Debate | Issue 4 | Serenity

DEBATE ISSUE 4 | SERENITY | APRIL 2020

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EDITOR Rebecca Zhong debate@aut.ac.nz DESIGNER Ramina Rai ILLUSTRATOR Yi Jong NEWS REPORTER Larissa Howie CONTRIBUTORS Jack Pirie, Casta Lawson, Hazel Buckingham, Sophia Romanos, Seth Nicholls, Esther Mackay, James Tapp, David Bailey, William Austin, Andrew Broadley, Jessy Thurston, Melissa Koh, Freepik ADVERTISING Jesse Jones jesse.jones@aut.ac.nz PRINTER Nicholson Print Solutions DISCLAIMER Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AUTSA, its advertisers, contributors, Nicholson Print Solutions or its subsidiaries.

This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUT STUDENT ASSOCIATION (“AUTSA”).

Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AUTSA. Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

Follow Debate! debatemag.com debate_mag autsadebate debate@aut.ac.nz

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Editor's Letter Sisifa Spills the Tea on Block Learning Sex and Serenity Q&A Eco Anxiety The Post-Uni Blues A Plight in Perfection Best Places to Nap on City Campus Best Essential Oils for Stress and Relaxation Notification Mania Giveaways The Articulate Minimalism of a Blank Canvas How COVID-19 has challenged Human Decency Stress Factor 101 - Simple Ways to Reduce It I Tried Out TikTok for 24 Hours. I Want My Time Back.

Business as Usual?

A Beginner's Guide to Studying Recipe Puzzles

I am incredibly lucky to be able to sit and write this in a time where so many of us face uncertainty, whether that be with our studies, work, finances, or even our health and safety.

It’s needless to say that this issue comes at a strange time for us all. We decided to focus on Serenity, as we thought in a time of crisis, whilst important to stay informed and involved, it’s also important to breathe and reflect.

On page 6, our sex columnist Casta answers all our questions on sex and relationships. This week her answers centre around how we can navigate the grey areas of our love life. Casta labels herself as “the all wise and knowing hoe,” and we here at Debate are thankful for her services.

from the editor Kia Ora e hoa mā, Since graduating I’ve gone a happy nine months avoiding the excruciating pain of icebreakers and introductions. I guess today is the day I break this hiatus and tell you all a little bit about myself. So, my name is Rebecca Zhong and I am your new editor!

In an effort to shake off all my teenage angst and avoid working at my mum’s fish’n’chip shop, I doubled the amount of student debt I would subsequently inherit in order to move to Wellington in 2016. Here I spent what could have been three, but for some daft reason I made four, years at Victoria University (don’t be like me. Visit your course advisor please). Despite jumping around a variety of courses and racking up the debt, I loved my time at Victoria University (am I still allowed to call it that?). The 20 cent coin I found in my

student hall ambrosia was a highlight. It not only provided my nutrient deprived body with a healthy boost of zinc but made an inconsequential dent in that loan. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature and Development Studies, with a minor in Māori Studies and Creative Writing.

Basically, I spent 30k to awaken a lot of anti-colonial rage. I then jumped on a plane to Seoul and spent eight months working a series of odd jobs in editing, content curation and writing. This was all cut short due to the outbreak of COVID-19 (read all about it on page 22) and now I have been fortunate enough to find myself here.

I plan to recommence my studies in semester two, and am both nervous and excited to see how the new block learning module will- hang on- wait, no- I’m just being told we are no longer doing that (read the tea on page 4).

On page 28 Andy aims to alleviate some of the uncertainty as businesses return to work and on page 24 David runs you through some ways to manage your stress.

Lastly, I want to remind all of you that Debate is a student magazine.

Although part of AUT, we are completely independently run, and will always put matters of the students at the forefront of what we do. As part of that, we would love to hear more thoughts from more students. Anyone is welcome to submit.

For your words, Debate will be offering some very real $$$ so whether you have poetry, hard hitting journalism or some good old shitposting you are willing to share, feel free to contact debate@aut.ac.nz In a time where media, much like many other industries, is facing massive job losses and cuts, we believe it is important to ensure voices are still heard. The media industry needs writers, and writers need the industry.

Ngā Mihi, Rebecca 3

NEWS

Sisifa spills the tea on Block Learning

By Jack Pirie Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of uncertainty and uneasiness surrounding AUT and its changes in regards to the academic learning structures implemented by the University. These changes were put in place to combat the disrupted learning year as a result of COVID-19.

In an exclusive interview with AUTSA President Sisifa Gigi Lui, Debate was able to uncover some vital information concerning the way in which these decisions were carried out, how student representation was undermined, and what we can expect from AUT moving forward.

AUT had set up a COVID-19 Emergency Task Force to deal with emergency decisions surrounding the way in which the academic year would resume post-lockdown. Despite AUT consistently stating that student matters are at the forefront of every decision there was “no student representation to begin with,” says the AUTSA President. Sisifa says that “AUTSA had to fight our way to be on the representation”.

In the initial decision to go toward a block learning model on April 1st, there was close to no “consultation with students” in determining how the new structure would be implemented. The AUT board and leading facility had decided it was not worth creating a poll or survey to get students' opinions and their thoughts on the proposed plans.

Instead, the head of departments and leading academics at AUT were held solely responsible for dictating outcomes that would directly impact students.

When asked about her initial reaction to the way in which AUT had made, developed and proposed block learning Sisifa says “If I’m being honest I was quite annoyed at the fact we weren’t given that consultation around deciding what that block model looked like.”

Despite assurance that AUTSA would be treated as a partner moving forward “it felt like the student voice wasn’t being treated as such of a decision maker, we were being treated as a third to fourth level feedback chain. It got to the point where I felt the student voice was being taken as tokenistic.

We were not seen as decision makers, more as feedback chains,” says Sisifa. Considering students are the largest stakeholder for AUT, the lack of consultation points to greater issues of power dynamics and lack of representation within the university.

After a very public uproar, with multiple media outlets capturing the voices of aggravated and concerned students, AUT decided to revert back to a normal semester-based learning structure, with the exception of cancelling all examinations for semester one.

Moving forward, all course papers would be assessed and graded through assignments.

forward. Only to have the rug pulled from under her and realise there had been no communication between the two parties for a second time, leaving AUTSA questioning “if we’re even considered decision makers at this point?”

"If I'm being honest, I was quite annoyed at the fact we weren't given the consultation around deciding what the block model looked like."

