Zoom Zombies
Finally, the professor wraps up class eight minutes late, and you select “leave meeting” before you can hear the punchline of the corny wrap-up joke. Despite daydreaming about class ending for the past hour, you can’t seem to produce any ideas on how to occupy the time between classes.
Thinking about the possibility of spending another hour at your cramped desk, let alone one more minute on Zoom, the urge to gain as much distance between yourself and your laptop grows stronger. Not to mention that you’re so deprived of sunlight from spending all this time shut in watching lectures, there’s a chance your roommate may think you’ve been replaced by a zombie.
You’re not alone. All of these experiences and more have been familiar to students across campus since online learning started a year ago, and have led to an effect that I’ve deemed “Zoom Zombie Syndrome.” Characterized by bloodshot eyes, sensitivity to sunlight, and a fear of human interaction, Zoom Zombiism may be the true pandemic affecting the student population. The remedy? A healthy dose of Vitamin D. Even with just thirty minutes between classes, it’s still possible to get outside. So, the next time you’re looking for a quick escape into nature to clear your mind and save your sanity, refer to this guide for the best outdoor getaways within a half-hour from campus.
Austin’s oldest nature trail, Shoal Creek runs for 11 miles through the heart of Austin all the way to Lady Bird Lake. This gem of a greenway, only a block away from West Campus, is my personal favorite destination when I need to get outside for a quick midday break. I like to use the trail for an afternoon run along the creek, but with a bit more time I recommend taking it downtown, ending on Lamar Bridge overlooking the lake. Also, check out the Shoal Creek Conservancy, an awesome organization dedicated to preserving one of the city’s richest nature conservancies and watersheds. The conservancy hosts two volunteer cleanups every month, a great way to get outside while keeping Austin clean.
Adjacent to Shoal Creek is Austin’s historic Pease District Park. With its bright greenery, spacious field and sand volleyball courts, Pease Park is like a mini Zilker right in West Campus’s backyard. Three friends and a Spikeball set for a friendly (or not so friendly) match in the sand pit are all you need for great afternoon. The Austin Parks Foundation also has big plans in store for the park’s future. You can find signs displaying their vision plan all over the grounds, or you can check them out at the website linked above.
UT’s very own terrapin oasis, the turtle pond sandwiched between the Tower and Gearing Hall is a peaceful spot to get some work done outside while enjoying the company of adorable red-eared slider turtles. The pond’s zen atmosphere helps when you need a focus boost, but watching the turtles provides an entertaining distraction from time to time. I can say for certain that the turtles are good study buddies and will keep quiet for Proctorio if you decide to take a quiz out there. If you get your work done early, read up on how the turtles fare when it gets cold on campus, like during February’s unprecedented snowstorm (don’t worry, they made it out okay).
Tucked away in North Campus, this childhood dreamscape can be your reality. Stepping onto the grounds of the park, all your worries and responsibilities seem to drift away with the breeze. Spend some time at Eastwoods by walking the trail that snakes around the perimeter, playing basketball or tennis with some friends, or simply sitting under a tree to people-watch. Be sure to pay Eeyore a visit while you’re there, too. It should be easy to find him — he’s the statue of the somber looking donkey in the middle of the park waiting patiently for his birthday party. A celebration which has been thrown every May since 1963, when a UT English professor, a couple students, a keg, and a red balloon kicked off a decades long Austin tradition.
Explore for yourself!
Who am I to tell you where to spend your time? Explore for yourself and find a spot that you feel a connection to. I promise there are new places out there to be found, and it will result in some pretty cool discoveries. What you will learn about yourself and your surrounding environment along the way will amaze you. When you’ve found a spot of your own near UT, let Drift Mag know!
Art by Anna Kaminetz
Photos by Chandler Maloney