Spring Lifestyle Changes

By SHREYA KOMAR ‘22 Staff Reporter

Remember that cold day in early December where you sat, curled up in a ball of blankets, freezing your pants off and wondering how long it would be before you saw the lush green grass again? Well, the time has finally come. Spring is coming! A new season is another chance for a fresh start to your habits, mindset, and lifestyle in general. Here are some lifestyle changes to gear you up for the warmer days to come. Spring Cleaning First up is spring cleaning. It’s April, and that means it’s time for spring cleaning! It’s the perfect time to clean your workspace, home, and the environment you live in. Start with your room and places you spend a lot of time in. Organization is key in this process. The Great Outdoors The best thing about spring is undoubtedly the warm, sunny weather. It’s the perfect time to pick up outdoor activities. Consider taking daily walks or hikes to clear your mind. Maybe pick up gardening and plant a few of your favorite veggies and flowers. Being caged in under artificial light doesn’t do much for our perspectives, moods, or creativity, so make time to change up your scenery—even if it’s just an open window with fresh air for when you drift off to sleep. Take a lunch break outside, have a picnic, or walk outside after dinner. Change up your usual scenery and get the fresh, warm air of spring to energize you. Stepping outside into springtime weather (especially after a brutal winter) can quickly switch our minds to all the possibilities of a new season. Exercise Some people feel guilty after weight gain or indulgence in comfort foods during the winter. Don’t let that be you! It’s okay, as long as you get back into the groove of healthy exercise habits again. Step up your exercise routine. Add more time or more intensity to your exercise plans, try a new workout, or do a hard push into a new routine. Get yourself hooked on exercising more frequently, before you overthink your plans. Come summer, you’ll be smiling at your progress. The beautiful outside weather also calls for more exercising outside. Consider taking a run outside or playing some outdoor sports with your friends. Most importantly, find a fitness routine that you enjoy. Nutrition That’s right people, it’s time to start eating healthier if you haven’t already been doing so. It’s easy to fall into the trap of sticking to sugary holiday snacks and goodies even when the holiday season is over. Well, the spring season is a chance to turn over a new leaf, literally. It’s easier to start eating more leafy vegetables and juicy fruits when you’re not always craving something warm or sweet. Try to keep from eating comfort foods and eat fruits and veggies that are in season like berries, apricots, apples, asparagus, avocados, and carrots. Spring is coming! Here are some new lifestyle changes to help you welcome this new season with open arms. Photo by Shreya Komar ‘22/Canva

Skincare The care your skin needs in the winter months is much different from the care and attention it requires in the spring. This new season is the time to awaken your skin and get back your natural luminous glow. Give your skin a new goal and switch up your routine. Start exfoliating to remove the dry skin from the winter, switch to a lighter mois-

turizer, and upgrade your SPF and incorporate antioxidants. New seasons are reminders of how beautiful change can actually be. So, enjoy this transition into a new season. Watch flowers bloom and never forget to bask in the morning sun. Consider adding some of the lifestyle changes I’ve detailed above. And now…can I get a drumroll please?… We welcome spring! The best places to go to get a good cup of Joe

By JORDAN KRAMER ‘24 Co-Entertainment Editor

There’s nothing better than getting a delicious cup of coffee to kickstart your day, or to refuel after a long school day. Whether it be a cup of black coffee, an iced latte, or a sweet frappuccino, you’re sure to find a drink that you’ll like. The South Jersey area offers many places to get some coffee, from gas stations, chain stores, or a local cafe. Although finding places to go isn’t difficult, I’ve gathered five options that will be sure to fill your caffeine needs! Dunkin’ The likelihood of driving past a Dunkin’ during a car ride longer than 10 minutes is extreme. There is even one right by Eastern, so Dunkin’ is a very convenient spot to get coffee, as well as their famous donuts and breakfast sandwiches. They offer many drinks, not just coffee. Teas, refreshers, and matcha drinks are all offered, but they are not as popular as their coffee ones. One con to getting a flavored coffee at Dunkin’ is the inconsistency of how the drinks turn out. A running joke on TikTok is that sometimes Dunkin’ drinks turn out tasting like “sewer water,” which is not ideal. An extremely important pro to Dunkin’ is the ability to get their drinks or food via the drive-thru line, which is very convenient for people who don’t have much time. Dunkin’ also has their own app, which makes buying from them even easier. The app allows the user to order what they want from their device and pick it up in store. Rewards are also given to consumers if they buy a certain amount of their goods. The most significant pro is the inexpensive menu. A medium iced coffee is 24 ounces, and costs $2.49. Starbucks Almost equally as popular in South Jersey is Starbucks. They have locations in Target and Barnes and Noble, as well as just Starbuck stores. They have many popular drink options, from coffees, lattes, fruit refreshers, frappuccinos, matcha, and teas. Their food is also very tasty, and they offer an array of pastries and snacks: cakepops, croissants, banana bread, to-go lunches, sandwiches, and cookies. Two other pros are their drive-thru line option and mobile app, the same as Dunkin’. Unfortunately, one of their biggest locations for Eastern students right across from Voorhees Middle School burned down in March of 2020. Rebuilding it has gone slowly, but hopefully it will be back up and running soon. Starbucks’ biggest fault is their pricing; they are more expensive than their biggest competitor Dunkin’. The largest size they offer is 20 ounces, and an iced coffee of that size is $2.95. Cafe Flora Cafe Flora is only a few minutes away from Eastern, so it’s a great option for students to grab some coffee, food, and hangout once the school day is over. You can purchase fruit, yogurt, and pastries there, and they have a few coffee drinks. Another positive reason to go there is to support local businesses, an effort everyone should try to make when they are able to. An iced coffee that is 20 ounces is priced at $2.75, making it less expensive than Starbucks but not Dunkin’. Koupa Espresso Bar Located in Haddon Township, Koupa Espresso Bar is definitely a longer car ride than other places mentioned. Regardless of the drive, the cafe offers many Greek dishes. You can get Greek-style Avocado Toast, Santorini Mediterranean Pie, Tsoureki Politiko Greek Easter Sweet Bread, and more! They have a great lineup of coffee drinks and even offer types of Greek coffee. Unfortunately, the pricing of the food and drinks is more expensive than other places, but that can be expected when getting authentic and decadent dishes. A cold brew of 20 ounces costs a whopping $4.39. Once again, like Cafe Flora, it’s always great to support a local business if you can. Trouble Brewing Coffee House Lastly, another great option is Trouble Brewing Coffee House, located again in Haddon Heights. To eat, many bagel toppings are offered, along with pastries, paninis, and breakfast sandwiches. They also boast an extensive coffee menu, with everything from chai tea lattes, cappuccinos, plain coffee, to their famous coffee blends. The price of these drinks are the highest out of the five shops, with a 20 ounce cold brew costing $4.50. Still, Trouble Brewing Coffee House is a great spot to grab some breakfast and a drink, and you’ll be supporting a local business. What’s the best option? After seeing all these options, the obvious question to ask is: what’s the best place to get coffee? The answer to that is that there is no “best” place — it’s all up to preference! Starbucks might make your favorite iced caramel latte, but the food at Koupa Espresso Bar may outweigh that. Regardless of where you go, there are a plethora of options to choose from in South Jersey, so you’re sure to find one you love!