When asked about when the student representation was told about the decision to revert from the block learning model, AUTSA President Sisifa said “I found out on the day that the model reverse update was being released”. Sisifa told Debate that she could only describe the situation as “a shocker” where she felt “annoyed and upset” not just for herself but for “all students”.

Within the first two hours of the initial change to a block model system Sisifa received 50 emails from concerned students asking about the changes, along with over 150 private messages on Facebook, followed by the AUTSA Vice President receiving over 200 direct messages on Instagram. Once the proposal to reverse to a normal semester was released, approximately the same number of students reached out for assurances and answers that AUTSA just couldn’t provide.

After the initial release of the block learning model and the lack of consultation between AUTSA and AUT, Sisifa had thought she had established a partnership between AUTSA and AUT in consultation when discussing COVID-19 issues moving

This flip flopping decision making from AUT has left some students unsure and extremely anxious as to how the future of University looks for them. It has created a divide in the student body, as some students have started a petition to revert back again to the proposed

block learning system, whilst others are adamant that a normal semester structure is the way forward.

Some students are glad to see the return of normal learning structures.

“It’s nice to return to normal after a lot of chaos, a lot of people will be looking for a sense of stability and routine when we come out of lockdown… I think if AUT keeps going back and forth and doesn't set a decision it’s going to make students feel like AUT don’t know what they’re doing and aren’t thinking about the best interest of students… it will create a lack of confidence in the University and make students unmotivated to do well or put effort in,” says Communications student Briana Meldrum.

Others saw block learning as a refreshing system to get behind: “I liked the block learning idea… I really liked the idea of focusing on one paper at a time – right now everything in the world feels so stressful and I felt doing our assessments in blocks would ease some of the school related stress…

On the other hand I also think that it’s been a real muck around of time and energy for everyone,” says fellow communications student Lyric WaiwiriSmith.

When asked about the state of the relationship between AUTSA and AUT, Sisifa went on to say “definitely progressive…after an interesting start.” However, given that we are venturing on unprecedented territories, it is now more vital than ever that AUT is receptive towards the needs of students. Student consensus and consultation is key in navigating through these turbulent times.

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Sex and Serenity with Casta I am the all wise and knowing hoe – I love sex and am here to answer any questions thank you for coming to my ted talk.

By Casta Lawson.

Would you consider your virginity lost if you’ve only slept with females?

Yeah sex is sex, I mean some people who have only done anal still consider themselves virgins so… whatever you and your partner deem to count as losing your virginity counts.

I really struggle to make myself orgasm and my boyfriend feels like it’s his fault please help Yeah I’ve never orgasmed, I’m with you there sis. It’s definitely not entirely the bloke's fault. Every chick is different with their orgasms and if they can/cannot.

Maybe invest in a ‘Satisfyer Pro 2’ (they do wonders according to all my mates) and see if that can get you going first, and then take your boyfriend back down under and go from there.

How do I stop getting blue balled by the chick who's giving me mixed signals?

First off, it’s important to sit down and have a chat about where both your genuine interests are. Maybe she’s shy or just not interested. But if she’s still giving you mixed signals and wasting your time, hop on Tinder and find a new girl who won’t. If I was in your situation and some chick was messing me around like that, I would lose patience so quickly. She might be the most ideal girl in the world but it’s unfair on you to be waiting around for someone who is constantly giving you mixed signals.

There are many more fish in the sea even though the Auckland Tinder scene is extremely dusty.

How to control jealousy in a friends with benefits situation?

I have been in this exact scenario many times and it isn’t fun. Jealousy can really ruin a FWB situation, especially if the other person involved has made it clear that they don’t want anything more. If you are finding that you get jealous, maybe it’s time to take a step back and ask yourself if a proper relationship is something you want to pursue with this person, and if so, it’ll come down to you guys sitting down and having a proper discussion. If you aren’t interested in that and just find yourself a naturally jealous person, then honestly have a nap. I don’t really know what else to say but letting jealousy get in the way can sometimes bring out the worst in people and can ruin a really good friends with benefits. It’s definitely something most people struggle with and it just comes down to knowing yourself

most and knowing how to handle it I guess. Openness and honesty are the best ways to navigate these situations and maintain a good friendship/sex relationship.

How can you recognise a toxic dynamic while in a relationship?

I was very colourblind in my last relationship, so I never saw the red flags until after. If someone is trying to change you to suit their own wants and needs, then it’s a toxic dynamic. You get into a relationship with someone because you like who they are, not because they’re someone who you want to control or try to change. If you’re with a person who is showing signs of wanting you to change to suit them, I would advise you to either sit down and talk it out or just leave. It’s better to recognise and deal with these issues early on, rather than letting them fester and brew into something ugly that disrupts the balance of what could’ve been a perfectly good relationship. Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your own needs first.

My partner always wants round 2 when I can hardly handle round 1 If you can barely handle the first round why would you go for seconds? In all honesty though, if you’re only going for round 2 because you feel pressured to by your partner, then just don’t. My toxic ex (who we all collectively dislike) would often use the line “we haven’t had sex today, it’s like you don’t even love me.”

You should never be put in a position like that, and if you are just say fuck

it and leave. Relationships aren’t just about sex and it can really ruin them if one person bases everything around that. In the case that you genuinely just can’t handle another round but want to, talk to your partner about maybe slowing it down and having a chill root as opposed to one that bears resemblance to rabbits reproducing.

Why do couples that date for years opt into threesomes or look for them via Tinder, etc.

Probably because they’re highly comfortable with each other considering they’ve been together for years, have extremely good trust, and want to try something fun and fresh. I would say if couples can willingly have a threesome then they’re very comfortable and secure with each other and themselves.

Is it possible to learn to love yourself while in a relationship?

I honestly believe it is very possible. The person that you’re with may even help you with that by introducing things they love about you that you never really took notice of. I think it can make it harder to maintain a relationship if you don’t fully love yourself because it can sometimes bring out the worst insecurities. Selflove is something we all struggle with, it’s bi-polar in the sense that it comes and goes unexpectedly. But don’t hold off on getting into relationships because of the phrase “how can you love someone else if you can’t love yourself.”

Sometimes putting energy and heart into loving another person can help you blossom and flourish yourself.

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ECO ANXIETY The latest mental health crisis, or a call to action?

