Finals are a time of stress, a lack of study space, and, most of all, procrastination.  My friend Lauren and I spend absurd amounts of time on the Internet, perusing blogs and random sites.  Lauren has gone so far as to deem her nest of blankets in which she scours the internet her “internest”, a word she discovered admist her blog searches. It’s a great description for the time spent in comfy clothes with our computers that is always meant for doing work, but when anything but work seems to happen.  All this time spent being unproductive has provided us with some great time wasters.  Here are my top 5 favorite sites and blogs for procrastinating when finals become too overwhelming (and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days isn’t on the BC movie channel).Â
1. Pinterest
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If you like pretty things and are constantly sending them to all your friends, reblogging it on Tumblr, or posting it on Facebook, then this is the place for you. It lets you scroll through countless images, quotes, and the like from topic areas you choose. Not only are they fun to look at and “pin” to your pinboard on the site, but in some cases the images may even inspire you! Not a bad way to procrastinate at all. (It’s also much safer than stalking the kid sitting three cubicles away from you in O’Neill on Facebook.)
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2. Sporcle
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Honestly, does this even need an introduction?  Sporcle captured our hearts and minds a couple of years ago and has been going strong ever since.  (So strong, in fact, that it was blocked on the computers at my job because we were all Sporcle-ing way too much.)  For those of you who somehow don’t know Sporcle, it’s a site full of timed quizzes on almost any subject you can think of.  It’s a great way to jog your memory, learn new things, and catch up on your Harry Potter trivia before the next (and final!) movie premieres this summer.  Mentally Stimulating Diversions, indeed.Â
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3. Tumblr
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Tumblr is a blogging platform that has really begun to blossom in the last year.  While the posts don’t tend to be long, it lends itself well to our natural inclination to “reblog” (like retweet), “like” posts, and just share things we like without necessarily commenting on them.  The wonderful thing about Tumblr is that each blog you go to leads you to another one!  (This is essential for any procrastination tool – expanding the time of procrastination.)  Here is a list by Buzzfeed of the 60 best Tumblrs of 2010 to get you started.
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4. Hyperbole and a Half
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Allie, the blogger,  is a riot,  if you couldn’t tell from the name of the blog.  Her posts are compilations of basic paintings made in Microsoft Paint and witty comments to go along with them.  A personal favorite among my friends is the post about the Alot monster, as well as her reasoning behind why she’ll never be an adult.  If you need a laugh, a break, or a good virtual slap in the face, definitely check out Hyperbole and a Half.  You’ll chuckle, you might cry, but you will almost definitely be adding it to your Google Reader.
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 5. 1,000 Awesome ThingsÂ
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I saved this for last because you should always save the best, or the most awesome, thing for last. The concept behind it is pretty simple: it lists awesome things, starting at number 1,000.  To date, the writers have reached #249 and also have two books out in stores! The list of awesome things focuses on the smaller things in life, like getting your cell service back or taking your makeup off after wearing it all day long. Not only is it often funny, but it is also thought-provoking. When you’re all stressed out in Bapst at 3:30am, sometimes you need a little perspective, perhaps in the form of an awesome thing.
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There you have it, BC collegiettes™! These are five of my personal favorite sites to visit, but I know for a fact that there are thousands more out there that are just as great.  Let us know in the comments what YOUR favorite procrastination sites are and enable fellow procrastinators to join you! Â
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Photo sources:Â
http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/level2/people/activity/people21.htm