It’s the end of the semester, and finals are looming above us like the anvil over Wile E. Coyote’s head. Academic papers and InDesign files litter my desktop. I have so many tabs open on my browser I can’t see the preview for any of them. Yes, they’re all important, yes I will get back to them. I’ve begun moving at hyper speed, jumping from one task to another; is it possible to finish my assigned reading and at the same time complete my final project for graphic design without my mind exploding? I’m determined that it will be so even though my brain is glitching more frequently than a 2007 Windows Vista operating system — maybe now’s a good time to close those tabs…
But wait! There, in the distance! Do you see it? It’s cresting over the horizon, smiling like a Teletubbies sunrise. I can smell sweet dew drops glistening on the grass in the spring morning sun even as I sit in class under the migraine-inducing fluorescent lights. Good god, it’s the end of the semester! If I can just wade through the sea of final projects I could touch it. Just a few more notes to take, another paper to write, and if InDesign doesn’t crash again, a final beautiful touch on that GDD 101 assignment.
Blessed readers! We see you wading through the trenches of the semester, desperate for freedom. Take heart! The Cascade is here to hold your hand and gently guide you through the flames, so we can emerge like precious Jesus phoenixes after the semester closes its final tab. Our editors have gathered ‘round the fire to tell tales of a spring soul cleaning; we’ve assigned our best scribes to record these words of wisdom, and bless your eyes. Read on, babies.
Darien Johnsen, Features Editor
As the metaphorical greats say, it’s not bed rotting — it’s marinating. After a long stressful period in my life, I like to spend at least three to four days in bed doing as little thinking as possible to maximize my flavour potential. In order to tenderize my marinating body (and avoid crushing guilt), I make sure to take a 40 minute to one hour walk once a day.
Good food is essential; and by good I mean lots of protein and veggies, but also two different bags of chips (so I can switch it up), spicy wasabi peas, diet coke on diet coke, and chocolate always at the ready. Having sweet treats and delicious foods around are key to mental well-being at any time of year, but especially during my recovery times. Chocolate and diet coke are like little hugs for the soul; it’s verified folk science, ask anyone.
Alongside my strict marination schedule, I also like to spend time and energy doing things I don’t have the capacity for during the semester, like reading books I actually like and creating art without having to hand it in and have it critiqued. Plus, now that I have the time to watch television all day, I can fit in my trashy reality shows and cinematic masterpieces (it’s about balance, baby). Checking off my Letterboxd watchlist is essential to my self-esteem (because I’m not just some philistine).
When this period of rejuvenation has ended and my will to live is restored, I pack my bags and head to one of the many surrounding beautiful islands. I like to hit up Victoria for a few days, and at least one Gulf Island for a camping trip (I’m not naming names because that’s my island, thank you very much). There’s something about being on an island and near the sea that is extremely healing for my soul. I become myself there, I feel awakened, refreshed, and once again full of life that the next semester will certainly drain out of me soon enough.
Catherine Campbell, Managing Editor
I am the kind of person who needs a lot of time alone, especially during busy periods of life. And so when I start to feel like I’m about to sell all my belongings and move north, my go-to is to turn off my phone and lie on the floor — preferably with a cat nearby. Once I feel human again, I peel myself off the linoleum and make a cup of tea.
What I do next depends on the weather, where my heart is at, and how many hours of daylight are left. If it’s a Saturday morning and I won’t be swimming through the rain, you can bet your bottom I’m driving to the middle of nowhere to get lost in the woods, searching for owls and weird moss. If it’s 7 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, or I don’t feel like getting my bones wet, I’ll get lost in a good book, coccooned in quilts my grandma made me.
And, because of who I am, at some point I’ll do some actual cleaning. I started working in coffee shops as a teenager, and I found that the ever-present anxiety that loomed over my shoulder was often quelled by scrubbing a cupboard door clean or re-organizing the tea shelf. Years later, this translates to my own space: when I start to feel the tasks build up and my free time get squishy, I storm the closet to colour-coordinate my shirts or get down on the kitchen floor and put Cinderella to shame (the scene of her cleaning the hall floor, with the rainbow-hued bubbles, lives rent free in my mind).
Above all else, I do not turn my phone on. There is no amount of money someone can pay me to do so — not when I need to recharge; not when there are finals to write. The world will have to wait.
Rachel Tait, News Editor
When I prepare for exams, eating and drinking enough throughout the day is important for me because I get that energy boost I need. I can retain information more effectively, and I am more focused on learning the material. Having little health snacks like granola bars in-between meals and drinking lots of water are good self-care tips I follow each semester.
I believe that getting enough sleep is also important. However, it is not always possible when you are a student. Part of my self-care routine is sleeping in on days when I can, and going to bed earlier at night on a regular basis. I find that having a good night’s sleep before an exam helps me score better on a test. Once exams are over, I enjoy catching up on sleep; taking short 20 minute naps doesn’t affect my sleeping schedule at night.
Lastly, I find that doing fun activities after an exam is beneficial for my well-being, such as spending more time going on long walks or hanging out with friends. They are simple yet enjoyable to do. Walking in nature is peaceful and can also help build stamina. As a student, I tend to sit more than I should and walking is an exercise that is easy on the body as well as relaxing. I think it’s important to do things we really enjoy and anticipate doing. Often, we forget that it’s the little things we do for ourselves that make all the difference.
Cassie Williams, Copy Editor
When the end of the semester hits I, like the mighty phoenix, do not rise for many days, succumbing to the ashes (my couch). I instead opt for a slow descent into madness, becoming buried under the cinders that are my blankets. Before I can start catching up on my “fun to-do” list — aka the one not filled with more tasks than hours in the day — I rejuvenate in front of a television until my eyes are strained and my mind is emptied of any meaningful thought. Then I’m born again and on comes the plethora of unattended tasks I’ve deferred throughout the year. Primarily two of my favourite things: writing and reading. Although I am an English major, I find my “read” list on my phone at an all time low during the school year — she’s currently sitting at three from the winter semester, and yes two of those were class assigned. With the first sign of the sun comes that call to sit outside, or in a cafe by a window, and bask in cathartic pages of literature as I sip a $7 iced americano.
