The Crimson White Print Edition - August 24, 2023

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2B Alex Jobin Staff Columnist Back in the 1700s, there was a strange man who used to plan his day out to the minute. His name was Benjamin Franklin. Franklin would follow his schedule to a tee, blocking out time for work, meals, sleep and even leisure. His emphasis on keeping a stringent routine has even been immortalized in one of his most famous quotes: “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Settling into a routine may be the best way to manage the transition back to academic life without setting yourself up for a fall of late nights, lastminute assignments, and all-around anxiety. All the better if you can begin to ease into that routine. before returning to the Capstone. Now, Franklin’s daily schedule may have blurred the line between organization and psychosis, but there is actual science which suggests that keeping some form of routine can reward you with significant benefits in your everyday life. As we transition back into the school year, we must keep routine in mind if we want to keep up our grades. Not to mention everything else the average UA student has going on. opinion Keeping a schedule makes college life easier Even with jobs, internships and various other commitments taking place, there may be no easier time for us students to fall out of behavioral patterns than over the course of summer break. Summer can mean everything from irregular sleep schedules to sporadic travel to meandering hours of honestto-goodness boredom — and it’s the best. However, it lies in stark relief against the regimen and responsibility of fall semester. Settling into a routine may be the best way to manage the transition back to academic life without setting yourself up for a fall of late nights, last-minute assignments, and all-around anxiety. All the better if you can begin to ease into that routine before returning to the Capstone. So here’s the science. When you create and follow a daily regimen, you in turn create a domino effect of health benefits for yourself. It becomes much easier to eat better and stay fit when you have set aside dedicated times for grocery shopping and exercise. It can be easy to find yourself lost in a sea of other responsibilities that distract from these basic healthy behaviors over the course of a semester, but keeping a routine can provide you with guide rails to ensure you continue to prioritize your physical health. Routine becomes even more powerful when considering one’s mental well-being. According to Northwestern Medicine, having a consistent schedule has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while simultaneously providing you with more opportunities for relaxation. Maintaining a consistent routine allows you to tackle your responsibilities head-on and can provide more enjoyable downtime that won’t make you feel like you are procrastinating. Perhaps the most integral part of routine — and one which evades many college students, including myself — is forming a regular sleep schedule. Having consistent bedtime habits has been found to improve “mental sharpness, emotional well- CW / Shelby West being and energy” — all of which are indispensable when facing the rigors of academia. Establishing a routine for your waking hours will translate into more regular sleeping patterns, creating a positive feedback loop of health benefits. No matter what our ultimate ambitions are, we all share a common thread as students at The University of Alabama: we are all working to garner the skills and tools necessary for succeeding and achieving our future goals. The importance of having a strong, healthy foundation cannot be overstated when it comes to this endeavor, and routine is the perfect place to start building that foundation. There are few examples of someone who was able to realize their ambition as impressively as Benjamin Franklin. Of course, like any of America’s Founding Fathers, he was not a perfect man. However, flaws aside, Franklin was successful in achieving nearly everything he set his mind to — and he set his mind to a lot. He crafted a lofty legacy for himself in journalism, politics, philosophy and science, even establishing long-lasting institutions like fire departments and libraries. Franklin’s life was one marked by accomplishment. It does not appear coincidental that Franklin’s life was also marked by strict routine. But to be truthful, I care far more about the future Benjamin Franklins than Franklin himself. Our generation is on the cusp of inheriting the reins of the great American experiment, and we should strive to be great ourselves. We should all wish to succeed and to fulfill our academic, personal and professional potential. We can start with routine. Gradually transition into a more consistent sleep schedule. Set goals for yourself that will prioritize both your mental and physical health. Add these practices to your calendar so that you have a template you can follow on a daily basis. Creating and adhering to a routine can feel like a hefty task, but the science does not lie. If you are able to find a routine that works for you, then you will be empowered to live a happier, healthier and more successful life. I will certainly be trying to find a routine this semester, and I encourage you to do the same. Your grades, and your future, will thank you later. For all the college stuff you need, or maybe a few things you forgot, we’re Tuscaloosa’s go-to place for shopping! WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SHOPPING. Shop Belk Women, Men, Home, & Kids, JCPenney, the Cafe Court, and the best selection of specialty stores, all under one roof! online on facebook + university-mall.com
