Procrastination is a Skill Master it During Finals

Author: Lindsay Waite

Finals are approaching. We work, we eat, we (sometimes) sleep. The only breaks taken are precious meals in Proctor or drawn out walks to the vending machines in Bicentennial Hall. In addition to these planned departures from studying, many of us spend a substantial amount of time staring blankly at the wall. Procrastination is a familiar friend to all college students, but with so few hours in the day, we might as well waste time efficiently.

Here are some quick escapes to help you survive the last week of the term. All take less than an hour and none cost more than a few dollars.

1. Grab the novel you've been meaning to read (or steal one from your roommate) and a cup of coffee from the Grille. Forget you've ever plowed through textbooks and indulge in a fun book for an hour.

2. As the weather gets colder, people are tempted to duck into Proctor instead of taking the short walk to Baba's. Barely off-campus, Baba's offers great sandwiches, salads and pizza at very reasonable prices. Wednesday is deli day with sandwiches 20 percent off — a great time to escape Middining.

3. Leave your books on a comfy chair in Great Hall and take a brisk walk. The road behind Bicentennial Hall runs along open wetlands and offers a beautiful view — a refreshing sight for book-worn eyes.

4. Stop by your commons office for a snack. They usually have candy or cookies and magazines. The friendly staff loves the company of students and will always cheer you up.

5. Vermont is notorious for its lack of winter sunlight. Step outside in the late afternoon and absorb the last rays of light. The sunset is much earlier now, but just as beautiful as ever.

6. Bag lunches aren't just for frantic cramming sessions. Pick up your favorite sandwich at breakfast and have a picnic lunch with friends, minus the usual dining hall traffic.

7. Get excited for the holiday season with a short walk through town. Most stores have decorated their windows with lights (the Post Office wins the prize so far). Do some quick browsing and pick up a couple small presents if anything catches your eye.

8. Break out a late-night tube of pre-made cookie dough, slice it up, bake and enjoy with hot chocolate. Or just eat it raw.

9. Many lounges have fireplaces, so take advantage of them. Dig up last week's Campus and some wood, and study in front of the fire. (For refreshments, see number 8.)

10. Mosey downstairs in Starr Library to the newspaper nook. Step outside of finals for half an hour and read about the latest developments in the news.

Procrastination is inevitable. So don't fight it, just make the most of it.