Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Tag

Tips

Browsing
Exam Season

How to not fall asleep this exam season

By

Know that the exam season has begun when your sleep cycle changes from sleeping from 5 AM to 7 AM to sleeping from 10 PM to 10 AM. Welcome to the cursed woes of sleeping too much….

To all the people who have a (very) messed-up sleep schedule, functioning on 2 hours of sleep every day, know, that with the beginning of the exam season, sleep schedules have a tendency of going off-track in the absolutely opposite direction, blessing you with the menace of too much sleep (if that is even a thing).

 

And when you haven’t studied anything throughout the semester, relying with your heart and soul (and hopes of passing) on that one-day-before-the-exam studying, “sleep is for the weak” starts making perfect sense.

 

So here are some ways (tried and tested. Failure rate≠ 100%) to stop yourself from inevitably falling asleep…

(Disclaimer- might leave you feeling like the Grinch).

 

1.  Cold Showers

As much as this sounds like an innuendo, it’s not. If nothing, school has taught us one thing— everything else might be temporary but “go and splash water on your face” to wake up is permanent. All we are doing is taking it up a notch and asking you to move beyond just the face. It helps…. Even if for just 5 minutes.

 

2.  Get Caffeine Infused Foods

AKA get coffee-infused toffees. Making coffee is probably (definitely) the better option but when you have achieved unfathomable levels of laziness and have been diagnosed with the couch-potato syndrome, anything is better than nothing.

 

3. Do Not Sit and Study on your Bed

You. Will. Fail. There is no way to actually get yourself to study when you can feel that soft bed closing in around you. “Ab toh fail hona bhi chalta h, bas sone do” is all you can think about and when a I-am-just-resting-my-eyes-for-5-minutes turns into a full-fledged 4-hour nap, you wake up regretting everything (including your existence).

 

4. Power Naps are the Biggest Scam

If someone told you that power naps work, hunt them down. A power nap is one of the biggest scams to exist in this universe, only working out for people who have dedication, determination, and a real will to get themselves to study, and clearly, you have none of these.

 

Give up convincing yourself with all the 1,000 excuses (itne excuses toh mummy ko nahi diye aaj tak) that you can actually complete everything in one night while sleep comes and goes (more comes and less goes). 10 years uthao aur baki sab bhagwan par chhod do.

 

Manasvi Kadian

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Uncategorized

Skincare Hacks for Students

By

Finally, after a long delay, an intense and fairly elongated wave of humid monsoons has hit the National Capital. It has brought several skin-related problems that need to be addressed.

Despite the declaration of a dry monsoon for North India, Delhi has witnessed several spells of monsoon rains. The students, who are exposed to the humidity for about 10 hours each day, have been complaining of skin and hair problems. These are triggers that need to be checked, before they shoot into major allergies or infections.

Aditya from Hindu College said, “My skin has become relatively more oily and my hair more sticky. With a busy schedule and packed timetable for college every day, it is increasingly difficult to take care of my skin properly. Plus my pocket money doesn’t allow me to buy expensive products, so I usually use milk and honey, and some besan to prepare a pack, that keeps the skin hydrated and also reduces the stickiness.”

Products like face masks, scrubs, face wash, face packs, shampoos and conditioners, and toners are helpful, but it becomes difficult for students to buy them from expensive, and upmarket brands. But as Kashvi, from Kirori Mal College suggested, brands like Khadi Bharat, MiniSo, and Patanjali provide quality products at much cheaper rates, and have a better and long-lasting impact (not to forget that they’re organic!). They help in controlling the sebaceous activity and reducing oiling on the skin.

The other option is home remedies. Popular belief associates home remedies for skincare to be a part of the knowledge of mothers and grandmothers. However, these home remedies have time and again proven to be effective. For the arsenal of the University students who want to take care of their skin, two essentials are haldi (turmeric), and rosewater. Rosewater is an amazing anti-oxidant and works as an amazing toner. Bottled rosewater can be used as a super cheap substitute. For those students who are inclined towards do-it-yourself options, recipes to make rosewater are available online, which are quite simple to follow.

