How to spend your college break

I’ve been meaning to write this for awhile. Far too often I find myself at loose ends as to what to do on my college breaks so with it currently being fall break for me, like, right this very second as a I type this, I figured now was a good of a time as any to give people advice on how to spend their college breaks. Sometimes it can be hard to balance the resting and the still wanting to get stuff done. Breaks should be relaxing and you should give yourself a break, but if you also want to use that time to do some minorly productive things to get ahead, I respect that too.

So, here’s a few suggestions on what you can do on your college break!

Do some well-needed cleaning and organization

I don’t know about you, but my backpack is sort of a mess by the middle of the semester. Old papers I don’t need, random straw wrappers, and bits of trash I don’t need can be found in near every pocket. My pencils need to be sharpened badly and overall my backpack could use a washing. And let’s not get me started on my desk space.

So a break is the perfect opportunity to remedy such problems.

Catch up on any show that you’ve been meaning to watch

You’ve earned some rest! This is a perfect way to unwind, especially with a snack.

Schedule some social time

College can make it difficult for people to get together with classes and homework quickly overtaking everyone’s schedule. But we all need to see people sometimes so scheduling a well-earned coffee date with a gal friend is one of the best ways you can spend your break.

Dabble in something

Take this time during your break so try something new that you would otherwise not be able to. Or stick to your old neglected hobbies and maybe start painting or drawing again? Overall, I highly encourage people to do at least one creative thing on their break.

Relax but also PAY ATTENTION TO ANY ASSIGNED HOMEWORK OR READINGS

In an ideal world, professors would not assign homework over a break. But I don’t think I have to tell you that we don’t live in an ideal world. It surprised me too how much homework teachers would sometimes assign over your break, as if they didn’t fully understand the meaning of the very word “break”. But sometimes we just gotta deal, and your life will be a little stressful if you put off any homework last minute. The goal is to emerge from your break refreshed, not panicked. So slowly work on and pay attention to any assigned reading or homework that you have been expected to complete over the course of the break.

Make a game plan for returning back to school

Sometimes your break is a good time to revaluate and readjust some of your approaches to your classes and homework. Whether this means reexamining your study strategies or completely reorganizing your meal plan, your break is a good time to do any of these things.

And finally write a blog post on what to do with your break

And that’s where I’ll leave it. Rest up, lovely students!

Evening Poems: The Ninth

How do you think a cat would spend its final life?

If it were old and on the ninth

I think a cat would spend its last days

Snoozing in the sun’s streaming rays.

Batting around that ball of lint

Dart around the hall, in a sprint.

And did I mention the

Sleeping. Sleeping. Sleeping.

And around the corners always peeping.

In short I would have to say,

That a cat would spend even its final day

Much how spent every year

Happy and without a single fear.

A cat on even its final minute.

Wouldn’t hesitate to then spend it

Dozing peacefully next to you, as your pet.

Because unlike you, he has no regret.

Writing Prompt: Murder Museum

A museum displays the many artifacts and backgrounds of famous serial killers. It is popular for bone chilling as well as informative exhibits and draws a crowd world wide.

This is the Murder Museum.

Due its popularity, an exclusive tour is offered to those who sign up for the drawing to be allowed to roam this museum free of crowds. All night.

And of course things go wrong.

During the tour, someone notices the doors locking. And then the tour guide shows up dead.

Someone begins their murder spree using the many left over serial killer weapons and tools in the museum from the exhibits, everyone who turns up dead, dying in their own unique way to commemorate the serial killer exhibit it is based off of. It is now up to a few attendees to figure out who the killer is.

Sounds like an exciting night ahead at the Murder Museum.

Writing Prompt: The Ghostly Cafe

There’s a cafe in town in which residents frequent and go to decompress from their hard days. Lilting jazz music fills the air and produces an ambiance of peace that falls over the place and washes over its customers. It is such a serene scene, one would never think it was haunted. But, surprisingly, the ghosts are the heart and soul of this restaurant. Every hour, the ghost of a musician will serenade the customers as they listen with expectant ears and faces. Drinks are served by animated bone corpses. And that weird knocking on the wall keeps time with the music, not at all creepy.

