How to Spend your "Free Time"

School’s out! I’ve been on break for about a week now and let me say it has been wonderful. This quarter was extremely hectic.

So, what now? It’s time to get back to writing. I can focus on more exciting things like writing and my blog. It sounds counterintuitive  to give myself work during break, but this is fun. I get to do what I love after spending four months focusing on academics and work. Turn “free time” into personal work time. Never been to Miami? Always wanted to learn how to draw? Need to work on your LinkedIn profile? Want to learn a new recipe?

These ideas can become goals. Put away ten dollars every paycheck for Miami. Take a couple minutes each day to watch short drawing videos on YouTube. Watch a LinkedIn tutorial online. Buy a cookbook or ask a family member for recipe ideas. Some of these will take a couple minutes, hours, or days to accomplish. Others might take longer. This doesn’t mean you can’t relax. I wrote a post about removing yourself from your workload in October. The crucial message I’m trying to convey is use your spare time to improve components of your life.  

It doesn’t always have to be about “work”. Play a new board game with your family, go to a concert, take a walk, or attend an art show. Take advantage of the world around you and your resources. Don’t live the same boring or unfulfilling life. Make decorations for your home. Organize your kitchen. Sell your jewelry! Try a new hairstyle. Even if you have five minutes, there is something you can do or learn in that time. Continue to grow, continue to gain more knowledge, continue to succeed in life. People complain about not having enough time to do fun things, but don’t realize they could utilize their short periods of free time. Save an episode of your favorite show for tomorrow and do something exciting. Stop living comfortably and challenge your mind.


*Photo by Loic Djim on Unsplash