available. Working with webpage design is good for people who know about HTML coding and other similar skills. In some cases, working with social media for a business or community organization might also be a possibility. You might not be able to answer questions from the public, but you could monitor the pages to be sure that they are working properly and possibly direct the questions to the right people in the company.

The pandemic has often seemed like lost time, with so many people working or studying from home. However, with a few ideas like these ones, you can make good use of the time and the opportunities that you have.

 

Bibliography:

Doyle, Alison. “The Best Jobs to Work Remotely.” https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-jobs-to-work-remotely-2064308.

Omolulu, Enoch. “11 Legit Online Jobs for Students in Canada to Earn Money (2021).” https://www.savvynewcanadians.com/online-jobs-for-students-canada/.

University of the People. “10 Online Jobs for Students That You Can Turn into a Career or a Business from Home.”  https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/top-10-online-jobs-students-can-turn-career-business-home/.

The Work at Home Woman. “The Best Work-at-Home Jobs for Teens.” https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/jobs-for-young-teens/.

By Olivia Condlln-Wilby

As high school students move forward in their academic careers, it’s essential to consider the many options that lay ahead. The field of social work offers a wide variety of educational and work opportunities – as well as a bright professional future.

Roles and Responsibilities

Social workers support individuals, families, groups, and communities in the form of counselling, advocacy, policy development, and research. They may work in private practice or within an agency (e.g., hospitals, school boards, mental health clinics, etc.). Social workers address social issues like poverty and racism. They also promote social justice and protect human rights.

Their work may include the following responsibilities:

• Interviewing clients to assess their strengths, goals, and challenges
• Identifying helpful social services and creating action plans based on client goals
• Advocating for community resources, programs, and/or interventions

Social workers may specialize in specific areas of practice, such as child welfare, family counselling, substance use treatment, or criminal justice.

What are the Benefits of Social Work?

Social work encompasses a wide variety of professional opportunities. You may work in healthcare, education, politics, criminal justice, or another field entirely. In addition, your job may involve research, counselling, advocacy, or many other essential tasks. The point is that a social work career gives you the room you need to experiment and find the perfect career fit.

A social work career also allows you to make a real difference in the world. You will improve the lives of vulnerable people and give a voice to marginalized groups. Social workers work with individuals, groups, and communities to make the world a better place.

What are the Drawbacks of Social Work?

Social work can be stressful. You will observe difficult situations – for example, child abuse, homelessness, and food insecurity. Furthermore, you will be responsible for making decisions that seriously impact the lives of others. Some social workers find it challenging to handle that pressure.

The work environment can also be a source of stress. Social workers often have to work long or irregular hours – including nights and weekends. Workdays can be 12 hours or longer. A social work career is best suited to someone who is committed to social justice and doesn’t mind putting in a significant amount of time.

How Much Can I Make as a Social Worker?

In Ontario, social workers earn roughly $37 per hour on average (approximately $20/hour on the low end and $46/hour on the high end).

Across Canada, social workers earn approximately $58,000 per year on average. At the beginning of your career, you could earn roughly $40,000 annually. With more experience, you can expect up to $81,000 per year. Social workers with graduate-level education will likely earn more than those with only an undergraduate degree.

Education and Experience

Social workers must complete a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) to enter the field. A typical BSW takes four years to complete and includes both theoretical and practical training. After you’ve earned this degree, you may choose to pursue a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) or doctoral degree. It is possible to obtain an MSW in a single year if you have already earned a BSW from an accredited institution.

You may also be required to register with a local regulating body, such as the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Each province has a unique set of expectations for professional social workers.

Advancement and Other Career Opportunities

A social worker may advance to director-level positions in agencies and non-profit organizations. They may also move on to positions in policy-making, program management, public research, or community organizing. Social workers can also operate private practices, which enable them to work for themselves.

A social work degree may also be useful in other career paths:

• Teacher or guidance counsellor
• Nurse practitioner
• Lawyer or mediator
• Policy consultant or government aide

Employment Challenges

Social workers may experience high levels of stress and burnout. In addition, insufficient funding for social programs may impact an agency’s ability to hire new employees. Many agencies are looking for social workers with at least some previous experience, which may be an obstacle to entry-level candidates.

