November’s here, the autumn days are rolling in – and with it the half-way point of the semester. Wooooh! Give yourselves a pat on the back, you did it! I love a half-way point, it’s precisely the moment when the light at the end of the dark tunnel known as the autumn semester comes into view – that light being Christmas of course! It’s also usually a sign that you have lived through your first (mini) exam season, be that essays, presentations or the full-blow in-class assessment.
With that, I think this week’s blog post deserves a celebratory ring to it. So here’s a fun little piece on some fun ways to relax after uni exams. Grab your fluffy dressing gown, favourite film and a glass of something bubbly, and we’ll begin!
1) SLEEP
My first, absolutely favourite thing to do after a deadline is to have a nap. I literally can think of no better way to feel that relief of it all, then getting all snuggly in bed and having a bit of shut-eye. Let’s be honest, you’ve probably been skrimping on the zzz’s in order to get those deadlines finished, since even with the best planning, late-night study sessions are bound to happen. So in order to get back into the game as soon as possible, and by that I mean acting like a functional human being, try a powernap in the afternoon!
2) Enjoy the outdoors
You’ve just spent weeks in the stuffy environment of the over-crowded student library, basking in the humid, mildewy atmosphere. Yummy. If you’ve started hissing at the glare of the sunlight and screaming “my precious!!” as you back away into the dark recesses of revision, it’s probably about time you get out there and suck up some vitamin D. Trust me, you will thank me later.
A calming walk in the forest is a good way to declutter your mind from the concentration-intensive days before you, or maybe plan an outing to an exciting, new city you want to explore (hello shopping). Either way, getting up and outside is one of my most rewarding post-exam recoveries.
3) Eat celebratory food
This one is for all of you out there who’s food-love knows no bounds. I love food. Like literally love it. Eating is one of my favourite emotional states. And what’s better than rustling up a nicely home-cooked meal? The best part is that cooking & eating is also a social activity – so grab all your friends and make a night of it!
4) Relaxing pamper night!
This is one I usually schedule ahead of time to get in all the supplies. Pampering is a serious business. Reserving one evening entirely to yourself is a great way to decompress after the stressors of the exam season. One of my favourite things to do is a face mask, nail and Netflix combo. It could also consist of gaming, watching endless videos on Youtube, or having a quiet spot to read. However you decide to spend it, make it your own and really enjoy the sigh of relief. Your body will thank you.
5) Indulge yourself
I once received some great advice to plan out my study goals and refer back to them when I got my results to see how I did. This has been a really nice way to reflect on my study motivation and see where I can improve. It has also helped to actually give me the feeling of accomplishment once I receive my results. If you’re anything like me, a little bit of perfectionism can creep in once we see what we have got, and thoughts like “I could have done better” start to echo around your head. By planning out my goals prior to the assignment, and being able to look back on what I wanted, I can really gain a sense of “Yes, you earned this!” and splurge a little on myself.
Now onwards! To the second half of the semester. Let’s smash it.
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