We’re serious. Touch. Some. Grass. Literally! You have just spent weeks of your life staring at your laptop screens, under the harsh university lights. It’s time to get out, and get in touch with nature. Take a walk, a hike, have a picnic with your friends—changing your scenery is a chance to change your perspective, your mindset. 

The chattering of birds under the gentle sun is the best background to take a breath and reflect. Think about the future. Your goals, your dreams, what you want to do with your life. Or, decide to just be. Living in the present, taking a step forward everyday, no matter how heavy. Whatever you choose, we support you! So get out there and reconnect with your true nature!

Wait! Before you scroll away at the thought of labour, just hear us out! Yes, we know the thought of work can be intimidating and honestly, defeats the point of having a break. But, we don’t have forever. We’ve had our heads in books all of our lives, without a chance to explore the working world. Now is the time to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to something new. It could be an internship or job within your chosen field or study—you’ll get to experience first-hand what your future job might look like and gain irreplaceable knowledge from senior mentors in your field. Alternatively, you could do a job completely unrelated to your field. This is the chance to expand your horizons, maybe even find the field where you truly feel at home. 

“But Etc. Magazine, I still want to hang out with friends and have some days to just chill!” 

We hear you, dear reader! And we get it. Diving into a job without wanting to commit to it is definitely not the way to go. Instead, you could try volunteering with NGOs for just a few hours a week or attend networking events for only a day. You can still step out of your comfort zone without drowning in the deep end—especially if you aren’t mentally prepared for it yet!  You don’t have to feel pressured to do things a certain way just because your peers are immersing themselves in work. We are all different, and what works for someone else might not work for you. That is 100% okay. Our advice? go where your heart desires. It doesn’t matter how much progress you’ve made on the career ladder, what matters is the journey you take and the experience you gain. You’ve got it!

“Huh…? Why are you getting so philosophical, Etc. Magazine?”

Relax, it’s not that deep. Really. Discovering yourself isn’t just contemplating intensely about our existence and putting yourself in an existential crisis. Sure, that’s definitely part of it too but at the same time, it can be much simpler. Discovering yourself can be as simple as what you like to eat, where you like to go. Ask yourself the W-H questions. Who, Where, When, What, Why, How. This is the key to knowing yourself. With this method, you can find out the types of hobbies you want to try out, why you want to try them out and so on. Not only will it help you find your inner footing, it’ll also help you save some money by not buying items for every viral trend online. So, ask yourself the W-H questions and try out something new or old that you actually care about. The point isn’t about trying out everything willy nilly. It’s about making purposeful choices to help you find what you’re passionate about a little bit easier than it would have been before. 

Whether you spend your days touching grass, doing a little labour, or discovering yourself, remember that you’re not alone in figuring things out. Your break doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours. The world is your oyster, so get out there, breathe, grow, and have some fun. We’re rooting for you!