In a world where rest feels like laziness and hustle culture is glorified, mental health is at an all-time low

By: Nada Bouchalkha, Opinion Contributor

When was the last time you felt that wave of unforgiving guilt for taking a lazy day? Maybe it crept in after skipping your workout or missing a lecture you knew wasn’t going to hold your attention.  

That relentless voice urging you to do more, achieve more and be more - we all know it too well. But here’s the truth: that internalized voice has a name - hustle culture. Recognizing it is the first step toward taking back control.  

Everyone’s relationship with hustle culture is different. But if any of this sounds familiar, it might be time to let go of its hold.

The mantra that "the grind never stops" becomes so deeply embedded in our thinking that we begin punishing ourselves, by depriving ourselves of sleep or denying ourselves leisure activities and forcing us to cancel plans or abandon hobbies. This misplaced sense of guilt often leads to deteriorating mental health, burnout, exhaustion and even physical illness brought on by stress.  

The constant need to keep up, coupled with the fear of falling behind, can feel exhausting. But life isn’t a race and sometimes, slowing down is more beneficial than you think. 

At university, an environment where success is measured primarily by your GPA and busyness, it’s easy to feel like taking time for yourself is a sign of weakness. Social media reinforces this pressure, saturating us with carefully curated videos of high achievers that highlight only their best days. The constant need to keep up, coupled with the fear of falling behind, can feel exhausting. But life isn’t a race and sometimes slowing down is more beneficial than you think. 

This toxic cycle traps us in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction. It becomes near impossible to appreciate the little things in life when you’re constantly operating in survival mode. True satisfaction cannot be achieved when success is endlessly redefined around productivity because it leaves no room for self-acceptance. 

Whether this resonates with you as a student taking on too many courses or as someone juggling multiple jobs at once, the question remains: if being productive comes at the expense of your mental health, is it really worth it?  

Allowing yourself to rest is the first step towards balance and learning what healthy productivity looks like. 

Healthy productivity is about achieving a balance between work and well-being. As a student, this means setting realistic goals and allowing yourself to slow down. After all, every step forward, no matter how little, will contribute to your growth.

It is important to grant yourself compassion for the days that you don’t meet the high standards you set. By nurturing both your personal and professional development, you can not only achieve success but also grow as an individual.  

There is a unique tranquility in allowing yourself to embrace the little things like napping, spending time with friends, going on a walk, or even doing nothing at all.

It’s essential to discover your sense of purpose beyond merely material achievements and productivity-driven goals. There is a unique tranquility in allowing yourself to embrace the little things like napping, spending time with friends, going on a walk, or even doing nothing at all.

It has be said that the most successful animals are those that are the laziest. Even in nature, survival often depends on conserving energy rather than constantly expending it. Similarly, the constant chase of productivity without rest can leave us burnt out, detached from our goals, disconnected and unfulfilled.  

You should feel a sense of pride not only during your "hustle" but also in your moments doing nothing at all. Though doing nothing may seem easy, social pressures can make it feel surprisingly difficult, especially for students who are endlessly pressured to prioritize grades and build a “perfect” resume.

Embracing downtime and investing in leisure activities that restore us are not signs of laziness or weakness. Rather, they sustain our mental health and make us more productive in the long run.  

So, this isn’t to say you should drop everything and become a surfer, unless of course that is your true calling. But if being "lazy" means taking care of yourself, then by all means do so. 

C/O Patrick Malleret, Unsplash

TikTok and Instagram’s image of “that girl” is not the only way to live a fulfilling life

TikTok has slowly developed an unhealthy obsession with a recent phenomenon termed “that girl.” For those unfamiliar with this trend, “that girl” refers to an individual (not necessarily a girl) who seemingly is well-put and has their life together.  

“That girl” has a perfect routine that has made her fit, mentally healthy and motivated. Instagram and TikTok creators have been posting their daily routines in the promise of helping their followers also become “that girl.”  

However, I strongly take issue with this newly risen phenomenon. 

One of the less serious issues I have with these countless “routine videos” is the repetitiveness of it. In other words, every single influencer is telling you to do the exact same set of activities in order to achieve greatness. They only slightly change their wording and use varying camera shots and angles to differentiate themselves from other bloggers.  

According to almost all of them, the pathway of success has four simple steps.  

