By Halle Brindley – Contributor 

Was that too harsh? I am trying to look out for you because knowing me is knowing you. We all have things we do that are slightly self-destructive. In terms of destruction, J. Robert Oppenheimer may have made the first atomic bomb, but I am talking about the must-do, daily parts of life that we run on from one extreme to the other: Sleep, exercise and school. Our behaviours may be self-destructive because we run on university time, and that passes differently than normal time. Well, at least it feels that way. Is this what it feels like to grow up? Is this time management? 

You are exhausted. The solution is a nap, but if I have learned anything from myself, it never becomes just a nap. I go for a whole sleep. Here is the thing: unless you are like my boyfriend, and you can go into sleeping beauty mode once you close your eyes, one does not fall asleep immediately. A 20-minute nap is prime. You will wake up feeling refreshed and in a good mood. An hour-long nap is going into dangerous territory, like Oscar the Grouch dangerous.

Here is how to do it right: set an alarm for a bit longer than 20 minutes so that you have time to be able to fall asleep and sleep for just the right amount of time. Under all circumstances, do not snooze that alarm. Tell your roommates you are going for your midday snooze so that they do not let you rest for hours on end. 

Now, think about working out. That is awesome! Your body loves intentional movement, and the health benefits show. Sometimes, it is hard to start a workout because getting to the gym can feel like a trek to Istanbul. I live off campus – I get it! This has been my recent life hack: work out at home in your pyjamas. There is something about wearing pyjamas at weird times that brings me joy. If you see me at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, you will get it. 

This last tip is a two-in-one. It is a Head and Shoulders solution, if you may. You have an assignment to do, and you think, “Oh yeah, I will just grind this all out later.” It works, sure, but at what cost? First step: look at the assignment. No, I am serious – see what you have to do. Break up your assignment into increments, and when you need a break, do your chores. I know I am the evil stepmother, whatever. But, you need to get up and move around. Put on “Soulful Strut” from The Definitive Young-Holt Unlimited, and put those clothes away. Let’s get going, Cinderella! 

The moral of this fairytale is that if you do better, then you will feel better.