101 Things To Do On Study Breaks

December 12, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
4 min read
7 Comments
Photo thanks to WeHeartIt
Please tell me I’m not the only one chained to my desk these days! I’m in the middle of my final exams, it’s freezing cold outside, and I am feeling equal parts frazzled and exhausted. But I’ve still been taking time to schedule in as much fun as I can make time for. I’ve compiled a list of things you can do for fun on your study breaks, most of which can be accomplished at your desk in the library, or without having to go on a time-consuming outing. I know we students don’t have time for much besides studying these days! So just pick a few of the activities below, and maintain your sanity for just a few more days. Enjoy your study breaks to the fullest. Happy studying!
  1. Start a blog
  2. Start a tumblr
  3. Join 750words.com
  4. Bake cookies
  5. Make dinner
  6. Call your Mom
  7. Skype with friends
  8. Get Starbucks
  9. Go for a run
  10. Read the headlines
  11. Do a crossword
  12. Have a dance party
  13. Do yoga
  14. Put all your favourite blogs into a blog reader
  15. Catch up on your favourite blogs
  16. Clean & organize your workspace
  17. Clean your room
  18. Record a video or podcast
  19. Write an article or short story
  20. Sketch a picture of yourself studying
  21. Get a massage
  22. Paint your nails
  23. Make origami swans
  24. Meditate
  25. Write someone a letter
  26. Brainstorm your next year’s New Years Resolutions
  27. Journal
  28. Work on your Life List
  29. Create an issuu magazine
  30. Start a scrapbook
  31. Look through old pictures
  32. Watch one episode of a funny tv show
  33. Sing along to musical theatre show tunes
  34. Play an instrument
  35. Make a list of things you’d do in your city if you had time
  36. Deactivate your Facebook account
  37. Start a Pinterest account
  38. Pay your bills
  39. Watch a TED talk
  40. Watch movie trailers
  41. Look at the Spring RTW shows
  42. Troll FoodGawker
  43. Build a snow man
  44. Decorate your place for Festivus
  45. Write a to-do list
  46. Play brain games on Lumosity
  47. Start a massage train with your friends
  48. Listen to really old pop music
  49. StumbleUpon
  50. Get lunch/brunch/dinner with friends
  51. Do the dishes
  52. Walk around the block
  53. Read a chapter of a book
  54. Make paper snowflakes
  55. Moisturize
  56. Take a bubble bath
  57. Take a nap
  58. Make a cup of tea or hot chocolate with little marshmallows
  59. Clean out your bag and wallet
  60. Give a loan on Kiva
  61. Play FreeRice
  62. Apply for something: volunteer position, internship, job
  63. Play hangman or tic-tac-toe with someone
  64. Watch videos of puppies or kitties playing
  65. Read Jezebel
  66. Read TextsFromBennett
  67. Give yourself a pep talk
  68. Switch up your study spot
  69. Do jumping jacks
  70. Do your laundry
  71. Start using Evernote
  72. Make a list of things you want to do around Christmastime
  73. Write a song
  74. Go out for a drink
  75. Eat a few seasonal clementines
  76. Learn about common misconceptions
  77. Go to the gym
  78. Buy + eat a chocolate bar
  79. Clean out the fridge
  80. Have a shower
  81. Have a snack
  82. Read a magazine
  83. Listen to lots of holiday-themed music
  84. Plan your dream vacation
  85. Plan a holiday party
  86. Do some online shopping
  87. Create a countdown until your exams are over
  88. Do a workout video in your living room
  89. Go grocery shopping
  90. Start a Facebook/BBM/text conversation with your best friends to share news and pictures
  91. Discover some new music
  92. Browse the local book store
  93. Learn a new skill online
  94. Play agoogleaday
  95. Dress up and get outside
  96. Catch up with a friend over coffee
  97. Pray
  98. Get take-out
  99. Daydream about having free time again
  100. Create a plan for studying
  101. SMILE
Stay sane, stay happy.
All my love in this hard time!
What do you do on your study breaks? What are exams like for you? Do you need motivation, or do you need to slow down? What are your favourite activities? 

How To Survive Exam Season, Part 3

December 8, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
7 min read
2 Comments

Here’s part 1 and part 2!

Photo thanks to WeHeartIt

It’s that time of year again folks: the blasted exam crunch time. Previously, I’ve written about how to stay physically healthy and how to find the study system that works for you. This year’s edition is more focused on mental health and stress-reduction strategies. Intrigued? Read on!

I find that this time of year requires a lot of discipline, focus, and motivation. Those things aren’t always easy to find, especially not when you also feel frazzled, stressed, and probably lonely. But finding time for fun activities can be so insanely hard, especially when you always have this looming dark cloud hanging over you, telling you “YOU SHOULD BE STUDYING RIGHT NOW”. How oppressive! I’m sure a lot of you are nodding in agreement – there’s always this sense of obligation or duty to be studying, and even taking an hour to catch up with someone at Starbucks feels very wrong.

The more we’re isolated, the more awful we feel; but the more we take time off from studying, the guiltier we feel. Stress central! Here are some of the strategies I’ve been exploring to stay sane this exam season.

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How To Survive Exam Season, Part 1

April 16, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
8 min read
8 Comments

This article was originally published exactly one year ago today: April 16, 2010. I know it’s no excuse, but it’s exam time all over again, so I haven’t had much time to escape the study grind and write new content. For now, I hope that this old content can serve to inspire you in this stressful time!

Photo Thanks To ScubaSteveo

It’s that time of year, folks! Crunch time. Exams are fast approaching (or maybe over, if you go to certain schools) and it’s time to buckle down, bite the bullet and get to work. Although most of my readers have probably taken exams before, I’d like to share some lessons I’ve learned the hard way about exam time.

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The Pomodoro Technique: Stop Procrastinating Today

March 28, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
5 min read
17 Comments

Academia is gearing up for its final blow: exam season. And as it approaches, so too comes with it heaps of assignments, essays of the 20 page variety, and entire textbooks to read. We have lots of work to do, which means, the time between now and summer will be very poorly spent. That’s because we university students, in general, are extremely proficient procrastinators. Visit any library these days and you’ll be greeted by a familiar sight: students wasting time. Based on observation alone, the typical “study day” for the average student follows the same general pattern:

Arrive ? Unpack bag ? Go on Facebook for half an hour ? Open textbook to the right page ? Read 2 pages/do 1 problem ? Check Blackberry ? Read 2 pages ? Go to the bathroom ? Check email ? Check Facebook ? etc, etc.

It’s astounding how long we say we spend “studying” when, if we’re honest with ourselves, the majority of that time is spent just plain fooling around. Of course, I can’t speak for the entire population of students – surely, some are exceptionally productive – but my impression (from countless hours logged a la bibliotheque) is that procrastination is rampant on university campuses. Rampant, I say!

Why is this so? In my experience, it’s because I tend to dread my work. It’s so much more fun and rewarding to participate in instant gratification tasks: checking social media portals, for one, is a favourite. Thinking about a daunting, time-consuming project that threatens to take over your life for the next few days is depressing. So we end up putting it off until we can’t possibly do so any longer. Until it’s due tomorrow. And then, just like that, our sleep has been sacrificed to make up for our time management errors.

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