There’s absolutely nothing wrong with curling up after a long semester and just vegging. I’m a huge advocate of resting up with your favorite snack and your favorite Netflix series.
But there’s always that pesky feeling when you go to bed at night that you didn’t do anything of substance the whole day. That’s fine for a few days, but after awhile it starts to get old. You want to feel like you’ve accomplished at least something.
Here are a few things you can do that will still leave you rested and ready for a new year after your vacation, maybe even more than Netflix will:
- Read a good book.
For you book nerds out there, this one is simple and easy. Find a book you’ve been meaning to read for awhile, and just jump right in. I know it’s a whole lot easier to just flip on that episode of Gilmore Girls, but when you get into a book, there’s something very special and satisfying about getting into a good book.
- Take a walk.
My parents have always been big proponents of long walks. They always dragged me to some new hiking trail when I was a kid, and I always whined about it. But now as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how nice it can be to take a walk in the crisp air, and clear your mind a bit. Plus, it might help you work your way back up to going to the gym after you stopped going this semester..
3. Teach yourself something new.
Teach yourself how to knit or crochet, how to do origami, or find a new recipe to try out. I know you scroll through Facebook a lot, so I’m sure you’ve come across at least a dozen ideas for new crafts.
4. If there’s snow where you are, get outside!
You can also have snowball fights, go sledding, write messages in the snow with food coloring, or make snow angels.
5. Decorate Cookies
There are endless possibilities when it comes to cookie decorating. It’s something you can enjoy either by yourself, or with family and friends. And no matter how the cookies end up looking, they’re always delicious.
6. Write something for fun.
If you’re one of those people who is always complaining about how much you love to write, just not for a professor because they suppress your creative process, then here’s your chance! Take this time off to write as creatively as you want– no thesis statement or source list required!
7. Work a jigsaw puzzle
Speaking from personal experience, jigsaw puzzles are addicting. You can listen to music or an audiobook while you work also if you want to add a festive touch.
8. Take a drive and look at Christmas lights.
Some people take a lot of time and effort to put up Christmas decorations. Scope out the best neighborhoods in your area, and take a drive with family or friends.
9. Volunteer in your community.
We all know that volunteering is an activity that often slips through the cracks during the busy season. Few of us have the time to balance school, maybe a job, and a social life while also giving back to the community. So here is a window of time you can take to give back.
10. Sing Christmas Carols
Whether this means gathering around piano and singing hymns or blasting Maria Carey and screaming All I Want for Christmas is You at the top of your lungs, this is an absolute must. And as they say in Elf, the best way to spend Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
