September 24, 2026 by

 

College students have all been there. Your 11–11:50 a.m. class just wrapped up, but you have another class in the same building at 1 p.m. Your dorm is too far away, so you just sit outside your next class scrolling on your phone and passing time until 1 p.m. rolls around.  

Time between classes on campus can feel too short to matter and all too easy to waste, but that time adds up. Instead of looking at these small breaks between classes as time wasted, you can make them daily opportunities filled with life-giving activities. 

It took me a year of doomscrolling my breaks away to see all the amazing things I could be doing instead. But don’t fear, I am here to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes I did as a freshman. Here are four ways I have learned to make the in-between times count at Cedarville.  

Grab a Friend and a Bite 

One great aspect of Cedarville’s campus is that everything is just a few minutes’ walk away, so you can grab a quick bite to eat between classes. And a quick stop for food or coffee can become more than a meal; it can be a chance to catch up with a friend or connect with a professor.  

Between chapel and class each day, I have a break that I always use to get lunch with my friends. Whether at Chick-fil-A, Tossed, or The Commons, these meals often lead to great discussions. Depending on the day, our lunch conversation might include reflecting on chapel, studying for upcoming exams, or just talking sports. But one thing that stays consistent is that it is always enjoyable and helps me through the day. 

I also love to grab meals with professors during their breaks. Many professors are willing to get to know their students outside of class, which is one thing I greatly appreciate about Cedarville. The professors here are incredibly wise, and even a quick meal with them between classes can provide great biblical guidance and comfort. 

Overall, grabbing a meal is a great way to spend time between classes. Not only does it provide you with energy for the rest of the day and a pause to rest your mind, but it also offers an opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with friends and professors.   

Image of Cedarville's Chick-fil-a with the Stinger emblem on the wall. Students are sitting at tables and talking.

Take a Lake Loop 

Sometimes after a long class or a difficult test, you need a mental refresher before embarking on the rest of your day. From my experience, a walk is the perfect remedy. Cedarville is a beautiful campus with so much to admire. This is my personal favorite way to pass the time between classes. Whenever I have the time, I take a walk around campus to see the lake, look at nature, and talk to people along the way.  

That is one of the benefits of Cedarville. The campus isn’t huge, and neither is the student body. You can walk around most of the campus in one class period, and the odds you run into a friend along the way are high. Taking a walk can bring opportunities for conversation, encouragement, or just noticing little things that you might miss if you’re in a rush. 

From my personal experience, walking is the best way to boost my energy and mood throughout the day. Especially when things are getting hectic and stress is building, the fresh air and movement from a walk can refocus your mind and calm your nerves. On top of that, seeing friends along the way never fails to lift my spirits even more. Together, those things turn an unproductive gap into a genuine reset.  

“Tomorrow” Yourself 

Another way I try to use time between classes is by “tomorrowing” myself. In other words, I use a few minutes now to complete tasks that I know will need my attention later. Whether reviewing notes, beginning an assignment, or answering emails, getting ahead today gives tomorrow’s version of me more time and less stress. 

Often, the most difficult part of a big task is starting, but beginning it in the short time you have between classes can set you up for success later. You don’t even need to do much. Some things I do are:  

  • Begin an assignment.
  • Skim over notes. 
  • Email a professor.
  • Organize my calendar.

The tasks aren’t huge, time-consuming things, but they can add up. Thus, completing them in the small breaks between classes can help significantly in the long run. The relief you feel as the little tasks on your to-do list begin to dwindle is hard to beat. This is especially apparent when you reach the evening and realize you have time for other important things like rest, friends, or campus events. Do the boring things first so you can enjoy your free time later —  or, in other words, “tomorrow” yourself.  

Call Your Mom! 

Now, productivity is valuable, but so is taking time to check in with those who love you from afar. Amidst the busyness of on-campus living, it can be easy to forget about those back home. That is why it is so important to schedule time out of your week to reach out, and between classes is the perfect opportunity for that.  

I know for me, one of the most uplifting and wholesome things to do is talk to my mom. She never fails to make me laugh, and even a brief conversation with her can help mitigate the homesickness I might be feeling at the time. After classes, a quick call with those I love is a great reset. It gives me that extra mood boost to get through the rest of the day. 

That is why I think it is meaningful to call and talk to people between classes. Not only does it improve your mindset for the rest of the day, but it also keeps the connections strong with the ones you love back home.  

Image of four friends around a wooden kitchen table in an apartment. Three are male, and one is female.

Make the Most of Your Time 

Although scrolling can be entertaining and make time pass quickly, there is so much more that can be done between classes, and it is important to make the most of that time! This doesn’t mean you have to be productive and working at every moment, but just be intentional. Time between classes is a great opportunity to take care of your body, mind, responsibilities, and relationships. So, before defaulting to your phone to pass the time, choose one small way to make that time more meaningful and beneficial to your day. 

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