February is Superior

As we pass the halfway point for the month of January, I find myself buzzing in excitement for February. Though the second month of the year is also the shortest, I truly and wholeheartedly believe that February is, in fact, the best month of the year. Yes, there are the very loved holidays of Halloween, Christmas, and New Year’s, but I think that aside from the specific day of the holiday, the entirety of the month is mediocre. That is the beauty of February. There is Valentine’s day, but the holiday does not overshadow the month itself. February also has the best weather of any month. It takes the chill of winter and combines it with the steady transition into a bright and blooming spring. 

And yes, February is my birthday month, but that is not important. 

Walking is the New Running

Thirty minutes have passed, and I collapse on the ground, covered in sweat and barely breathing. I ask myself, why did I think this was a good idea? When I finally get up, my knees are achy, and my body is overall exhausted. If you could not tell yet, running is not my thing. Luckily, there is a much simpler alternative to get the steps in for the day, one that does not leave you wanting to hibernate for a week— walking.

I was skeptical of the whole idea of going for a walk at first. I prematurely judged it, associating it with the stereotypical power-walking suburban mom. Nevertheless, I gave it a try. I popped my headphones in, turned a podcast on, and just started walking. Before I knew it, 45 minutes had passed, and I felt great. I returned home with no joint pain, no sweat, and 3,000 extra steps.

I now try to go for walks every day.  Physically, it is a great way to get some low-intensity exercise without placing stress on your body. However, mentally is where walking reigns superior. It is a way to get out of the house, get some of those feel-good endorphins, and disconnect from the screen for a while.

Whatever your preferred form of exercise is, everyone should be walking. It is time to abandon the negative connotations associated with walking and get outside. It is like running, but not painful! Putting one foot in front of another does not have to be as hard as everyone makes it out to be. So get out there; your body will thank you.

Los Angeles vs. San Francisco: Which is the Better City?

Los Angeles and San Francisco are two of the largest and most iconic cities in the United States. Both cities have been eulogized plenty of times on the silver screen and are centers for technology, innovation, and culture. However, out of the two, Los Angeles is definitely the better city to live in. 

For one, Los Angeles has a more vibrant and happy going city culture than SF. Along with the sunny weather, there are plenty of beaches, shops, outdoor restaurants, and theme parks that people can enjoy. These unique aspects of Los Angeles make the city appear far more modern and glamorous than San Francisco, which has an old-town European feel. While the massive suburban sprawl of Los Angeles can be problematic, it is also conducive to improving its overall living conditions. LA feels less crowded than SF, and there are plenty of nice suburbs that people can live in for a lower price. San Francisco is known for having jobs in the technology sector, but Los Angeles also has plenty of high-paying jobs in the financial services, manufacturing, and entertainment industries.

San Francisco can be a nice place to live in and is certainly a change of pace from the bustling traffic of Los Angeles. However, there is no doubt that LA is still the better and more affordable city to live in.