By Hazel Buckingham | Illustration by Yi Jong

As conversation about climate change

for this to keep it waste free) or start

are around 4,000 NZ species that are

and switching to eco-friendly lifestyles is a buzzing, so is the talk of another phenomenon. You’ve probably heard the term ‘eco-anxiety’ bandied about and a quick Google search will present you with countless news articles, all ready to slap a diagnosis on you and ask you point blank: ‘Do you have eco-anxiety?’

conversations about what’s happening in your mind, acknowledging your own feelings about the climate crisis is important. Speaking up about your feelings and the changes you’re making with those close to you can help validate other people’s concerns and inspire them to action too. While individual change is important, the most effective responses to this crisis are collective. It’s important that this is happening to everyone remember, so we must respond as a collective.

endangered or at risk of extinction, many of them insects and plants. We need our tiny friends to get us through this. Growing our own food cuts out the middleman in the supply chain and allows us to protest with our purchases (or lack of).

I’m more concerned if you don’t have ecoanxiety, rather than if you do. The term was officially recognised by the American Psychological Association in 2017 when a report was released that acknowledged it as an “additional source of stress” caused by the long-term impacts of climate change. This additional source of stress can manifest through sleep issues, thoughts of constant impending doom, anxiety and depression. Not to mention a raft of physical health issues such as a weakened immune system and raised stress hormone levels.

But eco-anxiety is not a pathological individual issue or a mental disorder. It is, however, important to recognise it as a psychological phenomenon and it is having a serious impact on people’s daily lives. Eco-anxiety is a legitimate reaction to the state of the world. So, how do we manage our feelings and use this anxiety for action? Or as some put it, how do we go from eco-worriers, to eco-warriors?

Acknowledge your own feelings and validate others Whether you start an eco-journal or a mood diary (there’s some great apps

Get your voice heard by the powerful As we make collective changes, we also need to see systemic changes. The system will change when we demand it does, otherwise it will keep operating in its own interests. Protesting with your purchases or voting with your dollar is important, as are those online petitions you sign.

There are already some great iniatives in Plastic2Parliament, which encourages New Zealanders to freepost all their nonrecyclable plastics to MPs, or you could look into Extinction Rebellion or Fashion Revolution. These are both international activism movements that work to facilitate change and conversation.

Grow carrots in your backyard Russell Brand says that if we all grow carrots in our own gardens we can change the world. But it doesn’t need to be carrots! Cultivate a mini ecosystem in your own backyard so that there’s a piece of nature you can protect yourself. There

Be okay with imperfection You don’t have to be a perfect vegan with a zero-waste home and a sustainable wardrobe. Start to make little changes where you can such as choosing to eat less meat and dairy and using less single-use plastic. Remember to be kind to yourself when you slip up, forget, or have no other option. Do what you can, when you can. It’s better for us all to be imperfectly trying, than a select few being absolutist about this.

Be wary of how you cultivate your social media Who you follow and where you take your information from can make all the difference to your mental health and eco-anxiety. If you need a place to start, I love @ethicallykate – a kiwi who has lots of great tips and I find myself learning something new from her most days.

While eco-anxiety is something a lot of us have to live with, do reach out to professional support services if it all gets too overwhelming. And for those of us living with eco-anxiety daily – you are heard, you are valid and your concerns are legitimate. Be motivated to action when and where you can be.

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POST-UNI BLUES

By Sophia Romanos | Illustration by Yi Jong

It’s not even halfway through the year - heck it might not even be halfway through your degree, but the question of what will you be doing after you graduate is quietly looming.

gate-to-Heaven position that’s going to get your career moving. And for some lucky buggers, this is a reality, but for the rest, there’s something else in the cards.

hunting in your industry. There are people out there to help you, don’t be afraid to ask. Just don’t open the emails that offer sexy singles $300 a day to work from home. Those are fake.

Your final year is a hectic one. You know at Christmas time when your Mum says, “NOOO-WA” she doesn’t need a hand with the food but is frantically cursing her way around the kitchen, something’s kinda burning and you’re also stressing about the shit present your sister is about to open from you? If you could be graded on how you manage that level of stress, that’d be your final year of uni.

Don’t fret about where your little nugget of a brain will be put to use in a job post-Studylink, it will fall into place. But if you need someone to put your mind at ease that’s done the hard yards and the stress-cake-eating sessions - here are some of my hottest tips of all tips for the post-uni panic:

Have patience, grasshopper

As enticing as sinking copious amounts of Part Time Rangers on the lawn of your shitty flat is, finishing your studies with good grades is annoyingly tempting. Uni is a stable few years where you can work on your future, pay student rates on the AT losercruiser, and rely heavily on Studylink’s dosh. But once that time is over - what happens? Do we want to settle for a job that keeps us afloat? Do you get the nuggets without sweet and sour sauce? Of course not. You’ve just smashed out the total of your degree, you deserve more. There’s this entitlement that you don’t want anything less than the entry-level

Hottest Tips of All Tips:

Put your feelers out early The thought would have crossed your mind as you sat in a 300-person lecture and sniffed around at the competition - How the hell are all of us going to get jobs? Start looking early in the year for potential position openings. It could start as an internship and ease into full-time work later, you never know...I mean one day we could buy Maccas and now we’re in four-week lock-down so THERE YOU HAVE IT.

Make connections Network, network, network. Go to open studios, panel-discussions and events in your area. Be sure to also make use of your lecturers for advice on job-

Your dream job may not come in the time it takes to make a cheese toastie and that’s quite alright.

Your degree doesn’t expire You have so much time to put that educated pink sponge in your skull to good use - if you want to park it and do something completely unrelated - you do you (boo). For some, it’s earning dollars until they’ve got the hang of the 9-5 grind and have successfully avoided Bar101 for two months.

Patience can simply mean waiting for the right job to surface.

In saying all this uneducated nonsense that sometimes comes to my mind - do whatever you bloody well want. I think if the C-word (COVID-19, not THAT C-word) has taught us anything, it’s that a lot of what we stress over is the small stuff. So put your feet up, have a loose plan and be prepared for it to change.

And dear, sweet baby Jesus, do us all a favour and have a drink, we all need it.

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A Plight in Perfection

By Anonymous I wish I could fall asleep in this desk chair. Its cushions are lumpy, sure. It’d be more stable built out of sticks found in Albert Park, that can’t be argued. Still, it’d make for a luxurious bed if I could sneak my eyes closed. I have had too many nights, and then too many mornings, wide awake and enraptured by fluttering distractions and flashing lights. I slurp my coffee and crack my cans and try to survive a new day. I crave a moment of sleep, even if uncomfy and crushed.

