Protecting Your Time: We Spent the Weekend in Montreal!

University life can start to feel like a never-ending loop of deadlines, caffeine, and back-to-back plans. Between midterms, group projects, and social events, your schedule fills up before you even realize it. And somewhere in there, it’s easy to forget that you’re allowed to take a break — not just a nap between classes, but actual protected time for yourself. That’s what this past weekend was for us.

Yes, it was FOCO, and while the energy was fun, the idea of jumping straight into another heavy weekend (with Halloween right around the corner) didn’t feel right. We wanted something that felt more like recovery than another blur of noise and late nights.

A little clip of our time in Montreal!

Making Time That’s Really Yours

“Protected time” doesn’t just happen — you have to make it. We worked ahead during the week, made sure our assignments were in a good place, and carved out the weekend as no-work, no-stress time. That small bit of planning paid off. We didn’t spend the whole trip worrying about what we “should” be doing. We actually got to enjoy it. You don’t need to leave the province to do that, but the point is the same: schedule your rest the same way you schedule your work. It’s not laziness; it’s maintenance.

A Weekend in Montreal

I'm still thinking about these pancakes...

We left early Saturday morning, coffees in hand and playlists queued up. The drive from Kingston to Montreal is about three hours, just long enough to feel like a real escape but close enough that it’s still doable for a quick weekend.

Our first stop was Mount Royal. We hiked a short trail up to the lookout, and even though it wasn’t a long climb, it was the kind of fresh-air reset that hits differently after a week of sitting in lecture halls.

After that, we went to Dandy for brunch, which was easily one of the best decisions of the trip. The ricotta pancakes were a favourite around the table, with 3/4 of us ordering them.

Barbie expo!

We stopped by the Barbie Expo, which was such a fun, lighthearted break. It reminded us that it’s okay to do things purely because they’re enjoyable. Shortly after, we wandered around and did some shopping.

Rest Looks Different for Everyone

For us, this trip was the kind of break we needed — quiet, social, and intentional. But rest doesn’t have to look like a road trip or a brunch spot. For some people, it’s staying in, sleeping late, or spending a day doing absolutely nothing. For others, it’s going out and blowing off steam. The important thing is that it’s your choice — not what everyone else expects you to do. If you’re honest with yourself about what kind of downtime actually recharges you, you’ll start your week feeling way more focused. And planning ahead is part of that. Rest hits different when you don’t feel guilty for taking it.

These guys ate squid or something

Time With Friends Is Productive

We forget this all the time, but social time is actually good for your brain. Laughing, catching up, sharing stories — it’s all dopamine. It resets your mood and helps your focus when you get back to work. Spending time with people who make you feel good isn’t “time off” from being productive; it’s part of what keeps you grounded enough to show up when you need to.

Finding Balance at Queen’s

Part of having a full university experience is learning what balance means for you. Not every weekend has to be packed, and not every break has to be “earned.” You’re allowed to take time just because you need it.

A bunch of big backs

For us, that weekend in Montreal wasn’t about doing something exciting — it was about doing something different. Stepping out of routine, protecting our time, and coming back on Sunday night feeling like ourselves again.

So whatever “rest” means to you — whether it’s brunch, travel, a night out, or a day in bed — make space for it and prioritize it! When you start your week from a place of rest instead of recovery, you show up stronger.