I think it’s important to make time for hobbies. It’s easy to get stuck in a routine that eliminates doing things that aren’t necessarily relevant to your academics. I’ve found that taking as little as 15 minutes out of my day to do something that brings me joy without having a particular end goal to work towards has helped my overall mental health.
Recently, I’ve reconnected with my love of painting. Last time I went home, I brought my paints and paintbrushes back with me to my dorm. The other day, I spent about 2 hours listening to music and painting. I didn’t even have a goal of what I wanted the painting to be of — I simply allowed myself to be present in the painting rather than worrying about an end goal. I even danced in my room to the music I had blasting: “More Than a Feeling” by Boston, which I’m sure you’ve heard. Carefree and unapologetic, I completely let go of the future and focused on the present.
I think it’s a matter of recharging ourselves. Getting stuck in the routine of college can almost make you feel like a robot, and giving yourself these moments of time to yourself can clear you. I also want to stress the importance of allowing yourself to take time to be present and not worry about what school assignments you have to do. If you need some inspiration, here are some of the things that I’ve been doing to recharge and stay present:
- painting
- cutting up magazines and collaging pieces together
- learning about a topic you’re interested in (I’ve been reading about Greek mythology!)
- walking to Little City Books bookstore on Bloomfield Street
- spending a few hours at Bwè Kafe on Washington Street with a warm drink and a berry scone (yum!)
- taking a study break to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate at Pierce
- discovering new music on Spotify
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