For some reason, it has become acceptable — even commonplace — for the typical college student to go out during the week. Tufts does Tuesday and Thursday, my friends' schools do Wednesday and some schools even do Sunday and Monday. Generally speaking, this behavior is neither healthy nor acceptable, but the concern doesn't seem to deter many students come nine o'clock. It's a way to break up the week; nothing seems further away from Monday morning than Friday night, and who really wants to wait that long anyway? However, going out and going to class the next day has students paying the price — it's amazing how so many of us schedule our week around a class-free Friday just to avoid this cost.
Here are some tips on how to survive the days after your fun-filled college nights, weeknights or otherwise.
1. Plan something productive in advance. The tendency for most students is to wake up late and sit around doing nothing until the afternoon. No matter how bad you feel, sitting on the couch until 5 p.m. generally doesn't help. If you plan the night before to get brunch the next day in the dining hall or to clean your room like you'd been planning, you're more likely to follow through and more likely to stop dwelling on your headache and/or nausea. Sometimes wallowing is the only thing to do, but if you force yourself to get up and get out of the house, the fresh air and distraction will do you good.
2. Try to exercise. Yes, I realize this is the last thing you want to do after a late night, but exercise is an almost instantaneous fix. The first couple minutes will probably be rough, but after that, your body starts to get back to feeling good. I urge you to make time for this (dreaded) activity regardless of packed schedules because it will revolutionize your physical and mental state. A half hour in the gym can pretty much erase any damage you may have done earlier. And if you do make it to the gym, you'll likely have your pick of machines since so few students are likely to wake up and go.
3. Eat a good breakfast and take a nap. If you wake up, eat a substantial breakfast and go back to bed, you will wake up a second time feeling completely renewed. It's no science — it does take some extra time, but this trick can make the latter part of your day highly successful. It's a lot easier to get yourself to the gym (or to class) if you're well rested and ready to go.
Although going out and then going to class is ill-advised by, well, pretty much any adult with common sense, it is part of the college life. Without a doubt, many students have gone to either their Wednesday or Friday classes feeling less than stellar. I feel as though I have to say going out during the week is a bad idea, and I don't encourage it. But truth be told, hanging out with friends and making stupid (yet somehow acceptable) decisions — they're all college memories.
So long as you are being safe and can balance school work with social events, I don't see any reason not to enjoy the delightful ambiance in Ball Square or anything else that weeknight entertainment has to offer. Be smart, and have fun whenever possible. Even on the bad days, college graduates are jealous of where you are.
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Anna Christian is a junior double majoring in psychology and community health. She can be reached at Anna.Christian@tufts.edu.
