Classes have been going for a few weeks now, and we’re all getting into comfortable routines. But are our routines getting too comfortable? It’s nice to know what you’re doing, but variety is the spice of life. There’s a fine line between comfortable routine and monotonous existence, and with the stress of reading, classes and various extracurriculars, it’s all too easy to lean toward the latter. We at the Clog have compiled a week’s worth of little ways to add some variety to your days without taking too much time away from your busy school schedules.
Sunday: Change up your coffee routine
There’s no way you’ve managed to make it to every coffee shop in the area, and even if you have, you haven’t tried every possible order. Experiment with your coffee routine, either by changing your simple no-nonsense black coffee to an extravagant iced macchiato or by trying a new place’s house blend. It might cost a couple dollars extra, but it’ll make your day just a tiny bit more interesting.
Monday: Take a class at the RSF
Whether you avoid exercise like the plague or have a daily weight-lifting routine, this is a simple way to add something new to your life. If you’re one of those who has never used their RSF membership, just going to the RSF will be a new experience. If you hit up the weight room or even a workout class every day, you can still shake it up a little bit by taking a class that you would never consider otherwise. Never tried Zumba? Always wondered how you turn cycling into a class? Now’s your chance. If it still feels impossible to squeeze an hour-long class into your day, try taking one of the shorter half-hour classes, like Hardcore or HIIT X. You can check out the RSF schedule here.
Tuesday: Watch a new TV show
It’s been on your Netflix queue for what feels like centuries, but you’ve never actually clicked play on the first episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Bite the bullet and watch a half hour or hour-long episode from the endless list of TV shows that your friends, family and various streaming accounts keep recommending to you. Who knows? You might find your new favorite.
Wednesday: Audit a lecture
By now, the novelty of your new classes has most likely faded. If you’re an upperclassman, you probably can’t remember the last time you took a class outside of your major requirements unless it was a breadth. Maybe you never have. Take this opportunity to attend one of the many one-hour lectures this campus has to offer. Either ask a friend if you can tag along to one of their favorite classes or just look through the course catalog and pick a class that sounds interesting and not like something you’ve ever taken before. You might be a little lost, but you might also learn something really interesting.
Thursday: Study somewhere new
You probably picked a study spot fall term of your freshman year and haven’t changed it since then. Instead of going straight to your study spot of choice or heading home to work after class, try a library room that you haven’t spent a whole lot of time in, such as the Morrison Reading Room or the Heyns Reading Room. There are probably some libraries that you didn’t even know existed, such as the Philosophy Library.
Friday: Try a new restaurant
Ask a friend to pick a restaurant for you to try and make plans to eat there on Friday night. Get really crazy and have them order for you when you get there. If you hate it, it’s just one meal. But if you love it, you might have a new place to take your parents when they come into town and a new dish that you like.
Saturday: Visit a tourist attraction
So you’ve been at Berkeley for anywhere between three weeks to four years at this point. Have you seen all the tourist attractions in the area? Probably not. Whether you’ve missed out on the Golden Gate Bridge or Jack London Square, take the day to go see something that you’ve been meaning to see since you got here. It might be time-consuming, but it’s a Saturday and it’s always good to remind yourself of what a beautiful place we live in.
