Last week, one of the worst horrors to befall a journalism major (or any college student for that matter) happened to me. My phone broke.
In these nine days without my favorite little piece of metal, glass and plastic, I’ve actually been OK. I’ve found so much time to do things other than waste hours on Yik Yak and Twitter.
While I don’t recommend breaking your phone, I do suggest putting down the technology for a couple hours at least once or twice a week and seeing what the warm weather has to offer.
The obvious:
Sit on McKeldin Mall.
Now, I know this may be hard, especially if you are an Instagram addict, but just go sit on McKeldin Mall for a half-hour without any technology and see how you feel. Soak in the sun, take a nap or even meet new people. There’s always something happening, and when your head isn’t buried in iMessage, there’s more of an opportunity to take it all in. (Here’s a compromise: Instagram a single picture right as you arrive, then put your phone away for the remainder of the time.)
The healthy:
Take a friend or two and head to one of College Park’s running trails for the afternoon. Walk or jog while enjoying the sights and the company. Running with headphones in can be dangerous, anyway, and with a partner, there’s safety in numbers. The time will pass more quickly, too. Since it stays light outside later, there’s more time to go out after class.
The touristy:
There’s no excuse for ignoring all Washington has to offer when the bus to the Metro runs every five minutes and the Metro ride itself can be just 20 minutes. Go visit the Smithsonians – free – or take a stroll around the National Mall and see some of the monuments. Now that we’re free from the grasp of the awful polar vortex, it’s the perfect time to take in some new sights in the capital.
The indoors:
Learn a new skill, like cooking. Although it can be tough in a dorm, many buildings have kitchens in the basements. In an apartment, it’s even easier. Fellow blogger Lyla Lawless scours the Internet for quick and tasty recipes so you don’t have to. Last week, she wrote about how to make this cheesy omelet quesadilla.
The intellectual:
Read a book. Or a book on your Kindle — I know this is still technology, but at least it’s more mentally stimulating than surfing Buzzfeed for hours. There are plenty of recommendation engines out there; just plug in another book you like or a topic in which you’re interested, and a whole selection will come back.
The most important thing is just to get outside (or not) and do something you wouldn’t normally have the time to do because texting can really take up a lot. So put down your phone, get together with some fellow Terps and grab spring by the cherry blossom.
