Free periods — they’re perhaps the most valuable commodity for Menlo students. A full block of time to use at your discretion? It’s liberating, exciting, and full of promise… but the freedom you receive can also feel overwhelming. Menlo students can be so used to having a million things to do and highly structured classes and airtight after-school schedules, so what do you do with all of this time on your hands? Here’s where this guide comes in!

First Period Free: Self-Care & Hobbies

When you have your first period free, the obvious plan may seem like sleeping in; however, that would be limiting yourself. The morning offers a realm of possibilities, ripe for the taking. By all means, snooze a bit, but then embrace the day!

Start with a big, lengthy breakfast — it is the most important meal of the day. Whether at home or a café near Menlo (such as Andytown, Saint Frank, Coffeebar or Mademoiselle Colette), fuel up! A full stomach will definitely sustain you through the stretch between student life and lunch.

If your workload is light, use this time to recharge: read that book you’ve been putting off, finally learn to knit or just enjoy a quiet moment before the day speeds up. Taking time for yourself in the morning sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. But, of course, if you’ve got a lot of work to do, a jumpstart on your studying is always a worthwhile choice.

Second Period Free: Productivity

A second period free can feel oddly placed — happening either after a tutorial when you’re already in the zone or following an assembly, class meeting or advocacy when you really needed a tutorial. Either way, structured productivity is key. Snag a conference room in the library or a spot in Stent Hall to minimize distractions.

If you have a test coming up, use tutorial to clarify doubts, then dedicate the 75-minute block for focused studying through three rounds of the Pomodoro study technique (25 minutes on, five minutes off) or split the block between creating a study guide and comprehensive review.

For general homework, set realistic goals. A to-do list goes a long way to help you stay on track. If you have an essay, history reading and math problems, try splitting your block into 30-minute, 20-minute and 10-minute segments with breaks in between. A stress-free lunch afterward feels well-earned after a productive morning.

Third Period Free: Food and Friends

Let’s be honest — no one wants to get work done after lunch. Maybe with a free period, you don’t even want to stick around for lunch, and that’s ok! Explore local eats from Posh Bagel on Santa Cruz Ave. to Palmetto’s in Town and Country. 

If you’d rather save money, round up classmates and hang out at school. Try partner yoga, walk around campus or play chess in the library. Third period is a chance to make new friends and unwind before the day wraps up. Also, a break here makes the perfect mental reset before  refocusing for the last period of the day.

Last Period Free: Errands and Famil

A last-period free is a blessing. Honestly, don’t kick a gift horse in the mouth; beat the traffic home and get a jump start on homework, knock out a few errands and spend more time with your family.

Maybe you’ll be able to eke out time to grocery shop with Mom or gossip about the latest scoop with Dad. Also, definitely schedule that doctor’s appointment at 2:15 p.m. since you have the time: this will help you avoid falling behind from missing class and reserve after-school time to hang out with the siblings. 

As for student athletes who have to stick around for sports, use this time to get ahead — finishing any school tasks you may have so after a hard practice, you can go straight to shower, family dinner and, finally, bed.

And for you readers without free periods, you can always place an order at Raising Cane’s with senior Raj Keswani, a free period connoisseur who’s discovered the commute to the chain restaurant’s location in Hayward as a culinarily and financially enriching use of his time. 

Ultimately, there really is no wrong way to do free periods as long as you’re balancing self-care with productivity, friends and family time. But from a seasoned free period veteran, take it from me: these tips can surely help you out!