College is supposed to be one of the best parts of our lives. We get the opportunity to meet new people, learn new and exciting things, and get the first taste of living away from our parents. For the first time, we get to live our lives without adult supervision. You want to go to a party on Tuesday night? Sure, why not. Play games all night, even though you have classes in the morning? Who’s going to stop you? But after a while, the novelty of all that wears off and you realize that massive hangovers or sleeping in classes are no way to live your college days. One of the things that many students complain about is peer pressure at parties.
“Being the only sober one can be awkward.” says a freshman from Ithaca College. “On the rare occasion that I go to parties, I feel there is an expectation to show up already drunk.”
“It sometimes feels difficult to find things to do and people to hang out with on the weekends outside of the party scene so it can be lonely not drinking in college,” said another freshman from Ithaca.
Even if you manage to resist pressure to drink, you are left feeling isolated. Most of your friends will go to parties and end up drunk. That doesn’t have to be the reason to abandon parties altogether, though.
“You can still go to parties and have fun, just don’t drink. A lot of people think that by having alcohol in your system, you’ll have more [fun] at a party, but that’s not true. It’s like a mental thing that being drunk you’ll have more fun, but you can be sober and have fun,” says a sophomore from Bradley University. Still, it can be awkward, especially if you end up being the only sober person at a party.
But what else is there? How can you survive college without tearing your hair our from boredom? Well, it turns out that it is possible. Read on to see how.
Organize Your Work Schedule
It sounds boring, but don’t forget why you are the college in the first place. A little organization can help you get all your work done and still leave you enough time for fun activities. Plus, with regular studying, taking exams will be much easier. Make sure to do all your homework. Writing all those essays can be a chore, but you can always get someone from writepaperfor.me to do it for you. If you can’t study in your dorm, there is always a library. Their study halls are quiet and you can finish your work without distractions. With good organization, the time will pass faster and you won’t get a chance to feel bored.
See a Sports Game
Every college has a variety of sports teams on campus. Whether it is basketball, football, or athletics, usually there are sports events every weekend. Attending them with your friends can be a lot of fun and it is a sure way of killing boredom. People organize all sorts of events on stands during the games and the time will fly if you participate in them.
Organize a Movie Night
There is a lot to be said about the whole Netflix and chill concept, but an actual movie night with your friends can also be fun. Set up a system where everyone in your group gets to choose a movie on their night. Stock up on popcorn and enjoy yourself. For extra credit, you can throw a movie marathon or binge-watch an entire season of your favorite TV show in one sitting on weekends.
Explore Your Surroundings
This is an especially nice activity for freshmen. The town or city where your college is located is probably completely unknown to you. Take some time to explore it. See where shops and cafes are. Find out is there are any attractions in the area. Visits to museums and historical sites will help you learn about its history. If you are going to spend the next four years there, you might as well get to know the place. Once you are done with urban parts, start going outdoors and explore hiking and cycling paths.
Organize a Picnic
Speaking of outdoors, a picnic is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. Get with your friends, pick a location, and set sails. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, you don’t need a full picnic basket to enjoy yourself. It will get you out of the dorm and take your mind of boring stuff.
Check Out Local Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are a great way to furnish your dorm room or an apartment on the budget. If you have a friend to likes to spend hours rummaging through them, you can make this a regular activity. That goes for clothing as well. You can find a lot of gems in second-hand shops if you are persistent. Not only you will be dressed well, but you will save a ton of money doing it. Plus, you get to scratch that shopping itch we all have.
Workout
Hit that gym. A vast majority of colleges have state of the art fitness facilities. Set aside a few hours every week and spend them there. 40-years-old you will be grateful. Regular exercise can do wonders for both your physical and mental health. Having trouble sleeping? Nothing like a good session in a gym to wear you out. You can also try running or sign up for yoga or CrossFit classes.
Sample Local Cultural Life
Musicals and plays are a staple of any campus. Your college probably has a theater group that puts plays on stage regularly. Also, don’t forget to check local cultural life as well. Perhaps there is a theater that you can visit and see a play or two. It won’t be Broadway, but that doesn’t mean it will be bad. If you are a fan of standup comedy, check local bars and see if they have any performers scheduled.
