The transition between school to winter break can be a bit jarring so, after a full 24 hours of boredom I thought I'd put together a list for anyone who needs it (as well as for myself).
1. Exercise or Meditate
I personally struggle to calm down so I recommend utilizing one of these activities to reset yourself mentally and physically.
2. Read a Book
I find myself always pushing books away and making excuses for not reading them. For some reason I associate them with lots of extra time and I never consider the time I have enough. So I'm going to try to read for an hour each day and I'm going to start by spreading it out over the course of the day.
3. Memorize the Words to Hamilton
Or maybe just a few songs. I just listened to Hamilton for the first time a week ago and I feel the need to learn the words. I also find it fun to lay down and mouth the words to the songs when I have nothing to do - or passionately singing to my mirror self.
4. Draw
I find that drawing is very personal and really wakes up my creative brain. So even if it's a stick figure or a lopsided flower, it's worth doing.
5. Practice a Hobby
Violin is a hobby that I feel very stressed about constantly. So now is the time to take a moment to remember the parts that make it worth it. This can be arts and crafts for you or an instrument you miss playing.
6. Write
Write about your feelings on something that's bothering you. Write about things you are grateful for. Write whatever comes to your mind. I find it helps me figure out who I am.
7. Make a Inspiration Board
This also helps narrow down what you value and who you are. It's also fun cause you're just spending some time with what you find inspiring. You can draw it, print out pictures, or make a board on Pinterest. I personally like pining pictures around where I sleep so I can see them when I wake up.
8. Go Outside
I forget the outside exists all the time. So, grab your shoes and bundle, it's time for a walk. Sometimes the best ideas come when you're outside. For instance, the director of Inside Out took long walks in the woods to try and understand the characters of the emotions and slowly, he was able to come up with characters that we can sympathize with despite them being emotions.
9. Make up New Outfits
This is another way to figure out who you are at this time. Personal style, at least for me, is huge in terms of how I feel during the day so it's fun to switch it up every once and awhile and figure out how I can be excited about old clothes again.
10. Clean
Clean yourself, wash your sheets, vacuum the room, and wipe down some shelves. Little things like this make the environment you live in feel better and more relaxing. Plus, who doesn't love hugging warm just-out-of-the-dryer sheets?