Tell me the story of the ghostly cafe.

Things to Romanticize

A list I began for no reason and will probably continue. I just want to fall in love with the mundane again. It’s all in the little things I suppose.

Car Rides

The sleepy feeling of driving at night with someone you trust. Chill music playing in the background. Street lights whizzing by in the dark. The green glow of the radio controls.

Letters

Pen and ink. The wonderful scratching sound of writing on parchment. Being unnecessarily fancy. Writing in cursive. Talking about the weather and how much you miss them.

Elevator Rides

You feel busy and important but not so much so that you’re above smiling at those who get in the elevator with you. The little compliments you offer your temporary traveling companions. A shared moment of quiet in everyone’s day as the chime sounds after each floor.

Freshly baked bread

The smell filling the house. Soft butter. Soup. Cold, wet weather.

Lightning bugs

The smell of fresh July air. Mason jars. Contests between siblings to see who can catch the most,

Sun Rises

Being up and about before everyone else. Quiet time. Reading as you watch the world wake. A misty blanket which slowly lifts.

Lace curtains

Rays of sunshine streaming through. Patterned shadows being cast on the opposite wall. Quaint and homey.

Dabbling in many different hobbies

Who knows what you’re into this week. Fast paced. Knowing a little bit of everything. Endless possibilities. The joy of learning for the sake of learning.

Hand written notes (the handwriting doesn’t have to be perfect)

Personal. Gratitude for everyone in a small way. Smudged letters that reveal a message that has that person floating the rest of their day.

Moths

Flitting around light. Patterned wings. Night butterflies.

Evening Poems: Its not that I hate myself, I’m just tired of my own crap

It’s kind of sad.
I dont know when exactly but I think I stopped enjoying my own company.
I dont enjoy being alone anymore.
It’s been forever since I’ve enjoyed my thoughts and told myself stories before falling asleep.
My head hasn’t been a nice place to be lately.
Things weigh down heavier than I remember.
And I’m just so tired of myself. Which is unfortunate as she’s the only person in this world that I’m guaranteed to have.
I dont know when exactly I started being uncomfortable with being alone. Maybe it was a slow sort of process.
But it makes sense now why I have so many hobbies. Things that can distract me from the company that I’m keeping.
I dont particularly hate myself but she’s a very exhausting person to be around.
And so I’m tired all the time.

Evening Poems: Candy Wrappers

I used to have time to write down the processes of my mind.
And convey them through weaving stories.
To make a feast of my innermost desires and fears to be consumed by every hungry reader.
Now I have less time
And even more thoughts.
So instead I package them like candy,
Coated with sugar to hide the sour inside.
And I call it poetry.

Evening Poems: Victorious

The many victories of a healthy mind
Are In the small things I’ve come to find.
Nails no longer bitten to nubs
Flesh and blood and hangnail stubs.
I buy myself a coffee with little guilt.
And By midmorning, I no longer wilt.
Hunger is something I actually feel.
Food can be enjoyed, senses real.
I can sleep and wake with the sun.
And I feel full when the day is done.
Even if I haven’t exactly changed the world.
I was not lost in a sickening whirl.
I saw my coffee thick with cream.
Walked barefoot in a little stream.
I saw the rain fall in a mist.
Along the pane the water kissed.
These things weren’t lost on me- I saw them all.
I couldnt before- I was too busy with my fall.
These are the victories of a healthy mind.
All the little things that you can find.

Flowers

I wrote a reversible poem! Read it Forwards and then Backwards!

I’ll love you forever  

So I gave you flowers  

The church bells rang 

Till death do us part.  

To Never to be severed from. 

My darling it’s you I never want 

To lose 

To love is 

To feel my heart beat stop in my chest. 

I hear those fateful words 

My head spins.  

I’ll never forget 

This 

What did I ever do to deserve 

You 

It begins and ends with 

Flowers