Spring break is almost here, folks!

Spring break is a time for students to get away from their studies and take a vacation to ease their minds. While relaxing is the top priority during this time away from the classroom, staying productive throughout the break is also important.

Whether you are spending the week on the beach, in the comfort of your own home, or in State College, there are several things you can do to get ahead and prepare for the rest of the semester.

To help you stay busy and take time to recharge, we compiled a guide full of things to do over break that are both fun and essential.

Catch Up On Sleep

The last couple of weekends at Penn State have been filled with late nights celebrating THON and State Patty’s Day. Now that there are no big events requiring you to stay up all night, it’s important to take this break to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

Hit the hay as soon as possible and snooze on that alarm…or don’t even set an alarm at all. Getting the rest you need can be vital to performing your best and being successful in all aspects of life. Every night, most adults should be getting seven to eight hours of good-quality sleep, according to the CDC.

With the amount of work and time you study, it can be challenging to achieve this. To be sure you are well-rested and ready to tackle the rest of the semester, try to get as much rest as you can.

Coordinate Summer Opportunities

Looking to get a summer internship? If you haven’t already, spring break would be the perfect time to reach out to companies in your career field and apply for an internship. Having these experiences on your resume can be helpful whether you’re a freshman or a senior. Coordinating summer opportunities doesn’t just mean internships, it can also be finding a summer job or planning a summer trip. 

Take Care Of Yourself

With all the studying and assignments you do during the semester, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself. This means eating the right food, exercising, and taking time to just relax. That is what spring break is all about: relaxing.

While you are staying productive throughout the week, treat yourself to something sweet, but also remember to eat some good nutritional food. To recharge yourself, do some meditation, get in a few good workouts, and relax with nothing on your mind.

Catch Up On Assignments Or Get Ahead

We all know it’s possible to get behind on schoolwork when managing several classes. While it may be boring to do work over break, taking a few hours to catch up or finish some missing assignments can help boost your grade.

Some professors may or may not take late work, but if they do, crack down on those missing assignments and turn them in. If you are someone who likes to stay ahead of the game, think about peeking at future assignments or start studying for an upcoming exam. 

Do Something You’ve Been Wanting To Do

Being a college student can make it challenging to find the time to pursue activities outside of the university. We all know there are things we have been wanting to do but just haven’t found the time to do it. Whether it’s going to see a movie, taking up a new hobby, or trying a new restaurant, spring break would be a great time to get out and do something fun. 

There are a ton of activities you can do to help ease your mind even if you aren’t going on a fancy vacation. Below is a list of things you can do on break that you may have been wanting to do for some time:

• Read a new book
• Start learning how to play an instrument
• Go shopping
• Go see a movie
• Go on a hike
• Visit a local museum or zoo
• Attend a sporting event
• Spend time with family and friends
• Attend a workout class

Create Your Schedule For Fall Semester

It’s already that time in the semester. A couple of weeks after we get back from break, it will be time to schedule classes for the fall 2025 semester.

Instead of scrambling to find your classes at the last minute and realizing they are all full, set aside about an hour during the week to review the classes that you need to take next semester. When you find your classes, input them into your shopping cart so you are prepared for the day you schedule. Taking this time could save you a lot of worrying and stress.