Firstly, you must wake unreasonably early between the hours of 5:00-6:00 am. Secondly, you are obliged to exercise and meditate immediately after you have woken up. Thirdly, you need to eat incredibly healthy and have a daily consumption of lemon water, avocado toast and berry smoothies. Finally, the last requirement is to replace all forms of technology with journaling.  

And so forth, your phone addiction will slowly wear off and you will have a healthy obsession with journaling instead. I don't believe that these routines are inherently wrong, but rather disagree with the repetitiveness of them.  

As I mentioned, almost all content creators are promoting the exact same and unvaried set of steps. This makes the audience question whether these four steps are truly the only route to success. One might ask themselves if they will ever achieve their goals if they don’t wake up early, exercise and eat healthy.  

Unless it isn’t clear, no, the only way of achieving success is not through these four steps. To start, studies have shown that high productivity is not always linked to waking up early. Countless research articles have exhibited how some individuals are biologically more attentive and fresh in the morning, while others are more alert at night.  

Furthermore, research has shown again that there is no objectively ideal time for exercising. Studies have shown how working out in the morning, afternoon and evening have respective advantages.  

The same logic follows with replacing technology with journaling. Although it might be helpful to some, it’s not the objectively right method of accomplishing your goals. 

"The same logic follows with replacing technology with journaling. Although it might be helpful to some, it's not the objectively right method of accomplishing your goals."

Kimia Tahaei, Opinions Staff Writer

To clarify, I don’t think that these routines are intentionally promoting the idea that these activities are objectively correct. However, social media can be incredibly toxic at times and swallow us in a tornado of insecurity, doubt and anxiety.  

When we constantly see these routines, more often than not we doubt ourselves and our abilities. We question whether we’re behind in the “race of success” since we’re not following their advised typical four steps.  

"We question whether we're behind in the 'race of success' since we're not following their advised typical four steps."

Kimia Tahaei, Opinions Staff Writer

In these situations, we often have to take a step back, understand our individual situation and then proceed to make a decision on whether these routines are the best choice for us. If so, then great!  

However, if not, we need to understand how it’s not a favourable routine for our lifestyle to immobilize the feelings of inadequacy and insecurity early on.  

Changing our approach to these goals can help us be more successful at New Year’s resolutions

With a new year comes a set of new and often entirely unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves: New Year’s resolutions. Approximately three-quarters of Canadians resolve to accomplish their goals at the beginning of each year, with the failure rate a dismal 80 per cent. 

Year after year, people around the world look to the changing of the calendar as a sign of hopeful, positive transformation for their lifestyles and circumstances. How did such seemingly useless and quite frankly disappointing, ritualistic behaviour become entrenched in our daily lives? How can we make resolutions that actually work?

Apparently, human beings have practiced this particular brand of masochism since nearly the dawn of civilization. 4,000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians would make promises to the gods to repay debts and favours during their mid-March New Year’s celebration, Akitu. Keeping these promises would guarantee good luck and health while breaking them was sure to invite divine displeasure. If only we had such incentives today!

How did such seemingly useless and quite frankly disappointing, ritualistic behaviour become entrenched in our daily lives? How can we make resolutions that actually work?

Similarly, though a couple of millennia later, ancient Romans offered sacrifices and promises of virtuous conduct to the god, Janus — January’s namesake — in exchange for good fortune in the upcoming year. The practice continued with “peacock vows” in the middle ages, which were resolutions made by knights to uphold their chivalric values. By the 17th century, the habit of annual resolution-making had permeated the common social consciousness and was declared by yearly rituals such as New Year’s Eve spiritual services.

Despite their early religious origins, today’s practice of New Year’s resolution-making is a mostly secular and individualistic activity — concerned more with our ability to commit and achieve rather than chance or divine intervention.

The most common resolutions are decidedly unsurprising: in 2020, 51 per cent of Canadians wanted to exercise more, 49 per cent planned to save money, 48 per cent strived to eat healthier and 42 per cent hoped to lose weight. These goals have been topping lists for at least the last decade and their resilience speaks not only to our recidivism but also to the very nature of our desires themselves.

Making a resolution is important for mental health: having a goal to strive for helps overcome daily fatigue and is motivational. However, failing to live up to your goals — New Year’s or otherwise — can invite self-deprecation and psychological stress.

You can fall short of achieving your resolutions for any number of reasons beyond lack of sufficient commitment. The four main reasons why New Year’s resolutions fail are that they are too vague, they are framed negatively, they reflect societal expectations rather than your own desires or they are incompatible with your routine or lifestyle.

