After a long day, there’s nothing I love more than an hour or two (or seven) of completely vegging out and ceasing to be human for just a little bit.
I have my favorite rituals on how to go about that, but, to be honest, the older I get, the more I become conscious of just how many hours I while away doing essentially nothing. That is not to say that simply relaxing is bad, not at all! This is more just a way to have my cake and eat it too.
So, that being said, here are a few ideas on how to be productive even while taking a mental break.
1. Listen to Audio Books or Podcasts
I know that if I’m not working on something that requires absolutely every ounce of my focus, I always have my earbuds in and Spotify on, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. Listening to music is a great way to motivate yourself to do work or to relax after a hard day.
But music isn’t the only thing to listen to when you want to give your brain a break. Audio books are a great way to be well read without all the actual reading bits. You can catch up on classic literature or hear an inspiring biography in just a few hours! Podcasts are also an awesome way to learn while you relax.
There are podcasts on everything from serial killers to comic books to how to adult, so there’s something out there for everyone!
2. Watch Videos that Teach Useful Skills
Another of my guilty habits is whiling away pretty much whole days on YouTube. I get myself into a chain of cute otter videos and five hours later I’m surfacing for air, wondering where my day went. Of course, the best way to make that time productive would be to exit YouTube and pull up Word so I can actually finish my paper, but giving up completely on my video habit is a bit of a tough one.
So, here’s a way I can do a bit of both. I started watching videos on things I want to learn how to do. I watch videos about how to make food, DIYs, and life simple. Whether it be space and time organization skills or how to make a quick, killer mac & cheese, my knowledge on things I actually am interested in has certainly grown thanks to my penchant for YouTube binges.
3. Hang out with Your Best Friends
Now as an introvert I can understand how this one would raise a few eyebrows, but hear me out! Even the average introvert has a friend or two that they love spending time with, mostly because you know them so well they kind of just feel like hanging out with yourself.
But why is it productive you ask? The simple answer is, especially as a college student, you probably don’t have much longer to spend this much time with your besties. After college, you’ll probably all go your separates ways, entering the busy adult world in full, and you will probably have less and less time to spend with friends as you try to start your career.
Spending time with your friends while you can is a great way to relax and have fun while still getting in that precious time before it’s gone!