Article by: Kieran Davey
Edited by: Peter Milobar
Relaxation! It’s important. Everybody knows how stressful finals can be. So how do we relax during finals and take care of that sweet, sweet mental health?
The puzzle piece is a deep metaphor for mental health according to the editor
First up, plan ahead! In order to budget the time that you need for relaxation, you need to manage your time. This means planning study time a few days before your exam. Each day, there are 14-16 hours that we spend awake. That means that if you budget 4-6 hours of focused studying each day (which honestly is a lot more than most people do), you still have nearly 10 hours to do other stuff!! That includes some time for sweet relaxation.
Be like Planning Patrick
But how do you relax during exam period?
Here are a few ways….
- Go outside. April is a beautiful month on UBC campus, with some of the best weather available to students during the Sept-April semester. Take advantage of that!! Hit up Wreck Beach for some wonderful sunsets, check out the Nitobe Garden or Botanical Gardens, or go for a walk through the forests of Pacific Spirit Park. Find your own natural place.
- Meditate. Just be still for a moment. Don’t worry if you aren’t focused, just taking the time to be still is enough. Check out this sweet article on how to meditate written by Totem’s own Kate Curtis: https://blogs.ubc.ca/mytotemtimes/2015/12/03/meditation-a-beginners-guide-to-zen/
Meditation is always chill
- Listen to some chill tunes. Music can be a great way to relax. Whatever kind of music you like, turn it on and just soak it in. If you want some suggestions for new groovy beats, send me a message and I’ll hook you up.
- Meet up with friends! It’s April, which means that first year is almost over. Take advantage of the opportunity to live so close to your friends in Residence. Trust me, you’ll miss them next year. Text them, knock on their door, just enjoy their company. Let them know how much you appreciate them!
The original friends
- Exercise is a great way to distress, plus your brain releases happy chemicals that will make you feel good. Go for a smooth jog around our beautiful campus, hit up the FREE totem gym, or do some yoga in your room. Here are some great free yoga videos for beginners: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLui6Eyny-UzzWwB4h9y7jAzLbeuCUczAl
Mmmm. Feel that relaxation? Good luck with exams. Remember to take time to chill.
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