Turn It Down: 12 Ways To De-stress After Finals | By Teoh Jin Wen
.png)
Illustration by Kirtikka, Chai Zhen You, and Cheng Yue.
1. Celebrate!
Treat yourself to something special, like your favourite dessert, a date, blow some cash, a binge-watching session of that new season of Stranger Things, etc. Just be responsible.
Binge Watching...
Picture by Nicholas Chan.
2. Eat.
Stress from finals can make you forget to eat or neglect your nutrition. Treat your body to a hearty meal and try to get into some set mealtimes throughout the day during this break.
Sleep debt is cumulative. While you may cognitively adapt to it and feel no particular fatigue, your body can still exhibit signs of sleep deprivation. It’s no better time than now to listen to your body and hit the hay.
4. Take a class outside your school’s focus.
Found a workshop or a class you’re interested in? Sign up! A change of pace helps to put things in perspective. Without the concern for grades or expectations, these sessions should carry little to no stress.
5. Exercise.
Sounds overrated but it works. Energising activities like a quick jog, a 30-minute workout, or a fun basketball session can help to get your mind off any lingering anxiety and improves your overall physical state.
6. Get physical.
It’s healthy to channel any negative pileup into cathartic acts of rage that don’t hurt anyone. If you don’t like competitive games like paintballing or violent rampages in a rage room, try screaming off the top of a cliff or into your pillow.
7. Dance.
Get as silly as possible. Dancing has always been a healthy outlet for expression and stress that allows us to positively channel our energy into movement. So get some music going and just go ham!
8. Do chores.
Sort, store, and clear away the clutter. You could also go the extra step and rearrange your furniture. A new physical state helps to clear a mental one, and figuring out a rhythm and routine for your chores is beneficial in the long run.
9. Explore.
Go on a trip. You don’t need a particular destination in mind. A leisure drive to a lively picnic area or a bicycle ride around a green park is enough to reconnect yourself with your surroundings. You could even just wander around campus.
10. Care for your inner child.
Have something fun you want to do but think it sounds childish? Just go for it. Noone really cares if you’re watching an animated kids’ show or who’s on the teacup ride anyway. And plushies are in nowadays!
11. Spend time with friends and family.
You’re likely not the only one who’s decompressing, and finals may have prevented you from seeing your loved ones for a while, so reconnect with them. Invite them on any of the previous suggestions and enjoy each other’s company.
12. Just do nothing.
Admire the scenery out your window or watch that bird over there. Space out. Let everything slow down and just breathe. In for four, out for eight.
Most of these things can be done either by yourself or with friends and family. It’s all up to you! Just keep in mind that what works for you may not work for others, as everyone decompresses differently.
Stress from finals can make you forget to eat or neglect your nutrition. Treat your body to a hearty meal and try to get into some set mealtimes throughout the day during this break.
Eat.
Photo by Nicholas Chan.
3. Pay off your sleep debt.
Sleep debt is cumulative. While you may cognitively adapt to it and feel no particular fatigue, your body can still exhibit signs of sleep deprivation. It’s no better time than now to listen to your body and hit the hay.
4. Take a class outside your school’s focus.
Found a workshop or a class you’re interested in? Sign up! A change of pace helps to put things in perspective. Without the concern for grades or expectations, these sessions should carry little to no stress.
5. Exercise.
Sounds overrated but it works. Energising activities like a quick jog, a 30-minute workout, or a fun basketball session can help to get your mind off any lingering anxiety and improves your overall physical state.
Go for a swim.
Photo by Cheng Yue.
6. Get physical.
It’s healthy to channel any negative pileup into cathartic acts of rage that don’t hurt anyone. If you don’t like competitive games like paintballing or violent rampages in a rage room, try screaming off the top of a cliff or into your pillow.
7. Dance.
Get as silly as possible. Dancing has always been a healthy outlet for expression and stress that allows us to positively channel our energy into movement. So get some music going and just go ham!
8. Do chores.
Sort, store, and clear away the clutter. You could also go the extra step and rearrange your furniture. A new physical state helps to clear a mental one, and figuring out a rhythm and routine for your chores is beneficial in the long run.
9. Explore.
Go on a trip. You don’t need a particular destination in mind. A leisure drive to a lively picnic area or a bicycle ride around a green park is enough to reconnect yourself with your surroundings. You could even just wander around campus.
10. Care for your inner child.
Have something fun you want to do but think it sounds childish? Just go for it. Noone really cares if you’re watching an animated kids’ show or who’s on the teacup ride anyway. And plushies are in nowadays!
11. Spend time with friends and family.
You’re likely not the only one who’s decompressing, and finals may have prevented you from seeing your loved ones for a while, so reconnect with them. Invite them on any of the previous suggestions and enjoy each other’s company.
12. Just do nothing.
Admire the scenery out your window or watch that bird over there. Space out. Let everything slow down and just breathe. In for four, out for eight.
Drawing Fun!
Photo by Cheng Yue.
0 comments