I’ll be the first to admit that I’m awful at studying. I might be the best procrastinator that anyone has ever met. This makes finals season that much more stressful for me because I’m trying in vain to fill in all the cracks from the semester while simultaneously trying to learn stuff I never even knew in the first place. That said, I’ve become somewhat of an expert at not studying while still being able to claim some level of productivity. Watch and learn, ladies.
1. Eat WHILE Netflix-ing
You’re always going to have to eat and, let’s be honest, you’re always going to have to watch one more episode of Grey’s Anatomy, so kill two birds with one stone. Heat up that last packet of ramen and curl up with a nice episode of whatever’s tickling your fancy (I suggest Arrested Development –it’s hilarious and episodes are only 20 minutes long!). The catch is that, when the episode ends and you’re still eating, you’ll have to go back to studying. But at least you still got your TV fix without wasting five hours on One Tree Hill!
2. Dance It Out
Feeling frustrated by that math problem that you just can’t solve, no matter what you do? Take a dance break. One song’s worth of all-out booty-shaking, hair-whipping spastic dancing and you’ll feel reinvigorated and ready to take on the world. My current favorites: “Talk Dirty” by Jason DeRulo and “I Choose U” by Timeflies. Hey, if it’s good enough for Meredith and Cristina, it’s good enough for me.
NOTE: This tip is best undertaken in the privacy of one’s own bedroom, lest your incredible dance moves cause an all-out riot.
3. MITCHELL’S
There are really no words I can use to describe the depth of my love for Mitchell’s. It has the uncanny ability to make you forget all your worries and just enjoy yourself. My friends from home think I’m insane when I claim the best ice cream in the world is in Cleveland, Ohio, but I give zero hoots. If you live on North Side, like I, it’s only a 5-minute walk away to lifelong happiness and self indulgence…if you live on South Side, make friends with someone who has a car. Grab your roommates and take a well-deserved study break and it shouldn’t take more than half an hour! Note: if you get the new best seasonal flavor, Dark Chocolate Peppermint, you can reap the amazing benefits of peppermint, which studies show help you focus.
4. Mani/Pedi
Studies show that different colors have difference effects on your mood. It’s been shown that red stimulates appetite, while grey brings a sense of peace to viewers. Luckily for us, there is a color that aids concentration. Go ahead and use that new lime green nail polish you impulsively bought while in line at Forever 21 –it’s good for you!
5. Karaoke
To save even more time, this activity can be conducted in the shower! The acoustics in the bathroom can make anyone sound like Christina Aguilera and studies show that singing can help reduce stres and improve communication between your brain and your heart. So grab your shampoo bottle and blast some throwback Taylor Swift (Speak Now was the best album of our generation, hands down).
6. Nap
When all else fails, just go ahead and take a nap. Try drinking a cup of coffee before you go down. Caffeine takes about 15 minutes to be absorbed by your body, so if you take a 15-minute nap, you should wake up refreshed and ready to take on the world. Even if you don’t fall asleep and just doze, the benefits of just relaxing and not thinking about anything are almost as good as a real nap!
7. Exercise (ewe)
I don’t do exercise. I hate the gym, I hate sweating, I hate team sports. I’m clumsy to no end, and the risk of injuring myself just to run that last half-mile just isn’t worth it. Also, Veale is just too goddamn far to justify any sort of workout. All this being said, exercise (ugh) does help with alertness and stress relief (endorphins, anyone?). It only takes 10ish minutes to run a mile, and for those night owls out there, just a few rounds of crunches when you’re about to pass out can help replenish your energy levels and get you through that 10 page paper. For those of us that are more into static exercise, find a 5-minute yoga tutorial on YouTube. Chances are you’re already wearing yoga pants anyways.