Exam time can be super stressful, so it’s only normal to be relieved when they’re over. While part of you is probably feeling euphoric, you might also be feeling drained or even a bit down. We’ve put together some ideas that could help get you recover from exams and get back on track.
Celebrate
Go ahead, you most definitely deserve it! You could:
- Organise a get-together with all your friends
- Pamper yourself with a really special treat, massage, or day on the couch
- Have a night out with family or friends – you could go to the movies or eat at your favourite restaurant
- Have a day at the shops and indulge in some retail therapy (but set a budget first)
- Book yourself tickets to go to a music festival or concert
- Take a day trip and spend the day doing what you love, whether that’s picnicking at the beach, hiking a local trail, or hitting the water park
Look after yourself
Repay your sleep deficit with some long lie ins and early nights – no doubt you’ve had plenty of late nights revising and stressing.
When you’re occupied with study, it’s often easy to overlook your diet as well. So you could take some time now to do some home cooking or indulge yourself with nourishing foods from your favourite café.
Spend some time outside, relax, and breathe in some fresh air instead of the recycled stuff you might have been taking in at the exam halls and library.
Cleanse
Channel your inner Marie Kondo and have a huge clear out. Bin, sell, or recycle any books and study notes that you have no intention of using ever again. De-clutter your room and remove all the reminders of exams gone by. Then box up your study area and put it all away out of sight.
Plan a change
Taking a break away from home can be a great way to recover from exams. So why not plan a holiday, or even a gap year?
If you haven’t got the time or the money available to do anything big, you could always arrange a camping trip and spend some time out in nature sleeping under the stars – what could be more relaxing than that?
Think ahead
This might not be right for everyone, but if you’re really keen to put exams way behind you, you can start planning and organising for the next chapter of your life.
If you’re about to finish school and are thinking of further study, then make sure you’re as sorted as you can be. Research courses, look for scholarships, or even find a place to live.
If you’re going to start work or an apprenticeship, you’ll need to make sure you have everything ready to start receiving your pay, like a bank account. It might also pay to do some reading on tax and superannuation.
Have a look around for short courses, holiday programs, and workshops happening near you, or just look up fun events in your area where you could meet new people and open yourself up to new experiences and opportunities.
Build your experience
Find a job you’d like to apply for and just go for it, or see what volunteering opportunities there are near you.
You might like to start researching potential future careers – you might stumble across something that inspires you, find pathways that you didn’t know about, or reaffirm a choice you’ve already made.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to add all your new skills and experience to your resume.
Go with the flow
Just want to turn your brain off and do nothing? Make the most of your time off by simply sitting back and enjoying a bit of breathing room. We all need some downtime every now and then, so don’t feel guilty about just taking each day as it comes.
Find out more
If you want some other ways to recover from exams, we have heaps of other wellbeing tips on our website here.