Perhaps I can slink away in the lecture hall, hidden amongst the hard-studying. Give me a moment of shut-eye betweens the slides. I’d even take some peace behind the garbage can of a lecture hall alleyway. Words fade into their neighbours in an unending garbling monotone, a sea of the sound that the colour grey would make. I only want a moment of sleep. I’ll savour a goddamn power-nap if that’s all I can scrounge.

I took economics way back in my NCEA years, and came to learn an annoying fact. There were many similar words for many distinct things and thus the slightest error would drag you back to the beginning. Small mistakes in phrasing would cost you marks. You needed perfect definitions every time. I slowly stopped answering questions. I

probably didn’t know the answers anyway. Anything I wrote could just be a few letters off and would be considered another failure in the books, so why try anymore? I felt as if everyone else knew more than me, and they were keen to judge me for it.

I came to law and it was sold to me as tough-asnails and competitive. High-brow intellectual shit every day of the week. I found it was all those things and more. A bad time in the best way it could come as. We, as humble students, were to be smart and tough and competitive all the same. Over these years, however, I have found an anchoring nervousness. It was like before in economics, only so much stronger now. I wanted to answer less and less with each workshop, sharing broad silences with my peers as the teacher would wait for a response.

I started to realise that if I was foolish enough to pipe up, and maybe even get it wrong, I would be utterly destroyed. My peers are an audience, a network and an executioner all at once. This was a place for the best of the best, and failure of any size would out myself as the worst. When I sit in that silence, I cannot help but feel I share that terror.

When I look around at worried faces and scanning eyes, I feel that everyone is trying to find someone else to speak. I write this now to share my fears, so that perhaps some of you may relate. Maybe some of you share this perfectionist’s plight.

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Best Places to Nap on City Campus Whether it's post-8am lecture after a dusty night out, or simply to kill time between classes, every student has considered taking a nap on campus. With many trying and failing to find a decent place to nap at AUT’s bustling city campus, I’m here to supply you all with a definitive list of the best places to nap on campus. By Esther Mackay

AUTSA student lounge

The library

The Treehouse

WG Level One

Grab a warm drink and settle in for one of the most hearty naps of your academic career. Above the gym in WB, the AUTSA student lounge boasts many nap-friendly features such as bean bags, a well-stocked drinks fridge, and open access at almost any time. Being such an ideal place to hang, the level of student chatter here is high, but that’s nothing a pair of headphones can’t fix! The student lounge gets a 5/5 for comfort, 4/5 for convenience, and a 1.5/5 for quietness.

If you're looking for somewhere a bit more ambient to nap, the library is the place for you. It’s quiet, spacious, and has many different floors and lounging spots available for your napping needs. Whether you’re into spreading out on your own couch, or more of a head-on-desk-don’t-talk-to-me napper, the library has it all.

Plus, being in the library feels productive, even if it's just to nap. 3.5/5 for comfort, 4/5 for convenience, and a 5/5 for quietness.

On the off chance you manage to snag a padded booth in the highly populated Treehouse, the potential for a great nap is high. Secluded, spacious and right at the heart of WG building, the Treehouse is an ideal place to nap. One of the major downsides of napping at the Treehouse other than trying to find a space, is that being such a perfect place to chill, it can be quite noisy with all the other students hanging there as well. The Treehouse gets a 5/5 for comfort, 3/5 for convenience, and a 2.5/5 for quietness.

If you're the type of person who can nap anywhere, level one is the place for you. You're not guaranteed to find a comfy couch to set up camp at, but the number of pedestrians around this area is far less than some of the more popular relaxation spots around AUT. With accidental darker mood lighting due to the floor being underground, level one has the ideal ambience for a much-needed nap in a pinch. Level one gets a 2/5 for comfort, 3/5 for convenience, and a 4.5/5 for quietness.

Best Essential Oils for Stress and Relaxation

By Esther Mackay Essential oils are a long-used aspect of homoeopathy and are used for a range of purposes. With so many different oils and blends out there it can be daunting trying to figure out where to start. No matter your issue, there is an essential oil out there that will do the job.

Lavender oil – Kmart Lavender is a classic essential oil that has long been used in many different products to aid in sleep and relaxation.

Extremely flowery and fragrant, lavender is a familiar smell for a lot of people and has many benefits, making it a great oil to have in your collection. Grab a bottle of lavender oil and pop a few drops on your pillow before bed for a deep relaxing sleep.

Many places stock lavender oil, but if you’re on that stressed student budget, Kmart has lavender oil for just $3.25.

Brain Power blend – Absolute Essential With its unique blend of citrus and herb oils (rosemary, spearmint and lemon), Brain Power is used to support memory, concentration, and alleviate mental fatigue. If you want to be at your peak for that assignment that’s got you stressed, three to five drops of this on a compress will get those academic juices

flowing. At $29.90 this oil is on the pricier side, but worth it for a unique blend that matches your specific needs.

Peppermint oil – By Nature Peppermint is frequently used to improve mental clarity and alleviate headaches. Apply peppermint oil topically to reduce the symptoms of mental stress and awaken the senses.

Not only can peppermint oil be used for mental therapy, but it can also be used as a deodorant, cleaning product, and to help aid in congestion and digestion. A great everyday use oil, the

By Nature peppermint oil can be found at The Warehouse for $7.50.

Stress Less blend – Dolphin Clinic Stress less is used for many things such as stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and general tension - all things that any student has experienced before. This oil is super multi-functional, which makes it a great starter oil for anyone who doesn't quite know what they're after. Containing bergamot, mandarin, patchouli and sandalwood, Stress Less is best used in a relaxing bath.

Drop about six drops of this oil into your bath and just take some time to relax. This oil retails at around $20 at most pharmacies.

Chill Out blend – PureNature The Chill Out blend is designed to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. If you just need to take some time to chill from your day to day stress then grab a cup of tea, cosy up with a book, and pop a few drops of this in a diffuser or steam bath.

Made up of a mix of sandalwood, tangerine, balsam and rose geranium this oil retails at a mid-range price of $15.

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Notification mania

By James Tapp Oh no! I lost a follower! Well no need to stress, Debate's media coordinator is here to help. Social media is now something which none of us can avoid anymore no matter how hard we try. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and whatever else you use, they all contribute to our perception of life. And now we’ve all got this number, followers. The people we cling onto oh so dearly, even though chances are we wouldn’t even stop to chat to them in real life. So should we really panic about our followers? Yes, but not over how many we have, but instead how much they actually enjoy our content.

