With the last week of classes behind us, the end of another year is in sight. And what a year it’s been. This past semester went by in a blur of deadlines, so I’m more than ready to have it behind me. Not to mention that, in all of the confusion, a lot of my healthier habits fell to the wayside. So, without further ado, here are some suggestions for how to recover from school this April.
- Fix your sleep schedule.
-
By finals’ season, my sleep schedule is usually an erratic mess that vacillates between way too much sleep and not even close to enough, and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Luckily, I’ve already written an article with some tips on how to fix your sleep schedule that you can find here. Be patient with yourself; it’ll probably take a week or two to fix, especially if you’ve been going to bed at two in the morning on a regular basis.
- Implement a morning and night routine.
-
This goes hand in hand with the last suggestion. Having a routine at the start and end of the day will give you some structure. (Not to mention, having a routine will make good sleep hygiene that bit easier.) They don’t need to be fancy, ten-step routines, either. Drinking a cup of tea while watching an episode of Parks and Rec is enough to cue your brain that it’s time to go to bed. Alternatively, try adding a five-minute stretch to help you wake up in the morning.
- Get some exercise.
-
I groan any time someone has the audacity to recommend that I move, but it’s not a bad idea. You don’t have to go running or do an hour of yoga every day. Just going for a walk around the block will get you moving and out of the house. If you want to push yourself a little harder, consider adding something twice a week; you’ll burn out if you start doing sprints every morning out of nowhere.
- Clean your living space.
-
By finals, my room is always inevitably a disaster. Fold the laundry sitting in a pile on your chair, wash your sheets, and bring all of the accumulated dishes to the kitchen. You’ll feel better for it. If you have the time, consider doing a deeper clean and donating stuff that you don’t use anymore. Spring is the perfect time for it, after all.
- Make a list of recipes.
-
No one prepared me for the part of adulthood that involved picking three meals a day for myself. And cooking them. And cleaning up after them. During the semester, I default to KD, spaghetti, and soup. Stir fry, if I’m feeling fancy. This April, spend an hour or two compiling a list of your favourite easy recipes. Look for new ones to add to it. And then cook something that includes a vegetable, please.
- Do some introspection.
-
I know, I know. Introspection after a year alone in our houses is the last thing any of us needs. However, it’s not a bad idea to think about your plans for the next year. These might involve the classes you want to take, clubs you want to join (like Her Campus!), or projects you’d like to take on.
Don’t fret too much if your plan doesn’t involve much more than “I’m going to watch every single Studio Ghibli movie on Netflix,” which is the project I currently have on the go. You have lots of time, and if COVID-19 has taught me anything, it’s that plans can and should change. Your goals don’t have to resemble anyone else’s.
If you’re looking for a list of smaller self-care ideas for exams, check out this article (although I’m not going to lie, there’s a lot of overlap). Otherwise, remember to take care of yourselves this exam period and onward!