Editorial #8 – Post-sesh self-care

It never fails to amaze me just how relentlessly we as college students are dedicated to the sesh. I am not condoning our carry on. I am not condemning it, either. I am, out of sincere, unjudging fascination, simply making an observation of our creature-ness. We are filthy. I do not need to go into a list of examples or refer to any particular incident – one need only be on, near or around campus and/or college road at some point, any point, any time of day any day, last week. I hope everyone is treating their bodies to some much needed, wholesome nutrition and pure, unadulterated hydration this post-RAG week. Further than physical, bodily self-care, here is a friendly reminder that in addition to the many other stresses that may be niggling away at your mind the weeks you don’t go out on a mad one or two or five, such an excess of alcohol and any other recreational substances that may be consumed can really aggravate an anxious, worrying or unhappy mind. So, when I say mind yourself I don’t just mean drink water and eat well. Take care of your head, too. There are loads of ways one can do this, and everyone has their own routine, but do make sure to put it into particular practice post-sesh. On top of the substance-induced stresses on the mind, such sessions can often, for many, come with social stresses and/or difficulties, too. Keeping this in mind, while looking out for yourself, look out for friends too. Check in, catch up, plan a wholesome, energy and motivation replenishing, re-charge night in.Another very special (I say this with a sarcasm steeped in cynicism) event happened last week: Valentine’s Day. Or, as our humour editor Callum Casey refers to it in his section this week, the Capitalist Holiday. If you have a very special someone in your life and spent a lovely time with them this Valentine’s Day, then good for you. Genuinely, I mean that. As cynical and all as I am about the whole thing, good for you anyone who, in the face of all the cynical jokes, piss-taking and giving out that is done about it, went and planned something special for themselves and their significant other to enjoy. See, romance isn’t dead – it's unavoidable, unbreakable, relentless it seems. It creeps in whether we embrace it or not. Cute stuff happens; between family, between friends, between lovers. We all engage in a kind of romance in some way, shape or form from time to time whether we are aware, accepting, or happy of the fact or not. A few weeks back, I was delighted to get to speak with Finn, the man behind Uppbeat, a Dublin-based rapper originally from Mayo with a unique approach to his music projects. You can read all about it in the interview section. In this issue we welcome Sirius Speculation, constellation and cosmos specialist with a special talent for predicting the fortnightly fortunes of the zodiac signs. Find out your sign’s fate in the humour section. For those with an interest in the aesthetics of life, Sadhbh walks us through the need-to-knows of Fashion Month in the Fashion section, while the film buffs and fans of Liam Neeson who have been feeling hurt, confused and generally misled after recent headlines can find comfort in the logic outlined by our always reliable Film & TV Editor, Joe Cunningham. Much more fantastically interesting reads to be found throughout Byline, as always, brought to you by the most wonderful team of editors and writers whose praises I will never cease to sing.Much love,Ciara D.