That's right, engagement rate. While social media may seem like an online distraction or a procrastination platform, it is also a place that enables us to foster meaningful relationships which we would otherwise not encounter. So here are a few tips and tricks on how to really utilise your socials in order to build that online community.

Followers Now before we get to the real nitty gritty, it’s important to say followers are needed, as they’re your follower base. You can say you have 100% engagement rate, but if all of that engagement is from 10 other accounts you made, then I’m sorry but your chances of being an influencer are pretty low. That being said, everyone has their goals, and while they're important, it's also about the process. Part of that process is losing and gaining. What's the

point in having a follower who decides to vomit every time you show up on their feed? Pointless. The value is in those who value what you post, whether it's a picture of your lunch or another overly dramatic tweet.

Likes The famed thumbs up. The bright red heart. A true craving, but also a cause of panic, something I know first hand.

Having started a photography account a couple years ago, I was hitting 300+ likes on some photos, an insane reaction to something I saw as only a hobby. Where am I now? 50 if it's a good day. What's the moral? Algorithms. Now these are far too complicated for any of us to understand, but I've got a simple solution if you want more likes. Post more! And while you may not be able to control who sees your posts, it’s important to keep track of how many there are, and how this compares to your followers, aka your engagement rate. Depending on how big you are this can change what a good rate may look like. For an influencer on Instagram, 3-6% is considered pretty good, but that could easily be 20-30% if you have a smaller follower base and post high quality content. For any other platform though, 1% or above is generally considered a success.

Comments LOOOVVEEEE! YES HUNNY WORK IT!

Firstly, here are a few common phrases that you'll need to use to dominate the comment section. While comments can be a place of spam and hate, it is also where your ego will get the most loving or take the biggest hits. There’s no feeling of gradual disappointment like posting a bomb ass selfie to have no one say anything about it. Comments are so much more than this though, because they allow you to communicate with your followers on a personal level. There’s nothing like having a role model make the time to like and reply to your comment.

Analytics Now we’re getting into really fancy shmancy stuff. Analytics are definitely fun to look at, but are also one of your best tools if you’re wanting to look at specifics. While likes are a good signal of how well you’re doing, analytics tells you, the who, what, where and when about your followers without being an absolute creep. And while maybe right now you post whatever you want, but to get instafamous, you have to know your audience, and this can go two ways.

Firstly, you can really hone in on a specific demographic, for example 20-25 year old males, so you post content you think relates to them and see how it goes.

Alternatively, you might see you’re only bringing in this demographic, so you try to make your content broader. Easy said, easy done. Right???

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giveaways It’s nearly the end of April, and we’re pretty confident that at least 80% of you made a New Year's Resolution to read more books. We’re also pretty confident that hardly any of you have done this.

That's why Debate is here to help.

To be in to win, all you need to do is follow these simple instructions: head to our Facebook page and fill out the survey pinned to the top of our timeline titled ‘Giveaways - Issue 4’

NORMAL PEOPLE

IN COLD BLOOD

Little WOmen

Normal People is the second book by author Sally Rooney.

The novel explores the complex relationship between two teenagers, Connell and Marianne, who both attend the same secondary school. A story of mutual frustration, fascination and love. Normal People is a book that seems completely in touch with navigating the uncertainty of modern day relationships.

If Tiger King has made you thirsty for some more murder, scandal and mystery then look no further. Debate has a copy of In Cold Blood by author Truman Capote to give away this week.

In Cold Blood tells the true story of the murder of the Clutter family. An absolute classic of the true crime genre, and a favourite of our editor, In Cold Blood proves to be a compelling page turner.

If the only reason why you have heard of Little Women is because of Timothée Chalamet, then, well the movie was pretty good so I can’t complain, but you should still read the book.

Also a favourite of our editor (I’m sensing a theme here). When asked if Rebecca could talk a little more about the book she just wailed and waved her hands excitedly. I suggest you just google the synopsis. Anway, we have a copy to give away.

The Articulate Minimalism of A Blank Canvas

By Seth Nichols There is a terrifying beast waiting for me whenever I open up my laptop to write an article. A blank white page. It stares at me with invisible eyes. It is angry. It is hungry. It is oh so profoundly disappointed in me. It keeps on looking. I shut the laptop. Perhaps another day.

I cope by imagining that whatever I could write would go better unsaid, either out of fear of its quality or some bizarre devotion to perfectionism. I try to tell myself there is beauty in the minimalism of a blank page, and that writing on it would almost turn it rotten.

I open the laptop. I stare into the blank, white page. Trapped in its gaze. Trapped in its endless nothingness, jumping from the edge of one only to fall onto the surface of another.

A maze of my own making, built on unwritten blueprints.

Nothing is made but more nothing, and I sit here stirring paradoxes.

And so I stare, enraptured by the blankness. Perhaps there is some powerful snowstorm on that page, with obscured adventurers fighting through it. Perhaps there is some soliloquy scrawled in invisible ink, so poetic and poised it would be sin to write over it. There must be something there.

I hang off of the prayer that something has been hidden in a chest fundamentally empty.

But at some point I have to set onwards and sail the black ink sea. At some point I have do fucking anything, lest I starve on my page without a sentence to sate me. I call upon the stroke of pens. I call upon the chatter of lettered keys. I call upon the cracking of marble. I scream to the fucking beyond.

And slowly it comes. Thoughts and feelings and so many stories trickling towards me. Like streams meet and form a flood. Pick up speed and rush. It’s so fast now that I’m swept up from my feet. A jet black flood of writing sweeps me along and irrigates my screen with a thousand lines of black pixels.

Till I face that dry, white page another day.

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How COVID-19 has challenged Human Decency

By Rebecca Zhong | Illustration by Yi Jong

The gentle narration of my Audible novel came to an abrupt halt with the frantic vibrating of the phone in my pocket. I opened it to a clinical looking flurry of Korean characters under the ‘Emergency alert’ notification. I paused for a moment to take in those around me. One by one commuters began to remove their phones from their pockets. I quickly screenshot the message and pasted it into google translate. The message read, “Seodaemun-gu, tested positive. Was on line 9 February 20th, at approximately 12p.m.”

I stopped walking. The busy Dangsan station that had seemed to collectively pause together a moment before had now resumed back to normal. I remained frozen. Fixated on the clumsy translation before me.

