A Recipe For a Cozy Night in
Pre or post-finals, a stress-free, relaxing night acts as a ‘refresh’ button for me. Here is a short walk-through to replicate as-needed:
Finish all necessary homework (using timers–NO STUDYING, but if you have to study, do that instead and save your cozy night in for a cozy night that is not in danger of a huge deadline)
Put on some music (or rain asmr) to settle in
Clean your room. Tidy, deep clean, do whatever helps you feel like nothing is looming over you. I like to fully reorganize for an hour or two to clean my mental slate
Power off your phone
Light some candles (unscented is fine, but I recommend spraying some perfume or starting a simmer pot to affirm olfactory senses)
Set out everything you will need for the next day (set out your outfit, find your car keys, pack your bag, pack your lunch, etc.,...)
Put on some pajamas (the comfy kind OR the cute kind, whatever is the most relaxing)
Collect a big glass of water (hydrate! And no, seltzer or tea doesn’t count), some snacks (popcorn, oreos, handmade cookies you still have left over from your grandma’s house), one of your stuffed animals (or pets), and some blankets
Put on a movie or read a book that is life-affirming (nothing scary–you can do that any other night!) Some recommendations:
A season-themed, but animated movie
Harry Potter
Knives Out
Paddington
A rom-com that is actually tolerable despite bad gender politics
My Neighbor Totoro
Stand By Me
Something you remember watching when you were little
Kiki’s Delivery Service
The Great Lebowski
Shirley Valentine
Something a friend recommended a while ago that you forgot to actually watch
Clueless
Go to sleep early, wake up and meditate, and spread the love! Invite someone over! Hug your family members!
Heaps and piles of sparkly adoration,
Lily <3 <3 <3
“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.” - Mahatma Gandhi
