Is it just me or does it seem like when one of your friends is going home for the weekend all of your friends are going home? It also seems like its always the one weekend where you have that one commitment that is preventing you from being able to go home to. I know for me personally as the weekend start to get closer I start to panic.
I don’t want to spend the weekend sitting at home alone, but what other option do I have if everyone I know will be out of town? Instead of turning weekends like these into moments where I feel like a friendless loser stranded alone on campus, I decided to turn them into weekends of self-care and reorganizing of my life. Here are some things I do on the weekends where all my friends have gone home for the weekend.
1. Call home
If you're anything like me you get the text message at least once a month from your parents saying they haven't heard from you in two weeks, if you don't send a signal that you are alive pretty soon they are going to file a missing person report.
If all of your friends are going home for the weekend to see their parents, the least you can do is call you and let them know to call off the search party.
2. Clean
College gets crazy and when making your list of priorities for the week it is so easy to push cleaning to the bottom of the list, especially if your friends are around for the weekend to tempt you with other activities. Might as well monopolize them not being around to distract you and do some deep cleaning.
3. Reach out to someone you usually don't ask to do stuff with outside of class. 
Maybe your immediate go to people are gone for the weekend, but what about that really cool girl that you sit next to in class that you have always wanted to do something with, maybe she's around this weekend.
4. Take yourself on a date.
One of the hardest things to do is to go out in public alone. No one wants to be that person getting pity looks for strangers as they eat their meal alone in a restaurant or have a whole row in the movie theater to themselves. Don't let the fear of judgment trap you inside all weekend though, nothing makes time go slower than locking yourself away for the weekend.
5. See what activities are being held on campus.
Part of your tuition is most likely going to fund whatever event is going on that weekend so you might as well get your money's worth and go check it out. Especially if they are advertising feeding you during it.
6. Reconnect with your hobbies.
College gets crazy and sometimes you forget what you use to do for fun other than do homework or cry. Take some time to reconnect with the activities you enjoyed to do before school started to overwhelm your life.
7. Volunteer
If you are searching for human interaction and a way to feel like you did something fulfilling there is no better way than getting involved in the community around your campus and volunteering. There so many options too, from going to the human society and cuddling some puppies to going to a nursing home and playing games with the residents there.
8. Homework...
The beauty of college is that there is homework to be done. If you honestly can't think of anything you want to do with your weekend at least you always know that you can always rely on there being homework that needs to be done. And if you're feeling responsible maybe you'll actually do it. Treat yourself though, get out of the house, go to a coffee shop and get out of the house.
9. Spend time outside.
Between hours spent in class, sitting in the library, and crying in bed it is so easy not to spend a lot of time outside during college. Get your dose of vitamin D in and fill your lungs with some fresh air. Take some time to slow down and smell the roses it's amazing what taking some time to appreciate the beauty of nature can do for your mental health.
10. Explore the community around campus.
It is so easy to forget that your college's town consists of more than just campus and your go-to bar on the weekend. Go see what else the community has to offer.