A businessman who was also staring at his phone screen was forced to an abrupt halt when he almost knocked into my back. He gave a short, disgruntled cough, muffled behind his white surgical mask. You can’t exactly just stop walking in the middle of Dangsan station but I had. He manoeuvred around me with noticeable exaggeration. I offered up a distressed “mianhamnida.” The apology only met a dismissive wave and a lack of eye contact. But just as quickly as I became his headache, he was gone, and I was forgotten.

I gave a quick check of the time, shoved the phone back into my pocket, and continued to hurry towards my coming train. After I skirted between the waiting passengers at the end of the platform, I quickly checked my phone again. Five minutes had passed since I received the initial alert, and since then two new alerts had followed.

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The train threw open its doors and deposited its inside to battle against a keen crowd of desperate commuters. I was swept up, surrounded, drowning in the sea of bodies.

Line nine is one of the most frequented metros in Seoul.

Being one of few express metros to Gangnam, the business capital of Seoul, personal space is always compromised during peak hours. The white surgical masks that covered the commuters' faces pushed and pulled with the heavy breath of those around me, and my lack of mask now seemed glaringly naïve. It’s February 22nd and as I stepped onto Line 9, just as I had done every day for the past several months, for the first time things felt different.

On January 20th, South Korea received its first case of COVID-19. Emergency alerts were sent to Korean sim holders nationwide, and the population was notified of the route taken by those who were tested positive. In the following weeks, these emergency alerts would become a regular interruption to daily life. Less than a month later, a nine-story Church in Daegu would be named the Korean petri dish for COVID-19. Patient 31, a 61-year-old woman, was showing symptoms of the virus. However, she refused to skip Sunday service, and would instead press her finger into a digital scanner granting her entrance into “Shincheonji Church of Jesus.” Over the course of the twohour service, she would be crammed shoulder to shoulder with a thousand others. By the end of February, patient 31 was believed to have been linked to three fifths of the country’s 3,736 cases recorded at that time.

Living in South Korea as a Chinese in the wake of COVID-19 proved to be both an uncomfortable and learning experience. After strangers caught a glimpse of my appearance, I would witness foreigners and locals alike swiftly navigate around me. Crowded metros now made room for me, not out of politeness, but out of fear. The xenophobia compounded with general fears of COVID-19 had heightened everyone’s senses, and as an outcome, I was deemed hyper visible. This was a shared experience among many of my Chinese friends. I heard stories about

boomers quickly wrapping their scarves around their mouths when my friends would walk past. Misinformation and sentiments of Chinese food being dirty had resurfaced to alarming degrees, with many of my family friends' restaurants taking a toll. I wanted to be the person who heralded reason and empathy in a world of panic and racism, however I found myself caught in the hysteria of racism myself. In department stores I would turn my head when I heard Cantonese or Mandarin being spoken. I would purposefully avoid duty free stores notorious for being popular amongst Chinese tourists. While I knew these unconscious tendencies had no malicious intent, I found it difficult to separate myself from the very behaviour that attacked and marginalised those closest to me on a regular basis. When we see a pandemic, and especially one that has been publicised to this extent, it is easy to get caught up in the hysteria of it all.

There are people who are misinformed, and people who are already racist and use it as an excuse. In times like this it becomes increasingly difficult to discern a clear line on what these differences are.

On March 6th I decided to pack up my bags after living in Korea for eight months. Three days before arriving in New Zealand, I was told that all people entering from South Korea were required to be in self isolation for two weeks. At the time of my arrival, COVID-19 was still being taken quite lightly by the general public, with only four positive cases being recorded. The measures imposed for those entering were mostly precautionary.

Despite the minor situation at the time, I was still taken back by the nonchalant attitudes I had seen towards the virus.

Sentiments about the virus being unimportant because of the low mortality rate was widespread amongst youth.

However, if we treat COVID-19 like the flu, go about our business, and let the virus take its course we would see an exponential rise in the number of cases over the next few weeks. A study conducted by Imperial College showed that if we took the same approach to COVID-19 as we do to the flu, we can expect 4-8% of all Americans aged over 70 to die. An increase in COVID-19 cases would force our health sector into overdrive and compromise the system’s ability to offer compassionate and thorough care to those most vulnerable.

And while this information has been communicated with care during my time in self-isolation, it still seems like the thin veneer of human decency has slipped during the wake of this pandemic.

By the time I was released from self-isolation on March 20th, social distancing had become highly encouraged to the public. Despite wanting to visit my favourite restaurants, bars and cafes for the first time in months, I understood the importance of lessening my contact with others in order to flatten the curve. Many other cities and states around the world had been forced into lockdown, and with the additional time spent at home, I began to notice a definitive shift in how people were responding to the virus globally.

It seems like it is a human tendency to derive both a point and moral lesson from every downfall we may encounter in life. People have used COVID-19 as a case study to highlight humanity's lack of empathy and compassion towards one another. Our initial response to a pandemic is through racism, hate crimes, microaggressions and individual survival, as opposed to solidarity and understanding. And while this time is invaluable as it allows us to be reflective on our individual positionality and privilege, I cannot help but think that the worst behaviour we have seen during this pandemic will continue to arise in future cases of distress and chaos. Our propensity to moralise can be seen as a means to comfort ourselves in the midst of a public problem. Moral lessons are fundamental towards the growth and development of humanity.

Historically pandemics have enabled us to imagine the world anew and break away from the past. However, if we simply use this as a source of comfort rather than a means to alleviate future distress, we are at fault once again.

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Stress Factor 101 Simple ways to reduce it

By David Bailey

Coping with Confusion in Your Learning

Technology Issues

A huge cause of stress is not understanding key terms or phrases in your course learning. Keep an ear and eye out for unfamiliar words and new terminology. Make a note of these words and terminology when you hear them. You may also come across one in a text and wonder what exactly it means. It would be best to look it up in a dictionary there and then. It may seem obvious but often this easy fix is omitted. There are plenty of simple online dictionaries which can help. Making sure you understand the words in a text will enhance clarity during the learning process. This is an easy to do home remedy. In a lecture don’t be afraid to put up your hand and ask. Ask questions, ask for clarifications, don’t be shy or scared. If the lecturer can’t help you right away, they can often talk to you later. Lecturers want to help, it’s in their interests for you to get the most out of your course. Also, ask the student mentors for help, every course has them. Their job is to make things easier and clearer for you, so make sure to take advantage of that!

How many times has your printer flaked on you when you needed it most? Operate on the principle that technology will always fail you just when you need it most.

Adopting this principle will help you plan better when using technology.

