If you’re reading this, you probably just finished taking the August SAT. First of all, congrats! Whether you spent weeks, months, or maybe not much time at all preparing, just know you can finally say goodbye to practice tests and YouTube math tutorials (at least for now). But now what? 

I felt both relief and anxiety as I left the testing center. On one hand, I was finally done with it. No more long study sessions or late-night cramming before practice tests. But on the other hand, I couldn’t help but wonder what comes next. After dedicating hours and hours to a test that seemed to be over within a second, the reality of everything else started to set in. 

With this month’s SAT behind us, I think it’s time to take a breath and focus on the relief that comes with finishing that test. If you’re feeling a bit lost about what to do now, don’t worry you’re not alone. Here are a few things I’m personally doing to relax that you should try too:

Catch up on sleep 

For me, and probably many other testers, SAT prep meant a lot of late-night study sessions. Now that it’s over, I am focusing on sleeping and recharging (and hopefully getting my sleep schedule back on track). Whether it’s taking an afterschool nap or just going to bed early, catching up on sleep is a great way to help your body and mind recover from the stress.

Hang out with friends 

To be completely honest, my brain has been in SAT mode over the past months, so to say the least, I haven’t had the time to hang out with my friends quite as much as I’d like. Now’s the perfect time to reconnect and do something fun together. Whether that means planning a movie night, going out to eat, or simply relaxing, spending time with friends is a great way to unwind and enjoy the post-SAT freedom.

Enjoy some free time 

Remember having hobbies? With the SAT out of the way, I am going to pick up doing the things I love again. Whether that looks like reading, playing video games, or even starting a new TV show for you, take this time to pamper yourself with some of your favorite activities. 

Reflect on your experience

I know. I know. The SAT is over and you probably want to forget about it forever (and trust me so do I) but before scores are released, you should take a moment to think about how the test went for you. It can be really helpful to jot down some thoughts on how you think you did, how you felt about the test, and what you learned from your experience. 

Start thinking about what’s next 

I think I saved the most daunting for last. Even though, yes, you’re in celebration mode, remember that the school year isn’t over yet so it’s always a good idea to start thinking about what your next steps will be. Think about whether you might need to retake the test, what things you need to focus on, etc. 

In general, take this time to relax, reflect, and plan ahead, and once again, congratulations on making it through the SAT!