Career Prospects

As of 2020, social workers are among the top 20 most in-demand employees in Canada. This demand is highest in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan. Across the country, over 25,000 new positions are expected to open up in the next decade.

 

References:

Campus Explorer. (n.d.). Child, Family and School Social Workers Overview. https://www.campusexplorer.com/careers/8707A0D1/child-family-and-school-social-workers/

Canadian Association of Social Workers. (2005). Guidelines for Ethical Practice. https://www.casw-acts.ca/files/attachements/casw_guidelines_for_ethical_practice.pdf

Canadian Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). How Do I Become a Social Worker? https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/what-social-work/how-do-i-become-social-worker

Government of Canada. (2021, October 5^th). Social Worker in Canada. Canadian Job Bank. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/23025/ca

Government of Canada. (2021, October 5^th). Social Worker Near Toronto, ON. Canadian Job Bank. https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/summary-occupation/23025/22437

Indeed. (2021, November 3^rd). Social Worker Salary in Ontario. https://ca.indeed.com/career/social-worker/salaries/Ontario

Robynn. (2020, June 20^th). Immigrate to Canada as a Social Worker. CanadianVisa. https://canadianvisa.org/blog/jobs/immigrate-to-canada-as-a-social-worker

Yeshiva University. (2018, February 22^nd). The Top 6 Benefits of Becoming a Social Worker. https://online.yu.edu/wurzweiler/blog/6-benefits-of-being-a-social-worker

Transitions are a strenuous part of life for all of us. We’ve all made transitions, whether it was moving on from kindergarten to the first grade or moving into a new house. They’re inevitable, and that is why they can be so terrifying. One transition that has always terrified students all around the world is the transition from high school to university.

University is often illustrated by society as this intimidating, complicated institution. As such, going into it can be terribly nerve-wracking. This transition has always been especially scary and difficult, but it has only been made scarier by COVID-19. As we head into the second year of the pandemic, students everywhere have had to take a step back and re-evaluate how they are going to prepare for this new chapter in their lives.

When the pandemic started, I was in grade 11; now I am a first-year university student. My last day of in-person high school was on a random Wednesday and I graduated on a Zoom call wearing sweatpants. Yes, sweatpants. You read that right. Obviously, none of us expected the pandemic to last this long. A two-week lockdown soon bled into a month and that ended up turning into a year. I never got to have a prom or a normal graduation, two rites of passage that make the transition from high school to university seem so much more exciting.

As a result, I was not very elated about attending university because I felt like I was just going into another year of headaches from staring at my screen for way too long. I never thought that my first semester of university would be like this, nor did I want it to be, because that meant that my first year was going to be harder than I had ever anticipated. Truthfully, I am actually doing better than I thought. For all of my fellow first-years, here is a list of tips on how you can prepare to try and make the transition just a little bit easier.

How Should You Prepare?

1. Take some time to get to know your professors. Trust me when I say that shooting your professors a greeting email will make you feel a lot In the last few weeks of summer, I was getting so anxious about university that I had forgotten that the professors on my screen were human too – they’re just people. Emailing some professors just to say hello really helped me to realize that. Professors may be having a hard time adjusting too. Remember that we’re all in this together, professors included.
2. Get to know your schedule. I would recommend having a printed copy of your schedule on you, keep it somewhere safe, yet accessible and memorable so that you don’t lose track of it. University classes are weekly, and you only have a certain lecture/tutorial once a week, which is an adjustment from high school where classes were daily. Keeping your schedule handy will be a life-saver.
3. Stay alert on the COVID-19 Protocols. Some universities are having in-person classes, and some aren’t. Life during the pandemic has been very uncertain; things are constantly changing. You should definitely stay on top of your university’s protocols, so that you may keep track of your classes and whether they are in person or online. If you’re on campus, it will be extremely helpful to know what your university’s rules are for social distancing.
4. Stay on top of your readings! In university, 90% of your homework is to read. Do all of your readings because that is more than half the battle. If you don’t stay on top of your tasks, you will fall behind and become piled up in work.

