As students, and as young adults in general we all treasure the little bit of free time we manage to grab in the midst of our busy, fast paced schedules. Those precious hours where we aren't working, at school, doing homework, or even socializing: what do we do with our "me time"?
Let's be honest, most of us spend those hours binge watching Netflix, or trolling all of our different social media outlets. We spend hours and hours this way. And I love the chance to turn off my brain for a couple hours a day, a chance to let images and words on a screen do the work.
But here's a new idea! What if instead...we used these hours in a more productive way?? Imagine how we could enrich our lives if we used our "me time", our extra time, doing something besides sitting in a chair and shutting off our minds.
1. We can start reading again.
Did you realized that all of the intrigue and drama of our favorite tv shows can be found in the pages of a book?? Books can take you away to any place on earth, let you be anyone you wish, and teach you about everything in this world. And the bonus?? Reading makes you smarter!!! Crazy right?? It has been proven that students who read more score higher in subjects such as history, science, English, civics, etc. Reading is a way to relax just as much as you do when watching tv, but to enhance your mind while doing it. What better bargain? To be well read is a quality can be universally respected by all. Whether it is current events, fiction, poetry, autobiographies, or even textbooks, reading is the quickest way to educating yourself
2. We can explore new hobbies.
Our free time can give us a chance to find out our own potential that school and work doesn't demand. We can explore hobbies and activities that we have never been exposed too before. Maybe we can learn a new instrument, or try yoga, cooking, painting, or dancing. There are endless ways to test our skills and just try new things!
3. We can enhance old hobbies.
What about things we started up in high school and never finished? Or what about those projects under our beds that we never had time or energy to finish?? We shouldn't live life unfinished. Let's bring out those old things we used to love!
4. Volunteer
There is nothing more satisfactory than using some of our time for others. Volunteering is a beautiful and worthwhile way to make a difference and to grow in yourself as well.
5. Two words: Fresh Air
There's no drug better than vitamin D. If you really need some time to yourself, some true "me time", for myself there's no place I find myself closer to myself than in the clarity and beauty of outside. So go for a walk, explore the parks and natural offerings of wherever it is you live.
The point is, its always better to do something than nothing. Life is too short to spend any substantial portion of it lying on a couch with no brain activity, and this generation of iPhones and Netflix is dangerously approaching a break in our potential as individuals. Let's change that, one hour at a time.
