Stressful end to the school year

​Tiffany gives some good advice as to how to decompress and use the break from academia to catch-up on your favourite things that you might have missed during the end of term madness.

“It’s never over…”
 
The famous lines from a popular Jeff Buckley ballad, and a phrase that has been reverberating around my mind over the past couple of months. For weeks, I was waiting endlessly for my exams to finish; it felt like I had been revising for an eternity - sitting paper after paper… 
 
But now, it’s over. And, while I was initially ecstatic I now find myself wondering what to do with all this free time. I have a few things planned out for summer, and am super excited for those but I have no idea what to do in the meantime. 
 
After speaking with some friends I quickly realised this feeling is pretty universal. So, this blog post aims to put forward some suggestions on how you can make the most of your free time. 
 
Firstly, sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Now, hopefully you’ve been following my advice and keeping a good sleep schedule throughout the exam period. Regardless of this, it’s quite likely that you’ll be feeling tired after writing all those papers! Sometimes we don’t even realise how tired we truly are. This is why I think making a conscious effort to rest and recover is so important. One of the most effective ways to do this is by dedicating some time to sleeping in, and sleeping well. What I mean by the latter is ensuring your quality of sleep is high. This means reducing blue light exposure, getting comfy before bed and allowing yourself to have a deep sleep. It’s so important to let yourself rest, and not just fly into having fun (although tempting) as you want to avoid burnout which can manifest in various ways. 
 
After you’ve had sufficient time to rest - let the partying begin! Whether you’re a social butterfly or a distinguished introvert, setting aside time to reconnect with friends and socialise can be a great way to celebrate the end of exams. Most of us haven’t seen many of our friends since Easter, so spending quality time with your pals is a great way to maintain your friendships and catch up. Socialising can fill you with renewed energy and a fresh outlook on life, and is the perfect way to share positive vibes with the people you love. If you’re more of a party person remember to be responsible and look after each other! 
 
Travelling is another awesome thing you can do! It doesn’t matter whether you’re off to Greece or Brighton, but getting out and about is a great way to get yourself back into the swing of things. Traveling solo or with friends is perfect if you’re looking to improve your independence and I find the change of scenery really refreshing after months of being in revision mode. Even doing something local, like going for a walk, can be really enjoyable. The important thing is to try and get out of the house! 
 
Exercise! But, in a fun way… You like swimming? Why not visit a lake or an outdoor pool. Is cycling more your style? Going for a summer bike ride could be the perfect way to get your endorphines rushing. If you’re anything like me, you probably didn’t do very much moving around this exam season. Moving your body is so important and can make a big difference to how you feel. So, if you find yourself in a post revision slump - it might be time to go for a run, or walk! 
 
Finally, the most general point of all. Do something for you. Something that makes you feel alive. Something that wakes your soul. It might be going to a festival or concert or it could be visiting your favourite art gallery. This summer is the perfect time to tackle that reading list or catch up on your favourite tv shows. The time we have is what we make of it. So whatever it is you do, make sure you have fun and can look back on these memories with joy! 

Author

Tiffany Igharoro is a sixth form student. One of her favourite pastimes is writing as it helps her organise her thoughts creatively and dynamically. She has won awards and prizes for poetry, academic and scientific writing and short stories. Recently, she won a nationwide historical essay competition that opened her eyes to the importance of how things are told, and the impact ordinary people have on the world. She studied art GCSE and believes there is something incredible about finding links between drama, art and maths.

Picture by: Brett Jordon