Finals Birthday

Posted May 5, 2026 by Emmy Mahoney

Having a birthday in early May has its pros and cons. The weather in New England is starting to get nice again, but the end of the spring semester is rapidly approaching. Between my undergraduate and graduate programs, I have had a combination of research papers, presentations, and projects due around my birthday for the last several years. Despite all of these assignments, I make the time to celebrate, by not working on any of my assignments on that day. Here are the steps I take to make sure that I am both prepared and have peace of mind on my day off. 

The primary way that I prepare myself for my day off is by reviewing the assignments, at least a week before my birthday. First, I confirm what I need to turn in and when I need to turn it in. This means looking not just at the due date, but the due times. Then, I make sure that I have all the necessary materials to complete my assignments. If necessary, I will request resources from the library and through Interlibrary Loan. Next, if I do not understand something, I reach out to my peers and my professors, giving them enough time to respond to my questions before my day off. If I am in a group for a project, I inform them that I will be unavailable on my birthday. Finally, I create an approximate schedule of when I will complete each part of my assignments. 

When my birthday actually arrives, I do not engage with any of my school work. This means that I try not to check or answer my emails. I do not work on my assignments or complete any readings. I also try my best not to think about my schoolwork. 

All of this is easier said than done. I do not always have the luxury of taking the entire day off. Not checking my emails is actually difficult. That being said, even taking a couple hours off to celebrate my birthday allows me to finish my semester with renewed energy.