You have been home for over two weeks and you are only halfway through winter break. If you are anything like me, you have already spent a fair share of your Christmas money and are starting to get bored. Don't have a job at home? Need some low-cost options?
1. Make a New Years Resolution
Only days into the New Year, it is not too late to start a resolution. Go to an exercise class, start to eat more fruits and vegetables, or start a new hobby. Try yoga! You don't need a gym or a membership, you can try yoga in your room with youtube tutorials. It is a great way to exercise and unwind.
2. Cook
Know how to cook? Pick up some cookbooks and learn some new recipes. Make some baked goods or cook for your friends and family. Recipes are available all over the internet for no charge. Have people over and sit around the dining room table! Get rid of the phones and devices and have some great conversations. If your attempt at cooking does not go so well then you could always order out!
3. Start Watching a New TV Show with a Friend
Grab your Hulu or Netflix account information and start watching a new TV show with a friend! If you watch a show with someone else you have something else to talk about. Plus, you do not have to feel guilty about Netflix binge-ing alone.
4. Read a Book
You finally have a chance to read a book or two that are not mandatory for a class! Take advantage of the time. You will want to take a break from anything seemingly school-related, but do not let the time pass by without reading something for yourself! Need some suggestions? Try I Am Malala, based on Malala Yousafzai's journey to make education available for everyone in impoverished areas or The Martian, a science fiction novel by Andy Weir which is at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers.
5. Volunteer
Find your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter and spend some time volunteering. It looks good on your transcript but pays forward an even better reward. Helping others gives back to your community but also makes you feel good.
6. Take a Road Trip
Do you miss your friends from school? Find a weekend to borrow the car and drive for a few hours to see them. You will probably have gas money and food money to worry about but you will get to stay in a new place for free! Getting to be a tourist for a few days in a new town can be fun and movie nights are always better with friends.
7. Start a New Hobby
Learn how to sew, knit, or play guitar. Find something you have always wanted to learn how to do but never had the time for. While your parents are off at work and your siblings are off at school, you have plenty of time to learn something new! If a new hobby isn't realistic, this is the perfect time to develop your existing skills. Dust off your saxophone, write in your journal, or review your judo moves!
8. Catch Up on Sleep
During the semester, it does not take long to feel sleep-deprived with the packed schedules of classes, extracurricular activities, and hours of homework. Don't deprive yourself of sleep during break! There is no need to feel guilty about staying in your pajamas all day or sleeping in until 12. Rest is necessary to prepare for the next semester.
Good luck and happy break!