Since 2016, I’ve kept aside all my New Year’s resolutions lists and they are the spitting image of vagueness, negativity, social pressures and impracticality. From a whopping 37 resolutions in 2017 to assertions I would maintain a 12.0 GPA, to plans of learning four different languages in the span of a year, it’s no wonder I have persistently failed to achieve my goals — and thus felt thoroughly dejected every time.

But I haven’t given up just yet. Achieving your New Year’s resolutions is about more than just unwavering commitment, it’s about proper goal setting; a skill whose benefits extend beyond our infamous Dec. 31/Jan. 1 ritual.

The best resolutions are specific: they elaborate on the steps one needs to take to succeed. Unbeknownst to my 2019 self, I wouldn’t suddenly develop the ability to speak fluent Russian when the clock struck midnight. So unfair, am I right?

The best resolutions are specific: they elaborate on the steps one needs to take to succeed. Unbeknownst to my 2019 self, I wouldn’t suddenly develop the ability to speak fluent Russian when the clock struck midnight. So unfair, am I right?

Furthermore, New Year’s resolutions need to be realistic. No, 2018-self, you won’t be able to exercise four hours a day. It’s just not possible. Don’t set yourself up for failure — create ambitious but achievable goals that will make you feel successful while still making a difference in your life.

Lastly, making a good resolution is all about self-awareness. Achieving any long-term goal is directly concerned with the process of habit-forming. Creating a habit requires repetition — anywhere from 18 to 254 days of it, to be exact — and engenders a feeling of “automaticity,” which is the feeling of ease experienced when doing a familiar task.

When behaviours become automatic, they will become routine, undisruptive and habitual. However, forming a good habit requires the self-awareness to notice the environmental cues that facilitate the accompanying bad habit. If a certain place, activity, person or time prompts you to engage in the habit you want to break, recognize the signs and distance yourself or actively work to stay on track. Remember, it’s a process.

Though I haven’t managed to eliminate all traces of wishful thinking from my 2021 resolutions list, I’ve tried to introduce a bit more realism — a half marathon instead of a full marathon sounds about right, don’t you think? In truth, though, our goals matter less than our ability to forgive ourselves for not achieving them. It’s wonderful to aim for self-improvement; just don’t self-destruct along the way. Happy 2021!

A flexible approach to university might save you and your sanity

By: Zara Khan, Contributor

Picture the ideal student. They somehow find the time to volunteer and hit the gym while they maintain their perfect grade point average. They finish their assignments far in advance and probably already studied for that midterm. You envy them and their perfectly curated bullet journal. They are a perfect model of human efficiency. 

At the same time, there you are. Catching up on those missed lectures of yours, all while you have two essays due tomorrow and a midterm right after. There you are, going to sleep at 7 a.m., following a Red Bull-fueled study session with a brain that’s turned to mush. Okay, maybe it’s just me. 

But if you are anything like me, you most definitely are haunted by a chronic sense of failure. You might feel as if you’re not doing what you should be doing. That you should have figured things out by now. That you should learn a certain way and aim to achieve certain things. In many ways, you feel like you simply do not measure up to that ideal student.

However, our societal notions of what makes a successful student are deeply unrealistic. Who has the time to perfectly colour code their notes? Who really manages to get everything done ahead of time? Most university students have never had to learn how to learn properly until now, so of course, we’re going to struggle. 

We seem to imagine the ideal student as someone possessing inhuman amounts of energy. Someone who seems to be perfectly put together, studies for hours on end and finishes assignments far in advance. The fact that many of us seem to think that there is only one way to be a good student is concerning. So when many of us find ourselves struggling to measure up to that ideal, we seem to view it as personal failing more than anything else.

The fact that many of us seem to think that there is only one way to be a good student is concerning. So when many of us find ourselves struggling to measure up to that ideal, we seem to view it as personal failing more than anything else.

I’m not the ideal student. But what I find interesting is the fact that I’ve found more success as one that is not. In fact, I don’t take any notes during most of my lectures. Why? I’ve found that I actually retain the information better when I’m purely focused on listening. Instead, I might take notes that I need, prior to, or after class.

For the longest time, I tried to force myself to take notes during class, because that was how things should be done. What often resulted was a notebook full of the best doodles ever drawn, with absolutely zero recollection of what was actually taught. Not taking notes meant that I had more of an incentive to listen. But more importantly, it reduced the stress I often felt while trying to take good notes. Not only did I learn more, but I also saved a bit of my sanity.