Turmeric is known mostly as a spice for food, but people fail to realise that it is great to combat acne and pimples. To make a turmeric face mask, turmeric needs to be mixed with a liquid, like lemon juice, which acts as an astringent; raw honey, which is known for its antimicrobial properties; or milk, which can be used to brighten the skin. Use these face packs once or twice a week, and you will soon start seeing results. This is top-notch and, on a budget too, as the ingredients are already available in your kitchen, or in the local grocery store.

Turmeric is known mostly as a spice for food, but people fail to realise that it is great to combat acne and pimples. To make a turmeric face mask, turmeric needs to be mixed with a liquid, like lemon juice, which acts as an astringent; raw honey, which is known for its antimicrobial properties; or milk, which can be used to brighten the skin. Use these face packs once or twice a week, and you will soon start seeing results. This is top-notch and, on a budget too, as the ingredients are already available in your kitchen, or in the local grocery store.

 

Feature Image Credits: Stylecraze

 

Yaksh Handa

[email protected]

 

 

Prabhanu Kumar Das

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Summers and Self-Care

By

Make this summer the most unforgettable one by knowing yourself more, and doing what you love. Here is a checklist that you can’t miss to make your summers unforgettable.

The longer days in summers mean more time to take care of the wonderful you. Make use of these summers to do everything that your busy schedule doesn’t allow you otherwise. Take out time for yourselves, try to know more about your own self and practice self-care. Going on beaches and pools is something that you’ve been doing for years; so try doing something new this time. Slow down and unwind. Here are a few tips for nurturing yourself this summer.

  • Take a Break From Technology:

Summer is a time when everything seems to slow down and thus, it can be a good time to take a break from constant use of technology. Try meeting people in person instead of texting them on WhatsApp. Take a day off from Instagram, Facebook, and all other social media platforms and give yourself a chance to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones.

  • Write:

If you do not already own a journal, then go buy one and pen down your thoughts, ideas, and feelings in it. Write down everything about your life. Journaling relieves you from stress. If you are new to journaling, then start with a gratitude journal in which you can write down about three things you are grateful about, followed by writing the emotional acts and feelings experienced by you throughout the day.

  • Click and Capture:

Summers and photography tend to go hand-in-hand. If you love to capture nature, then go out early morning and capture the sunrise. Click pictures of the pretty flowers that bloom in this month of happiness. Try to get the perfect shot of the sunset. Take your friends out and click good pictures of them to make their Instagram profile a little more colourful.

  • Sketch, Draw, and Paint:

Art is something that provides our mind with peace. Creating and enjoying art has a lot of health benefits as well. It reduces stress and calms down your mind. Painting is a wonderful way of practicing self-care as it lets us know a lot about ourselves. The colours we use and the designs we make reflect the choices that we make in life. To make art is to make choices and making choices necessitates ourselves to pay attention to which elements please us and which do not please us.

  • Binge Watch:

Catch up on all the movies and TV shows that you’ve missed because of your exams, and watch the ones you love all over again. Binge watching shows is a non-isolating way to practice self-care, so make a list of all the shows you need to watch this summer, fall in love with those characters and make them a part of your life.

  • Read More and More:

Reading is an escape for many people, it lets you explore the world without really leaving your room. It provides you with an opportunity to unplug from the world, run away from all the real-life problems for some time and learn something new. If you are not a movie person and someone who doesn’t like noise, then reading is the best way to practice self-care for you. Being involved in a book provides time to our body and mind to relax, rest and get ready for whatever comes next.

  • Travel and Explore:

Take out some time for a vacation or a staycation. Go out and explore new places, meet new people and learn to see things from a different dimension. Taking a break from everyday life and travelling will give you time to think about yourself and it will make you aware of what you really want in life.

  • Redo Your Room 

Your bedroom can be transformed into a self-care sanctuary by making a few changes. Start with decorating your room with everything you like and give it a new, pleasing look with decent lighting. Imagine an ideal relaxation scenario and convert your bedroom into the same. Remove all the things that prevent your mind from unwinding and make it a work-free zone in order to make it a happy place.

  • Meditate:

Meditate, spend time alone and introspect. Meditation helps us both physically and emotionally. It connects us to our inner self and helps improve and mental and spiritual well-being. It is the perfect practice of sustainable self-care as it is an investment in not just your own personal well-being but also the well-being of others. Once in a while, it is necessary to slow down to focus on yourself. Taking time to channel your inner peace will give you the energy to enjoy the rest of your day.

