Midterms are in full swing, and it’s just about that time in the semester when students crave the reset button. While clubbing on the boardwalk of sunny beaches in Miami sounds enticing, there are ways to relax this spring that will leave you feel way more rejuvenated. Luckily, I’ve provided five fun and safe activities that will make you forget — or at least feel better — about the nonexistent spring break this semester.

Networking is tedious, intimidating and sometimes a little awkward. Regardless of how uncomfortable it feels, though, it’s an imperative step for anyone with plans to enter the workforce. Even students who aren’t graduating yet or plan on taking a gap year should still partake in this step because everyone needs to have a contact base at some point. With that said, it’s never too early or late to begin, so if you’re wondering where to start, here are some tips:

When someone who you haven’t seen in months runs up and hugs you, it’s admittedly awkward to dodge them. When a friend of a friend reaches their hand out to shake yours, it feels weird to leave them hanging. And more importantly, when your designated pod constantly violates general guidelines, it can be a major source of tension to bring this up. But even if citing COVID-19 restrictions kills the mood, getting COVID-19 could kill you. So here’s some tips that will help even the most nonconfrontational people feel more comfortable discussing their COVID-19 concerns.

Pitt fitness classes — online and in person — are life-changing. While the gym is always an option, having an actual scheduled class forces students to show up on a regular basis and incorporate physical activity into their daily lives. Plus, with COVID-19 in the air, it’s more important than ever to exercise and make sure your lungs are in good shape.When creating a spring semester schedule in the coming weeks, don’t shy away from adding a workout class to your schedule.

If you feel like virtual learning isn’t your forte, you’re not alone.Unfortunately, whether or not online learning is your personal preference, it’s your new reality, and it’s time to get adjusted. If the start of the semester felt a little turbulent, there’s still more than enough time to get adjusted and back in the game. Here are five ways that I was able to recover from my chaotic first week:

With the drastic increase in unemployment, many students are dreading this five-month summer of nothingness. But just because hiring practices have slowed down does not mean that this summer will automatically become an unproductive waste of time. In fact, without imminent pressure to get a job and the next four months without academic obligations, this time can actually turn into quite the opposite. While an internship or a job would be nice, companies are well aware of the current situation and will adjust their expectations of candidates in light of this. Instead of moping — which I find tempting myself — here are four ways to develop yourself and build your resume in a way that will help you get ahead in the job market when it revives.

The combination of late nights and heavy drinking will eventually take a toll on anyone living such a lifestyle for prolonged periods of time. Since many college students are surrounded by this kind of living, these unhealthy habits can feel difficult to break — and when the weather hits freezing temperatures, the mere idea of change feels close to impossible. When I first arrived at college, my imagination soared with fears about the apparently inescapable “freshman 15” that haunted me.

As I wrap up the fall semester of my third year in college, the term ‘finals’ still evokes traumatic memories from my first-year experience during exam week. When I took my first semester finals, I didn’t quite realize how much studying it entailed and slacked as a result. At the end of the second semester, I miscalculated the workload again, but completely overworked myself instead. For first-year students, the concept of a week-long exam period may feel foreign and unapproachable — especially