Bored College Student

Dear Harlan,

Coming home for semester break has been terrible so far. My family doesn't remember how the house works with me present. I only have about two friends that I even care to see, and everyone else makes me feel inadequate with their crazy college stories. (Don't get me wrong, I really want to go back to college — and I have stories, too. I just feel like they're not as good as everyone else's.) I'm not getting many hours at my job this break, so I literally have nothing to do. I really don't want to sit around my house. I hate it at home. I don't know how I can be here for an entire month! How can I make it better?

Breaking Down

Dear Breaking Down,

Bad attitude, man. This month is a gift.What can you do to pass the time? You can read a book, write a book, go online, build a Web site, go through boxes from your childhood, sell stuff from your childhood on eBay, work out, tone your abs, lose weight, gain weight, lose weight again, learn to dance, learn to play guitar, play piano, play cards, pray, find a date, pray that you find a date, go on a date, go on a second date, go bowling (alone or on a date), volunteer, attend a support group, work at an animal shelter, help those in need, get help you might need, read to children, go to the library, go on a road trip, hunt, fish, climb a mountain, canoe, kayak, swim, take a train across the country and back again, build something, take it down, rebuild it, sit, sleep, roll over, go to a movie, go to another movie, watch a documentary, film a documentary, create a YouTube series documenting your break, stare at the wall, stare at the ceiling, look at the sky, watch the sunrise, watch the sunset or change your attitude. Yes, start with changing your attitude — then do something. Happy New Year!