We’ve all been there: Saturday afternoon creeps in and the looming questions awaits you. “What am I going to do tonight?” Going out is an option, but it is just one of many ways to spend your time.
1. Movie Night
This is a classic, too often surpassed by other exciting outings that pop up. But nothing is as good as a Saturday night throwback, watching a movie that fits to your mood. According to Denver University sophomore Linneya Gardner, nothing is better than sitting down and curling up to She’s the Man or Tangled. Add in a bowl of M&Ms and popcorn, and you’re set for the night.
2. Spa Night
After a week of numerous stressful exams, self-care can be neglected. Take a moment to relax. Gather up the face masks and turn on some chill music. My roommate recommends an oatmeal-avocado de-stress mask, especially on what we call Self-Care Saturdays. Allow the stress to leave, and to find serene moments. You will find your body recharged and ready to tackle the next week.
3. Game Night
Unfortunately, the raring excitement of the once-classic game night has begun to fade with age. However, when faced with a Saturday night devoid of plans, turning back to the pack of cards can lead to a night of roaring laughter. Nothing beats a good game of Cards Against Humanity or Spoons. And if the card games just aren’t doing it, the classic Never Have I Ever is always a good time.
4. Catch some extra Z’s
Hitting the sack early cannot be discredited. Weekends are when most people claim they will catch up on sleep. However, very rarely is this the case. Because most have the dreaded Fear of Missing Out, people often try to place great importance on having any semblance of a plan for the night rather than accepting that it is okay to just want some extra sleep. So slide into those jammies early, and curl up real snug. Extra zzz’s here I come!
5. Catch up on Netflix
Rather than dimming your laptop’s brightness in the middle of the library to shamefully binge your latest Netflix discovery, do it in your room with the volume up for a full experience. The weekend is the best time to binge watch a show because you don’t have to sacrifice the immediacy of school work during the week. If you are in a slump, I recommend an episode of “The Great British Baking Show.” Always a classic.
6. Read a Book
When a long week of grinding out group projects has got you down, and social interaction is not something you are looking forward to, sit down with that book you’ve been meaning to reopen. Crack the spine into a world of characters you know like the back of your hand or immerse yourself into a realm unknown, discovering characters and possibilities unfathomable.
7. Call a Friend
College and home friends are usually two distinct circles, and this is not a bad thing. However, I know that especially during the middle of the term, I find it difficult to keep constant contact with close friends, as I am generally inundated with exams and papers. One late night while my roommate was out at a concert, I decided to catch up with some of my home friends who I hadn’t previously had the time to talk to. Hearing their voices and listening to the stories of their lives made me smile. It took me out of the bubble that the college world can become.
8. Paint
University of Denver sophomore Erin Emery noted how she and her roommates would paint every Friday night. Supplies such as paint and canvas were provided by her RA, and they would go from there. Each week, new creations were added to the wall designated for the art. Eventually, the passing of the weeks became a visible collage hung on their wall.
9. Stargaze
Recently it came to my attention that not many people, especially those attending college in cities, take the time to look up at the galaxies above us. Appreciation for the distant stars above, whether you know about astronomy or not, is a classic pastime. It allows for a special bonding to occur. This activity is reminiscent of cloud-gazing: peering into the depths of the curtain of the night. There is something about hanging out under the sky that brings people together in a way that party lights don’t.
10. Gather the Squad
Especially as winter is rolling in with its chilled winds and freezing rain, my friends and I have found our motivation to go out decreasing. Now, more often than not, we all gather in one of our rooms and play our favorite songs to the group. We invite new and old friends, allowing that room to be a sort of headquarters for those who want to pass through between their nightly plans. But this also serves as a way to catch up with them. We laugh together and talk together, genuine pastimes that are not found when out party-searching.
