Lifestyle

In defence of the default order: The Alternative Tuck Shop

There is no place in Oxford that my muscle memory takes me to more reliably than the Alternative Tuck Shop. This happens regardless of my state – still half-asleep, perhaps slightly hungover, or already late for class.

Lifestyle Luis Prenninger -

Why you don’t need a “winter arc”

This winter, social media encourages us to embark on the journey of the "winter arc": a self-optimisation quest which leaves little room for hibernation.

Lifestyle Amy Lawson -

The ick factor

Not all icks are created equal, and of course, they shouldn't be treated as such. Either way, they undeniably speak volumes about the person you're with.

Lifestyle Ava Lifton -

Discovering neurodivergence: late diagnosis at Oxford

I always knew I was a bit of a peculiar child. But I was deeply surprised when a friend seeking a diagnosis herself suggested that I might be autistic.

Lifestyle Ella O'Shea -

Latest

Mind over matter: Searching for mental clarity

The first time I saw the phrase “Mind over matter” was in Foyles, displayed above shelves of psychology books. The words immediately reminded me...

Please run responsibly (and intoxicated)

I get it, you’re bored of hearing about running, of seeing the zillionth marathon post. I feel the frustration. I have long been a...

Does Oxford prepare you for the real world?

As one of the approximately 3000 undergraduates to have recently bid farewell to Oxford, I’ve learnt just how easy it is to be overwhelmed...

The incandescent and the immovable

I went to Ometepe in search of a view, but found something closer to a memory. The island floats inside Lake Nicaragua, its twin volcanoes...

“Have you heard the new Laufey album?”

We all know the type, or at least the meme. The tote-bag sporting, wired-headphone wearing, matcha latte drinking, so-called ‘performative’ men flooding our social...

The maddening art of procrastination

In delaying and avoiding writing this piece, I am succumbing to exactly what many university students are guilty of: procrastination. Though not among the...

To read or not to read?

It’s 5pm and I’m standing on a packed, unmoving train, somewhere between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, dodging questionable armpits and trying my best to...

New generation, old hobbies

Knitting needles, film photos, vinyl records, and books: what’s the link? You’d be forgiven for answering with “things I might find in my grandma’s...

Ramen Korner: The souperior choice?

Ramen Korner, located on the (you guessed it) corner between the High street and Long Wall street, boasts a striking facade with bold lettering...

Why we should all relish the chance to be bored

If there’s one thing that this summer has taught me, it’s to relish boredom. It’s in scarce supply for us all in term-time, but...

What does summer mean to me?

“What does summer mean to me?” was always the first question on the first page of a new schoolbook. A trap disguised as a...

My journey with British identity

I was gently raised with the idea that Britain was fair and decent, a country that meant something good. This was likely shaped by...

Performative perfection and the reality behind the Instagram post

It’s a beautiful Sunday morning, and I’m scrolling through Instagram. One of my resolutions for this summer was to reduce my screen time, but...

The girl who lived

Like Harry Potter under the stairs, I was ‘the one who lived’. A rainbow baby (a baby born after loss), wrapped in nappies and...

The art of snacking in an ingredient household

There’s something quite liminal about being a student. One minute you’re running around a city feeling like a Grown Up, and then suddenly it’s...

Tiny Love Stories

I gazed at the mountains encircling my mother's hometown. I had been travelling in China for a month, constantly apologising for my broken Chinese....