How Netflix became my best friend

FINALS WEEK WOES.

The headline is misleading because I did study for finals while watching Netflix. I kind of had to because I had three papers, a news story and a science exam, which was a traumatic ending to finals.

Being a type A personality, I made a flowchart of my finals week and when everything needed to be completed. I was so stressed because it was my first round of college finals and I did not know what to expect.

Would the professors go easy on freshman? Would they have review sessions? Would they curve their finals? I was a mess. I recall biting all my nails off — which thinking back was excessive because I made it through with a little help from my friends. Well, one friend.

Netflix.

I sat on my futon and the scripture “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27) came to mind. Now, I did not use this scripture as an opportunity to neglect my studying, but I realized I also needed to stop worrying and take time for myself. I would not do justice to my finals if I were stressed out or sleep deprived. So, I decided to study for a time and then take Netflix breaks.

You need to be smart about these breaks, but if done correctly they really help. Who knew watching reruns of Breaking Bad would actually motivate me to go back to studying? It helped because for 50 blissful minutes my mind was somewhere else.

I did incredibly well on all my finals. I don’t know what the outcome would be if I didn’t de-stress, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be as favorable. I guess in a way I owe all my success to Netflix.

So my one piece of advice for the upcoming finals week is to STOP STRESSING. Please study hard, but don’t kill your brain in the process. Try your best and everything else will fall into place.

-CeCe Gaines, for The Clarion