It’s now August, and that means summer is halfway over. By now, the average college student is up to one of three things: something productive (i.e taking classes, either at home or abroad), something fun (going on vacation, or spending time with friends), or, if they’re like me, wallowing away in a deep level of existential boredom from attempting to do some combination of the former two. No, just me? Cool, so glad I know that. Well, either way, I’ve compiled a list of ways to alleviate that summer boredom, so that you can survive till school starts in the fall.
1. Go outside
Exercise; go for a run or a walk. If you don’t want to do that, at least get out of the house and do some errands. Interact with human beings that aren’t the ones you live with. Most likely your boredom is just the result from cabin fever, and a much needed change of scenery is the best cure for it. I’m not going to bore you with the benefits of working out in general--but if going outside is not your thing then might I suggest…
2. Play a game
This can range from inviting some friends over for a game night, or, if you’re still like me and have no friends, then you can play with yourself. Innuendo aside, single-player games provide great amounts of entertainment for the lonely. From rich, story-driven video games to a few simple rounds of solitaire, a game can occupy your attention for a short time at least. If you have a great imagination, you could even think up your own game with a cardboard box and whatever odds and ends you find around your house, trust me, I have experience.
3. Read
If games aren’t your thing, try reading. Reading is one of the best activities you can do. Books can take you to wondrous new locations and on great adventures. If you don’t have the attention span for a full novel at the moment, start out small. Just read small articles in magazines, or online--like the great articles you can find here on The Odyssey (wink).* Reading for at least thirty minutes a day--no matter the material--can help stimulate critical thinking skills, improve memory, and expand your vocabulary, so why not do it when you have nothing else to do.
4. Get creative
Whether it’s the cardboard box game or something else, creating something yourself can be very rewarding. Paint that picture you’ve had sitting in your head, try to bake a cake, learn a new language, or better yet, write something yourself. Why just be satisfied taking in the words some lonely college student scrawled into Microsoft Word at 10:30 on a Saturday night when you can write that novel you’ve always said you were going to start. Wait, no, don’t, keep reading, do not listen to me. The great articles you can find here on The Odyssey are all you ever need to read again. Please, if you don’t, I’m out of a job. I’m begging you here.
*Due to the content and success of my last few articles, I am now legally obligated according to my contract to plug the great articles you can find here at TheOdysseyonline.com/UCLA at least once every article. Please help.
