For the students who aren’t perusing the Bahamas or skiing at a resort over spring break, it can feel a little lonely at home.

However, much wholesomeness and self-discovery can be extracted from at-home activities. 

Spring break is a week away from assignments, and there’s no shame in using this time to decompress and avoid the stress of planning a vacation.

College mutates students into zombies — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 60% of college students have poor sleep quality. 

So, if the prospect of spring break depresses you because it means missing out on what everyone else is doing, seize the opportunity to do something most college kids aren’t and sleep. 

Besides catching up on Zs, students staying at home over break can avoid breaking the bank; according to Gitnux Market Data, the average college student spends approximately $1,080 during spring break vacations, amounting to $2.25 billion annually in the U.S. 

However, if you need a shopping spree, Conway has a precious selection of local boutiques and antique stores, such as E. Leigh’s Contemporary Boutique on Front Street, Kindred Mercantile Boutique and Jenifer’s Antiques on Oak Street.

If the concept of shopping makes you shudder, Conway has at least a dozen parks and walking trails to boost your mood.

If there’s one thing college students need less of, it’s stress, and according to the American Psychological Association, exposure to nature lowers stress, reduces the risk of psychiatric disorders and increases empathy and cooperation. 

While shopping in downtown Conway or strolling through a park may not evoke the same sensation as being surrounded by sand at the beach, there’s still comfort in getting in touch with a city as rich in history as Conway. You may even discover a new hotspot to study or a small business to support.

If you can’t sleep and find nature overwhelming, then there’s a surplus of ways to truly spend your time at home. 

TikTok is never short of recipes, from Ramen lasagna to Oreo sushi, which are probably abominations, but seeing how questionably creative influencers can get is fun. 

According to the Journal of Positive Psychology, engaging in creative activities, such as cooking and baking, every day can increase overall happiness and “make one feel more enthusiastic about their plans for the next day.”

Starting with TikTok is in poor taste, but Conway has its own kitchen supply store, The Kitchen Store & More, at 704 Locust St., if you need a head start. 

If tapping into your inner chef isn’t your jam, be subversive and read. 

According to the National Endowment for the Arts, 48.2% of 18 to 24-year-olds identified as non-readers. 

Conway has a few local bookstores; one is Grace & Truth Books, at 815 Exchange Ave. Suite 101, which sells only Christian books. Book Traders at 1120 Hogan Lane Suite A sells used books and will give you store credit for your old ones.

Maybe if there was more of a demand for books, the city could have a bookstore that isn’t Books-A-Million.

Whether you’ve done a little or a lot this semester, every student deserves a break, and sometimes, that looks different from the picturesque scenes you see on postcards. 

So transform your break into a creative workshop; you may gain more from it than any vacation.