The First Year is Always the Hardest

Your first time doing anything is hard – like your first time riding a bike, or your first day of high school. As much as you prepare, it all comes down to you. Be patient with yourself. Remember that mistakes are there to help you to grow and learn. You may not immediately get the marks that you want; you’re going to have a lot of ups and downs, but focus on the ups. Those bad days are really what make the good days so worthwhile. University is difficult, but remember that this is your first time in it. Cut yourself some slack. Your hard work will eventually pay off, so long as you hang on.

Making Friends

If you’re online, it may be difficult to make friends. Try as hard as you can; participate in the introductory discussion boards, and the class chat during class. You’d be surprised at what you may have in common with people. Sometimes in university you make friends just by asking someone a question. The majority of your peers are in the same boat as you, try to be brave and reach out to them.

Transitions are always scary, and university during COVID-19 may be one of the scariest. But just follow these tips, and you’ll be ready for this next chapter in your life!

 

References:

Kerr, Emma, and Travis Mitchell, and Josh Moody. “12 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College.” U.S. News. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/ways-to-prepare-for-your-freshman-year-of-college.

Mental Health America. “How To Transition To Remote College During The Coronavirus Outbreak.” https://mhanational.org/how-transition-remote-college-during-coronavirus-outbreak.

By Maryam Sheikh

Social media has drastically changed life for everyone. Gone are the days of flipping through newspapers and magazines to gain access to breaking news and trends. Nowadays, virtual platforms fulfill all of our needs. While this has been a gamechanger for accessibility, creativity, and obtaining information, it has also drastically impacted the world of marketing.

In the past few years alone, there has been a shift towards online shopping. When grocery stores and shopping malls were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce started booming. Brands found new ways to appeal to audiences in online formats. Perhaps most famously, TikTok became a powerful platform not only for social interaction, comedy, and entertainment, but for digital marketing as well. Companies are now able to appeal to their target audiences by utilizing high profile Internet figures to promote their products and services. They utilize strategic product placement, endorsements, and trends to convey their messages and attract consumers.

Moreover, digital marketing has altered the capacities of advertising. Previously, company goals may have just been to connect with audiences. Now, brands use digital marketing to build brand image, gain access to new demographics, introduce new ideas, retain customers, and deliver promotions (e.g. coupons, online contests, giveaways, etc.). Digital marketing also minimizes the need to use financial resources to reach customers. Instead of paying for traditional media, companies can sometimes rely on organic marketing campaigns and the power of shares.

A large part of digital marketing is creating content that appears relatable to users. Brands strive to create relationships with their consumers to build trust and reputation. Online engagement provides opportunities to increase brand awareness. Ultimately, digital marketing has allowed for two-way communication to take place, which can mean deeper and seamless relationships between brands and consumers.

Digital marketing is not only limited to advertising through social media platforms. It also refers to marketing through other virtual channels such as search engines, websites, email, and mobile apps. Companies can also track your interests by gathering data from your browsing habits and interactions. Reports also show that companies with strong engagement strategies tend to have higher retention rates. So, posting on social media and utilizing digital tools not only builds awareness, but also contributes to brand loyalty. It is anticipated that future marketing strategies will involve highly personalized content.

So, what makes digital marketing successful? Brands must find niches in the market, develop a consistent voice, and adapt to changing trends. Moreover, they must be mindful of the tones, imagery, offers, and timing of their content. They should also carefully select a diverse set of metrics to determine the effectiveness of their advertising methods.

Overall, it is evident that the sphere of digital marketing has rapidly evolved over the past few years. Undoubtedly, this industry will continue to grow as companies learn how to harness trends and strategies of young influencers to promote their products and services. Though 2021 has not brought flying cars, it has definitely brought otherworldly online content. It will be interesting to see what the future of advertising brings!

 

References

Adobe. “What is Digital Marketing?” https://www.marketo.com/digital-marketing/.

Ahmand, Irfan. “How Social Media is Changing the World of Advertising.” Digital Information World.  https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2018/07/how-social-media-changed-the-ad-game-infographic.html.

