It’s that time of the year again when Reading Break rolls through and every student is faced with a challenge. Do I go home or stay at school? If you’re like me, going home (for me, way out in Ontario) just costs too much and isn’t worth it. Some people can afford it, but would rather stick around the city or campus instead. But staying here means you have to figure out what to do with yourself for a whole week. I’ve gathered a few things to keep you busy and maybe make Reading Break at school a bit more exciting.
1. Catch up on some TV
Managing my tv time during a hectic week of classes and studying and midterms and writing papers is difficult. I know the struggle. The beauty of reading break is that you can spend an entire day lounging in bed, laptop out with your fave show playing. Nobody is going to stop you! Use this time to binge something on Netflix or watch those few episodes of How To Get Away With Murder that you missed. This is optimal TV Time. Take advantage of it.
2. Get some grocery shopping done
I have a bad habit of waiting too long to do my grocery shopping. It takes a lot of time! Depending on where you live, it could involve buses, taxis or getting a drive from a friend/family member. Since you’ve got a few days off, now would be a great time to go stock up on food. Set aside a couple of hours, head to the market and don’t forget that pesky shopping list!
3. Quality friend time
Students are busy people. Between studying and actually going to class, not a lot of time is left for hanging out with friends and socializing. Use your break to meet up with some buds! See a movie, grab some lunch, head up to Mount Doug for some stargazing! You’ve got a week of relaxation which means so do your friends. Good times are only a text message away, so do it!
4. Maybe clean the house a bit
I know, I know. Cleaning? Gross. I feel you, man. But listen! The excuses until now have been “I’ve got too much studying to do” or “That paper is due tomorrow! I don’t have time to clean the kitchen!” But guess what? You got time now, so get at it. Open the blinds, let in some sunlight, blast some music and clean your place! You’ll feel 100% better living in an environment that smells fresh. Get it done now, and you don’t need to worry about when the work load picks back up.
5. Doing some work might actually be a good idea too…
I hate to say it, but maybe during Reading Break you should actually do some reading. Finals are only a few weeks away and classes are heading into the homestretch. Maybe now is a good time to catch up on those readings you’ve missed. Spend a night reviewing your notes. Work on that research paper due in two weeks. Reading Break is the optimal time to hit the library and focus on work for a few hours. Don’t work too hard though. After all, it’s called a ‘break’ for a reason. Whatever you do this week, make sure you enjoy yourself and stay safe!