How To Relax At The End Of A Study Day

By Sophia Mold, MA Creative Writing at University of Lincoln

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It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between your work space and living space, let alone your studying hours and relaxing hours.

All this overlap can make it hard to entirely switch off when you’ve finished a long day of studying.

So, hopefully these tips on how to more clearly separate your study time from your relaxation time can help you turn off your student brain and chill out after a hard day of work.

Make a to-do list

At the end of your study day, jot down a to-do list of the things you need to do the following day. This way you don’t have to keep thinking about the things you have to do and reminding yourself of them.

Then you can relax for the rest of the evening with the knowledge that you’re not going to forget any of the tasks you need to do.

Set a cut off time

Set a time that will be the end of your working day, the time you will finish off your studying for the day.

This could be before dinner, so you can make and enjoy your dinner then relax for the night, or it could be slightly later in the evening.

Your cut off time will depend on when you started studying, or whether you work best in the morning, afternoon, or the evening, so choose a time that suits your work style.

Sticking to this routine and schedule, with a definitive end time for your studying, will allow you to differentiate between your study time and your leisure time.

Leave it all behind

Try your best to not think about your studies, uni work, or that looming assessment deadline, after you have finished studying for the day.

It can be helpful to tidy away all of your study materials and resources, like notebooks, textbooks, and your laptop. Out of sight, out of mind.

Get offline for a bit

Getting offline can also help you to leave your studying mentality behind.

You can of course relax by scrolling mindlessly through social media or watching YouTube videos or Netflix on your phone, but it can also be good to try to not check your phone very often.

While on your phone, things related to your studies can pop up, or you might be tempted to check your emails or ask people on your course if they’ve started that assessment yet.

So, spending some time offline can allow you to forget about these stresses, and can also give your eyes a much-needed rest from screens.

Maybe do some drawing, colouring, or a puzzle for a bit, before you inevitably watch TV, to break up the pattern of technology.

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Get some fresh air

This is another good way to have a break from screens after a study day.

Maybe go for a sunset walk, or a quick jog around the block or a nearby park.

This is a good opportunity for a bit of exercise as well as fresh air, which will also be good for you after a long day of being cooped up inside studying.

You can make your walk or jog more relaxing and entertaining by listening to some music or a podcast.

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Get into comfies

Change into your comfy clothes, or pyjamas, after a long uni day, to highlight the transition between your work time and relaxation time.

Whether you’ve been in face-to-face teaching sessions and lectures, or if you’ve been studying from home all day, change into some loungewear, pyjamas, or a dressing gown to distinguish between your study time and leisure time.

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Wind down

Switch off your mind with some easy TV or a simple read.

Don’t use this down time to watch a complex TV show or start that challenging book, as this will keep your brain cogs turning and won’t let you fully relax.

Find some form of entertainment that you can enjoy easily and thoughtlessly to wind down.

Hopefully these ideas can help you make sure you are completely switching off and relaxing after a long day of studying, because we all deserve a break at the end of the day!

Need some more study advice? Find out here if music really can help you study and the best apps to boost your productivity.