It's official, exam season is among us. We've officially entered dark times filled with sweats, acne, and a lot of coffee. Some of us will be lucky enough to end exam season early, while others will be stuck on campus right up until the 22nd. However, there's no better feeling than the feeling you get when you've written down your last answer on your last exam and you finally get up and leave the exam room.
Personally, I love finding any excuse to celebrate! So with that being said, the end of exams is definitely a major reason to go get lit here in Ottawa. If you're unsure how to do so, however, here's a list of things to do to celebrate exams officially being over!
Nordik Spa
Where: 16 Chemin Dunlop
First things first, go relax. Cleanse your mind, body, and your soul while you pamper yourself at the spa. Maybe even throw in a massage, who knows how tense you'll end up after all those dreaded exams. Sigh.
Common Eatery
Where: 380 Elgin St.
If you're too tired to go allll out, head to Common! This "club" feels more like a lounge and if you arrive early enough, you can still grab some food. You don't need to dress to the 9's so if you're just feeling a pair of jeans and a cute top, you'll still fit in.
Go on a road trip
Because Ottawa has so many cute places nearby, going on a mini "vacay" can actually be super easy. If you're not too keen on leaving the city entirely, there are places such as Strathmere that are only a 30 minute drive away. However, if you're really looking to leave, you can head to Old Montreal or Mont Tremblant, for example!
FRNZ Friday
Where: 87 Clarence St.
If you're one of the unlucky ones who are stuck with an exam on the 22nd, I have some good news. It's on a Friday, meaning you can totally go get lit and celebrate the fact that you're officially done right after.
The Standard
Where: 360 Elgin St.
The Standard is where you want to go when you want to get sh*t faced but still remain classy. It's already held up to a higher standard simply because of the fact that it's on Elgin St. *so mature*, but this place actually gets lit and plays some dope music.
Queen Nails
Where: 312 Montreal Rd.
Girl, go pamper yourself! Realistically, your nails are properly looking real ratchet from all the stress biting you did during exams. Not only will your nails be fleeky after going to Queen Nails but you'll also get to choose from sooo many crazy designs and add ons.
Retail Therapy
Whether it's Bayshore Mall, Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, or Tanger Outlets, if you need to shop, Ottawa's got a spot for you. I don't care what anyone says but retail therapy is a real thing! If you need to relax or you're too stressed, buying new things can really change your mood for the better.
Enjoy all-you-can-eat sushi
What better way is there to alleviate stress than by pigging out?! All-you-can-eat sushi places are dope because they don't just have sushi, they have all kinds of food! It's also pretty cheap if you go at lunch so you can save a few bucks.
Prvt Prprty
Where: 310 Dalhousie St.
I've mentioned this club a few times before because it's actually really fun! Once inside, you'll feel like you're in a Toronto club just because of the layout and the music they play (think Lost & Found). It's pretty brand new but the deals they have on bottles are dope; $80 bar rail before midnight and $140 after.
Grab some drinks
Ottawa has so many fancy bars that you can get dressed up for and just relax. Grab your friends for a night out to forget about exams and truly just relax and sit back. Bars are dope because you get to dress up and look boujee without dealing with annoying drunk people.
Go for dinner
I mean, why not? Keep it simple and just go out to dinner with your girls or with your boo! Sometimes, going all out isn't necessarily what you're looking for and Ottawa has some amazing dinner spots.
Partake in some Winter activties
The one good thing about midyear exams is that they take place in the Winter! This is dope because once you're done, you can go skiing, skating, or sledding! Although most people are not a fan of the cold, you can't lie, the snow does make for some pretty awesome activities.
SLEEP!
After all that stress and all those all-nighters, what better way to celebrate it finally being over than with some Netflix and some Zzz's. Cuddle up with your bae, with your puppy, or just on your own! Honestly, truly, you all deserve the relaxation anyway!
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