Now, I’m not advocating for you to eschew note-taking during lectures. Although, what I am advocating for is a flexible approach to education. For example, students believe that they should take a full course load which is about five courses for most programs. But what if you find yourself consistently stressed by a full course load?

Day after day, you find yourself struggling to handle the workload. The obvious solution is to decrease your course load. It might be slightly unconventional and it might take longer for you to finish your degree, but it might be a beneficial alternative to you. If the conventional path to a degree doesn’t fit your needs, you should look for alternatives. 

In my case, I actually took this semester off. I didn’t exactly have a fun time last winter semester, online learning quite literally sucked out the joy of learning for me. Rather than forcing myself to learn in a way that simply doesn’t work for me (which would have likely dropped my GPA), I opted to take a break instead.

This confused a few people in my life. They simply couldn’t understand why I would choose to “fall behind.” A younger friend of mine was very surprised by the fact that I could take a semester off at all. She didn’t know that it was even an option. 

Surprisingly, university can be quite flexible in many ways, yet few of us take advantage of this. Many of us seem to think that there is only a four- or five-year path to a degree. In reality, you can take as long as you like or as little as you like. In short, you can plan your education in a way that works for you.

This point doesn’t only apply to the length of your degree, it can apply to any aspect of your education. I’ll admit that I often pick between either going to the lectures or doing the readings if I find that the content overlaps. I’ll often ignore recommended guidelines for an essay if I feel like they are hindering the quality of my work (though I’ll check with my professors to be safe). My strategies are unconventional, but they work for me. 

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel that sometimes I’m more distressed by the fact that I am not doing things as I should be, rather than being stressed by school itself. A constant nagging feeling tells me that I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be. That I’m doing something wrong by refusing to conform to those expectations.

Yet, despite all the inner angst about the whole thing, I’ve found that the most liberating thing I’ve done for myself is to completely ignore these societal expectations. Ignoring them has allowed me to figure out how I can make things work for me. 

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel that sometimes I’m more distressed by the fact that I am not doing things as I should be, rather than being stressed by school itself.

Not all strategies work for all people. The fact that many of us try to force ourselves into a narrow mould of productivity is quite counterproductive. If you, like me, find yourself struggling to learn the way you should, do yourself a favour: forget about how you should be doing things. Find out how you would do them instead.

By: Christine Chow

It’s a swift and effective ambush that sweeps across Hamilton by night, catching Mac students unaware as they toss and turn in their beds, dreaming of a life where midterms and assignments don’t exist. For those who have not yet been infected, I say to you with caution: beware the common cold. Laugh all you like, but when you (inevitably) find yourself trying to clear that persistent, gunky feeling from your throat, know it’s only a matter of time before you’re next.

Getting sick doesn’t really seem like a big deal until you remember that those fictitious midterms are, in fact, real, and happening with or without you. Particularly with the new MSAF modifications, one would have no choice but to believe it is absolutely vital to haul your sorry, infectious butt to class, lest you miss that one lecture that turns

out to be a quarter of the final exam. But this is exactly how colds propagate, and in a school of over 30,000 students, there’s just no escaping it.

The key to surviving both school and sickness is to get rid of the sickness fast. The best way to do that? Sleep. Anything less than seven hours not only increases your susceptibility to a cold, but also decreases the production of cytokine proteins and antibodies that regulate sleep patterns and fight off infections in the immune system respectively. Don’t stay up until 3 a.m. just so you can squeeze in that one last Avenue quiz, especially if it means you’ll be keeling over in your morning lecture the next morning.

Keeping yourself hydrated allows your body to function normally and to flush toxins from your system. If your throat feels like sandpaper every time you open your mouth to speak,

eating ice chips provides an interesting alternative to tossing back that mundane eight-glasses-a-day requirement you’ll probably never fulfill, as it relieves both thirst and irritation.

Similarly, while hot liquids like broth, tea, chicken soup, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and Neocitran (a personal favourite) might not deal with the direct cause of sickness, they do help tackle some of the symptoms associated with the common cold.

It’s important to ease up on your intake of caffeine and alcohol while you’re feeling under the weather, as they actually cause dehydration and make it harder for you to reach your daily quota. Instead of staying out late and deceiving yourself into thinking a morning coffee will solve all your problems, consider a good night’s rest instead. You’ll scare off less people without an overactive microbiome at your back.

