With midterm season coming to a close, after many nights spent silently glued to a chair in the library, bent over textbooks and your laptop screen, you’re finally free! Although it may seem the quarter system doesn’t give you much time for a break, you should definitely acknowledge all of the hard work that you’ve done—you need something to show for your success other than the bags under your eyes. Here are a few ways you can reward yourself so you feel refreshed and reset to take on the second half of fall.
Go running
It’s highly possible that the only exercise you’ve been getting in the past week has been from carrying your giant backpack across campus. Take advantage of the weather while you can and go for a jog outside! With a spike of endorphins and some fresh air, you’ll feel better than you have in days.
DIY spa treatments
Being the crazy smart collegiette that you are can sometimes take a toll on your beauty routine, especially during peak stress times. Run over to your nearest pharmacy to grab a few essentials for a day filled with personal pampering. Give yourself a manicure for those fast-typing fingers, a face-mask for your sleep-deprived skin, and a body scrub to rejuvenate yourself all over— the skin can get super dry from excessive amounts of coffee.
Sleep in
The thought of not having to wake up three hours before your first class to get some last minute studying in may seem inconceivable compared to your current routine, but this is your chance! You may not realize how much you need it until your holding your eyelids open in your next afternoon class, but your body is in serious need of some shut-eye. After recharging your battery, you’ll feel beyond equipped to take on the next few weeks.
Netflix and chill (but really, chill)
Binge watching your favorite shows has most likely been beyond on the back burner lately. Tap back into your lazy side by resuming that amazing series you completely abandoned a month ago. A bag of microwave popcorn and 12 hours of Scandal? Sounds like the perfect night in!
Trick-or-treat yourself!
You may not have had time to check out the calendar, but Halloween is a week away—and now you finally have time to figure out a costume! Without having to feel guilty about procrastinating, you can spend hours finding the perfect idea online (check out the awesome articles by fellow HC Northwestern staffers, Grace Choi and Jamie Schmid) and or by going into Evanston to seek out some spooky inspiration.