I’ve always thought that September was magical: friends returning home to share their summer adventures, reacquainting myself with campus, making my room look Pinterest-perfect, basking in the sunshiny attitudes of overly ecstatic freshmen…and then October hits.

I’m pretty sure that once the temperature drops a good 5-10 degrees, a chemical reaction occurs that bonds fuzzy blankets, pillows, and Netflix to college students. Our free time soon becomes sitting and staring at screens, day in and day out. While relaxing is fine and dandy as an indulgence, I find that if I continually allow myself to retreat to my room, I end up missing out on the autumnal adventures that I crave. Do you find yourself in this rut? This year, I’m using my planner to escape this pattern by scheduling my desired activities. These are some of my favorite picks:

1. Learn a new skill (or improve an old one)

Maybe you realized that you couldn’t keep up with your friends when you all went swimming this summer. Or, even though you don’t want to be an Art major, you want to become a better artist. Great! Make it a goal to have a new skill by the end of the quarter and practice, practice, practice.

2. Read!

In college, the line between reading and studying all but vanishes. When the rest of your day has been spent reading textbook after textbook, it’s hard to imagine that reading more would provide any relief. Don’t fall into this trap! Instead, find a novel that interests you and keep it in your backpack. Whenever you have a free moment, simply whip it out and immerse yourself in adventure! I’m currently loving Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

3. Get cultured

Fine arts are not just for the rich or the snobby. Many symphonies and ballet companies offer discounted same-day tickets for teens and students. Not a fan of classical music? That’s okay! You can still find something you will enjoy. For example, Seattle Symphony will be putting on a concert in November where they will show Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on a giant screen and play the score live.

4. Volunteer

Nothing feels better than helping people. If you aren’t sure how to get started, contact your university. They likely have partnerships within the community that will allow you to work with organizations that need your help and potentially gain college credit at the same time.

5. Invest in your relationships

Have you felt yourself growing apart from your partner or close friends? Consider getting together weekly to bond over shared interests. Maybe this looks like making fools of yourselves at a dance class or partaking in a fantasy football league together. All that really matters is that you’re together.

6. Make a workout schedule (and stick to it!)

Personally, I know that I will not exercise unless I have a trainer that is expecting me in their class. If you can’t make it to the gym or you don’t wish to spend money to get your butt kicked, set an alarm to tell yourself to get on YouTube and follow a workout video. The channel Tone It Up has great exercise tutorials for all skill levels, and many don’t require equipment.

7. Cook a new recipe

Small dorms and busy schedules can heavily influence how often you cook for yourself. If you usually rely on a meal plan or takeout, then make a home-cooked meal an occasion! I’ve recently become obsessed with recreating recipes from the blog Feasting on Fruit.

8. Prep for the future

While there are times when your classes may seem to drag on and on, the truth is that college will come to an end and the finish line is sooner than you think. If this scares you, make a checklist to accomplish small tasks to prepare you for life outside of school. Do you have an up-to-date resumé? Have you looked into the steps required to get you to your dream job? If you’re like me and answered “no”, make it happen. This week I compiled the application requirements and deadlines for the graduate schools in which I am interested. Now I know exactly what I need to do each month to not feel the brunt of planning during finals week.

What are your favorite ways to escape boredom? Let me know in the comments below!