I revel in the joy that comes from being able to focus on my passion projects, or just being able to say yes without thinking when someone proposes a night out. Nothing but blue skies and an ember of hope after eight months of deadlines and stress. With these aforementioned blue skies comes a desperation to reconnect with nature after an extended period of nothing but blue “light.” I went on my first hike of the year last weekend and let me tell you, I need to do more.
Back to the phoenix, I think of it as my creativity and inspiration; a silent bird hovering in the sky for all eternity, but fleeting. It disappears and emerges time and again, never announcing its revival, ever the enigma. But with that first schoolwork-free day, I can be sure it will appear again, calling for me to write or produce something other than a graded assignment.
Anna McCausland, Arts in Review Editor
The amount of notifications on my phone that I get throughout the semester is astounding — friends wanting to hangout, assignment reminders, and emails, emails, emails. My phone is tired. I say this not to try to say that I’m popular — cause I’m not — but to reveal my deepest fear: notifications. I’ve gotten to a point where if my phone isn’t in my back pocket, I can still feel it pinging. Phantom vibrations are no joke. I’ve tried screen limiting, do not disturb, even putting my phone in another room, but each time I still crawl back to it at first vibration.
The one thing that’s worked: turning it all the way off. It takes about 10 seconds for my phone to go from being a hub of connectivity to a brick. The 30 seconds for it to boot back up is the perfect deterrent. No more pickups, no more quick checks, and no more notifications. Three months ago I would’ve scoffed at someone who recommended this to me. But now, the freeing feeling of knowing you can’t be contacted is beautiful. It gives my mind time to slow down and recover. There’s no more anxiety about missing something, because — let’s be honest — nothing is really that important that it can’t wait until tomorrow. So once this semester ends, the due dates are fulfilled, and the late night study sessions are over, I’ll be turning my phone all the way off to give my mind the TLC it needs.
Sky S. Terrones, Jr. News Editor
There is indeed a light rising on the horizon. To me, that light is permission… permission to forgo crash position, finally let my body allow itself to collapse, and initiate the first stage of rebirth: (temporary) demise.
For three days to a week, my body collapses in order to heal and reboot itself after the raging war that had been balancing the end of the semester with work and life. However, the tricky part is how to successfully achieve a comeback instead of letting yourself go into oblivion.
First, have a balanced schedule. Yeah, many tell you to do this, but no one actually does it. I promise it helps; having a realistic, reasonable plan makes a difference. Even if you are among those lucky ones who have nothing pressing to do and are just planning to have fun — have a loose schedule for that. It’s easy to break your previous carefully constructed itinerary, and having one now is not inherently bad. It can help you to reduce the stress of feeling like you’re wasting your time when you’re unsure of what to do with your day.
Second, exercise. This is a privilege recommendation; of course, not everyone can move their body in a way that helps decompress. If you do have that privilege, then use it. I especially recommend activities close to natural elements — go on a hike, go to the beach, or even a loonie swim at a public pool, walk around until you find a cute dog and ask permission to pet it. These activities release endorphins, and if you can do them, then do so.
Last but not least, hang out with your friends and family. Don’t get me wrong, as an introvert myself, I will happily stay in my cave with zero connection to the outside world. I’m not saying do this all the time, but it’s refreshing (from time to time) to have a social interaction that roots us to “reality.”
Spring break is not entirely a break when you have work (if that’s the case), but if you don’t at least take a mental break (time to yourself, good night’s sleep, great score to accompany your solo dancing), I assure you, collapsing won’t be exclusive to the end of the semester.
Natalia Toscano Murua, Opinion Editor
I am a person who tends to keep private about the machinations of my mind — it is capable of producing countless thoughts, just like an ocean produces waves. Over many years, I’ve learnt to gaze at an ocean of perplexities and concerns of my own creation without allowing myself to drown in it. Yet, when the tide swells too much for me to contain, I get washed away by a tsunami of torment. The end of the semester can be a tumultuous time, and for me, the tide tends to rise when nearing the end of it. It so happens that a tsunami hit but a few days ago as of writing this, and I am still in the process of floating back to the surface for oxygen. Yet amidst the chaos, I know I will be okay. I know what to do.
At times like these, I redirect all available energy to myself. I treat myself to some tea or coffee, to comfort food when I can, and give myself time to do whatever feels best at the moment. Everyone has different methods of coping, and for me, I find that a good cry is almost always the best cure. The body knows how to cry for a reason; it is there to help you release tension, it is there to tell you that an emotion is overflowing, it is your body’s way of telling you to take a moment for yourself. Whenever I feel excessively overwhelmed, I turn off the lights in my room, lay down with my earphones ready, listen to the music my soul gravitates toward, and then I cry. Its healing power is so comforting to me that sometimes I even acknowledge all I want is a good cry.
Crying can be a very vulnerable moment, and that is why I often give myself time alone to do so. Still, if I really need it, I will look for company and comfort, because I know everybody has cried at least once in their life, and that it’s a human thing to do. As odd as it may sound, if there is one thing I would like you to know, it’s that crying is okay. I feel like it is stigmatized and perceived as mostly negative, but to me, it is a symbol of relief and rebirth. If your body signals you to let it out, then allow it to do so. The end of the semester can be a challenging time, so it’s important to listen to your heart and mind. Grant yourself comfort and compassion, feel fearlessly, and let yourself flow with every tear.
