I feel tired whenever I end class at 6pm these days, it feels like I spent the entire day in the library and left in the wee hours of the morning. Now, we are experiencing shorter days and longer nights, it can get slightly lonely when all you feel like doing is jump into your onesie and wrap yourself up in folds of blankets. Here are some ways to combat the impending short days and even longer nights ahead.
1) Netflix Marathon
It is a blessing to wrap yourself in layers and just enjoy some ‘me-time’ after a day of being surrounded by over-competitive peers and sarcastic lecturers where they have the penchant of throwing out the January exams like a passing remark. It’s only November, thank you very much! Whether it is Game of Thrones or a weepy romance sob story, as long as it calms your mind and occupies your entire being, if necessary until sleep takes over and a new day begins.
"Whether it is Game of Thrones or a weepy romance sob story, as long as it calms your mind and occupies your entire being, if necessary until sleep takes over and a new day begins."
2) Baking/Cooking
It might seem too easy to be true but never underestimate the length of time it takes to prepare ingredients and get accurate measurements. Who knows, you might enjoy modifying your favourite food, instead of constantly paying for over-priced food outside. Not trying to aim for Gordon Ramsey or Nigella Lawson’s Heaven-like culinary standards, but it motivates lazy sloths like you and I to give our convenience food and crisps a rest to re-familiarise ourselves with how proper and nutritious food taste like since summer. Otherwise, there will be a cultural shock when we arrive home for Christmas.
3) Social Time with Friends & Wine
What is a gathering without wine? To pass those all-so-lonely nights, it is highly recommended to gather a few like-minded friends to socialise, drink and bitch about everything and anything under the sun. Playing board games is a good ice-breaker, it reveals hidden personalities that is not always appropriate in a university setting. If you lot feel up to it after your pre-drinking session, an hour or two at the club would drain all that remaining energy.
4) Exercise
Instead of lying in bed and wasting your precious daylight hours, exercise and do a couple of repetitions to get the oxygen flowing and to keep warm. Even if it is too cold to go for a jog, you could exercise with those chirpy home training videos on YouTube, work those thighs and that ass so that you can start working on that summer bod’ way in advance. Or round up a few friends and play a few games of badminton together, to flush out the toxins from the crazy nights out.
"Playing board games is a good ice-breaker, it reveals hidden personalities that is not always appropriate in a university setting. If you lot feel up to it after your pre-drinking session, an hour or two at the club would drain all that remaining energy."
5) Day Trips Away
It is a bit sudden to book a flight to Northern Ireland for a week in the middle of the semester. You could still afford a short metro ride to Tynemouth Beach or visit Hadrian’s Wall or even to the Northumberland Coast, at least it gets you out of the monotony of university life for a little while. Get out and enjoy what the quieter parts of Newcastle has to offer before the bright city lights suck you in again.
