How students can make the most of their time off

You might be bored right now, or you might be busy with a part-time job at an essential service. Cut off from your classes, your friends, volunteering, your internship and maybe even your work, it's easy to feel adrift, listless and stressed. We understand that and you’re not alone. But while this is one of the first biggest societal-wide issue Gen Z is facing, your generation is also resilient — plus, thankfully, you have the internet to distract you and find comic relief.

The only question is, what exactly on the world wide web can help you make the most of your time off, stay connected and find some escape?

Well, we have some recommendations.

Making the most out of summer days

How do you make the most of the long hours of these summer days? Here are some quick ideas:

• Exercise at home using free YouTube videos or Instagram live videos
• Learn to cook an elaborate meal from scratch
• Listen to podcasts while going on long walks or hikes
• Do virtual tours of museums, like the Louvre
• Sign up for a live paint class online
• Get a free audio or e-book from the library
• Download a free Audible Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning book and get to know Canadian fiction. Why not first listen to Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood on a long walk and then get some popcorn and watch the movie on Netflix and see how it compares?
• Keep connected and optimistic by playing a video game with a friend online, virtual get-together calls with friends and family, or joining a community step challenge on Stridekick

Pick up a new hobby

Did you know you can learn pretty much anything on the Internet for free? Latin, guitar, drawing, writing -- you name it and there's a free course on it. Why not use this time to pick up a new hobby, one you've always wanted to try but never really had the time to perfect? You can even use this time to learn a new language -- maybe pick a language and then extensively research everything about the country it's from?

Develop future job skills

Having extra free time can be useful to develop practical skills that will help your career search when everything returns to normal. Depending on your field, why not take a free course that can boost your resume, in addition to taking on a personal interest?

For example, if you're a computer science major, check out Harvard University's Introduction to Computer Science. If you're in graphic design, brush up on your Adobe Photoshop Skills with this two hour free course.

Some courses are good across the board, for whatever job market you find yourself in. For example:

• Successful Negotiating
• Communicating Strategically
• High-impact Business Writing

Learn new financial management skills

There is no better time than now to start learning about finances. Understanding how to manage your money and plan for the future will set you up for financial success. It all starts with building your knowledge about money, making goals, saving and budgeting, managing debt, and investing, so we’ve built a comprehensive guide to get you started!

• Financial planning
  • 5 reasons to start your financial plan today
  • Five ways to help combat money anxieties
  • How to plan your financial future in your 20s
  • How do I plan better for my future?
  • Building a financial roadmap
  • How do I motivate myself to reach my goals?

• Saving & budgeting
  • How to stop stressing about your money at school
  • Budgeting for a post-grad degree
  • 3 easy steps to starting an emergency fund
  • How to budget for adulthood
  • What is a TFSA?
  • RRSP vs TFSA: What should I choose?

• Debt management
  • Why you should find out your credit score
  • 5 reasons why you might not be getting approved for a credit card
  • 4 ways to start paying off your student loan debt
  • 7 tips for paying off your student loans faster

• Investing
  • Investing with a “PAC” mentality 
    
  • Understanding risk tolerance
  • Understanding the stock market and direct investing

Getting financial advice from Scotiabank

If you have a bank account with us, then you have access to a Scotiabank Advisor. Advisors are there to help you prioritize and reach your financial goals. Contact your home branch to speak with an Advisor over the phone.

Check out our Student Hub for more student-related information, tips, and updates, whether it’s relating to general student life, advice on landing your dream internship or job, or tools that will help you better manage your finances.