Why we should all just chill out

Coming from someone who really needs to learn how to take their own advice, this is going to sound like the biggest load of bullshit ever. But over the past few weeks it has seemed as though the whole world is completely and utterly stressed/tired/grumpy/deflated. The arrival of exams has popped the cork on a bottle of bubbling misery comprising “I’m going to fail and my life will be ruined” breakdowns and guilty procrastination, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon. The constant pressure of UCAS applications, coursework, exams and exam results and then more exams all whilst being expected to squeeze in pesky vital life functions i.e. breathing at the same time seems depressingly endless – not to mention completely impossible if you’re planning on retaining the will to live. The next few months are looking well and truly bleak.

After a solid 13 years of education and another 4 looming on the horizon, it’s no wonder that being bombarded with “this is the most important year of your life” every year since the age of 4 is beginning to take its toll. And although 13 years might not sound like all that long in the grand scheme of things, when I think that I’ve spent over three quarters of my days either at school, getting ready for school, recovering from school, doing school work or anticipating the dreaded Monday morning return to school, the prospect of not going to school any more seems really bloody appealing. 

"I can’t wait until after exams so I can…” and “I would love to … but I don’t have time” are phrases that have passed my lips what feels like hundreds of times since I started juggling sixth form and a job. I’m taking a year out to travel, relax, read books because I actually want to, do a sky dive, stay with family and learn to drive because I just haven’t had chance to fit it all in yet. Whilst a year out before jumping straight back into education isn’t for everyone, doesn’t the idea of doing nothing for a while and not having to worry about the fact that you should be doing something productive every second sound like an attractive prospect? If you’ve set your heart on university and haven’t got 365 days to spare then at least take one – or a bit of one – out of your busy schedule to chill and gain a little perspective. Everyone’s just so damn busy.

The fact that you’re reading this probably means that you have something important that you’re avoiding doing – if you’re going to waste time then at least do it effectively! For a few minutes, put your pen down or close your word document (after saving it and then saving it again just to make sure). Stop pretending that you’re studying when in reality you’re refreshing your Facebook news feed in the hope that something noteworthy might pop up eventually (which it won’t, everyone’s too busy doing the same thing as you to be having fun and taking photos of it) and hide your phone somewhere no one will be able to text you about how sooooooo  very boring their revision is. Make a cup of tea. Put your chilled playlist on (please tell me you have a chilled playlist? If not, listen to Jack Johnson or Benjamin Francis Leftwich or someone chilled like that). Shut your eyes. Chilllllllllllll. (If your eyes are still open then I’m upset that you didn’t take my advice and you should definitely go and make that cup of tea now.) Chillllllllllllllllllll.



 

Chilled?

If you’re answering “yes” in your head then I’m disappointed in you and you have failed the exercise. You clearly didn’t genuinely chill because you have continued to read what I am writing and if you were properly chilled then you would be asleep now. (Fact: all real chilling winds up with an accidental nap from which the chilled will be awoken by a very un-chilled parent screaming that you should be revising or washing up or tidying up or something important like that.) What I’m trying to say is that if instead of procrastinating horribly and dragging an essay that should take 2 hours out over half a day you actually do it in 2, you’ll have chance to go out and not have to stay up ridiculously late to catch up, read the book you’ve been tackling for half a year, have a film night, bake a cake, walk the dog or do zero of the aforementioned things and indulge in a few hours of nothingness. Without a doubt your productivity levels will be better for it.