Above all, the key to surviving a bad cold is to have the right mentality. Sure, you’ve been turned into a temporary mouth-breather, your nose is a leaky tap, and you have a headache that makes it feel like elephants are trampling your brain, but take a look around: everyone else is sick too. So until some sort of system is implemented that allows us to miss class without reaping the consequences, shameless plug for the advantages of podcasted lectures here, cue the melodramatics if you must, but remember that it’ll pass. How soon is entirely—well, mostly—up to you.

Get lost in the weird side of YouTube

It’s 1 a.m. and you are far from finishing that daunting essay or writing out those endless study notes. You gaze longingly at your computer and wander to the realms of advertisement-laden music videos and questionable animal clips: YouTube. You turn on your favourite song or watch a weird cat video, the same thing you do at every half hour interval of studying. But why not make tonight different from every night? Why not drift away from the norm of Illuminati-esque Kesha videos and “Sloth crossing the road”? Why not get lost in the weird artsy side of YouTube? Embrace your inner hipster and follow the yellow brick road of quirky and Instagram filtered music videos. You’ll find overly poetic lyrics, camera panning in open fields, and attractive Caucasian couples in matching chambray shirts. The artsy side of YouTube will make you want to cry, smile and love someone. It’s the perfect kick-start to a relaxing and inspiring study break. If you’re unsure of where to start, try “Bloom” by Paper Kites - it’s a gateway to beautiful yuppie madness.

 

Make an Elaborate Snack

Your hand is cramping and your stomach is grumbling. It’s been a few hours since your last meal, and you’re in need of a little snackaroo. Scavenge through your fridge and pull together ingredients for an elaborate snack. Set aside 20 minutes for a prolonged study break, and head over to the kitchen for the adventure of a lifetime… snack time. Grab your favourite tasty carbohydrate, a cheese of your choice, and salt and pepper to taste. Throw them together and put them to broil, and BAM! Before you know it, you’re Rachel Ray. If you really want to get elaborate with this snack, check out B11 for some fun Christmas dessert ideas and go to town on sugar-covered shortbread balls and jam filled cookie sandwiches. Or, if you don’t feel like baking at all and would rather enjoy a very quick and still delicious dessert, go to town on a pack of uncooked Pilsbury cookie dough.

 

Make an Origami Cat… Cat Head

Are you a pet owner? Do you enjoy the comforting presence of a furry animal by your side? Even if you don’t, try these simple origami instructions that will allow you to fold your way to animal wonder.

 

Step 1: Cut a square piece of paper

Step 2: Fold the square diagonally into a clean triangle

Step 3: Fold the left triangle edge upwards leaving a small amount of space between the topmost triangle and the new triangle that has been formed from the left edge

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 with the right edge

Step 5: Fold the pointed ends of the right and left sides inwards to create straight edges along each side

Step 6: Fold the top most triangle downwards to create another straight edge

Step 7: Flip your cat head over and add a face/details of your choice

 

 

Call a toll free number (that’s NOT Kid’s Help Phone)

Everyday, hundreds of people go to work to man the landlines of toll free numbers everywhere. Their lives are burdened with the mundane task of repeatedly answering and ending boring, customer service-related calls. Give these people something to get excited about at work and give those toll free numbers a call! Ask Jenny Craig (1-800-JENNY20) if you really will “feel like you, feel like new.” Call up the number on the back of a candy wrapper and ask the makers of Aero chocolate how you can better feel the bubbles melt. Or even spend a good 15 minutes trolling the Shopping Channel and demand to know details about products you have no intentions of ever purchasing. Telemarketers need you, your study habits need you, and I need you. Make someone smile and give those toll free numbers a call.

 

Plan an end of exam party

Pass the time of your study breaks by thinking about what you’ll do when you finally do have some free time. Confucius says: Celebrating with your chums and having a laugh and a half with the people you care about is in your near future.

Choose a colour scheme, pick a location and set the date. During your exam study breaks, you can plan an end of exam party. [Your Address Here]’s Christmas Keggar. It’s coming soon to a student house near you.

 

Listen to podcasts

There is a largely untapped vein of iTunes called Free Podcasts. Educators, entertainers and - the best of both worlds – edutainers run rampant in this mystical place. Arguably better than youtube videos, because it allows you to otherwise occupy yourself while listening (like by making an elaborate snack). A few suggestions to put you on the right “track:”

My Brother, My Brother and Me – An advice show hosted by three brothers, answering any questions listeners may have. 50ish minutes every week.

This American Life – Mishmash of human-interest stories. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, once a week for an hour.

