LISA CUMBIE
Living Editor
Every once in a while, just when it seems the students need it the most, out of nowhere appears a day off, a three-day weekend. Don’t stop, don’t ask questions, just take it and run. You don’t know when it will come along again and this date is the only one during the academic year that isn’t related to a holiday. (Thank goodness for faculty conferences.)
Some students are fortunate enough to have organized their schedules without Friday classes. They’re used to their series of three-day weekends. But some students won’t have a clue what to do with themselves now that they don’t have to rush to Elkins at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Whether you consistently rely on your three-day weekends, rejoice over the thought of an extra day to yourself or are still dumbfounded by the news, here are a few tips to fill in that empty square on your daily planner.
Step one: Catch up on your to-do list
Though this may seem like the absolute last thing you want to do on your day of freedom, you need to catch up on your to-do list. For some, this may mean making the first trip down to the laundry room this semester. For others, it could mean tearing through that first chapter of the novel you have to read and analyze by Thanksgiving. Whether it’s homework or housework, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up. This should be done first thing Friday morning. You only need to spend a few hours on the chores, and after all, you have three days to enjoy. You’ll appreciate your head start on Sunday night when you would normally dread the homework that usually awaits you.
Step two: Find some time for yourself
This mini-break couldn’t have come at a better time. By this time in the semester, everyone is feeling bogged down by over committing themselves with jobs, school, organizations and community involvement. It seems that everything peaks at the same time, making it even more difficult to stay afloat. The best thing for you right now is some me time. Spend a little time by yourself. Sign off AIM, turn off your cell, and enjoy a slow paced afternoon or evening, free of distractions. Treat yourself to some delicious take-out and pop in your favorite DVD that’s been collecting dust. Your body needs to unwind and will thank you for this during midterms.
Step three: Take yourself out for a night
After crossing off your to-do list, reward yourself with a night on the town. You might want the companionship, too, since you just spent a few hours chilling out alone. This can be as simple as calling your best friends and going out to dinner at a fun restaurant you’ve wanted to try and maybe follow it up with one of the recent box-office hits. (Check out the A&E section to see what’s coming out this weekend.) Or you can do it up big with a fun dinner to energize you for a night of dancing at a Hollywood club. Whatever you decide, include some friends and have fun.
Step four: Reconnect with your friends
Students have a tendency to tune out the world when things get tough, which takes its toll on relationships. Take the little extra time to renew old friendships. It could be that you’ve been MIA in your small group of closest friends or that you haven’t talked to your freshman year roommate since you last lived together. Your friends will appreciate the effort you’re making and you’ll have fun catching up.
Step five: Reset your body’s clock
Hopefully you’ll have a fun and revitalizing weekend to get you through the rest of the semester. And this last tip can help perpetuate the same revitalization week after week. Get some sleep.
You’ve been hearing it over and over since you were a child, but it’s true. Do you ever realize that each night, you get to bed later and later? If you start going to bed earlier or at a more consistent time, you won’t feel as tired all the time. A three-day weekend is the best time since you have a little more time than usual to get work done. Try to go to bed close to the same time every night over the weekend (hopefully before midnight) to reset your body’s clock.
After this weekend, you’ll be ready to take on midterms.
10-04-2007