Let's face it, the end of the year sucks. Final projects suck. Presentations suck. Exams suck. Literally none of it's fun, and somehow professors think it's totally cool to sometimes assign all three of those things at once, as if you don't have four other classes you're trying to pass.
So, we work our asses off, HARD, and feel like we're scraping by. Looking cute for class, if that ever was a thing, is no longer a thing. Dry shampoo, not enough sleep and too much coffee are our new best friends. Thankfully, our friends can't get mad at us for disappearing into the UL and Davis, because they've disappeared into libraries too.
But you gotta remember that in the scheme of things, the last three weeks of the semester are a teeny, little pinprick on the timelines of our lives. And, you gotta remember that when you get hired in a year or two, your employer isn't gonna give a damn whether you got a B or an A- on that one exam. So, don't stress yourself out too bad. Instead, follow Aziz Ansari's immortal advice and treat. yo. self.
Here are nine ways to do it:
Go on a drive. Even if it's only 15 minutes, or even if it's as far as you can go with whatever's left in your tank. Blast the best, happiest, most empowering music on your iPod, and since it's spring, ride with the windows down and dance like you don't care about the looks people are giving you. Psych yourself into feeling like you'll get a hundred on that final, and then do it.
Leave yourself love notes. You know the way you feel your heart smile when your housemates or best friends sneak into your room and leave something nice or funny on a sticky note on your mirror? Do that for yourself. Scribble quotes and nice things all over your notebooks and planner and let them surprise you and make your own heart smile.
Buy yourself a new outfit. You'll still probably end up taking your exams in the clothes you slept in, but at least you'll have something hot to wear the night after you walk out of your last test.
Netflix, obviously. Spend the hour you would be scrolling on Facebook getting jealous of everyone living the post-grad, no-finals life watching an episode of your favorite show instead. Or, you know, five episodes. No big deal.
While you're at it, take a mental health day. Use one of those free absences you saved in case you got sick to stay in bed, sleep in, read something you actually like instead of a textbook. Scroll through 18 BuzzFeed articles and find out exactly what type of baby animal you'd be in another life. Do whatever your over-exerted little heart desires. Because let's be honest, even if you did go to class, you'd probably only spend a third of the time paying attention, and the other two-thirds reading BuzzFeed anyways.
Try a workout you've never done. I'm not gonna make any promises that this won't feel like it sucks at the beginning too, but exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't fail their exams.
Guilty pleasure shame-eat. We all know our diets don't stand a chance, but somehow I feel so much more guilty eating like crap during finals, no matter how stressed I know I am. Screw that. Eat cake for breakfast and your favorite food for every meal. Go to the table with the idea already in your head, and take that as an excuse to indulge and forgive yourself for it instead of scolding yourself for three days.
If you're not a clothes shopper like I suggested before (or even if you are), buy yourself just something nice. A candle, a bath bomb, a bottle of wine with a really fancy label that costs three times what you usually pay, whatevs. Massages? Treat yourself. Mimosas? Treat yourself. Fine leather goods? Treat. Yo. Self.
GO OUT. This might be really stupid advice, but if you plan it right, it can totally work. Get all dolled up, take a couple shots too many, and be the annoying girls taking pictures at the bars. Spend the Saturday night you would be half way studying—but not really because your exam isn't for two weeks—having a good time instead. It'll be worth it.
Now that you're feeling all relaxed and empowered and indulgent and good about yourself, go kick ass on those finals. Walk out and revel in the fact that now you have four months to treat yourself like this every. Single. Day.
