It's spring break, and sometimes it's hard to feel like you're making use of your precious vacation, especially if you're a broke college student like me. There are countless activities to do over break without spending money, and you can most likely find anywhere to do them, whether you're in Bellingham or away on vacation:
1. Sunbathe.
Sunbathing has to be number one on the list solely because you would have to be crazy not to sunbathe when the weather finally gets nice. Find a spot, lay out a towel, and soak up some vitamin D! (P.S. Don't forget sunscreen. You can still burn in overcast weather!)
2. Picnic.
As the days start getting nicer, it'd be nice to plan a picnic and go with some friends! It doesn't really matter where it is, as long as it's nice out and you can do some outside activities. Picnics in the rain aren't as fun, so check the weather! A picnic is also a great idea when going hiking, which brings me to my next point:
3. Hiking.
There's plenty of places to hike around campus for those staying in Bellingham over break, but you can also take a road trip to some new trails. Whether you're here or visiting family somewhere else, there's probably somewhere nearby! It's always fun to explore new areas when it's nice outside, and did I mention it's totally free?
4. Frisbee.
If the weather is nice and you're broke, it's the perfect time to throw a frisbee! This is also a great activity for pet owners. You know you want to join in every time you see someone throwing a frisbee by the Stadium Piece on campus, and now's your time!
5. Board games.
If you're looking for something to do on one of the rainy days of break (knock on wood), then stay in your PJs and invite your friends over for some board games. Cards games are also fun to learn, teach, and play on stay-at-home days!
6. Learn something new.
Ever think, "I wish I had time to learn how to do that" during break, but classwork was too demanding to allow any learning on the side? Break is your chance to learn how to unicycle like the guy you always see riding to campus, or how to do a number of other things such as break-dancing, making your own pasta, knitting, or changing your oil in your car. Google can be very handy!
7. Cook.
During the quarter, it's always to easy to use the excuse that you're too busy with class to cook a real meal. Break is your opportunity to actually take time preparing meals and learn how to make new things! Use a day to prep your meals for a week for fast, quality meals.
8. Movies.
Another inside activity to do if the weather isn't nice is a movie day. Build the optimum blanket fort, invite friends, make popcorn, and pick out some great flicks! Netflix binges are pretty much a necessary part of any college student's break, so live it up on the couch and enjoy no homework for a while.
9. Exercise.
If you're looking for a good time to get into a new workout routine, break is great because you'll have the time you need to get into a new habit. Getting started is the hardest part, but once you pass that point, get ready for the new you! Your friends will be so surprised when you come back from break totally ripped!
10. Geocaching.
In case you've never tried geocaching, it's so much fun and completely free. Using GPS coordinates from the website, you find hidden objects that someone else has already hidden! There are all kinds of surprises in geocaching, and you can do it pretty much anywhere. There are even clubs for people who geocache together. Just go to this website and start a geocaching adventure!
11. Read.
It's time to finally read a book you actually want to read! Now that the quarter's over, we can actually indulge in something that isn't a textbook! If it's nice outside, take your reading to a quiet place under a tree to get away from your loud, vacationing roommates. Pick something you want to read from the library, and dedicate some time for yourself by reading a good book. You deserve it, you good student, you.
If you're trying not to spend money over break, it's easy to feel bored after a couple of days of straight sleeping. These free things can help you enjoy your break until classes start again. Congrats to all you students on getting through finals week, and have a great break!
