With Halloween just around the corner, students all across campus are buzzing with excitement. Prep for Halloweekend (the term for the weekend of partying which is how college students celebrate Halloween) is extensive but enjoyable: prepping and trying on outfits, stocking up on supplies for the weekend and making plans for every night of the week and weekend. I know that I am very much looking forward to Halloween; it was definitely one of my favorite weeks of the year last year. But I find myself dreading the recovery from Halloweekend. Almost everyone ends the weekend exhausted, sick and likely hungover, which can be a brutal combination. So here are some of the things I’m definitely going to be doing post-Halloween in order to recover in time to study for midterms!
- Make sure the medicine cabinet is stocked and ready
-
The post-Halloween flu is so real and I know that it definitely took down myself and all of my friends last year. And of course when the entire campus is sick the medicine section at the Target in Westwood is absolutely wiped out, not a DayQuil or Tylenol in sight. Being sick without any sort of medicine is completely miserable and just makes the situation so much worse. So make sure that you have ample medicinal supplies, and that you have enough of anything you like to take when you’re sick, because next weekend they’re going to be impossible to find.
- Stay hydrated
-
On a real note, even if you decide to listen to nothing I say, listen to this. Staying hydrated is so important, and I feel like it’s neglected so often when it literally is one of the easiest things to do in order to feel better. I definitely recommend Liquid IV; it’s a lifesaver and honestly my holy grail cure for anything, but especially a night out. Liquid IV is basically an electrolyte powder that you mix into water, and it also tastes so good which makes it so easy to drink (I’m a huge fan of the lemon lime flavor). I definitely recommend grabbing a pack of them and drinking one in the morning after a night out. It will make you feel so much better, especially if you have trouble drinking enough water. But definitely remember to also be drinking water during Halloween; it is just as important as any other beverage you’ll be consuming.
- Self care
-
Taking time to take care of yourself and show yourself some love is so important in daily life and should be a priority all of the time, but definitely after long and exhausting events like Halloween can be. As fun as it is, the entire process is a lot and can be super draining. So it is definitely important to engage in some self care after all the fun; this can look however you want it to and be whatever you think will make you feel the best. I personally will be having a super chill reset day after Halloweekend, just taking time to clean up the mess that I will inevitably make, eat some good snacks, take a long hot shower and do a face mask. I recommend doing things that will help you reset and feel ready for the upcoming week, because it sucks when it’s hard to get back into the productive swing of things.
- Get homework out of the way
-
Okay, I know this is easier said than done, because sometimes it can feel so hard to just be caught up, let alone try to get ahead. But I mean this more in the sense that, if you know you’ll have homework or studying to do that weekend, it might be better to get a head start on it a couple days earlier than normal. Doing homework sick and hungover is absolutely miserable and trying to avoid that situation at all costs will definitely make it easier to recover and have some chill time after. I also know that when I can just have fun for a couple of days and not think about school for a little while, it makes it easier to jump right back in and get back in the swing of it after.
- Get a good sweat in
-
One of the things I always try to make myself do after a night out is to get a good work out in. It always makes my body feel so much better and it makes me feel so energized, which is always appreciated. And it also definitely helps with keeping the balance that is necessary when going out; going out makes your body feel so yucky the next morning, so getting a workout in tends to help mitigate that. This can look like whatever you want it to, but I always recommend a long walk and I personally tend to either go for a swim or hit the gym.
Overall, Halloween is definitely such a fun time and I always really look forward to it. But it is also important to acknowledge that it can be draining and exhausting and that a solid recovery period is necessary. So, I hope that these tips help a little bit when it comes to making sure Halloweekend is fun before, during and after!