As summer begins to wind down and a new school year begins, students at The University of Alabama have one important date on their minds — Saturday, Sept. 2. The Crimson Tide will take on Middle Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium, but until then, fans are reflecting on their favorite memories and looking ahead to making more this season. culture Alabama football fans reflect on favorite game day traditions Rachel Seale Staff Writer 3B I’m with the band One of the most talkedabout aspects of game day is Alabama’s marching band, called the Million Dollar Band. The MDB consists of around 400 students who serve as instrumentalists, color guard members and Crimsonettes. As the season approaches, color guard performer Ella Williams is looking forward to performing in front of Gorgas Library during the Elephant Stomp. “I like being able to see all the people that come to support the band. The energy is electric during Elephant Stomp, especially on the very big rivalry games,” Williams said. The Elephant Stomp tradition consists of a short band performance with cheers led by the cheerleaders and Big Al before game time on Saturdays. Williams, a junior majoring in nursing, said her favorite band tradition is when the Million Dollar Band sings the UA alma mater. But before the Million Dollar Band takes center The Crimsonettes in the 2022 Homecoming Parade on October 22, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. CW / Natalie Teat stage at Gorgas Library, the members take a moment at the beginning of each season to create a bond between the veteran band members and the new members. The veterans of the band sing Alabama’s alma mater to the new performers as a welcoming gift. The moment comes full circle at the end of the season when the band sings it to the seniors as a farewell. “That’s definitely something I’ll miss once I graduate, is singing the alma mater in that situation and then also at the end of every game, no matter if it was a win or a loss for the team,” Williams said. Livi Thomas, a senior majoring in political science, also reflected on her favorite game day traditions as Crimsonette co-captain, which includes performing the pregame performance before each home game in Bryant-Denny Stadium. “There’s just something about having the traditional songs that we play like, ‘Yea, Alabama,’ ‘Bammy Bound’ and ‘Tusk,’” she said. “Those always get me excited for game day.” One of her favorite Crimsonette traditions is the prayer circle the twirlers make together leading up to taking the field before pregame. “We have someone who always prays over our performance for the day, and I love that part,” Thomas said. As her final season in the MDB approaches, Thomas said her favorite band memories consist of performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and opening for the Rockettes in New York City in 2021. “Just being a part of a tradition that my family has shared since I can remember, of watching the parade, and actually going from that to being in it was absolutely incredible. I was so grateful for that opportunity,” Thomas said. Chris Wilson, a senior majoring in music education, is a member of the MDB’s drumline. He plays snare drum for the marching band and said his favorite game day tradition occurs when the drumline performs in front of Denny Chimes on the Quad before kickoff. “It’s not the game, but we still get to play for a large crowd,” Wilson said. Wilson also enjoys being a part of the drumroll leading up to kickoff after pregame. “The drumline stays back on the sidelines and we do a drumroll whenever they do kickoff, and it’s just really awesome because we’re literally right there by the football team,” Wilson said. Game day eats While some fans grill out on the Quad, others prefer to go out to eat on game day. Because time is tight for him on game day, Wilson said he usually swings by Cook Out after morning practices, or he’ll go out after the game to have a sit-down meal if traffic isn’t too bad. Both Williams and Wilson said they enjoy eating at Newk’s since it is near campus and takes Dining Dollars and Bama Cash. Even though she doesn’t usually get to eat out on game days, Thomas said two of her favorite game day restaurants include Full Moon Bar-B-Que SEE PAGE 4B ®
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The Crimson White Print Edition - August 24, 2023

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