Finding the Joy in Fall

Fall is here, and with it comes the usuals: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and absolute exhaustion. We are about to reach the two month mark of the school year, and school is starting to get really tiring. With exhaustion comes procrastination, and far too often we end up trying to write a five page essay while Netflixing at two in the morning. Late nights of studying fade into first hour, and it is far too easy to get lost in a whirlwind of cramming and stress. School turns into a battle to survive, and each day feels longer than the next.

What we need to recognize this fall is that it doesn’t have to be this way. It can’t stay this way or else we’ll all be miserable. The harsh reality is that it’s only October, and May isn’t yet within reach. While Fall and Thanksgiving breaks can help recharge, odds are we’ll all return from these breaks more exhausted than before they started. So what’s the solution here?

First of all, we need to mix up our daily routines. Doing the same thing day after day is exhausting. Take a break and do something you usually don’t have time for. Go on a walk, catch-up with your family, take a twenty minute nap, spend time with a pet, or read a chapter in a favorite book. Before you start stressing about not having enough time to give yourself a break, if you cut out the time you usually spend on things that will make you even more tired like Twitter or Instagram, you’ll have enough time to relax. Going into homework or studying with a refreshed mind will help the work go by faster.

Secondly, take care of your health. Many students can easily trace their exhaustion back to poor diets, dehydration, or lack of sleep. Yes, the last one seems impossible to solve. With sports, after school jobs, and homework, sleep simply becomes less of a priority. The five to seven hours of sleep you’re currently getting isn’t going to cut it in the long run. Get homework done as soon as possible, stay off of all electronics an hour before bedtime (the blue light waves eminating from most social media make it harder to fall asleep), and remember that staying up late to study is more detrimental than it is beneficial.

School is really inhibiting us from truly enjoying the fall season, and it shouldn’t. Take a deep breath, drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte, and find the joy of fall. Besides, Christmas is just around the corner.