So the final days of the program have finally come.
The final project is in the last stretch and right now I’m just whiling away the days trying to find suitable pass times for myself. I’m sure it’s different back at WashU. This is about the time when things really start to crack down and students start to stress themselves out over finals and papers and projects and the like. It’s always such a hectic time. I can remember my last semester and, even though I was lucky enough to get more papers than finals (I’m much better at writing and, therefore, stress out way less over it), it still wasn’t pretty. I remember being so happy to have the opportunity to rest when winter break finally rolled around. But now that I’m not embroiled in the middle of all that stress, I’ve realized just how awful that is for you. Being bogged down with stress and just struggling through it in the hopes of a more relaxing winter break isn’t a very healthy attitude to have. Sometimes it’s a necessary means to an end but I think that, overall, students don’t give themselves enough time to enjoy the little things during exam week. So here’s a suggestion of relaxing things to do to help you unwind, from me to you:
- Write poetry. Or read it. Seriously.
- Watch a movie.
- Listen to music. I’m really into the Peaceful Piano playlist on Spotify right now.
- Cook dinner. Lord knows you need to eat.
- Or order in like I do.
- Talk to your friends.
- Take a long, hot shower. Or a bath, if you’re so lucky.
- Read a book.
- Or a magazine. I’m not picky.
- Go outside and get some fresh air. May might mean exams but it also means warm weather.
- Exercise. Take a dance class at the gym!
- Journal. Bullet journals are great for people who don’t like to write as much.
- Do some yoga. Or just stretch out your back.
- Go exploring. I jumped on a random bus and just rode around for a day and it was great.
- Watch Beyonce’s Lemonade Visual Album. Bless.
- Draw.
- Paint.
- Go shopping.
- Sleep.
- Take a TV break.
- Wine and dine. Treat yourself.
- Sing.
- Get a message from Stressbuster at the Olin Library.
- Attend Jazz at Holmes. So relaxing.
- Call up your parents.
- Card games are a must. The more people, the better.
- Play an instrument if you can. Learn to play one if you can’t.
- Take photos.
- Go to a flea or farmers market.
- Try meditating.
- YouTube.
- Learn about something that interests you. Not schoolwork. Anything but schoolwork.
- Learn how to throw knives. Just kidding…but not really.
- Adult coloring books.
- Start a blog.
- Try arm knitting. You can make a blanket to keep you warm on those cold exam nights.
- Give yourself a spa day. I’m talking face masks, painted nails, deep conditioned hair, the works.
- Tackle some of those DIY projects you have saved on Pinterest.
- Go to the zoo.
- Go to a museum.
- Take up whittling.
- Play a video game.
Those are all of the suggestions I have right now, but there are plenty of options that I know I didn’t touch on in this post. So whatever academic task you’ve been assigned, take a moment to give yourself a breather. You’ve been working hard this semester. You deserve it.
Ahoj!
