Say you’ve settled into academics at college, and you’re a studying pro now. You’re organized, you’re on top of your work, and you’re learning a lot. But your time management skills are just too good, and suddenly… wait… you’ve forgotten… what does one do in their free time? Look no further! Here are some fun activities to enjoy your free time in college.
Baking: There’s no better way to fill your time than to eat, and there’s nothing better to eat than some homemade treats. Get some friends and bake a cake! Or alternatively, bake a cake and get some friends!
Student Performances: Maybe your best friend is in the cast of Pippin or your lab partner plays triangle for a chamber orchestra. Or maybe you’ve just seen some intriguing posters around campus for a Theater of Cruelty adaptation of The Magic Tree House. Either way, you’re surrounded by talented people eager to entertain! One of my favorite performance groups to catch at UChicago is Le Vorris & Vox, an endlessly impressive circus group.
Wikipedia Rabbit Holes: Might I suggest this article about an eighteenth century English woman who convinced doctors she had given birth to rabbits, or this article about a village in Nebraska with a population of 1?
Board Games: One of my favorite ways to have fun in my dorm is by playing board games with friends. Some of my favorites are Coup, Kill Doctor Lucky, and Scrabble (it’s a classic!).
Sports: Show your school pride by cheering your team on at a game! Or if you want to play rather than watch, there are plenty of opportunities for that too. You could join an intramural or club, or just find a couple friends for a pick-up game. Broomball, anyone?
Movies: Student organizations often host movie screenings on campus. Maybe the French Club is showing Amélie or the Student Activities Board is showing the latest Marvel release. At UChicago, the student-run film society Doc Films screens a different movie every night. This quarter, I saw a 20th anniversary showing of The Truman Show, an advance screening of Jonah Hill’s new movie Mid90s followed by a Q&A with the cast, and Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, a surprisingly captivating Belgian film that follows three hours of a single mother’s daily routine in slow, excruciating detail.
TV Nights: You can always organize your own entertainment! Choose a show and invite some friends over for a lowkey TV night. My first year, I was introduced to Madoka Magica, a beautifully animated deconstruction of the magical girl anime trope. And I recently hosted a 4-hour marathon of the comedy reality show Nathan For You, filled with laughs and cringe-induced groans.
There’s always plenty to do on a college campus! These are just a few of my favorite ways to spend my free time, but once you’ve settled in, you’re likely to find some of your own.