Ever since the second semester started, I stopped going out at night with my group of friends. I stopped going to clubs, frats, and parties. As much as I loved doing that, I started to find that the pleasures of going out were very temporary.

Going out meant having to look all dolled up, spending money on an Uber ride, getting your feet stepped on by many girls wearing stilettos and getting groped by several boys that you don’t wish to dance with, and returning at 2 a.m. to feel nausea from the alcohol. At first I was going with the flow, trying to appreciate the college lifestyle.

Although this seems like the great college life, it was repetitive; it was the same routine every weekend. It got to the point where I felt tired of going out at night. In fact, I began to dread it.

With the amount of work I had, there was no way I could possibly continue that lifestyle. But without that time with friends, I barely saw them and had no chance to talk to them. I was worried about being left out of the loop (I have big FOMO problems) and not knowing what happened when they went out.

However, when my roommates and neighbors were at a sweaty and crowded club, I was having ME time.

I blasted music and took a long hot shower, put on a face mask, watched a movie with a bowl of popcorn to get my laughter going and organize my desk a little for the next day. I Facetimed a couple of friends to catch up with them and see how they were doing.

Now I’m sure some of you may think this is boring, but with everything that is happening at college, you are always doing SOMETHING. You are always busy.

When was the last time you read a book for pleasure?

When was the last time you watched your all-time favorite movie?

The time you did something solely and truly for yourself?

I also became more involved in my friends’ lives. Because going out was no longer a time for us to hang out, we started to reach out to each other to grab a cup of coffee or lunch at Sweetgreen. I was able to have deeper conversations with them. They told me about their nights going out, to other things like their family issues and own sufferings.

Now I’m not saying to never go out, but take that occasional time once a week to do something for yourself.

If you need a recommendation for a book : Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It

If you need a recommendation for a movie: Rush Hour 1, 2, and 3

Trust me when I say this: it changes the way you live daily. The lifestyle of ME time is healthy and

Enjoy yourself <3