By Wey Kit
As you finish your study material for the night, your eyes are struggling to stay open. The continuous flutter of your eyelids, combined with the creeping darkness from the edges of your peripheral vision is a clear indicator of your lack of sleep. You wearily turn to your clock. It reads "2:24AM". Its tick-tock has never felt so loud as it mocks you, slowly counting down each passing second that brings you closer to the impending doom that is the finals.
A tornado of thoughts are swirling around in your mind as you frantically try to plan out your study schedule, in order to cover everything you need to for the big day. However, you crash and come up with nothing. You tell yourself you need a break and that you’ll have it tomorrow. You decide to take the whole day off tomorrow to declutter your mind and get your shit together before diving headfirst back into your lectures and notes.
You don't have to be like this.
What can you do to de-stress and relax?
1) Have brunch at one of Melbourne's many amazing cafes
Now if you're stressed, you're definitely going to stress-eat. But what better way to stress-eat than to stress-eat at a nice, cozy , little cafe? Be it gorging on a big breakfast platter that may be a little too big, to indulging in soft, fluffy pancakes and waffles drizzled in the guiltiest of sauces, there's always something to satisfy that stress-eating urge, so get out there and hunt down that perfect cafe! Or, you could try out one of Momu's many recommended brunch spots here!
Polenta corn fritter, avacado and smashed greens at The Grain Store.
2. Cook your own meal
No money? No problem! Pick out a few ingredients from your fridge and throw together a simple meal. Nothing's more satisfying than making something yourself and tasting the fruits of success. But wait, you don't actually know what you can do with half a carrot, some vegetable oil, leftover rice and random cuts of chicken... or do you?
Sizzle dat bacon
3. Get up and exercise!
Exercise? Exercise?? EXERCISE???? Yeah, you heard me. It's not that bad once you actually drag yourself out of bed, freshen up, throw on some sweatpants and a dri-fit and actually get to doing something physical. Go ahead, take a jog around the area and get some fresh air in those lungs! Have a round of intense frisbee action at the park with your buddies! Or you know, get on that completely immobile exercise bike that you have in your gym but have never actually been bothered to use. Do whatever it takes to sweat your stress away! You'll not regret it, albeit a bit out of breath.
#relevant #storyofmylife #me_irl
4. Change your study environment
Studying in the same old place can become rather boring, don't you think? Having the same surroundings, using the same desk, seeing the same group of people who, like you, have decided to set up base camp at Project Room 2, Level 3, Law Building.
Time to change that. You could....
- Tram down to QV and head into the State Library of Victoria if you like immersing yourself in a crowd.
- Visit a friend and turn their place into your study spot.
- Try the other libraries scattered throughout Uni. Personally, I found some spots that are pretty quiet and cozy (no, I will not reveal them because then you'll take my spot. *cough* Bailleiu Library Level 3 *cough* MSD Level 4 *cough*)
- Or like, just sit on the opposite end of the table you usually sit at.
5) Binge watch a TV series or movie
Dying to find out what happened in the latest season of Arrow? Who is the next to die on GoT? Curious how the triplets are doing on Superman Is Back? Or have you had that one movie that you've been itching to watch but haven't had the time? Go ahead and get the answers to all your questions, so you can get back at your friends who attempted to spoil things for you in the past! (This may actually deeply scar your friendship, so use with caution)
Preach
6. Indulge in your hobbies (or guilty pleasures)
Whether you're itching to learn that new song on the guitar to impress that girl, dying to fire up some Dota 2, or even going to the Australian Post to get that collectible stamp set of the Dogs That Saved Macquarie Island, get to it! Ain't nobody gonna judge you for doing just that, cause it's your break day and you do whatever the heck you want!
I prefer whiskey, but that's just me.
7. Chill with your friends
Call up your mates, bust out some board games, hang out, and have a good time. You're not facing the exams alone, and you know that your friends are equally as stressed as you are. Convince them to have a little time-out and do something fun together. Express your complete and utter loathe of exams over one of the previous 6 suggestions. Your friends are there for you, and you guys can definitely make it through this alive!
8. Do absolutely nothing
Sometimes you just can't be bothered. Bed is now your inseparable bae for the day. So you decide to stay with bae because bae is love, bae is life.
If none of these tips seem to be working for you, go ahead and try our bonus tip here. :)