Something that we don’t get a whole lot of as we get older is free time. With school, work, friends and other responsibilities, whenever the opportunity of free time is presented, relaxing in bed and catching up on Netflix shows sounds like the best way to use it. Allow me to offer another suggestion for a way to spend some valuable free time, next time you have the option. Pick a destination, whether that be a friend’s house, a nearby park or downtown, and bring along your camera.

When looking through the lens of a camera, an opportunity for creativity and capturing a new perspective is presented. Let yourself go beyond the average experience of pointing your phone at something and pressing a button. In a world full of different angles and lighting, any plain object can be turned into something new and exciting! Take a moment to realize where you are and find the parts of that moment that make it special and memorable. That plain wall that people usually walk by without even glancing at could suddenly become a picture-perfect backdrop to put your friend in front of. Graffiti on the walls of a shaded alley might actually say something worth sharing. With a little creativity and a photo-capturing device, anything can be looked at in an interesting way.

Next time there’s a moment where you realize you actually don’t have homework that demands your immediate attention and you somehow have the day off from work at the same time, take your old pal, the camera, with you on a little adventure. Treat yourself to some new scenery and practice with a truly enjoyable activity.