When I graduated high school, everyone in my life told me how much free time I would have in college: “You’re not in school for seven straight hours with clubs, sports, and homework after anymore!” It’s true—most of us only have 2-4 classes per day, weekends off, and far fewer commitments overall now that we’re in college.
But how do you spend all this free time? If you’re like me, you waste a lot of it on your phone (I always dread looking at my screen time numbers) and are looking for a more efficient, healthier, or just more fun way to spend your days.
My first suggestion would be to actually make sure you have free time. It can be hard to not burn yourself out, procrastinate on work, or sleep in until noon. Time management is not for the faint-hearted, but once you’ve mastered the skill, you’ll find that you have a lot more time than you thought. Here are some ways to spend your valuable free time in college!
- Be productive.
I know, it sounds boring. But nothing beats the feeling of picking up a new club, working on your resume, or even getting a job. These can be both fun and productive ways to spend your newfound time. You’ll make some friends, maybe earn a few extra bucks, and have another amazing thing to put on your glorious resume for the employers once you graduate.
So email that employer, hop on the internship search, or really lock in on that one tough class—just make sure you take time for yourself, too!
- Build some healthy habits.
It only takes 30-90 minutes a day to do something physical (sometimes even less)! If you’re on the shorter end of that spectrum, you can try going for walks, jogging around campus, or hit a gym nearby for a bit.
And if you find that you have a bit more extra time, it can be very much worth it to invest in building a legitimate workout routine or even join a sport. You’ll feel better, have more energy, and reap all the other numerous health benefits that come with an active lifestyle!
- Wind down with a show or movie you’ve been wanting to watch.
My notes app list of media I want to see is longer than the Nile. If you relate to that, and keep putting off watching new movies or shows, now’s your chance! Settling in with a good piece of content with some free time can be the perfect way to relax or unwind in college. You can even bring along a friend or host watch parties to talk about them with as you go along.
- Pick up a new hobby or skill.
If you find yourself with some extra time on your hands that you don’t know what to do with, you can try finding a new hobby that you like! Colleges have plenty of clubs ranging from crochet to creative writing to dance to volunteering. Who knows, maybe you’re the next Van Gogh but just never had the time to try your hand at art!
But even if you’re not aiming to be the best at whatever it is you’ve been wanting to try, picking up a new hobby can be an intellectually stimulating, fun, or relaxing way to fill your extra time.
If you find yourself left with a bit of leftover time each day, hopefully these ideas can get you started on how to fill it. Life is short, so we need to make the most of every minute. It’s never too late to try something new, do something for yourself, or just wind down and relax a little bit!