Let’s face it: we’ve all been greeted by exhaustion and frustration at some point during the semester. As students, we take to colourful pictures on Tumblr to help escape the issue at hand, and do we really need a Bachelor of Business when we’ve already got a Masters in Procrastination?
To help ease your over-exhausted minds and caffeine-injected bloodstreams, here are five easy ways to help you recharge before exams hit.
Check out one of those hipster foodie places you’ve seen on Instagram
If you’re anything like me and get a real buzz out of visiting those funky corner restaurants and pop-ups, then stepping away from your thesis paper to visit these places might be the break you need.
And sometimes it doesn’t even need to be hipster. Mainstream’s OK too. I recently visited the Haagen-Dazs pop-up at the rocks where my tastebuds were introduced to a new level of ecstasy. The ‘pralines and cream’ ice cream was off the hook. That shit is addictive!
This pop-up not only allowed me to escape my troubles for a blissful hour, but also allowed me to travel to Europe through decadent flavours and atmospheric goodness.
Visit an art museum or any museum for that matter
Some degrees require too much thinking and while they say exercising makes your muscles, brains included, stronger, sometimes my brain decides to go on a strike. During times such as these, I often embrace my innerFrida Khalo and visit a few art galleries. Don’t know where to start? Try the MCA, Art Gallery NSW or smaller ARIs around the inner-west. Not only are a lot of exhibitions free, but they can leave you feeling inspired, in awe, and may even bring out your deepest musings on a certain topic.
Take a walk on the beach
Not close enough to a beach? Try a patch of land with a puddle of water in it. Same-same. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a strong feeling that my spirit animal is that of a whale. Maybe this is due to the fact that the last time I tried posing for a friend’s photoshoot I ended up looking like an endangered species usually featured on Green Peace posters.
Either way, taking a walk on the beach can calm your nerves during the exam period. The soft tumble of the waves against the backdrop of a sunset can send you into a state of personal nirvana. I’ve also heard that sand is a natural exfoliator, so you’ve essentially got yourself a free pedicure while you’re at it!
Go for a long drive
This may sound cheesy, but there have been times when I’ve pretended to be Terry Crews from White Chicks and shamelessly belted out the lyrics to A Thousand Miles while driving down a highway. This has allowed me to transform all that pent-up stress and frustration into something more entertaining.
Incorporate “me time” into your daily routine
Sometimes I’ve been so overwhelmed that the line between the logical and the irrational seems but a blur. When this happens, I find a nice patch of green and pretend to be a still-life object. I let the warmth of the sun soak into my skin while listening to my Spotify playlist of choice. This is called tuning out.
By taking a few minutes out of your day to ‘shut down’ you’re able to get more work done in a shorter amount of time. However, make sure you slather on layers of sunscreen because the last thing you want to wake up to is an awkward tan.
Sana Desai
Blogger, writer, freelancer and adrenaline junkie, who enjoys lazy summers with a mojito in one hand and a good read in the other. Addicted to chocolate covered strawberries and travelling.
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