Unplug from Work and Find Your Whimsy

Take a break, find your people and go sidequesting

Yes, it's tough at first

Work at LSE piles up quick, with weekly problem sets, to summatives, to club and society training, to the dreaded spring week applications. At times, it may seem overwhelming (it sure has been for me!).

But Rome wasn't built in a day.

Take time to unwind and engage on random side-quests. You're here, in a whole new city, and you gotta see London (and anywhere else) beyond the classroom!

Where do I start?

Time block your calendar with study sessions, spring week applications, and fixed slots like dinner and training. That way, the rest is free for you to fill in!

Personally, I protect my dinner time at Rosebery Hall. I also block off my Sundays, as these are the best times to chat with old and new friends, and explore the city.

If you feel that you're losing control over your schedule, spend a few minutes recalibrating your priorities, and build your calendar around that. Remember, it's alright if you haven't had everything figured out. Everyone needs mental breaks and it's nothing shameful to take a well-deserved break after every small win!

Finding your people!

You're bound to run into hundreds of new faces every single day here, and if you haven't found a community, don't fret! Join a club or society and find awesome like-minded people, or catch up with your deskmates after your class to know a little more about them. If you're in a catered hall, dinner is a great time to meet flatmates while recharging for the night! 

Another unconventional way of meeting others is to stick a sign on your room door. How you decorate it is really up to you! You could list some of your absolute favourite foods, animals, interests, or go-to spots in school. Or share a little more about where you're from! Your flatmates are bound to share similar hobbies, and you might very well strike up a conversation. 

Sidequests to unwind

You have free will, so choose anything you love. And remember, you don't have to do these alone!

Grocery shopping and cooking: Head down to your nearest Iceland, Lidl, or Aldi, or drop by Chinatown for quality ingredients! Look up a few fun recipes, and try your hand at some culinary works of art (you could even try the blind, deaf and mute challenge, but exercise caution!). Another idea is to cook something that reminds you of home. This is great if the weather is way too chilly! 

Real-life amazing race or manhunt: Split into groups, and invent your type of game which enables you and your friends to see London on foot (eg, generate a type of treasure hunt game on Claude and discover landmarks around London). Or, download Hunting Game, where you catch each other while running down the streets of London (please exercise caution though!)

Travelling: The world is your oyster, and your LSE experience won't be complete without scratching that travel itch. Explore the cheapest flights on Google Flights, or take a train from Kings Cross St Pancras to a whole new location. Make sure to take plenty of pics for the memories!

Literally anything: London's classical music scene is riveting, and it's home to many musicals, as well as dedicated football teams. Not to mention cafes everywhere, free museums, and even other universities to visit! There's something for everyone. Grab some newfound friends and go for something you all bonded over. 

Fun apps: Timeleft matches you with five strangers for a weekly Wednesday night dinner, drinks, or social run. Eventbrite also shows you the best local activities, many of which will surely appeal to you!

You'll be fine

If you've felt that you haven't found your community, and the workload is biting off more than you can chew, trust in yourself that you'll find a way to handle it.

There will inevitably be times where you'll have to make sacrifices, like giving up socializing to lock in for exams. The key is to be flexible and continue to evaluate your priorities in the current moment! 

Work hard, play hard 😎