Maybe you have that project that’s due in less than a week and you need time to work on it. Perhaps your roommate finally pushed you over the edge and you need to get some space. Maybe you want to avoid that party or dodge someone you don’t want to see. Or maybe you just want to take some time to yourself.

It happens all the time in college, and for a lot of people, the dorms aren’t exactly the place to hide from the world. So where do you go? Well, here’s a list of a few places common to most college campuses that a stressed student can go to find some time to themselves.

1. The Chapel

   More and more colleges are building chapels on campus for various events and activities. More often than not, these buildings sit empty for the majority of the week. They tend to be great places to just sit down, relax, and take a breather. Even if you’re not a religious person, the solitude and the quite can be hard to find anywhere else.

2. The Library

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   Libraries are the standard place to go to study without distraction. But the library can also be a good place just to hang out and get away. Many libraries have back corners, upper rooms, or desks and benches tucked away in the shelves that are practically invisible to the world. Even if you just need to get away, the library can be a great place to just sit down and relax. Plus, if you want to forget the world for a while, you can always grab a good book to pass some time.

3. The Local Coffee Shop

   Colleges tend to have a coffee shop on campus, but if there’s even the smallest town nearby, you will without doubt find a Starbucks or some other little shop or ice cream parlor just off campus. Take a little walk or ride a bike down to this off-campus hangout spot and just chill. Also, most of these places tend to be wireless hotspots, so bring your computer and surf the web a little while you’re there. It can really help.

4. Just Out!

   If none of these options appeal to you or you just really want to be away from civilization, you can always just get away. I found many times that just jumping on my bike and riding down some back roads to an empty field, parking lot, or lake, or even just riding a circuit for a while, was more gratifying than I would have thought possible. If you don’t have a bike, just go for a walk. Plus, you never know what you might find while biking or walking.
   As an addendum, here’s a list of some places to avoid.

5. Rec Halls

   Even if they’re empty, recreation halls will inevitably become magnets for people eventually and thus aren’t a good place to be alone. Plus, rec halls right on campus might not let you get your mind off of whatever’s bothering you.

6. The Student Union

   The Student Union is a natural hang-out spot. You’ll rarely get any work done, let alone get any time to yourself, in the Student Union. It’s set up to be the exact opposite; it’s a hang-out spot, not a place to have some quiet time alone.

7. Hall Common Areas

   Common areas in the residence halls can be good places to hang out and can occasionally be places to get some quiet time, but for the most part, you’ll want to avoid these rooms. Especially if you want to get away from your roommate.

8. Other Students’ Rooms

   Other students can help with problems, but not the problem of just needing to be alone. If you think you need time to be alone with your thoughts, find somewhere other than a friend’s room to fulfill the requirement.

Getting time to yourself can really help with the stresses of college life. Don’t be afraid to seek out places of solitude, and if you need to be alone, be sure to find somewhere where you will be alone. These few places are a good place to start.