By My Ho ’22, staff writer
(it’s almost the end of the semester, trust me you need this)
It’s that time of the year again – the period after spring break where all the deadlines are suddenly flooding your schedules and drowning your social life. There are so many tabs to keep and outside, the world is going through another ‘unprecedented’ time. COVID has been reborn again, not unexpected, in another stronger form while countries rumble with weapons and bombs. And yes, climate change is still there and always there roaming unnoticed (sadly). While the rest of our society lay awake fearing an economic collapse, WWIII or other apocalyptic cascading consequences of climate change or all the above, students now can only focus on one major event: finals. It’s a privilege to say that this tops the list of our worries but preparation for finals, especially for senior students, can trigger a series of anxiety disorders.
So, if you are struggling to turn in last week’s assignment deadlines or cramming for tomorrow’s exams, take a tiny break and breeze through this list of doings that will make your life a little bit more breathable. It has been working for me in my last semester online as a senior student wrestling with a 12-hour time difference and a sea of lost emails.
- The weekend pursuit of happiness – if you’re planning it, you’re half doing it
It’s indeed a cliché to say that students should take a break on weekends to recharge but studies have shown that if you spend the weekend resting or following a stress–free schedule, your mental health and overall productivity will improve significantly. So how do you make a successful plan?
First, save all the favorite spots you want to visit – all the food you’ve always wanted to try, a flea market full of goodies or an aesthetic cafe that would glorify your IG feed. Make a concrete plan and set a rule to not let anyone or anything disturb those few peaceful hours. By doing so, every time you feel drowned in deadlines and stuck in a circle of anxiety, you will have something to look forward to by the end of the week. For me, this plan is called “the pursuit of happiness” and it looks a little bit like this:
- 9 a.m.: go to [insert that pretty aesthetic IG cafe], order a matcha latte and read [insert a book you want to read but never find the time to finish]
- 11 a.m.: attend [insert a very cool artsy name] art exhibition at ________
- 12:30 p.m. : have lunch at [insert a delicious restaurant saved on your foodie list]
- 2 p.m. : Nappie nap nap
Short, entertaining and very effective.
2. Kick in that “morning” routine
Whether you’re a morning person, a late night owl or just an afternoon person, developing a routine after you wake up helps set a pace for your day and sets your mood right. Instead of waking up to a half-eaten breakfast and quick gulp of coffee, the day will look more welcoming if you’re determined to spend 30 minutes getting yourself ready for the upcoming storms. That half an hour doing my skincare routine like I’m in a Vogue video, enjoying a cup of hot latte, and choosing the perfect OOTD really helps with my anxiety over the ceiling-high deadlines and emails I know I must finish in approximately 15 hours.
3. Meme the sadness away
And of course, the universal Gen Z language will always save the day. A depleted mind after long studying and working sessions need to be cured with memes that tap into your happiness source. I know each has their own taste, some enjoy light while others devour dark humor but it’s good to have something in between that can turn that frown upside down. Thanks to the Internet, self-love reminders and mindless laughter can be offered free online.