 

There is no better time to start taking care of yourself than right now. So start right away by doing one small thing for yourself. Have a relaxing, refreshing and fun summer!

 

Image Credits: Social Worker

 

Priya Chauhan

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
The Auburn Umbrella

Auburn Umbrella: How to Dress to Meet Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend’s Parents

By

Meeting your better half’s parents for the first time is a big step in a relationship. By doing so, you’re saying that you’re ready to solidify your relationship. 

Like in a job interview, the stakes here are high. The last thing you want when you are in the middle of such a situation is to worry about your clothes. Your style is something that should offer confidence, not be a hassle.

Here are a few tips that will make your partner’s parents remember you for all the right reasons.
Consider the Context

Dressing appropriately for the occasion and location is important. For women, if you’re going to a midday brunch and you are not sure how ‘dressy’ the crowd will be, avoid the backless dress and gold hoop earrings. And men should not whip out a three piece suit and tie if they are meeting their partner’s parents at Big Chill Café. But if they are going to a slightly fancier place, then they need to do better than jeans and a t-shirt.
Go Classic

If you’re meeting your boyfriend’s parents, don’t let your outfit be dictated by the trends. Turn to your ethnic wear essentials for the big day. Whether you like it or not, in India, timeless pieces such as a kurti and a pair of leggings would say you’re in for the long haul whereas giving in to trends might make you seem flighty. For men, jeans and a plain, perfectly clean, white buttoned t-shirt or an elegant white kurta is a look that is classic.
Familiar Footwear

Fancy or new shoes can be uncomfortable and make you wobble. Therefore, it is a wise move to have footwear which feels familiar. For men, a simple pair of loafers will look good. Above all, make sure to have matching socks underneath. And women may leave their 5-inch heels which can make them twist their ankles at home and should instead settle for ballet flats or kolhapuris. That should finish their look nicely.

A Cautionary Note on Accessorizing

For women, it can be tempting to opt for all their best jewellery when meeting the parents. But wearing too many accessories or jewellery that is gaudy or flashy can be a distraction. Simple earrings or a necklace will make a good impression.
You can also complement the outfit with a simple metallic or leather strapped watch.
While clothes definitely play a role in the impression that your beau’s parents form about you, what’s more important is how you behave. Nothing will knock their socks off like a confident, polite, self-assured, and well-mannered person.

 

Feature Image Credits: That Boho Girl.

Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
Photo Story

Photography Tips: How to Capture Bokeh this Diwali

By

WHAT’S THIS THING CALLED ‘BOKEH’?

Also known as “Boke”, it is one of the most popular subjects in photography. Why? Because it makes photographs visually appealing, forcing us to focus our attention on a particular area of the image. The word comes from the Japanese language, which literally translates as “blur”. So bokeh is essentially the quality of out-of-focus or “blurry” parts of the image rendered by a camera lens.

1
Photo by Vansh Sabarwal for DU Beat

LENS TO USE FOR BOKEH PHOTOGRAPHY

For capturing great out-of-focus pictures, photographers usually use the fastt lens or the fast prime lenses. Lenses with small aperture values of f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8 are called fast lenses as they allow more light to enter due to which we can increase the shutter speed. These lenses produce shallow depth of field due to which background/fore-ground gets out-of-focus and that creates an aesthetically appealing photographs, known as bokeh.

Source:
Source: Canon Global

CREATING DIFFERENT FUN BOKEH SHAPES

We can create bokeh of different shapes by using the most basic requisites. Take a small black piece of paper and cut it approximately into the size of your camera lens and tape it over it. Cutting the piece of black paper into different shapes, whatever pleases the cameraman works. When pictures shall be captured with the black piece of paper stuck to the lens, you will get the bokeh effect from the shape you cut it out in, be it heart or squares.

Source:
Source: DIY Photography

 

Source:
Photo by Vansh Sabarwal

VALUE ADDITION TO THE PICTURE

Engaging in bokeh photography is fun. But it becomes even more fun when we understand and manouvre with different angles in clicking the said picture. Focussing is essential. To get great output in the form of pictures, one needs to understand what one needs to focus on. When one masters that, the pictures that come out of it, are worth the effort.