Waiting until half an hour before hand-in to print your assignment is a bad idea.

The printer will jam, or it will malfunction, and your stress levels will go through the roof. If you are doing something which involves complex editing, be prepared for it not to work and for you to have to spend more time than you thought on it. Be ready for any kind of electronic transfer, even to and from a memory stick, to fail. Chances are your laptop will shut down on you too. This comes back to being timely, getting it done early, making sure you leave plenty of time for failures. You know that student everyone hates because they are always smugly on time, handed in early, finished and done and dusted? Well, aim to be that student and you too will have a less stressful time.

How to Deal with Deadlines Deadlines are often difficult to cope with, particularly in undergraduate courses.

We all know that meeting deadlines is a must. But how much time do we allow to do so? The less time you leave yourself to finish and submit, the more stress you are going to have. It’s a simple cause and effect. Try to be disciplined and try to get your work finished in good time and submitted earlier than the deadline if you can. Then you can have fun. Too often it’s the other way around and then comes the stress of not doing the best job, not getting the best mark, coming under pressure from your lecturer and so on. All of these things and this stress can be avoided by managing your time wisely.

Balancing Work and Play University life is not just about work, it’s about having fun, meeting people, partying. It’s about spreading your wings and broadening your horizons.

It should be those things and more. But never forget the reason you came was to also get a degree. Get the most out of your course by making sure you clear up the stuff you don’t understand, you meet your deadlines in a timely manner, and never trust technology to work when you need it. Those three things will dramatically take your stress levels down and bring your success levels up.

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I Tried Out TikTok For 24 Hours.

I Want My Time Back.

By William Austin

Saturday 7 April 12:16pm – Incoming torture in 3, 2, 1, GOOOOOO! I jump into the deep end and start subjecting myself to 20 minutes of TikTok videos. And I’m bored.

You see, TikTok is a social media app that allows users to post 1560 second creative videos. These people could be dancing, creating funny memes or just doing random challenges.

What makes me sad is that TikTok is pretty similar to Vine. Which is also like Snapchat. And has a few similarities to Facebook stories too. In other words, TikTok reminds me of every other stinking social media app in existence. So I’m disappointed.

But just like when AUT lecturers annoyingly refuse to put up the lecture slides before the lecture, I guess I’ve got to just put up with it for now.

2:38pm – I really didn’t want to make a TikTok account. But like horny university students in AUT’s WSA apartments, I can’t say no. I sign up to get a TikTok account. I’ve got nothing to lose anyway.

Because I’m a very vocal person, I appropriately use my email address called “williamaustinjunk@somedomainthat’snoneofyourbu siness.com”. This pretty much sums up my thoughts on TikTok.

5:53pm – For some reason, TikTok has been so popular. Even though it completely lacks originality - the thing basically looks like Instagram. Can’t the over one billion users of TikTok just use Instagram or something we already use?

8:13pm – Time to attempt to post on TikTok so I can entertain my zero followers.

I’m going to be doing the paper towel challenge which simply works like this: A paper towel has a message written on the front of it, which we as the viewer can see. However, once the paper towel is placed in some water, it reveals a humorous surprise message. And some of them are quite funny.

I learned how to do this on the internet, and this challenge is surprisingly easy to do. Finally, I’ll now post a video on my personal social media after an (actual) 2,317-day streak hiatus!

I wish.

Yes, I successfully completed the paper towel challenge. But I forgot the most important part: I didn’t film the challenge. ONE JOB WILLIAM. So I didn’t end up posting on TikTok after all.

Sunday 8 April 2020 10:40am – Time to start finding what my friends and acquaintances are doing on TikTok. I’m pleasantly shocked. Some acquaintances of mine made some hilarious videos. Which is a surprise.

Cause none of them are really that hilarious in real life. #justbeinghonest #soznotsoz (wait aren’t hashtags so 2017 or something?)

12:16pm – I proudly hit the uninstall button on TikTok. I want my time back.

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Business as Usual?

Chances are you’ve seen at least some form of the above message. Now I am no expert in spam but from my understanding, in order for spam to work, it has to offer something we want or need. In this case, the want is to be able to make an income whilst working from home. And my guess is, due to the sheer volume of variations, people do want it.

Has COVID-19 ushered in the end of the traditional workplace? By Andrew Broadley.

COVID-19 has shown us many things, and you can argue quite rightfully that a lot of those things are more important than this,

As the age of the internet swept across the globe it seems like the age of spam swept along right after it. Not to be confused with the delicious and often misunderstood canned meat of the same name, I’m talking about the relentless pop ups and endless tabs that fill your browser whenever you try to do anything slightly questionable online. Whether you’re winning a faux Nigerian lottery or finding hot singles in your area, spam is everywhere you look. hey everyone you've got to check this out I made $560 today so far [LINK] or Work at home mom makes $6,795/month working part-time from home [LINK]

but it has shown us that when needed, we can successfully stray away from the traditional workplace. Countless people shifted to remote work and reduced hours during the level 4 lockdown, and as those countless people return to their workplaces many of them will be asking why are they returning at all?

The International Workplace Group, which surveyed 15,000 employers in 80 countries, found that 83% of workers would turn down a job that did not offer flexible working. Flexible work options allow employees to better balance their work, social lives, reduce stress levels, and research would suggest, has no real impact on productivity levels. Countless studies have shown that more hours worked doesn’t equal more hours, well, ‘worked.’ Yet the majority of workplaces still require their employees to trudge into harshly lit offices 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. I worked for a company whose policy was essentially, be at your desk at all times regardless of whether there is work to be done or not.

During lockdown I could finish my day’s work within 4-5 hours of focussed productive work, as could many of my friends. This meant that essentially we were giving the same level of output in 3 or so less hours than usual. Now due to lockdown it meant most of that extra time was used on Animal Crossing but under normal circumstances that would open up time to allow for a host of options. Errands that are usually crammed into Saturdays could be dispersed throughout the week and reduce congestion on essential services such as banks, dentists, mechanics and others. It could also allow for workers to get more rest, exercise, socialisation or other means of improving wellbeing and mental health.

Flexible work options are becoming essential to prospective employees.

A company that remains rigid in their attitudes risks losing out on top quality applicants, as well as risks losing the employees they currently have. For smaller companies trying to compete with big name employers, research suggests one of the most effective ways they can level the playing field is by providing these alternative options.

Less personnel in office can also provide small benefits such as reduced utility bills (Yay for saving on power!).

