How to Mentally Recharge After Finals
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
This semester has been far from easy, and pushing through finals season has seriously taken a toll on all of our mental health. After finals are finished, it’s important for us to take a step back and take care of our minds! Here are just a few ways you can mentally recharge after finals, so you can be ready to have a wonderful, relaxing break. Let’s get started, Trojans!
1) Declutter Your Space
I know what you’re thinking - after a long two weeks of studying for exams, cleaning is the LAST thing on your to-do list. Trust me on this one, though! I’m pretty sure all of our rooms have gotten out of order with textbooks everywhere, and notebooks all over the place. After finishing finals, having reminders about how your Calculus III exam went laying all over your room isn’t what you need to kickstart an awesome break. Take the time after your last final to put all your school stuff in one place, maybe even in your closet (out of sight, out of mind). By doing this, you’re taking that extra step to having a more relaxing, positive environment for winter break.
2) Watch Some Netflix
This is the first thing I did after finishing my last final, and it felt GREAT. Watching Netflix lets me get my mind off of everything that happened this last semester. I recently finished watching The Umbrella Academy, and I couldn’t recommend it enough! Netflix also put up two seasons of the famous reality show, Survivor, and I am beyond hooked. Totally recommend watching either of those two shows, or even better - b o t h. If you don’t vibe with those shows, Netflix has plenty of options for you to choose from!
3) Go Explore
After being stuck inside your house completing homework, quizzes, and tests, you definitely need to get some fresh air. Now, this doesn’t mean going into crowded public spaces - the coronavirus pandemic is still happening! What you can do, however, is seek out some really cool nature spots to explore with the people you live with. Some spots near the Los Angeles area include Griffith Park, Vista Hermosa Natural Park, the Huntington Gardens, and Fern Dell Nature Preserve. When going to these places, always take a mask, some hand sanitizer, and remember to practice physical distancing!
4) Read + Listen to a Podcast
I know, I know. After a long semester of hitting the books, reading is the last thing you want to do. However, reading what you actually want to read is an awesome experience! Former President Barack Obama recently released his book A Promised Land that could make for a good read. I also really recommend listening to some podcasts! My favorite one at the moment is called Teenager Therapy. It’s just a really soothing podcast of some teenagers talking about what’s going on in their lives! Whatever you choose to do - read or listen to a podcast - make sure you set up a nice space! Hang up some lights, have some coffee in hand, and trust me - you’ll have a great afternoon.
5) Get Some Holiday Spirit!
The holidays are my favorite time of the year, and once finishing finals I start to stir up some cheer to get me ready for the season! I highly recommend making a Spotify playlist of all your favorite holidays songs, so you can blast in the morning, in the afternoon, and all night long. Start sprucing up your living space by putting up some decorations! I also recommend making a list of a bunch of holiday movies that you have been wanting to watch, and then making some hot cocoa. Can you feel the ~vibes~ yet?
I hope you all made it through finals okay! This list of 5 items really has kickstarted my break, and I hope it can do the same for you all. Stay safe and healthy this holiday season Trojans, and I can’t wait to see you all next semester!
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