Filling Free Time After AP Tests

After the hectic frenzy of studying and taking AP tests, many students find themselves with almost too much free time on their hands. Leaving this time empty is a dangerous plan—unoccupied, students will be left to the mercy of their phone and may find themselves wasting away in bed, doomscrolling for hours at a time. Though it may be impossible to totally avoid an increase in unproductive behavior from early to late May, there are ways for students to use most of their non-school hours productively during this time.

1. Return to a Normal Sleep Schedule  

Once the time commitment of having to prepare for a standardized test is gone, one way to use your extra time is just…to sleep. This could mean getting more sleep or alternatively shifting your sleep schedule to suit your personal needs. Returning to a balanced sleep schedule will boost your overall physical and mental well-being at a time when you desperately need a boost.

“After my AP tests, I’m going to sleep a lot more and hopefully feel a lot better,” senior Phoebus Chen said.

2. Enjoy Your Hobbies

The sheer amount of time that studying for AP tests takes can force students to neglect their hobbies. While the impact this has on students’ well-being may be marginal over a few weeks, forgoing enjoyable activities can have a detrimental impact on mental health, and academic performance in the long run. So, once you have the time, put the books down and go do something that you genuinely enjoy!

“I’ve been too busy lately to do much outside of school, but after AP testing, I really want to resume axe throwing,” senior William Fisher said.

Personally, I’m going to take full advantage of my free time, along with Washington’s beautiful early summer weather, to go hiking as often as possible. But whatever you choose, be sure to genuinely enjoy it—completing activities that you aren’t happy doing won’t help you to de-stress, and you might even unconsciously replace your “hobbies” with less fulfilling tasks like scrolling through social media.

3. Try Something New

Alternatively, instead of resuming your hobbies on hiatus, you could pick up something completely new! Exploring your interests before summer can also help you figure out what to use your precious summer vacation time on. Consider utilizing the May and June sun to go for evening walks or spend sunny afternoon trips on Lake Washington’s beaches. Enjoy that one book that you’ve started but never had time to finish. Succumb to pickleball fever and conquer Bellevue’s tennis courts. The possibilities for new activities to pick up are endless!