Source:
Photo by PV Purnima for DU Beat
Source:
Photo by Vansh Sabarwal for DU Beat

 

Few Examples:

Vansh Sabarwal
[email protected]

Ankita Kar Dharmakar
[email protected]

Photos: Vansh Sabarwal, PV Purnima, and Akarsh Mathur for DU Beat

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

5 Tips to Crack Society Interviews

By

WhatsApp constantly buzzing with promotional messages, attractive posters adorning all corners of college walls, seniors giving their first-hand experience of being a part of xyz society; this is the auditions season. The most integral part of a DU students’ life, college societies bridge the gap between academics and fun. You get exposure and learn how to apply theoretical concepts in real life, while creating everlasting bonds and memories with fellow society members.

Consequently, it is a prudent decision to apply only for the societies you want to associate yourself with. Following are a few tips that might help you crack an interview of the society of your choice:

  1. Be Confident. This adage needs to be reiterated several times as it is extremely important. Your confidence level indicates your preparedness to take up new tasks and creates a positive first impression on the interviewers. Along with content, you are judged on the basis of the clarity of your thoughts and the way you present yourself. At the same time, nervous anticipation is healthy and definitively an indicator of your seriousness towards the society. When nervousness takes over confidence, it spells misfortune.
  2. Objectivity and honesty-the key words. A self-appraisal is necessary, but not if it’s irrelevant to your position. It’s painfully obvious when a student beats about the bush or exaggerates a small achievement. Similarly, white lies and gross irregularities between what you say and what you wrote in the application form can land you in trouble.It’s best to stick to the question and answer it short and crisp.
  3. Do your Research. Be it an interview for the entrepreneurship cell, Enactus, photography society, or the quiz society, you need to research thoroughly. Researching gives you an overview of the society’s past projects and achievements and ensures that you appear as an interested and serious candidate. It gives you an edge over other prospective members and lets you know if the society is active and worth your time.
  4. Break away from the clichés. Everyone swears by the rehearsed introduction and prepares for questions beforehand. It’s alright if the preparation entails a rundown of what you will be saying, but not rehearsing set answers. Since the interviewers are students too, they look forward to students who break the monotonous nature of the interview process. If you have something fresh to say, like a question or a reasonable suggestion, you will at least be remembered among the sea of potential members.
  5. Apply only if you are genuinely interested.A lot of societies now take in students regardless of the student’s experience in it, provided they show commendable enthusiasm to learn and contribute in the process. If you intend to join a society just to add value to your CV, it will be a fruitless effort. Apply only if you are passionate or genuinely interested and feel that your constructive energies will be better utilised.

 

 

 

Feature Image Credits: dukesmedicalapplications.com

 

Vijeata Balani

[email protected]

 

 

Keep Reading
By
Exams

Foods You Just Can’t Have Before Your Final Exams

By

This post originally appeared in Redspoon. For more tips and tricks on the food, visit them at Redspoon.in

It’s that time of the year again. The only thing between you and happy holidays is a traumatic week of final exams. While there are some foods that will definitely cheer you up and keep your energy levels high during this stressful duration, there are others you should definitely avoid, no matter how much you crave for them, especially before your exams. Here are the top food items you just can’t have before final exams.

 

  1. Cookies, cakes, and muffins

 

Cookies, cakes, muffins and pastries contain white flour, which is not digested easily and takes a lot of body energy. So avoid draining useful energy that might help you think more during the exam duration.

 

  1. Chocolates and candies

 

They may appear as a stress buster, but chocolates and candies are high in refined sugars, which can lead to excessive carbohydrate level in the body. So you can end up jittery and distracted during exams, and may even suffer a crash. Better keep the craving aside for a while.

 

  1. Carbohydrates

 

Carbs, if eaten alone and in large quantities, will make you feel more dizzy than alert. This is something you definitely don’t want during an exam.

 

  1. Soda

 

Soda consumption before the exam can not only lead to a sugar crash, but you can also end up dehydrating the whole body. It’s better to keep it for the after-exam party.

 

  1. Cherry Juice

 

Cherry juice is rich in melatonin, which regulates your sleep cycle. So if you plan to stay awake for a late night study, do not have this in the evening as you might speed up a sleep-inducing process.

 

  1. Alcohol

 

This one is definitely a no-brainer. At best, alcohol might cause a headache and nausea. At worst, you might actually throw up on your precious answer sheet. Imagine that, if you like.

Keep Reading
By