There’s something about being a college student that makes it feel like you’re supposed to be doing something exciting at all times. Between football games, nights out, campus events, and spontaneous plans with friends, it can sometimes seem like staying home on a Friday night is a crime against the college experience. But what if your ideal weekend involves baking something, lighting a candle, curling up with a book, and spending quality time with your cat?
Don’t get me wrong, though! I still love putting on my favorite top and going out, but I also love the feeling of having absolutely nowhere to be. Sometimes, the best weekend is one spent doing little things that make everyday life feel special. College is already filled with deadlines, exams, social obligations, and the constant pressure to make the most of every opportunity. So, if you find yourself craving a slower pace, here is your reminder that it is completely okay to grandma your way through college!!
Romanticize the Little Things
One of the best parts of embracing your inner grandma is learning to appreciate the little things. You don’t need an elaborate vacation, an expensive dinner, or a perfectly planned weekend to enjoy yourself. Sometimes, happiness looks like making your favorite meal, lighting a candle, playing some music, and putting on a kettle for tea.
I love baking and cooking because they give me something to focus on that has nothing to do with assignments or responsibilities. There’s something satisfying about following a recipe, trying something new, and getting to enjoy the finished product afterward.
Creating these small moments of comfort can make an ordinary day feel special. Instead of treating your free time as something you have to fill with plans, try enjoying the things you already have around you! Make your morning coffee a little more intentional, cook a meal you genuinely look forward to, or set aside time to read a book that has been sitting on your shelf for months.
Stop Feeling Guilty for Staying In
College culture, especially a party school like ours, can make it seem like everyone is constantly going out and having the time of their lives. Social media also doesn’t help when your feed is filled with pictures of parties, game days, and nights out with friends. It’s easy to wonder whether you are missing out when your own weekend looks a little quieter, but staying in doesn’t mean you’re wasting your college experience!
There’s a difference between staying home because you feel like you have to and staying home because it’s genuinely what you want to do. If you’re exhausted after a long week of classes, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a peaceful night instead of forcing yourself to make plans.
Sometimes, I’d much rather spend my evening at home with my cat than get dressed up and go somewhere. Being able to enjoy my own company and have a comfortable space to recharge is something I’ve come to appreciate (and it has taken a lot of time).
Of course, going out and spending time with friends can be wonderful, too. The point isn’t to replace every social activity with a night at home; it’s to stop treating one kind of fun as more valuable than another. You’re allowed to say no to plans without feeling like you are missing out on the best years of your life. Your college experience is yours, and you get to decide what makes it meaningful!
Embrace Your Hobbies!
I think we should be encouraging more college students to embrace their hobbies, especially the ones that help them slow down. Whether you enjoy knitting, gardening, baking, cooking, reading, or doing a puzzle, there’s something satisfying about spending time on an activity simply because you like it. Not every hobby needs to become a side hustle, a résumé addition, or a way to make yourself more productive. You can just enjoy something.
These activities might not sound like the most exciting things a 21-year-old could be doing on a Saturday night, but that’s precisely the point. They don’t have to impress anyone else to be worthwhile. Having hobbies that make you happy outside of school and social obligations gives you something to look forward to. It also reminds you that you’re a person beyond your grades and plans for the future.
So, buy the ingredients for that recipe, pick up the book you have been eyeing, or finally try that hobby you’ve been putting off. Your inner grandma will thank you.
Rest Is Productive Too
As college students, we’re constantly encouraged to do more. Take another class, join another organization, attend another event, and somehow maintain a social life while keeping up with everything else. Even our downtime can turn into an opportunity to catch up on work or plan the next thing we need to accomplish, but you don’t have to earn your rest by exhausting yourself first.
A quiet weekend can be a chance to reset before another busy week. Cooking a comforting meal, reading for pleasure, or spending a few hours at home can help you step away from the constant demands of college life. You deserve time that isn’t dedicated to achieving something.
I think there’s something especially comforting about creating a routine that feels like yours. Of course, resting looks different for everyone. For some people, it means going out with friends; for others, it means putting on pajamas before the sun goes down. Neither is inherently better. What matters is allowing yourself to do what helps you feel refreshed rather than choosing activities because you think you are supposed to.
You have plenty of time to be ambitious, productive, and busy. You’re also allowed to enjoy a slower season of life. At the end of the day, college is about more than how many parties you attend, how busy your calendar looks, or how many exciting experiences you can fit into one semester. It’s also an opportunity to learn who you are, what you enjoy, and what makes you feel at home.
For me, that means baking something delicious, cooking a meal I’m excited to eat, lighting a candle, and spending time with my cat. It also means going out with my friends when I want to and enjoying the balance between the two. You don’t have to choose between having fun and having a quiet life. You can enjoy your nights out and your nights in. You can make memories on campus and make memories in your kitchen. You can be 21 and still find immense joy in activities that feel a little more suited to a grandmother than a college student.
Your college experience doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be wonderful. Sometimes the best way to spend your early twenties is with a full stomach, a good book, and absolutely nowhere to be.
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