Studying for long periods may be one of the things you need to do as a student, but it can also be extremely mentally exhausting. In between your long study sessions, it’s important to take regular study breaks where you can relax and recharge your mind ready for another long session.
As a University student, finding a fun hobby that you can engage in during your study breaks is the perfect way to make the most out of your downtime. Focusing on something that isn’t your studies can give your mind a break for a short while, so you can come back to your studies feeling productive and motivated. Here are five fun hobbies that we think any University student would enjoy.
1. Take A Turn With The Table Games
Even though you’re taking a study break, it doesn’t mean that you should sit and do nothing, you could try learning a new skill that requires some brain power – just not the pressure that comes from studying. Table games, like poker and roulette, are good ways to pass the time as they revolve around you having to think strategically and methodologically, which will come in handy in various aspects of your academic life. There are of course plenty of poker mistakes to avoid if you’re just looking to play as a hobby, but it’s a good activity to keep your brain flowing and add a little bit of extra fun to your downtime.
Table games test your ability to think strategically. You need to assess all of the possibilities, make the most out of your hand, and be clever about when and how you make your bets. It’s a game that involves a lot of time and experience; the more you play, the better you’ll be. We find that this is why so many students enjoy playing it, as you have something to work towards and can set yourself goals to improve your performance – without having the usual pressure that you would at school.
2. Explore The Campus and The Trails Around It
There’s nothing better than going on a long walk to clear your head and get back in touch with nature after spending hours locked away in your room with your books. Luckily our campus is beautiful to explore, If you haven’t done so already here is a comprehensive guide to the Atlanta campus that highlights some of the best spots to hang out with friends or take a moment to yourself.
Once you’ve gotten familiar with your campus and want to explore further afield, there are plenty of walking and running trails in Atlanta that are just a stone’s throw away from our campus. These will be perfect when you want to take a little longer study break. Ranging from short walks around the local area to trail runs that you can do to take your mind off the mountain of study material you have waiting for you at home.
3. Start Reading a New Book
When you’re spending all your time reading for class, you can easily forget about how great it can be to read for fun. Whether you’re into fiction or non-fiction, having a good book to cozy up with when you’re having a break from studying is a great way to focus your mind on something completely different and have no distractions.
You don’t need to be reading Shakespeare or Charles Dickens, it should be about finding a book that you will genuinely enjoy and want to read as quickly as possible. Start with some of these great books to kickstart your reading habit.
4. Connect With Your Friends
You may see your friends every day when you’re in the library, but how often are you able to connect and talk about something other than your studies or homework assignments? Putting time on the calendar to meet up with the people you care about is going to be beneficial for both you and them.
Whether it’s grabbing a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, or organizing a game night with other people in your class, spending time with your friends provides a strong support network that you can rely on to boost your mood and take your mind off the stress of studying.
Even if you’re super busy with assignments, giving yourself 20-30 minutes to talk about something completely different to school – like what you did over the weekend, or the latest movies you’ve been watching – can be a huge relief.
5. Test Out The New Recipe You’ve Been Thinking About
If you enjoy cooking or baking, you might love to spend your study break trying out a new recipe you saw online or in a cookbook. Cooking can be an extremely beneficial exercise as it takes a lot of care, patience, and preparation – so you have no time to think about anything but the ingredients in front of you!
Not only is the process of cooking or baking something extremely therapeutic, but at the end, you’ll have a delicious dish to enjoy which can feel like a real achievement.
