In lieu of a Spring Break this semester, due to the ongoing pandemic, the University opted to provide students with three wellness days, the first two of which are next week, March 2 and March 3. The policies put in place during these wellness days are meant to ensure that students receive as much of a break as possible given the circumstances. So, the Student Life Editorial Board members share their tips on how to unwind during the wellness days.

Schedule the small things
I find that if I don’t have anything on my calendar for a day I will just putter around both managing to not quite relax but also not get anything substantive done. For this coming wellness day, I made a list of everything I wanted to make time for, like getting through a book or two on my “to-read” list, video chatting with some friends and investing time into cooking more elaborate meals than my cook-any-combination-of-vegetables-you-own impulses allow on a normal weeknight. Little things like that I know are things I like to do when I want to enjoy myself, and scheduling them across a day for me means that I will get to enjoy the full day instead of toiling away, unsure of how to spend a day off.
-Emma Baker, Editor-in-Chief

Do nothing
When was the last time you just sat there and did nothing? No phone, no emails, no assignments—just you and your thoughts. Do that! Use one of your wellness—or even just part of one wellness day if a full day seems too much—to do nothing. Maybe take a nap or practice some mindfulness, but give your body that time and space it needs to do a proper recharge.
-Kya Vaughn, Managing Editor

Binge something
I rarely binge television shows. The closest I think I’ve come was when I was stuck home from school in eighth grade with a 102-degree fever and nothing better to do. Even then I only managed eight half-hour sitcom episodes in a day (it was “How I Met Your Mother,” and yes, I still hate myself for it). Next week’s wellness days offer an opportunity to change that. These days are meant as a substitute of sorts for Spring Break, right? So I don’t see why we shouldn’t try to fit in everything we would have watched over nine days into 48 hours.
-Matthew Friedman, Associate Editor

Create something
If you’re the type of person who likes to feel as if they haven’t wasted away a full day, even on their breaks, I still suggest closing your laptop and textbooks and instead getting in touch with your creative side. Baking, crafting, playing an instrument, writing a story—anything goes! Taking the time to do something fun for yourself before you get a head start on that economics problem set is a great opportunity to feel refreshed in a way that you might not always get to during the semester. It’s the perfect middle ground between doing absolutely nothing (which is also perfectly okay) and burning yourself out with nonstop studying.
-Jayla Butler, Managing Editor

Zoom with friends
Even in the midst of a pandemic, Wash. U. students always seem to be absurdly busy. That can make it hard to schedule plans with friends. But now all our schedules have been cleared for a whopping two days, so take advantage of this time to check in on your loved ones through a Zoom call, walk or another COVID-safe activity. I mean, we only get three days to be well this semester. Might as well make them fun!
–Jaden Satenstein, Multimedia Editor

Go outside
I know it’s cold here in St. Louis, but when it snowed, I found myself staring out my window during class consistently, just wanting to be out in the snow. So take the day off to go outside! Bundle up if you need to, but taking in the fresh air is so, so important and relaxing. Walk around the block. Head to your local park. Throw a frisbee with roommates!
–Christine Watridge, Multimedia Editor

Take a nap
I will be the first to admit that I don’t have the healthiest sleep schedule. School is hard and it’s tiring. Plus, it’s been so cold and it’s been hard to take a break. Well, now’s the time. You can sleep for two whole days with nothing to do—no meetings, no due dates and no rehearsals. It might feel weird to just be still and not be busy, but you have my permission to just stay in bed.
-Sabrina Spence, Senior Cadenza Editor

Don’t go on your computer all day
I know. This is a pipe dream. I probably won’t do it either. But it seems like a good goal. I’ll try to strive for it. Everyone knows it’s a fact: We’ve spent way too much time on our computers. Your brain, your eyes, probably even your computer needs a break. So I propose that, on this wellness day, you step away from your screen, step away from your work and take the day to recharge by having zero work-related temptations in front of you.
–Benjamin Simon, Senior Scene Editor

Cook something that takes all day
If you’re like me, you eat most of your meals on campus using meal points. While there are lots of good options for campus food, the full satisfaction of making your own food—especially indulgent foods with long preparation times—is truly one-of-a-kind. So next week, pop by the grocery store and grab the ingredients for that recipe you’ve always wanted to try. If you’re dorm-bound, head over to the nearest full kitchen and get cookin’! Simmer a soup, ferment a bread dough, bake a three-layered cake! By the end of the day, it will all have been worth it.
-Jamila Dawkins, Forum Editor

Start Your New Year’s Resolution
Like most of you, I did my 2021 New Year’s Resolution for a maximum of five days. We all really tried, but life just gets in the way. Well, there’s no better time to restart that resolution than during wellness day, whether that is drinking more water or to live more boldly. After all, we’re not that far into 2021…right?
-Vivienne Chang, Director of Engagement