#theforecast

Feeling Rested Throughout the Day

When she was in therapy it was suggested Rimer work on her “sleep hygiene”. Cleveland Clinic defines sleep hygiene as, “healthy habits, behaviors, and environmental changes that you can take charge of to get a good night’s sleep.” For Rimer, the biggest issue was going to sleep and waking up at a good time. “I couldn’t fall asleep until 2 or 3am and then of course I didn’t want to wake up at 7am. Who does?” Rimer joked.

Cloud, however, realized that sleep was most important. “It’s not healthy what I’m doing.” Some habits Rimer adopted to feel rested are going to bed early, waking at the same time every day, avoiding sugar, staying warm, developing a sleep routine, putting her phone away, and clearing her mind of concerns at bedtime. If you’re struggling, try some of the sleeping tips from the advice column on page 3!

Finch - Self Care App

For the past 18 days I have logged into my Finch Self Care App and reported my feelings,

played with Rose, my Finch, sent “good vibes” to my friends, shopped for clothes and furniture (for my Finch), and completed my goals. 

This app has been instrumental in my productivity lately. I can write down all the tasks I want to do, and I get rewards for doing them. If there is ever a reason I don’t do a task, Finch allows me to reflect on it and either delete the task or snooze it until tomorrow. Seeing what I have left to do for the day and getting rewards for completing tasks has been amazing. 

Finch has also helped me express my feelings directly. It allows me to “send good vibes” from a category of my choosing. This helps me signal to my friends that I am thinking of them, and I can send them a virtual hug, gratitude, a reminder to stretch or drink water, or many more things I might want to share with them. This means that I don’t have to be pushed out of my comfort zone or risk being misunderstood, I just send sweet things to my friends. 

Overall, this app is a 10/10 and I totally recommend it. If you download it ask for my friend code!!

Rollerblading for Relaxion

Cloud Rimer has been seen by our team of Cloud-Watchers multiple times this week rollerblading. She seemed to be working on specific skills. When asked to comment, Rimer

explained, “My mood is much improved by exercise and being in the sun. Rollerblading helps me with both. I’ve loved rollerblading since I was little, so I work on skills to engage my brain while I workout and play in the sun.” Cloud reportedly has only fallen once this semester. We are not sure whether we believe this because of Rimer’s inclination towards being an especially clumsy individual. More soon.

Sleep Tips from an Insomniac

Advice from Cloud Rimer

Make a schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday can be difficult when your schedule differs but is really worth it. It helps your brain settle down for bed and you won’t be so tired throughout the day because it’s not time to be tired yet!

Make a routine. Making a routine that you do before bed is a great way to signal to your brain that it is time to start winding down.

Put distractions away. As tempting as it is to scroll on TikTok or Instagram until you fall asleep, it is not good for you. So put away your phone, books, and (politely_ tell your roommate that you are ending the conversation and going to sleep.

Clear your mind. It can be difficult to try to sleep when you have a lot of thoughts and issues running through your mind looking for solutions. Remember that you can deal with all of that in the morning, but only if you get sleep now. Try to remind yourself that it is time to be sleeping and relaxing, not problem solving.

Get into bed. As tempting as it might be to wait get into bed until you get tired, getting into bed is another signal to your brain that it is time for bed. For the same reason, make sure to stay out of your bed during the daytime so that way your strongest association with your bed is going to sleep.

The Games

Word Search 10/23/2024 and Quotes of the Week 10/23/24

Who Decides When Jokes are too Far?

When you sign up for a site like Instagram you don’t usually set out to break the rules. Accounts are used for texting, posting funny animal pictures, documenting different events, promoting products, and many other things. But sometimes, jokes or silly posts, much like Cloud’s go “too far” and break the sites rules. Now, I am all for rules to keep sites safe for everyone, but is this really where we should draw the line?

Rimer claims, “It was clearly a joke. Who just texts that they’re going to be late because they’re... literally buying cocaine? Not people who have ever actually done cocaine.” Rimer adds, “Are people convinced to do drugs because another person... just mentions them? They’re hopeless at that point.” I’ll end this with a simple message: don’t do drugs, and if you do, definitely don’t tell Instagram about it.

A Commentary on Wes Anderson Films

Over the break I watched five Wes Anderson directed movies. Included were his top three movies (ranked by IMDB): The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), and Moonrise Kingdom (2012). The others, ranked sixth and eighth respectively, were Rushmore (1998) and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). Below are my reviews of these movies, from my most to least favorite:

Moonrise Kingdom (2012). This movie reminded me of the movies I rewatched all the time as a kid about a group of children that have to work together against some greater evil while exploring their moral values and forming relationships. It was very sweet, and I enjoyed it a lot.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Loved the characters and it had a very interesting mode of storytelling. I was thoroughly entertained.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). This is a movie a lot of my friends rave about, while I don’t like it as much as they do, I understand the appeal now. It is a clear story with strong points, I liked it a lot.

The Life of Steve Zissou (2004). I’ll need to rewatch this before commenting.

Rushmore (1998). Every adult in this failed Max. Upsetting to say the least.

is Cloud Converting?

Sources have left anonymous tips saying that they’ve spotted Rimer leaving the Albion District Public Library with three books about Judaism and its practices.

