With Winter Quarter under way, you’ve likely already experienced at least one awkwardly long break between classes. You have two options: flee to La Jolla Cove for a much-needed beach day, or attempt to be productive. Having spent the last few years on campus, I’ve learned these gaps are best treated as an opportunity to recharge. Here’s a guide on how to maximize your downtime without losing your mind.
Take baby steps
One of the common mistakes that people make with class gaps is setting their expectations far too high. At a school that treats “the grind” like a competitive sport, it’s easy to feel like a failure if you aren’t drafting a thesis or curing cancer in your 50-minute window of free time. But powering through until you are a zombie doesn’t actually help you get ahead — it just burns you out before your 2 p.m. lecture even starts.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a break. Get a drink from Middle of Muir Cafe, grab a sweet treat at a campus market, or buy your favorite comfort food to reward yourself after lecture. Prioritizing these moments now is what maintains your momentum in the long run; that way, you don’t just survive the quarter, but you actually have clarity and energy all the way through the end.
Go touch some grass
After hours of lectures and discussion sections, your body is likely screaming for some movement. Take advantage of your gap to get moving around campus. Take a stroll down Library Walk, go around Price Center, visit one of the art installations on campus, or explore the hiking trails in Earl Warren College.
Walking and stretching outside or standing in the sunlight can help you regain your energy levels and focus. It’s especially helpful to move after a particularly long lecture when your brain feels foggy and jumbled. A few minutes of activity can make your next class a lot easier to manage.
Use the gap to connect
Class gaps are more bearable when shared with friends. If their schedules match up with yours, breaks become natural social gatherings. You can challenge each other to a game of pingpong at Price Center, see who can find the most obscure snack at Sunshine Market, or head to a hammock to decompress together. Talking to friends makes it feel like you’re actually doing something while also helping the campus feel less isolating.
Do busy work
There are many other ways to be productive besides schoolwork. Class gaps are a good way to tackle the small errands that tend to pile up. Take advantage of this time to respond to unanswered texts and emails, personalize your Canvas dashboard, see what’s due soon, or make a plan for your week. Activities like this require almost no focus and will significantly cut down the amount of stress you’ll have when you leave campus for the day.
Or … do nothing
Occasionally, the best thing to do during a gap is absolutely nothing. Lean back, close your eyes, and breathe. Allow your thoughts to wander freely and unstructured. As much as your brain needs pauses, your body needs them too. On a campus where hustle culture prevails, giving yourself permission to pause can feel harder than it should be. Rest is also productive, and stepping away from constant stimulation, especially the curated brainrot on our feeds, allows your mind to reset and feel less overwhelmed.
There’s no shortage of quiet spots to escape to on campus, starting with Geisel Library. From the solitude and serenity of the top floor to the comfy booths tucked away on the bottom, finding a comfortable place to rest makes all the difference. For a change of pace, the community chess boards on the second floor are perfect for a quick game with friends.
You can also lounge in the Warren Field hammocks. Bring your notes, a book, or even just your phone. While you won’t be able to fit an entire study session in 20 minutes, just going over your notes or reading a bit before class will help you feel like you’re accomplishing something.
Gaps between classes aren’t meant to be optimized. They are annoying, difficult, and sometimes infuriating, but they are also a fundamental part of your experience here at UC San Diego. Too short to nap, too long to wait, but just long enough to make them your own.
