5 Ways Broke Students Can Unwind on a Budget

By: Amy Palmas

No one can argue that the mixture of a pandemic, political tension and natural disasters can be a bit much. There does not seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel for this year, events continue to stagger one on top of the another. To add to it, this year’s fall semester is fully online. It really is the icing on the cake for 2020. This blog is here to help students find ways to de-stress while taking into consideration COVID-19 restrictions and most importantly, the college student’s wallet.  
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1. Declutter your space to declutter your mind, Cost: $0  
Take a step back away from the screen or textbook, glance around your room and it’s a sure bet that there will be something out of place. It could just be a misplaced pen, or it could be an unhung hoodie or an unmade bed. Whether it’s a small clutter or an entire messy room, disorganization breaks your attention and distracts you. The solution to clean up! Cleaning the environment around you can be, and is for most, a self-care task. It is calming and relieves you of one less item on the to do list. So, turn on your music and tidy up!  

2. Sip and Craft, Cost: $5 - $15  
Satisfy your event planning goals with this choice! This concept is not new, there are many places that host events for adults to paint and drink. The idea in this blog is to do it in the comfort of your home at a reasonable price. Invite over your quarantine crew and throw a safe and socially distanced painting party. Michaels, the art and craft store, is always providing coupons online. As for the alcohol, we’ve got you covered. Check out this wine guide for every college student. Mellow out, sip up some wine and create your own Picasso masterpiece.  

3. Parks and Recreational Coffee, Cost: $3 - $8  
If you are not in the mood to get buzzed, try the real beverage college students are hooked on, coffee! Go for a walk, drive or hop on a bus ride to a local coffee shop and purchase a caffeinated drink. Do not do it for the purpose or intention of studying. Try something new, possibly hang out in their open space (if they have one) or catch some fresh air while roaming around the neighborhood park. Relieve the Zoom fatigue and get out!  
If you are located in Long Beach, here are a few local coffee shops (and my favorite specialty drinks) to get your addiction started.  
Collaborative Coffee Bar – Lucky Charms oat latte, iced chai  
Commodity – Holy Diver  
Patria – iced Café de Olla latte and the coffee cake (to die for)  
Recreational Coffee - honey vanilla latte with oat milk and/or the sea salt affogato  

4. Cruise it out, Cost: depends on your tank and hunger  
In this day and time, no one can afford to take a road trip. No really, the cost of placing your health at risk in the midst of a pandemic is not worth it. What is an option is a cruise - no lowriders or Harley Davidsons -  just the regular car parked in your driveway that takes you from point A to point B. Go for a spin, put on your best playlist and maybe even bring your quarantine buddy. However, before disembarking in ol’ reliable, plan out the short route. An all-time favorite go-to is PCH, which just happens to be exactly two streets away from campus. Head down PCH, and right in the middle of Laguna and Crystal Cove is some Instagram worthy scenery. Pull over to the side, forget about school troubles, and take it in. After that, if you are a bit hungry and have a crisp twenty, Shake Shack is right nearby! 

(Lincoln Heights, San Diego of quarantine buddy 2020) Shot on Canon AE-1 Film by Amy Palmas           La Jolla Covee, San Diego 2020 

5. A solo hobby for the quarantine hobbits, Cost: $5 - $10  
Cleaned your room, yet? Are you able to see the floor that was hidden underneath the papers? Add some décor with a do-it-yourself rug! This is the hipper version of grandma’s knitting. So, just in case painting was not your thing, here is where that Michaels coupon can still come in clutch. For the supplies, choose two to three yarn colors, rug canvas and a latch hook to get started. Think about the design and trace the canvas, preferably in quadrants, with a black marker. You can YouTube the rest of the instructions! This activity can be done when taking a break from reading or before a Zoom meeting. Take your time and enjoy the process!  
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Do not feel bad for taking a break; allow your mind to rest. Do so by knowing that this year has not been easy and taking a step back might be exactly what you need.