8 screen-free activities that are guaranteed to brighten your day

6. Volunteer 

Volunteering doesn’t just make your community better — it can make you feel better as well. In fact, studies have shown that volunteering can help you feel better, improve your connection with others and provide a sense of meaning and purpose. The best part is that there are volunteer opportunities for every interest, skill set and schedule available. 

Check out the Volunteer Resource Center for a full list of opportunities around Boulder. Don’t have time to commit to a regular volunteer schedule? That’s okay! Many organizations have flexible scheduling options and drop-in opportunities available. You can even sign up with your friends as part of a group volunteer project. 

7. Declutter your space 

Okay fine, this one isn’t as fun, but it’s still likely to have an impact on your day. When we live in spaces that are cluttered by excess belongings, it can influence stress, sleep, mood, relationships, self-perception and productivity. Removing excess items can help you feel better and support your well-being. 

You don’t even have to do it all at once. In fact, it’s usually better to start small to avoid getting overwhelmed by the process. Here are a few ways to practice small-scale decluttering: 

• Start with a smaller area. Don’t try to tackle your home or even your entire closet at once. Instead, choose a small area to focus on, such as a single bathroom or kitchen drawer, your nightstand or a single category of clothing like socks or pants. 

• Pick a set number of items. Sometimes decluttering can be difficult because there are bound to be items that end up in our ‘maybe’ pile, which can be overwhelming for some people. A good way to avoid this is to choose a set number of items you’d like to get rid of in one day or one weekend. For instance, you may choose to donate or discard 10 items. This allows you to more easily pick out items you know you don’t want to keep without spending too much time deliberating. 

• Set a timer. Take your time when it comes to decluttering. Instead of dedicating a whole day to the activity, consider setting a timer for 15 to 30 minutes and get as much done as you can. You can easily pair this with one of the strategies above to help you limit how much time you’re dedicating to a specific area or number of items. This can also help you choose between decluttering projects that are manageable within a set amount of time. 

8. Get creative in the kitchen 

Cooking can be a great way to express your creativity. It can also be a fun way to hang out with friends. One low-stress option is to host a build-your-own pizza night. You can invite friends to bring a variety of ingredients to share and make personal sized pizzas.  

Want to be extra creative in the kitchen? Here are some out-of-the-box pizza ideas to try: 

• Taco pizza: Taco Tuesday just got more interesting. Top your pizza with queso sauce, seasoned ground beef and cheddar cheese. You can also add toppings like pico de gallo, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream after baking. 

• Breakfast pizza: Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner? Enjoy a delicious breakfast pizza by topping your dough with thawed hashbrowns, cooked breakfast sausage or ham, eggs and cheese. You can also add omelet toppings like bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach and more. 

• Baked potato pizza: Potatoes are delicious in any form, including on pizza. Simply top your crust with a few wedges of baked potatoes (you can make these in the microwave), butter, cheese and seasonings. Don’t forget to add your favorite loaded toppings after baking, like sour cream, crumbled bacon and even more cheese. 

• Hummus pizza: Looking for a vegetarian or vegan option? Try out a hummus pizza by pre-baking your crust and adding hummus, seasonings, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and olives once it has cooled. 

Connect with resources 

Looking for more screen-free ways to destress and feel better? Check out these resources on campus.