College is a time where students spend an enormous amount of time eating, studying, and/or crying. Most of these things are done within the comfort of their cozy little 10x13 foot dorm room. Because students are so used to this confinement, sometimes they are not willing to venture out of their comfort zone to find new places to relax or study. While relaxing in your dorm room can be a great idea, it can also be refreshing to spend time away from that small, cramped-up space. Here are some ideas of places that you can go to either eat, cry, study alone, or all of the above.
Coffee shop
When you walk into any coffee shop, you are bound to see at least a handful of people studying away. While it can be because of its chill atmosphere, studies also show that drinking coffee while studying can improve a person’s concentration, alertness, and even enhance their short-term memory. So the next time finals come around, be sure to spend some time at your local coffee shop and grab a cup of coffee to give you all the brain power you need.
Top floor of the library
Lots of people go to the library to study which can sometimes get annoying if you are one that gets distracted easily. If you find yourself at a library that is crowded (especially during finals week), check out the top floor. I mean who really wants to walk up all of those stairs to get to the top floor? Chances are that most people will settle on the main floor, leaving the top floor relatively silent and empty. Also, check to see if your library has study rooms that are available to rent out. If they do, you can rent out a whole room to yourself that is free from pesky distractions. Keep in mind that the more privacy you have, the easier it will be to let out those stress-induced tears.
Breakfast diners
If you are an early bird, this may be the ideal place for you to get all of your work done. Studying and getting your homework done in the morning frees up space in your afternoon schedule. So instead of stressing about homework at 12 am, you can spend that time getting a good night's sleep or use it to catch up on your Netflix shows. Not to mention that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Studies show that eating breakfast increases an individual’s memory and attention skills.
The quad
When the weather is nice, nothing is better than getting some fresh air. Spending the whole day in a dorm room can make one feel irritable and sick, especially if your room does not have air conditioning. Take advantage of what is around you. There is a lot that a student has to pay for, but oxygen one thing that is free. Go to your school’s quad and lay out a blanket to relax on. There, you can study, eat a snack, or simply take in the scenes
Counselor’s office
Students tend to forget about the resources that are available to them at school. If you are feeling stressed out or emotionally unstable, head to your school’s wellness center. It may be nerve-wracking to talk to a counselor about what is on your mind, but it will make you feel so much better if you get your worries off your chest. Plus if you are paying for tuition, you might as well take advantage of this resource.
The Wellness Center
Students tend to forget about the resources that are available to them at school. If you are feeling stressed out or emotionally unstable, head to your school’s wellness center. It may be nerve-wracking to talk to a counselor about what is on your mind, but it will make you feel so much better if you talk about your issues with someone who is understanding. Plus, you might as well make use of this resource while you can because, after college, counseling will no longer be free.
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