Describe the things that you do to relax after you have been very busy. Explain why you find them enjoyable.

Written by: Nabeeha (4C 2022)

    I wake up, shower, go to school, come home, study then repeat this routine. My life runs like a well oiled machine. Even on weekends, my time is spent on revision for preparation for the national examinations I will be taking this year. My parents spare no effort in preparing me to become an erudite teenager, ready to catapult me into a career of their choosing the moment I graduate. Serendipitously, the hobbies I have adopted since childhood- reading and baking delicious treats- have become my best companions when I experience bouts of stress.

       Like most children, I originally found reading to be a tedious and fruitless exercise. However, it all changed when my lovely cousin bought me my first Geronimo Stilton book at the age of seven. As time passed, my fondness for reading grew as rapidly as my book collection. When I am reading, I am transported to the magical, utopian fantasy world where stress does not exist. I feel light and unburdened, serenity like no other when I escape into the fictional world of fantasy or contemporary books, allowing me to forget my problems. Reading is such a rewarding activity to do after a long and busy day. 

       The other activity that helps me relax is baking. The first time I ever baked- mostly assisted – was when I was nine. My cousin and I made vanilla cupcakes. I remember her allowing me to sift the flour into the bowl and then getting angry at me when I missed the bowl and made a mess on the table. Nonetheless, the cupcakes were still a success, and a strong sense of achievement rushed through me. Ever since then, baking has been a therapeutic activity for me. The heavenly smell of vanilla extract and the complexity of adjusting recipes to fit my own taste buds fills me with unexplainable euphoria. In addition, the sweet taste of chocolate cupcakes and the softness of moist, freshly baked brownies makes me feel as if I have entered heaven. My kitchen is like a sanctuary I run to after a disappointing examination or when I face a major setback in life. 

      As our lives get busier, commitments and responsibilities grow. This is why it is important to find activities we enjoy doing and put a pause to our hectic pace of life. Doing so will give us fresher minds, increase our productivity and give us a sense of calmness.