Listen, I love Kenyon. I picked this school for a reason. I have amazing friends, I get to take the most interesting classes with professors who love what they teach. I can eat all of my meals in a dining hall that looks like Hogwarts. I can buy fudge from Amish people. Life in Gambier is great.
At the same time, though, I’m from a city, and even if I wasn’t, I think I would still get claustrophobic at Kenyon. People always say that the best and worst thing about Kenyon is its size. Most days, I love being able to walk down Middle Path and see my professor, my roommate, and my fellow teammate from Frisbee. But on those days when my hair just isn’t sitting right and a crop of pimples have settled on my chin and I have a test and paper due at noon…well, sometimes there is something to be said for anonymity.
So with that said, here are some tips for those days when you just don’t want to deal with Kamp Kenyon.
1. Exercise
First of all, my mother would laugh is she read this article because she’s been spewing this piece of advice at me for years and years. See mom, I listen! But guys, it’s really true. I don’t want to get all science-y, but when you exercise, the physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that leave you happier and relaxed. This is really important for those nights where you’ve sat in one place for four hours staring at your study guides, and you get all twitchy, ya know? Take yourself to the KAC or run for a little bit just to get your blood pumping. Or, and this is the more fun option, grab a buddy who also needs to get out of the library, buy some yoga mats from the bookstore, find an easy yoga routine on YouTube and try at least a couple of poses. You’ll have some laughs, stretch out, and the change in environment will be refreshing.
2. Shake Things Up
Speaking of change in environment, sometimes a routine can get mundane, and going to Peirce for all three meals can really get rough. When I was having a rough day last week, getting off campus helped so much. You can rent cars from UHaul—just don’t get the Prius—and grab some friends who also need to get out and treat yourself to some Chipotle. Or if a car doesn’t seem feasible, splurge a bit and go to the VI for a meal, or even the Deli. Obviously, the money can add up, so I don’t recommend doing this too often, but it’s really helpful in switching up your day and clearing your head.
3. Spend Time Outside
While the weather is still nice, it is such a good idea to get outside. Coming from a city, I’ve been loving how fresh and clean the air is, and sometimes I can get claustrophobic from being indoors all day. If you have a good chunk of time I would head down to the Gap Trail—sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll see someone walking a dog, and if you’re really lucky they’ll let you pet it. But it’s so pretty and it really feels like you’re escaping campus on those days where you wish you didn’t go to school in the middle of nowhere. But with midterms and general work to do, I totally get it if you don’t have a spare hour. And even with such a small campus, there are always nooks and crannies to be explored. We have some great outdoor areas, like the hill by Horvitz or the swinging bench by Ascension, where people don’t usually populate. Take a book to read, some music, or maybe even a journal if that’s your thing. Regardless of what you do, get outside! Don’t tell anyone where you’re going, and just take some time for yourself.
4. Call Home
Call or Facetime someone from home. Yes, everyone at Kenyon is amazing and you’ll always have someone to talk to, but I’ve realized that when you take a mental break from what’s happening in Gambier, it makes it so much better to tune it afterwards. I always try to call my mom after my morning classes when I’m walking to Peirce for lunch, or Facetime with a relative or close friend. Don’t talk about school, talk about a TV show that you’re watching, or what is happening back at home. Even just shooting a text to someone from home that you were meaning to catch up with is refreshing.
5. Look Forward to Breaks
And if you’re really feeling rough, input all the holiday breaks into your calendar. Visually seeing how much time is in between each break really helped me put things in perspective—if I know that I have a month in between each time I get to go home or have time off, I can appreciate what’s around me for now. This is also a really great tip for anyone feeling homesick, knowing that you aren’t going to be away from home for forever.
6. Appreciate Kenyon
Lastly, make a list about everything you love about Kenyon. Maybe it’s fall, and you love how the leaves are changing and being scattered all over Middle Path. Or you know that you can always buy a cookie at Wiggins or a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at the market and no one will judge you for treating yourself. Regardless of what it is, there’s no doubt that you love this place—it just sometimes gets a little too small.
Whatever it is you got to do, take the time to do it to make yourself happy. Everyone (and I mean everyone) feels like Kenyon gets a little too small sometimes, and we all have our ways of dealing with the size. Yes, it’s nice to see familiar faces wherever you go on campus, but for those days where you’re in a rut and just need some “you-time,” take it! You deserve it.
Image Credit: Reaction Gifs, Giphy, Kenyon