What To Do With Your Free Time If You’re Home on ‘Coronavirus Break’

Chanelle Norman Student Contributor, St. John's University

Kayla White Student Contributor, St. John's University

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. John's chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen hundreds of schools and universities across the nation pull their students from study abroad programs, close their universities and move classes online. Whether your school’s closure is short term or for the rest of the semester, us college students have a lot more free time on our hands. Unsure of what to do with it all? If you’re on the newly-coined “coronavirus break”, here’s some ideas to stay engaged:

Visit Friends

Thousands of students had to face the hard reality of packing up and moving out of their dorms over the last week, which meant having to say goodbye to a lot of their friends. But if you’re lucky enough to have friends who go to school locally or college friends who live near you, pay them a visit! Seeing familiar faces and spending time with those you love could ease your mind off of the tough situation we’re all in. Go out, but of course, be cautious and abide by rules set in place by your local government.

remote control turning on the tv — Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters from Unsplash

Find a New Movie or TV Show to Watch

You were probably doing this anyway, but in the era of ‘Peak TV’ there’s a slew of options to consume. Heading out to the movie theaters may not sound very appealing at the moment, but thanks to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and more, there’s thousands of options to check out. Look up some recommendations then get to watching!

Organize Your Room

This is the perfect time to do a little spring cleaning, or reorganize the furniture that you’ve been meaning to! Taking on these tasks can be very time consuming, making it the perfect idea if you’re looking to make the time go by quicker.

Anna Schultz-Cozy Girl Using Laptop — Anna Schultz / Her Campus

Actually Do Your Homework

Yes, this is still a thing. It’s easy to come back home for what seems like an extended break, but school is still in session! Make sure you are keeping up with all your assignments and check resources such as Blackboard for updates from your professors. Remember, you are still paying for these classes!

Learn a New Hobby or Skill

In the digital era, the world is at our fingertips. A simple google or YouTube search is a perfect way to discover new interests and learn new things. Whether it’s learning French, making designs on Photoshop, or mastering Embroidery, there will be something out there for you!

Kristine Mahan / Spoon

Exercise

We college students get so caught up in class and extracurriculars that we often forget to make time for exercise. Setting some time aside a few days out the week to work out is super important for our health. With a lot of our regular responsibilities now falling back, it’s a good time to go for a run or get back into a fitness class. If you don’t have a gym membership, download an app or Google exercises to keep you active and healthy.

Start an Online Store

Did some spring cleaning and found a bunch of clothes you no longer want? Sell them online! Apps and websites such as Poshmark, Etsy, and Mercari make it super easy to list items and make a profit. Before you get to selling, check out these tips to ensure e-store is successful.

College students (and the world) are in very tough times. There are a lot of major adjustments we’ve been forced to settle into, so taking the time to practice mindfulness and keep active is crucial to being as OK as we can be.

For updates on the Coronavirus, head to https://www.cdc.gov/.