Holton, Laura. “How Social Media Has Changed Marketing Forever.” MYVA360. https://myva360.com/blog/how-social-media-has-changed-marketing-forever.

By Erin Rebello

With the weather getting cooler and many university students away from home and living in cramped dorms, getting your 30 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity can be tough. Add in the fact that university itself takes up so much of your time and energy, and it seems just about impossible to leave your dorm and head to the gym. But what if you didn’t have to; what if you could stay fit while staying home? Well you can, and it’s something I like to call dorm-cercizing!

Instead of requiring tons of equipment, machines, or space, dorm-cersizing works with what you have at your home/dorm to establish a routine that keeps you healthy, even if you can’t workout outside or at the gym. Below are a few routines you can get started on without any prior training or knowledge. You typically won’t require any equipment to start, but might want to add in an inexpensive yoga mat or handheld weights if it’s something you plan to keep up with on a regular basis.

Whenever starting a new exercise routine, it is important to take it at your own pace and listen to your body. An injury can mean days of recovery without being able to exercise!

Warm-ups/Stretches:

The best way to start and end any fitness routine is with a set of full-body stretches. Although they may seem tedious, stretches are crucial to getting the blood flowing and rolling out any cramps pre-workout, as well as preventing future cramps post-workout. Additionally, if you find that yoga and flexibility is something you really enjoy, or would like to explore further, you can also build a full workout routine with only stretches.

1. Start with ten toe-touches. Don’t worry too much about actually touching your toes, but make sure that you’re reaching for them. You’ll also want to be sure to keep both your legs and back straight. If this is easy, try touching the floor!
2. Then put one hand on your hips and stretch your other hand over your body. Do this ten times for each side, and try holding it for 1 to 2 seconds each time
3. Now for arm stretches! Stretch one arm across your chest towards the other side of your body, and use the other arm to clamp it in place. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat with the other hand.
4. Body circles are up next! Start by standing straight and tracing big circles with your arms, making them smaller and bringing them together with each rotation until you’re tracing smaller circles. Repeat but with making circles in the opposite direction. Make these same circles with other parts of your body! Try doing leg circles by balancing on your other leg, and hip circles by creating a hula-hoop motion with your hips.
5. After that you’ll want to do some stationary lunges. Stand up straight and take a big step forward as far as you can go. Make sure that the knee of your front leg doesn’t go past your toes to ensure the best stretch. Repeat for the other leg.
6. Finally, sit on the floor with both of your legs together and out in front of you. Keeping your knees and back straight, reach as far as you can towards your toes. Try holding it for 5 seconds.

Cardio and Strength Building

After you’ve warmed up, it’s natural to want to kick things up a notch, which is where cardio and strength building comes in! Cardio is strenuous and continuous exercise that keeps your heart and lungs healthy, and includes forms of exercise like cycling, swimming, and running. On the other hand, strength building exercises use short bursts of power to build muscle tone, and include weightlifting and core training. In combination, cardio and strength training work together to improve your level of fitness both inside and out.

1. Start with 20 jumping jacks. These simple yet powerful moves are a great way to get your blood pumping. Increase the amount as needed.
2. Then hit the floor and do 30 mountain climbers. Start off in the top portion of a push-up position. Stay upright and bring one knee to your chest at a time, as if climbing something, and alternate legs at your own pace.
3. After that it’s onto 20 squats. Keep your back straight and feet a shoulder width apart, then bend your knees and lower your hips as low as you can before getting back up. If you’re looking for a challenge, try doing this with a 2 to 5-pound weight in each hand.
4. Next up in the routine are 20 burpees. Start with doing a push up, then get to your feet and jump as high as possible, reaching your hands towards the sky before coming back down and repeating the entire motion.
5. Don’t forget your planks! For planks, you’ll want to start in a pushup position. Instead of doing push-ups again, bend your arms at the elbow. Hold yourself up with your leg, upper arm, and core muscles. Try holding this position for at least 30 seconds each interval.

Although these are just a couple of ways to get active in your dorm, mixing and matching these exercise moves into your daily workout routine will help you stay fit, regardless of how much space you have. Happy dorm-cersizing!