This week, Naomii and Flora combine their remaining brain-cells
Phew, it’s been a long semester. It’s always a long semester, but this one in particular felt extra long. Did we mention that it’s been a long time? Sorry, we’re a bit spacey recently. Thank God for the upcoming break (apologies to those who have to work through it). It’s been such a long semester that we officially have Nothing To Talk About right now. We could talk about the dire state of the world, or the rising cost of living, or whatever else, but we could also just Vibe.
Sometimes one needs a little brain empty, no thoughts break. Or a big one. Sure, we could use the break to write a novel, or catch up on course work, or finally read that book like good productive people who live healthy lives. Or we could lie in bed for a week straight, order takeout, and watch Netflix. We’ll probably end up doing a bit of both, but the point is that no one can be on all the time. And no one should be on all the time.
Working and studying is stressful and demanding. A lot of the times we’re playing catchup with assignments and binge-watching lectures—but as important as it might be for you to get that A in your paper, it’s also just as important for you to get that rest and take the break that you need for your mental wellbeing. Burnout is a real thing, and if you leave it untreated, it can lead to some real negative outcomes—and according to this week’s Whakarongo Mai on page 10, a lot of you are feeling it.
So, this break, we encourage you to think—or not think—about what you need. Is it a hot girl walk, like Lifestyle Editor Nancy writes on page 35? Nothing says head-empty like a meditative stroll around the park and petting some dogs. Or it could be time away from social media and putting up boundaries between work and life during the exam season, like Naomii talks about on page 12. Probably something that we should all be doing to make sure that we’re not working 24/7, as much as it feels like it’s required to get all the work done.
What about heading home like our Staff Writer Arela Jiang and Flora explore in their review of Nathan Joe: Homecoming Poems on page 24? Having your whānau cook, clean, and baby you is a certified zero brain-cell activity. You might’ve pushed away your seemingly-overbearing parents’ care during your teenage years, but now it’s time to take it all in while you go on a no-thoughts break. Us, we’re going to take some cues from Wine Science Masters student Ali Lowrey (pg. 33) on which wine will take us safely to the next dimension and which wine to take to the next BYO.
It’s time to unwind as much as you can, whether that be watching your favourite comfort film at the end of a day of studying, settling down with a good poem or show, or going on a weekend bender after your exams, because you deserve it—we all do after such a long semester.
XOXO
Arohanui,
Flora Xie (she/her) and Naomii Seah (she/they)