How to find time to be alone at college
June 6, 2012
Personal time is tough when you're living in a room with one to three other people, and even tougher when that room is in a building with hundreds of students, which in turn is on a campus with thousands to tens of thousands of students. Even the smallest colleges (and sometimes especially the smallest) can feel overcrowded and claustrophobic.
When you need some time to get away or be alone, it might not seem like there are many options open to you. Consider these tips for college students who need a bit of quality me-time.
1. Go for a jog. More likely than not, if you're seeking some time alone, you're also pretty stressed. Go for a solo jog, but avoid the school track, gym or anywhere else you might run into familiar faces. Head around the local neighborhoods or along a nearby trail. The exercise will help your mood, and there's nothing as pleasantly isolating as moving a whole lot faster than everyone you pass.
2. Head to a movie. You may be surrounded by strangers, but going to the movie theater alone is a strangely liberating experience. You don't have to argue about the flick, you can be spontaneous about times and no one else will want any of your popcorn. A 90-minute break at the theater can be hugely revitalizing.
3. Get up early for breakfast. Especially on a Saturday - if you want to see your campus looking like a ghost town, wake early and enjoy a quiet breakfast on your own. Your only company are going to be other early risers looking for the same solitude.
4. Drive somewhere. You probably won't want to devote yourself to a cross-country jaunt, but a casual drive can be liberating. Explore local towns, find a coffee shop, find a bookstore or even find a park. If you're at a city-bound college or don't have a car, look into local bus schedules or school shuttles - fare will almost always be cheaper than gas anyway.
5. Go to another library. Libraries, ostensibly places of study, can get a little overstuffed or too familiar. While it can be fun to bury yourself somewhere in the stacks with a good book (or, more realistically, a pile of homework), consider heading to another nearby college's library - or even the local town or city public library.
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