Let's be honest, free time is hard to come by when you're a college student.
However, when I do have some free time, here are some of the things I like to do.
1. Catching some ZZZ's
This is probably something that evades college students of all kinds, but when you do get some free time, taking a nap is probably the first thing that comes to mind. I know that for me, this is a must. When I get enough sleep, I try to get at least eight hours a night, but when you're a full-time student, and you're constantly working on assignments, a job, or anything for that matter, your mind gets worn out. It's not just your body that needs rest, it's your mind too. I know this to be true because when I don't get enough sleep, I get irritable, emotional, and horrible to be around. So I like to fit some extra sleep into my schedule whenever I can, and you should too!
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2. Reading
Do I get tired of reading and studying all of the time, just like every other student? Yes. Do I love to read, every hour, every second of the day? No. But sometimes, it's just relaxing to be able to cozy up in bed, with a cup of tea (or if you're like me, coffee) and read a good book. I get so tired of reading about communications, and history, and nutrition, that sometimes, I want to read something that appeals to me. So whenever I feel like I can spare some time at the end of the day, I like to pick from my growing collection of books that I buy, and never have time to read, and read a book that I chose until I'm ready to go to sleep. It gives the end of my hectic day a sense of peace, and to me, it's stress relieving. So give it a try! Pick a book that you find interesting, or chose random one, and see if it helps to relax you as well.
3. Going to the gym
Up until this year, I hadn't really gone to the gym that much in my hometown. This was partly because I didn't want to shell out half of my paycheck every month for a membership, but also because I didn't feel like I had time amidst the chaos of my senior year last year. However this year, I had access to a gym right outside my dorm, whenever I wanted. So I started going just to check it out, and eventually, it became a habit for me. I found how stress relieving it was to go somewhere, and be able to burn off all of the day's frustrations, and it felt great to have fun, and stay in shape along the way (which is always a plus). Now, any kind of physical activity is one of my favorite past times, because it relieves stress, and makes me feel more confident. It's a must-try for everyone.
4. Hanging out with Friends
While a lot of people study with friends, and go to class with friends, that just doesn't work for me. I get distracted way to easily, so when I do want to hang out with friends or the boyfriend, or anyone, I have to have some free time to do so. So when I do find some down time, I make it a point to be around other people. There is just something about being around others that makes you feel better, no matter how bad your day was. Most of the time, I hang out with people from my floor, but it's also nice to make friends with people from your classes, in case you need help with anything, or if all of your other friends are busy. Being sociable is something that I had to learn, and learn fast over the past few months, because I wasn't very social in high school. Thus, when graduation came around, I only had a select few who I was friends, or even acquaintances with, that I was sad to say goodbye too. Now, I make it goal, every day, to hang out with other people, or talk to someone new, because I find it to be a favorite past time these days.
5. Netflix
I'll be honest here, and say that I had never used Netflix until I came to college. Yes, I was the one person who did not understand what it was like to watch seasons of a show in one day. I didn't realize what a blessing Netflix, for only $7 a month was! I can watch all of the movies, and documentaries that I want, and although it's more fun to binge-watch stuff with friends, it's still a great option if I just need some "me" time. There's also a website called www.123movies.com that I was introduced to this year, and its great. It's completely free, and they have virtually every movie and every TV show you could dream of. Lately, my boyfriend and I have been binge-watching Big Band Theory on this website, something I had never even thought to watch. But now that I have, I've got to admit, it's become a favorite past time for me.
6. Going off Campus
There comes a time in the semester, when everything on campus just becomes boring. The food is not as good as the first time, you feel like there's nothing to do, and it just becomes a boring cycle. This is why taking short little day trips has become a favorite past time of mine. I wasn't really the adventurous type before I came to college, but now that I have the opportunity to see so many new things, and just get bored with staying on campus all of the time, going out seems more exciting than ever. Fortunately, I go to school at George Mason University, so I'm very close to metropolitan Washington D.C., which hosts an endless amount of things to do. Luckily, I've got friends and a boyfriend that know this area really well, so I've already gone on some neat little trips with them. About a month ago, my boyfriend and I visited Washington D.C. and just walked along the National Mall, and even went into some of the museums. A few weeks after that, we went to Georgetown with some friends, and visited Georgetown Cupcake. And lastly, a few days ago, my boyfriend and I took a trip into Old Town Alexandria for the day, and it was great. So find some adventerous things to do in your area, and go do them! It makes for great memories and a good way to pass the time.
