College is filled with endless opportunities for every student, meaning it’s hard not to become overly involved. Then you’re stuck juggling classes, extracurriculars and homework, and it seems that you have no time for anything else. So what happens with all of those hobbies you had an abundance of time for in high school?
Before you throw in the towel and accept defeat for your ever-filling schedule, try these tips to squeeze some you-time back into your schedule.
Plan time just for your hobbies
If you’re someone who runs like clockwork, this tip will probably work best for you. Look for a couple of hours in your schedule that are free and schedule it specifically for your hobbies. Maybe it’s just a two-hour break between classes, where instead of going back to your dorm and watching Netflix, you start that book you’ve been meaning to read since freshman year. Or do all of you homework on a Thursday night, so you can spend your weekend doing what you want to do.
Register for a fun class
Colleges have innumerable options for classes — there’s bound to be a couple that can incorporate your hobbies. If you enjoy photography, look for an introductory photography course. Or if you enjoy activities, like yoga or badminton, enroll in a half credit or one credit class that you can slip into your schedule. These classes typically only meet for one or two days a week and don’t require much (if any) outside homework.
Look for clubs on campus
Joining a club that sparks your interest will force you to make time in your schedule for that specific activity. Maybe it’s Tap Club or a club sport. Your amount of involvement in the club can then vary depending on your schedule; you don’t need to work your way up to president of the club, you can just go to their meetings once or twice a week. Your hobbies can also say a lot about you when employers are looking for people to hire — some graduates have landed jobs because of their fun extracurriculars. So don’t just worry about resume builders to fill your free time, pick some things you’ll really enjoy going to.
Scout out events on campus
Again, I cannot stress enough just how many opportunities there are for everyone on campus. Even if you don’t want to become directly involved and committed to your hobbies (because you don’t have enough time, you need to focus on your classes, etc), look for events held by the school that can be a fun couple of hours. If singing is your thing, look for open mic nights. Or if you enjoy a sport, look for charity tournaments various clubs are hosting.
Juggling a busy schedule in college is never easy, and it’s easy to forget to make time for the things you love. But with a little time — and some creative planning — there will always be a way to find time for your hobbies during college.
