We’ve all had that movement. It’s Sunday night, when you finally realize you’ve done absolutely nothing with this weekend. Somehow in a hungover stupor you’ve managed to watch half a season of Friends on Netflix, eat a box of pasta by yourself, and if you’ve truly been successful, managed to shower. Somehow refreshing your Facebook newsfeed seems so much more plausible than starting the paper due at 5 PM tomorrow. While these are all enjoyable uses of time, I’ve learned the hard way that procrastinating can be ineffective, leaving me in the Huntsman quiet study room until 4 AM. However, there are several small alternatives to studying that can help you productively procrastinate.
1. Clean
I’m guilty of never making my bed or buying more underwear to avoid doing my laundry. There gets to be a certain point when being messy turns into being dirty. Taking time to really clean your room can help you create a productive and clutter-free space to do work.
2. Run Errands
Are you down to your last Chobani, have been meaning to get a new bottle of conditioner or return the dress you ordered from Tobi? Go to Frogro, CVS, or wherever it may be and check off the small, yet annoying things you’ve been meaning to do.
3. Emails
For some reason sending emails is something that requires a lot of time and effort for me. I love to put them off as long as possible, starring important ones that I need to respond to. Sitting down at your computer and responding to those emails that have built up is a simple, yet effective way to productively procrastinate.
4. Call home
With class, clubs, and everything else going on in my life, it’s hard to keep in touch with my friends and family from home. Even though I try and call my parents every few days, it never hurts to call your mom just to say hi or FaceTime your best friend from high school.
5. Have a mini-spa day
If I’ve learned anything at Penn, it’s that taking care of myself is rarely a priority in my day-to-day life. Doing something nice like painting my nails always seems to put me in a better mood and is a small treat that makes the stress of midterms more manageable. Go to CVS and choose out a new nail polish color or buy an at home facemask. Though it may not be a true day at the spa, it’s a pretty nice alternative.