This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wake Forest chapter.
Hey guys, I hope the approaching finals week is not driving you crazy. This may be your most frustrating time of the year, but, come on, you are almost there, you can do it! Studying is important, of course, but our brain and body need some rest in order to perform better. I just finished writing three papers this week, so I decided to give myself a break and watch some TV. TV shows can help you relax and reduce stress. However, you may also waste a lot of time on them if you get carried away. Here are some of my tips for TV watching during the finals.
First of all, choose something you are pretty sure that you will like, because time is precious, and you do not want to waste it on bad shows. Also, try not to start a serial drama. “Game of Thrones” is great, “Stranger Things” is great, “Westworld” is great (I know the second season just came out), but it’s probably not the best time to start something that will intrigue you to keep watching when you have three exams and four papers at hand. Sitcoms, light-hearted cartoons or other anthology series are my favs during finals weeks. And since you will very likely spend most of your time looking at computer screens and books, do not overuse your eyes with too much TV. Give yourself some time to take a nap, go for a walk, or work out at the gym. Â
“Friends!!” (Netflix)
Do I really need to talk about this? Raise your hand if you think “Friends” is your ultimate comfort show. For me, there’s nothing “Friends” can’t fix. Whenever I’m sad or stressed out, I sit down, watch a clip or an episode and I’ll be fine. We all have watched it several times over and have our own favorite “Friends” moments. Re-watching them is like talking to an old friend. It’s all about that familiarity and comfort. I also love “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory,” but there’s just something special about “Friends” that makes it extra nostalgic and soothing. If all other things have failed you, Chandler, Monica, Joey, Rachel and Ross will always be there for you.
“Chef’s Table” (Netflix)
I am addicted to cooking shows, and, no judgement, I love watching them while eating. They just make whatever I’m eating taste better. “Chef’s Table” is one of the first food shows I ever watched. It is a documentary series on Netflix of renowned chefs around the world. Watching them cook is oddly therapeutic and satisfying. The series not only provides the aesthetics of food but also the chefs’ personalities and lives. Netflix just released the latest volume of this show this month, and it’s about pastry, PASTRY! There is an episode that features Sicilian pastry and GELATO. I have been craving for this new volume for a long time but I’m saving it for the upcoming finals week.
“The Pizza Show” (YouTube)
If you are not in the mood for fine dining, check out “The Pizza Show.” I mean, it’s PIZZA. Who doesn’t love pizza? One thing to make it even better: the show is on YouTube so it’s free. The Pizza Show takes you to pizzerias all over America and in Italy and try different kinds of pizzas: the New York slices, Chicago deep dish, the rectangular pies of Detroit and the ultimate Neapolitan pizza. Just imagine the cheese, the sauce, and the crust. I can’t select the right adjectives to describe the show, so let me just say, it is as good as a fresh out of oven pizza. Feeling hungry? Grab a slice and watch the show!
Other things from Munchies (YouTube)
Munchies is a video channel under VICE that is dedicated to food. It is the creator of “The Pizza Show,” but it has many other series in case you want to try something else than pizza. Most of its shows are around 20-30 minutes per episode, so they are perfect to eat with. There is a series called “The Munchies Guide” that takes you to enjoy the food in all kinds of places around the world. I’ve watched “Munchies Guide” to Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, the Basque Country and North of England. And I have Bavaria, Bohemia and Tehran on my list. I also like “Chef’s Night Out,” which is basically chefs taking their nights off and going out to eat at their favorites places. The only problem I have with “Chef’s Night Out” is that they normally eat three or four meals at one evening, and sometimes I feel stuffed by simply watching them eat.
Your favorite talk show or stand-up comedy
Sorry for the long list of food shows. Let’s get back to something funny. I wanted to recommend one or two specific shows but later gave up because there are just way too many good talk shows and stand-up comedies, and everyone has his or her distinct taste for these. But anyway, a key to surviving finals week is to keep yourself in a good mood, so anything that can make you laugh is good.
All gifs courtesy of giphy.com