The Torah: The Five Books of Moses

The Essential Talmud by Adin Steinsaltz

Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs, and Rituals by George Robinson

We don’t currently know whether Cloud is considering converting to Judaism or is simply doing research. When asked to comment Rimer declined and told our reporter to “mind your own business.”

This Weeks Top Pics

HOW TO CALM DOWN

Advice from Cloud Rimer

Put it into perspective. Realistically think about how large your problem really is. It might feel like it is going to be life altering, but it might not even be relevant after this week. This works well when I am being too dichotomous.

Think about the outcomes. This is one of my most trusted methods of calming myself. To do this you write a list of the worst possible outcome, the best outcome, and a couple middle-ground possibilities. Once you’ve written the outcomes you decide how you would feel about each and what your next step would be. At the end I usually feel much better about whatever I am worried about. This works well when I am blowing things out of proportion.

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. If your friend was having the issue that you are, what would you say to them? What would you do to help them out? If they were saying the things that you are, how would you respond to calm them down. This works well when I’m thinking irrationally.

Make sure all your basic needs have been met. I find that issues seem a lot bigger if I haven’t drank water, eaten, slept, or gone to the bathroom in a long time. So, if you think your problems might feel bigger than usual, think about the last time you had a nutritious meal or drank enough water.

The Games

Word Search 10/16/2024 and Friend Quiz 10/16/2024

What Does This Mean Gender Wise?

What does this pronoun change mean in regard to Cloud’s gender identity? Is Cloud a woman now? Was Cloud ever non-binary to start? Was it all for attention? When asked these questions, Cloud resented the idea that she was never non-binary. She said, “Gender identity is fluid and ever changing. I was 100% truly non-binary when I identified as such, and now I am a woman, it is quite simple to be honest.”

Rimer suggests to everyone that is questioning their identity, “not to push themselves too hard to come to a conclusion, all that really matters is to be true to yourself and to do what makes you happy.” Cloud acknowledges that this might feel like a big change for some people but stresses that this was a long time coming. She explains, “I’ve felt this way for a while, but wanted to wait to make sure.”

Buckle Up for the Ride of your Afterlife

On Sunday October 6th, 2024 Cloud Rimer accompanied Albion College’s APSIO to a showing of the musical Ride the Cyclone performed at The Downriver Actor’s Guild. The musical is about six Canadian high school choir members who ride a carnival ride called The Cyclone, and it crashes, killing all of them. The choir members are caught in between the land of the living and the afterlife where Karnack, a fortune telling machine, tells them he can bring one of them back to life. The catch is that they have to decide unanimously who is brought back to life, and that they have to decide by midnight, but one of the choir members does not remember who she is.

The musical is very fantastical and over the top, while remaining very simplistic at its core. There were pieces of the show changed for modern audiences, like a reference to RuPaul’s Drag Race, which was not in the original show. There was a couple of parts changed for practicality, like the Jane Doe in this show was not suspended by cables and instead a mannequin of her body was swung around while her decapitated head was singing from the stage. Overall this rendition of the musical was very entertaining, 10/10.

Max in Korean?

On Saturday night, October 5th, 2024, Jillian Bentley, Cloud Rimer, and Nat Wilson were watching hit tv show The Last of Us on the Max streaming service when at the start of the third episode the group noticed something was awry. The previously English show was suddenly in Korean! The group spent upwards of thirty minutes, and even called in Cloud’s former roommate Tichael for help but could not return Max to English settings. After trying and failing to solve the issue many times, Bentley, Rimer, and Wilson watched the third episode on Rimer’s computer and promptly retired themselves for the night.

Victory Park Picnic

On Saturday afternoon October 5th, 2024, Jillian Bentley, Cloud Rimer, and Nat Wilson ventured to Victory Park in Albion, Michigan for a studying / reading session. Rimer was sat atop a tall rock reading their favorite book, “The Blackbird Girls” by Anne Blankman while Bentley was reading an article for her history class, and Wilson was writing a first draft for their philosophy class. They worked from two pm until five pm when Rimer suggested that they pack away their things and get dinner from Albion College’s Baldwin Hall. After some deliberation they left.

HOW TO MAKE LIFE YOUR BITCH

Advice from Jillian Bentley and Cloud Rimer

Stop procrastinating. You’re only making more work or problems for yourself later. It is better to just get the work done now. - CR

Have fun. Everyday take some time to relax and have fun. Not everything has to be work. - JB

Get dressed up. Every day try to put some effort into how you look. It is easier to feel good when you look good. - CR

Set study habits. Have specific places or playlists to study in/to. - JB

Set a routine. Try to have some things that you do every single day to make your brain happy about there being a little pattern. - CR

Take ownership of your space. Take time to make sure that your space is clean and decorated in the way you want it-that makes you happy. - JB

Have sleep hygiene. Your brain doesn’t know your sleeping in because it’s the weekend, it just knows you’ve messed up the schedule. - CR

DRINK WATER. Your body is made of water. It needs it. There are so many things that are probably wrong with you that would be fixed if you had water. - JB

Be funny. Don’t be a bore. If you want to have and keep your friends, entertain them like a little circus clown, but don’t be weird or obnoxious about it. - CR

Be weird and obnoxious. - JB

The Games

Word Search 10/07/2024 and Sudoku 10/07/2024