Spend your time more wisely 
by Amber Babyak
February 10, 2012
I know what you’re thinking. But this is not one of those study tips, do better in school articles. This is eight easy steps to pass time wisely in little old Leechburg. I know it sounds impossible, but it’s not. Have a look for yourself.
Play video games. Did you know video games are actually good for you? Studies show that video games encourage teamwork and cooperation, develop skills in math, reading, technology and problem-solving, and improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Some newer studies of people who play show that some video games can keep your brain resistant of the amyloids (bad proteins) that cause Alzheimer’s and dementia. Organizations such as Games for Change promote the use of games for education and social actions. And if those aren’t good enough reasons to turn on your Xbox, even the military uses video games to train and recruit soldiers.
Sleep. Children and teenagers should get approximately 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep every night, according to healthkids.org. That means you would have to go to bed by 9:30 p.m. if you get up at 6 a.m. How many people really get to bed by 9:30 every night? With school work, chores and sports, it’s nearly impossible. A short nap is not a bad idea but don’t over sleep. Scientific evidence shows that short 15- to 20-minute naps in the afternoon can have a reviving, spirit-lifting effect. However, be careful not to nap more than 90 minutes because you may disturb your body’s natural rhythms.
Read. Nothing says relaxation like a good book. Reading offers many benefits. For example, reading helps improve vocabulary, teaching the meaning of words like verisimilitude (“having a true or real appearance”). Reading can also help build skills and reduce stress. Even if you don’t have time to read a whole book, you could search the Internet for articles that interest you. If you haven’t figured it out yet, there are websites out there with information about everything. Don’t limit yourself to YouTube video searches.
Color. I know what you’re thinking: you’re too old to color. Not true, you are never too old to color a picture. Teachers always have crayons, colored pencils and markers. You don’t even have to go out to buy a coloring book. The Internet is always available and has plenty of coloring pictures online for free (for example www.color.ws/coloring.html). Studies show that coloring pictures is an easy way to express yourself.
Go outside. You go to school for 180 days. That’s approximately 1,260 hours of sitting in a room. Go outside, get some fresh air, soak up the rare sunny day that winter weather offers us.
Exercise. Most students don’t exercise because they consider gym class their exercise for the day. Gym class would count as exercise if you really exerted yourself, but how many of you really break a sweat in gym class? Going outside and playing a game with a sibling or taking a walk is not a bad thing. Even if it’s storming outside, you can still exercise. There are plenty of DVDs and YouTube videos that offer a quick workout during the day.
Go window shopping. You’re probably asking yourself what the heck is window shopping? Window shopping occurs when you walk or drive from store to store only looking through the windows at the items displayed. Window shopping does not cost anything (unless you drive). But you will expend some calories, so you’ll also get a little exercise as you enjoy the view! Window shopping is a good way to discover what’s new and in style. A little advice: Don’t take any money when you go window shopping. You don’t want to be too tempted to go into the store to buy something.
Play a board game with your family. Life can be so busy. You worry about school, friends and electronics, but what about those people who will always be there – your family? Sitting down with them and playing a board game is a great way to interact with your family. And if you find those moment with just your family to be a little awkward, try playing some conversation games like Table Topics, Family Talk and Box of Questions.
Instead of continuing your life as a couch potato or wasting your time as a Facebook creeper, try some of these tips. They're all easy and beneficial. Whether it’s during spring break or just an ordinary weekend, these simple eight tips are sure to help you pass your time wisely.
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