Making the Most of Every Moment: How to Maximise your Free Time at University

When I first came to university last year, I was surprised by how much time off you have at university. What came as even more of a surprise to me was when I came back for second year in September, my timetable showed that I only had a three-day uni week from Tuesday to Thursday, giving me a four-day weekend. At first, I was really excited – I mean who wouldn’t want a four-day weekend? However, I realised quite quickly that even with all my uni work, I didn’t really have enough to do to pass the time. So, here are some tips to help you truly maximise your free time at university!

Pick up a new hobby

A really good way to pass time is to learn and then spend time perfecting a new hobby. And this can really be anything, depending on what you think will interest you! If you’re creative, there are countless new ways that you can express your creativity such as knitting, sewing, crocheting, baking, drawing, or even learning a new instrument. If you’re more into sport, you could try picking up a new sport – and getting more exercise would be great for your mental health. And remember, it takes time to be good at something, so don’t worry if you don’t perfect it immediately.

Find a part-time job

If you have three or four days each week that you don’t need to go to university, a really productive use of your time could be to get a part-time job. So many of my friends have part-time jobs working in shops, supermarkets, cinemas, restaurants, and bars. Having a job has so many benefits, not least that you’re earning a bit of extra money and it looks good on your CV.

Another interesting idea can be to look for an internship. If you’re unsure about what you want to do after your degree, internships offer an amazing opportunity to try out different types of jobs and different ways of work before you have to properly commit to a full-time job.

There is also the option of looking for volunteering opportunities. There are so many places you could choose to volunteer at such as at the RSPCA, or SSPCA, homeless shelters, or charities shops.

Spend time outside

When you are at university classes all day, the time you spend outside can be limited. A really important aspect of maximising your free time is to use it to reinvigorate yourself for when you get back to classes. So, when you have days off, one of the best things you can do to reset is to spend time outside. You could choose to go for a walk in a park, go for a forest or beach walk (if you have one nearby) or even just walk around the shops. Spending time outside, especially spending time in nature, is known to be good for your mind, boosting your mood and reducing stress.

Use the time to exercise

One way that I have been able to maximise my free time is by using it to exercise. When you have a lot of deadlines, it can be hard to motivate yourself to exercise. But, if you have even a free 20 or 30 minutes, take the time to go on a jog, go to the gym, or even just go for a walk. Exercising doesn’t have to take up a lot of time, not does it have to be expensive – and it has so many benefits, not least that it’s good for both your physical health and your mental health.

Spend time with friends

As university gets busy with essay deadlines, it can be difficult to find time to meet with friends. So, whenever you do have free time, socialising with friends is a great way to boost your mood. You could, for example, meet for coffee or lunch, go to the cinema together, visit the shops, or even just go for a walk. Or, if you’re both really overwhelmed with uni work, meet up for a study session – I often find that I work better when I am with friends in a cute café or study space! And, by having a study session with friends, you really are maximising your free time, using it simultaneously to socialise and be productive.

Take time to relax and unwind

As I said before, a key part to maximising your free time is using it to reset. So, it’s good to choose to use some of your time off of university as time to properly unwind. Whatever you do to relax, whether it be watching a movie or TV show, reading a book, or having a long shower or bath, relaxation time is so important to prevent burnout. By using the time to relax, you will allow your mind time to take a much-needed break from work, which will also benefit your future self.

Don’t spend all day scrolling social media

Whatever you decide to do with your free time, don’t fall into the trap of lying in bed all day endlessly scrolling. Social media is addictive and it’s not hard to accidentally spend hours scrolling without realising that you are wasting the day. Yet, it is not only addictive, but also bad for your mental health. Choosing to spend time off your phone has so many advantages, including improved mental health, improved sleep quality and increased productivity, to name only a few.

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Maximise your Free Time at University

Maximising your free time is important but remember that this doesn’t have to mean that every single minute of your free time is filled with an activity. In fact, choosing to spend time resetting and relaxing is one of the best ways you can maximise your free – and it will set you up well for getting back into those busier periods. Just make sure that the downtime doesn’t meld into hours of doom scrolling on social media as this stops your mind from being able to rest and increases stress levels. But don’t worry if you find yourself doing this, it’s really easy to get into a habit of doing it, especially if you have a lot of free time – just read back over the tips above and you will soon be maximising your free time again!