For the Love of Lists

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How to Make Life Feel More Like College

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Sometimes I wish I could go back to college.  Yes, adult life is fine and dandy most of the time, but I miss the freedom and fun of college.  You get this feeling that you can learn anything, do anything, take on the world.  I think after settling into full-time jobs we start to let routine convince us that it’s not about the excitement anymore.  So if you’re missing your alma mater, check out some of these ideas on how you can make life more like college.

  • Continuous Learning
    • Open Courseware – Search online and you’ll find tons of (mostly) free courses you can take on your own time to learn nearly any subject.
    • Learning Apps – Duolingo, Memrise, and TED are just a few examples of apps that can teach you in minutes a day.
    • Library – Nothing beats walking into a room full of books knowing you can learn just about anything.
    • Night Courses – Check out your local colleges for certification or degree courses you can take part-time.
    • Summer Sessions – Colleges and professional associations offer summer and/or short courses that can advance your skills.
  • Clubs & Extracurricular Activities
    • Community Recreation – Check out local sports teams or classes you can join in your town/city.
    • Professional/Technical Associations – Many careers are represented by professional associations with local chapters that put on events.
    • Groupon/Living Social/Amazon Local (Discount Classes) – If you’re interested in trying out a new hobby, search out a good discount.
    • Local Fitness/Dance/Activity Centers – These classes aren’t just for kids; rally some friends and try something new.
    • Start a Club – Always wanted a book club?  What about a cooking club?  Send out word and see if other people share your interests.
    • Pursue a Hobby – Is there a hobby you’ve always wanted to try?  Set aside an hour or two a week and dedicate it to mastering a skill.
  • Dining Hall Buffet
    • Host an International Potluck – Invite friends to bring dishes representing different cultures for a fun party theme.
    • Search for Highly-Rated Local Buffets – Try to look past the age-old Chinese buffets and use Yelp to find a fun, casual dinner.
    • Search Out New Recipes – Recreate some old college favorites or try your hand at a dish you’ve always wanted to sample.
    • Go to a Brunch Buffet – The adult version of the dining hall, complete with food you’ll actually enjoy waking up for.
  • Social Groups
    • Start a Weekly/Monthly Social Gathering – Whether it’s a club or just for fun, schedule routine time with friends on a regular basis.
    • Keep a Running Group FB Conversation – If you’re far from your friends, set up a group chat where you can stay connected.
    • Start a Social Text for Weekend Planning – Found a festival to visit?  Spread the word quickly to your favorite friends group.
    • Attend Networking Events – Many professional associations host community networking events where you can meet those who share your career goals.

College Life

  • Advisors
    • Find a Mentor – Whether they’re from your company or elsewhere, make contact with someone and ask them to share expertise.
    • Professional/Technical Associations – These groups can help match you up with an experienced professional to offer advise.
    • Research SME Blogs – Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) are often found on popular blogs and can provide guidance and tips.
  • Campus Resources
    • Spend the Afternoon at a Park – If you’re missing lazy days hanging out on the Quad, try taking a book or frisbee to your local park.
    • Visit the Library – Yes, so important it’s on here twice.  Spend a quiet afternoon at the library to focus on your projects.
    • Set Up a Study Center – If you’re taking classes, create a study haven in your home by sectioning off a desk area and organizing it to your study habits.
    • Watch School Sporting Events – Do you wear your school colors every season?  Look for your team online or live and root for your alma mater.
  • Purpose & Goals
    • Look for Opportunities – In college, we see opportunities to do fun or advancing activities all the time.  Do your homework and brainstorm all of the opportunities you could take.  Leave nothing out – you never know when the timing will be right.
    • Write Down Your Life Plan – Maybe you had big goals in college.  Remind yourself of them by writing down your life plan from this point forward.  Be as broad or specific as you like, but be sure to start planning for your goals and taking action.
    • Allow Yourself to Dream – One of the things I miss most about college is the feeling that I could go on to do anything.  Recover that feeling by allowing yourself to picture your “dream life”: the “perfect” day, the dream job, the dream house, etc.  Use these visions to set goals to work towards.

There’s no reason we have to give up that freedom and spontaneity we felt when we were 20.  It’s just a matter of working the features that you enjoyed into your everyday life.