Staff Writer Caylie wants to help you survive even the most egregious cases of Mid-Class Boredom.

Imagine this: it’s Monday morning, and you’re sitting in your two-hour seminar bored out of your mind, having forgotten to take your Adderall yet again. You’ve managed to survive one hour, doodles now decorating your notebook and your nails bitten down to the nub, but you’re not so sure you’ll be able to handle another one. You head to the “bathroom” under the guise that you need to take care of some urgent business—but really, everyone knows you’re about to play on your phone for five minutes and head back to class. Or so they think. 

I’m here to propose some new ideas for those I-want-to-skip days—tips that may get you through your classes for the rest of the year. Sit back and relax as the king of break time shows you how it’s done!

Idea 1: Splash some water in your face.

The quickest way to refresh yourself is to wake your brain up—and what better way to do that than to splash some water in your face? You’ll not only look cleaner, but you’ll also feel refreshed in no time at all! During this time, you can also check yourself out in the mirror and fix anything small you don’t like: re-cuff your jeans, pull your hair into a ponytail, or put on some chapstick. It’s a great way to take care of both your mind and body!

Idea 2: Go for a quick walk and grab some fresh air.

Go for a walk up and down the hallways. The movement will bring some life back into your limbs, and your brain will thank you for it. Bonus points if you’re in a building that allows you to exit and re-enter quickly—then you can go for a walk outside! Fresh air will help you think better, and maybe you’ll see some interesting scenes to boot. (People-watching in New York City is never a failing endeavor.)

Idea 3: Cry.

Okay, hear me out: five minutes isn’t a lot of time to cry, but if you’re already feeling up to it, then let it all out! Crying is a healthy way of coping with stress (including boredom-induced stress), and science confirms that your post-cry feelings aren’t a farce: you actually do feel better after having one. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time to clean up and reorient yourself afterwards!

Idea 4: Grab a snack from the vending machine.

Sometimes all the mind needs to feel more in-touch with the world is a snack for the body, so have at it! You can find a list of vending machine locations here; find the one closest to you, and snack away!

Idea 5: Meditate.

Personally, I’ve never been huge on the idea of meditation—but recently, I’ve been doing meditation sessions once a week. I can’t lie… They’re surprisingly helpful. It gives you the opportunity to check in with both your mind and body, and there’s no threshold to meditating “properly.” Just find a YouTube video or a Spotify playlist to get you going, and you’re good to go!

Idea 6: Listen to a song or two.

Let the music move you and turn on your favorite song. Research has shown that music can act as a “mental palate cleanser” when you are stressed or bored, so use that science to your advantage! 

Idea 7: Stretch.

Stretching is always good for you, and like taking a walk, moving your body can be a great way to wake up your mind! It doesn’t have to be any strenuous; just do it enough to give yourself a refresh!

And that’s all for my quick list of tips! I hope that your next “bathroom break” goes well and that you feel ready to take on the world afterwards!

Bathroom image, campus image, vending machines image via Bwog Archives