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books on brown wooden shelf
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How to Relax After Exams

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Notre Dame chapter.

If you’re like me, you’ve been drowning under a pile of work and studying this week, and the finish line is finally drawing near. After a few long sleepless nights and stressful days, I think we’ve all earned a little treat yourself time. But what to do with it? 

1) Take a nap.

Seriously. You’re probably dead on your feet, and your bed misses you. Nothing feels better than that moment when your head hits the pillow and you know that regardless fo how your exams went, they’re over and done with. FInd an hour in your hectic schedule to lie down, and your body will thank you for it. 

2) Read for pleasure.

Now, I know what you’re thinking- the last thing you want to do after an exam is pick up another book. But a book can be a great way to immerse yourself in a setting beyond Notre Dame’s little bubble and leave college behind for a while. If you’re a notorious rereader like myself, picking up an old favorite is extremely comforting. If you don’t or aren’t a huge reader, a thrilling bestseller is usually a good option. Personally, I’ll be rereading Gone Girl in preparation for the movie release next week! If you haven’t read it yet, you should go do that. It’s awesome. 

3) And for the lazier of us, binge watch some Netflix.

Netflix has become a college student staple, and for good reason. Usually, it is productivity’s worst nightmare, but after an exam the hard work has already been done- nothing is stopping you from watching full seasons of Arrested Development or House of Cards in one sitting. Okay, maybe not a whole season, but it is so relaxing and fun to settle in with a snack and a few episodes of your favorite TV show. 

4) Enjoy a sweet treat.

Take a break from dining hall froyo and get a food or drink that you love and usually don’t indulge in! Maybe it’s just a Starbucks frappucino or maybe you walk all the way to Eddy St. for some Chipotle or Kilwin’s ice cream, but have a guilty pleasure food experience. You earned that cupcake.

5) Go for a run around the lakes.

Take advantage of the ability to run outside while it’s still warm. Running can be very therapeutic and a great mood booster! If you’re not athletic enough to run, going for a walk by yourself or with a friend is just as nice. Anything to be able to look at this beautiful view.

And finally, have some corgis.

Because corgis are the answer to everything.

 

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Emily Rodriguez is a sophomore English major and Business Economics minor at Notre Dame. She joined Her Campus during fall 2014 and loves to write about style, television, and movies. When not in class, she can be found singing with Halftime, contemplating going to the gym and ultimately not going, and thinking too much about Parks and Recreation.