Dealing with fall’s deadlines, sleep deprivation and caffeine-induced craziness was so last semester. With nine hours for yourself everyday, Winter Term gives students plenty of time to relax, procrastinate (without consequence) and sleep! But, if you’re tired of stalking all the pictures of your friends on study abroad trips, and if you’re worried about how much time you have spent watching copious amounts of cat videos or back-to-back episodes of (insert any Netflix show here), then here’s some advice from five peers on different ways you could be spending all that time.
1. Samantha Allen: Pick up those healthy habits!
Whether you have an 8:30 A.M class or a 7:00 PM class, it’s safe to say that you have plenty of time to catch up on your sleep. Recharge yourself for the spring semester; with only one significantly long break for four arduous months, you will really be reminiscing on how spectacular it felt to wake up from well-rested nights and guilty-free naps.
Besides sleeping, take this opportunity to get some exercise! Samantha Allen, a sophomore and a member on the women’s club rugby team, recognizes the importance of staying in shape at such a critical time of the year!
“Our competitive season starts in the spring so it’s really important to stay in shape. If I can’t make it to a circuit run or stair workout with my teammates, I make sure to get to the gym,” Allen said.
As a “master” of your own time, make it a routine to take a break from Netflix and that 3-hour course to spend some time at the gym.
2. Autumn Vaughn: Color outside the lines
While you might always be reminiscing on what it would be like to be on a study abroad trip to Rome or France, you should also give Burlington a little more credit! With all this time on your hand, why not take explore what the city has to offer for Elon students?
Autumn Vaughn, a first-year student at Elon University said, “Since I’ve been back from J-term, I have gone to different local restaurants like Simply Thai and I’ve gotten off campus to go to a Panther’s game.”
There are a lot of opportunities to see, eat and do things outside of Elon. If you feel like you’re missing out on that “international” experience, eat out at different regionally specific restaurants like Taaza, the Indian Bistro (that delivers) and The Red Bowl a restaurant that serves a variety of Southeast Asian food. Check out one of Pendulum’s past Columns (http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/Issues/2004/3_4/opinions/experience.xhtml) for more information on the variety of things to do in Burlington!
3. Jennifer Nash: Don’t forget about that 3-hour course
While everyone may be boasting about how relaxing their schedule is, others take the opportunity to recognize how the schedules may dictate how much “free time” you really have. Jennifer Nash, a first year student at Elon, advises peers to take an 8:30 a.m. class because it gives you more time to do your homework and take some time off.
“I have the 1:30 P.M class and I unfortunately have a lot of reading, so I spend most of my time doing that. If you have an earlier class, you can start and finish your homework earlier and enjoy the rest of your free time.” Nash said.
Keep Nash’s advice in mind for next year as we approach Winter Term next year!
4. Sophia Spach: & Allison Kelly Dyke: You get what you take
Winter Term really is what you make of it. After having recently shared a picture on Instagram titled “Learning how to be a dad today #jterm” Sophia Spach, a junior at Elon, advises students to recognize the value of burst-the-bubble classes.
“You learn a lot of cool things that go beyond the classroom setting,” she said.
Spach has also been spending her time picking up old hobbies that she finally has the time to commit to. As a passionate photographer and painter, she shares the products of how she spends her time with her friends on Instagram and hey, we’re not complaining!
She advises her peers to return to old hobbies or pick up new ones as a cool way to spend your time.
Allison Kelly Dyke, a first year student at Elon, expands on the idea of “doing what you love” by filling up as much time as she can with what one of the things that makes her happy: dance.
“I’m doing a work study with the performing arts professor Karl Green. He is a costume designer and I’m working in the same costume shop with him and helping him make clothes for the upcoming musical 1776,” Dyke said. “I usually go for about two hours in the morning and then two more hours after class.”
She advises her peers to fill the day with what keeps them happy and feeling productive but reminds us to not be afraid to take a nap after class or go get lunch with a friend.
At the end of the day, Winter Term is a unique “Elon experience” and just like many other “Elon experiences,” your time really depends on what you make of it!