In college? Here’s some advice about how to spend your free time from the book “How to Survive Your Freshman Year” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it:

“Never underestimate the power of a Tuesday night game of cards in the dorm room.”

“Have fun doing anything, and just smile and laugh at least once a day. You’ve got to find ways to have fun and relax every day, or else you’ll go nuts. You can tell the kids that don’t: they just suck at life and are no fun to be around.

— Anonymous, United States Military Academy at West Point, junior

“Find a way to relax and get away; know when to let go. There are things that are hard to deal with and overwhelming. Know when to detach and say ‘whatever,’ and take it in stride.”

“Play Ultimate Frisbee; it’s a good way to compete. You can’t compete in most college sports unless you’ve played your entire life. If you want to play varsity soccer, you can’t just do it. With Ultimate Frisbee, we take everybody. You don’t have to be athletic or even have any experience in it. You learn everything and you play other colleges.”

“Try new things. I never acted in high school, but I tried out for a play and got one of the lead roles. It’s a lot of fun. I’m going to do a lot more of that now.”

“Walk to classes when you can. It’s good for you and it will give you a chance to get to know the campus. Notice the people around you. Take time out of your day to sit on a bench and look at your surroundings. Be friendly; make the effort to say hello, even if the other person looks grumpy.”

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.