The SHEC Show – The Student Health Education Centre’s radio show has a different theme every week, and sometimes features guests like Danielle, a Hamilton dominatrix. Listen 30 minutes in the day to help you at night.

 

Watch documentaries

Documentaries are a special type of procrastination, because the educational value deceives you into feeling like you’re spending your time productively. And hey, who are we to tell you you’re wrong? Sites like TopDocumentaryFilms.com and DocumentaryHeaven.com offer documentaries online for free, like:

-The Great Sperm Race – An oddly amusing and interesting depiction of a sperm’s journey to an egg, portrayed by men and women running towards a mountain. Less weird than it sounds.

-Killing Us Softly 4 – The latest installment in the Killing Us Softly series, the creator continues to explore the portrayal of women in the media, particularly advertising. At times rather shocking.

-Any documentary about mental illness from before the new millennium – They’re so crazy. The documentaries, I mean.

 

Learn a party trick

Everybody needs a party trick. Drinking until you pass out isn’t as entertaining as you might think, so it’s good to have something else to do. Ideally, everyone should know how to slice open a champagne bottle with a saber, but there are alternatives:

-Rubick’s cube – Learn how to do it in less than a minute. Be certain to procure a stick with which to defend yourself from the ensuing mobs of suitors.

-Juggling – No less than three. No one expects you to do more, but if you can juggle things like fruit or empty mickies, that’ll do.

-Dance moves – Preferably from this decade, but no one’s picky. Change that light bulb all you want.

 

Learn to swear in another language

Nothing cooler than being polylingual. And at exam time, you’ll want a variety of ways in which to express your frustration. Here’s a handy guide to get you started, with an approximate guide to their meaning in English:

Croatian

Idi u kurac = Go to hell

Ja cu popizdit = I'm going to go crazy/freak out

 

Ukranian

Hamno = Shit

Blyat = Son of a bitch

 

Polish

Holera/Cholera = Damn it all

Kurwa Mać = Fuck everything

 

Farsi/Persian

Kiri = Shitty (in a more crass way)

Kooft = Bullshit (literally translates to syphilis)

 

French

Merde = Shit

Trou de cus = Asshole

Maudit = Damn

 

Greek

Malaka= Idiot

 

Albanian

Mut!= Shit!

 

German

“Sheisse”= Shit

Schade= Dammit

 

Read the Sil

Well, it seems you already are. Turn the page to try your hand at Sudoku and a crossword, or to B11 for a recipe!

 

By: Julie-Anne Mendoza

 

1. Stop Multitasking.

You may think that you’re being efficient by doing multiple things at once, but multitasking is more likely to lower your productivity than raise it. Our brains aren’t actually capable of focusing on more than one individual task at a time, so when we think we’re multitasking, we’re actually just quickly switching between activities as opposed to doing many at the same time. And for those of you who think you’re great multitaskers: a study at Stanford found that those who multitasked a lot we’re worse at filtering information and switching between activities than those who rarely multitasked. In short: multitasking will actually make you worse at multitasking.

2. Don’t use electronics immediately before going to bed.

Melatonin is the hormone that makes you feel tired at night, and it’s released when your brain registers lower levels of light (i.e. when it’s dark out). Your laptop, phone, and tablets emit high-intensity LED light that suppresses melatonin production, and will make it tougher for you to fall asleep. Going tech-free for the hour before bed might be tough, but it’ll trick your body into helping you fall asleep faster.

3. Exercise.

I know you’ve heard this one. I know you’re tired of hearing it. There’s a good reason exercise is in every magazine’s list of life-tips: it works. Exercising releases endorphins, which have a very similar effect to opiates. Fun fact: these are the same hormones your body releases during orgasm.

4. Stop sleeping in on the weekends.

This is a tough one to swallow, I know, but sleeping in on the weekend will not help you make up any sleep debt you’ve accumulated over the week. By changing your sleeping patterns and throwing off your body clock, you’ll just make it harder to wake up on Monday morning.

5. Google it.

I know it seems obvious, but people just don’t do this. You would be surprised at how many problems Google can solve for you. Having a hard time with integral calculus? Google it. Need to get a stain out of your favorite shirt? Google it. Don’t know how to fix your stove? Google it (and call your landlord). By looking up the right solution, you can avoid time wasted trying out all the wrong ones. You might have 99 problems, but don’t let a lack of information be one.

 

Check out @OMGLifeHacks on twitter for more tips on reprogramming your productivity.