And I would argue the benefits don’t stop there. Auckland has a serious transport issue. There’s a lack of public transport, shitty bridges that were ill thought through and lacked enough capacity (here’s to you Harbour Bridge) and too many cars on the road.

Politicians and parties have argued for years on the best way to solve

Auckland congestion. Keeping people out of offices and out of the morning commute seems a good place to start.

Flexible work options are becoming essential to prospective employees. A company that remains rigid in their attitudes risks losing out on top quality applicants, as well as risks losing the employees they currently have.

Due to the rushed nature of the lockdown it meant that many of those working from home were doing so in less than ideal environments.

And obviously these options aren’t viable for everyone; factories still need people on the floor and yes all you retail and hospo kiddos are still gonna have to be in store. But time to properly implement and adapt to these alternative arrangements will provide a better work life balance for the employee and also assurances for employers. Future disruptions to work would be less damaging to the company, and it could also allow employees with the ‘sniffles’ to stay home and work instead of coughing all through the office and infecting (or simply annoying) everyone else.

Kiwi company Perpetual Guardian paved the way in New Zealand when they trialled, and ultimately implemented a four-day working week. During the trial they found levels of commitment, stimulation, empowerments and work life balance all improved with no impact to productivity. They even claim that ‘social media surfing’ dropped by 35%.

In the new contracts they made sure to outline that these new hours were a ‘gift’ of sorts, and that they would remain so long as productivity did. A policy that provides assurances on both sides of the contract.

Many of us at AUT are juggling our studies with part time work. The benefit of being able to work between lectures from the rock-hard Plaza seating would go a long way in relieving stress (maybe bring a cushion). And for those of us graduating and looking to the precarious future, assurances that your employer will be flexible in their working arrangements will help in the long term with your mental health and burnout.

Now more than ever, more people and businesses will be looking at alternative working arrangements.

Many have been forced into making the adjustment already and will look at continuing to do so. With more time to properly implement and develop viable plans, thousands of companies within New Zealand could begin to shift the way in which they operate. The research is there to be read. The benefits are there to be had. It’s only a matter of time til more businesses switch on.

Why not start now?

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A Beginners Guide to Studying

By Jessy Thurston We have all been victims of heavy procrastination at some point in our lives.

You put off studying until the very last minute and then all you are left with is a tsunami of guilt, stress, and pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines. Here’s a bunch of study tips to fix your assignment woes.

1. Plan ahead! Keep a monthly planner of due dates and put it on your wall so you can see how much time you have left before hand in. Try to also mark a date when you would feel comfortable starting the assignments - writing it down means you’ll feel more inclined to stick to it before you lose track of time.

2. Use coloured pens/ felt tips to highlight the parts of a test or exam you need to memorise. When you read over it, your brain will associate the colour with the content, so you are more likely to remember everything you need relating to a certain topic. I have personally used this method for years and it works better than anything else. It's also just so nice to have pretty notes to study from - you can post them on your instagram story beside a cup of iced coffee because everyone needs to know how hard-working you really are.

3. Everyone says to exercise and eat well and it seems overrated since we are doing great on 2-minute noodles everyday - but actually looking after yourself properly is one of the best ways to refresh a busy mind. Try setting yourself up to eat healthy meals and drink lots of water

instead of fueling yourself with coffee and continuous snacking. Go for a walk when your brain feels depleted. Treating your body right makes a huge difference to your focus, mood, and energy levels, which will help a lot if you left an assignment until the last minute.

4. Break big tasks into small parts. Write down a plan to have the first 300 words of your essay done by today, and 300 more the next. Alternatively, plan to study one page a day for a week, rather than all of them the night before. You feel successful when you do get a little bit done, and it seriously reduces the stress before it builds up and you have a mountain of work to do.

5. Do 20-25 minutes of study, and then take a break to watch an episode of MAFS or go and get a fro-co with friends. Come back after you feel relaxed and then get right back into studying again. Taking breaks helps with focus and memory, and you’re bound to feel less stressed if you’re not spending hours on end staring at a screen.

6. Put your phone on do not disturb mode. This is a big one. It's super easy to reach for your phone whenever you get a notification and this disrupts your mindset whilst studying. Leave it all until you're finished - as much as you think it might, the world won’t miss you for an hour.

7. Set up a reward for completing a task.

Buy yourself a magnum and keep it in the freezer until you're done studying

for the day. Or plan to use a bath bomb to wind down once you finish making notes for that chapter. Reward yourself with whatever floats your boat - but don’t give in to the reward until you’ve actually completed what you wanted to.

8. If you need to memorise something, create a song or acrostic poem to get it stuck in your head. Things tend to slip out of your mind if you’ve got a shit load to study. If I ever need to remember a list of things I have to make a catchy phrase that will stick in my head - we all know Never Eat Soggy Weetbix, right?

9. Listen to study music - stream lo-fi hip hop radio on YouTube. It seriously helps to set your mind on a task if you are the type of person that can’t work in silence.

The only downside to this tip is you can easily get trapped into watching the live chat of hundreds of people looking for internet boyfriends.

10. Study away from home. If you really feel like you’re stuck and just not getting anything done, suss yourself a spot in a local cafe and put your head down for an hour or so. This kind of environment always makes me feel more inspired and less prone to distractions.

If you don’t find any of these tips help you get ahead, try talking to a student in the year above or even a tutor to find out how they think it's best to tackle the books.

Now go get yourself some motivation and start studying!

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Everything But the Kitchen Sink Waffles This recipe encapsulates how I found serenity in my depleting kitchen during the COVID-19 mayhem. I hope this recipe inspires you to utilise any leftover ingredients you manage to forage in your pantry and fridge. By Melissa Koh.

In a waffle maker or sandwich press, 1) Place a slice of spam or any protein you have available.

2) Fill the remaining space with leftover garlic bread (or any bread, really).

3) Ensure all ingredients are compact before putting the heating element down, applying enough pressure to slightly flatten the ingredients.

To make the cheese sauce, 1) Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a non stick deep pan over medium heat.

2) Add 2 tablespoons of flour, and whisk to form a thick paste.

3) Add 1 1/2 cups of milk gradually, whisking constantly till it reaches a boil.

4) After a minute of bubbling, remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, stirring to combine.

Microwave cherry tomatoes with: 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, pinch of mixed herbs, pinch of salt and pepper.

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PUZZLES (PRINT THIS PAGE OUT IF YOU WANT)

Patience Composure Restraint Silence Content

Ease Nerve Stress Release Equilibrium

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