Not everyone can afford a luxurious vacation to Cancun, Aruba, or Florida for the week-long break coming up.
Sitting home with your family with nothing to do can be really therapeutic, but also really boring. Here are some activities for the student at home struggling to have a "fun" break.
1. Take a drive.
If you're from a city, this probably doesn't apply to you. But for those who live in a small quiet town, going for a drive could be the cure to some post-midterm anxiety. Make a playlist and get away for at least half an hour. Belt your favorite songs, roll down the windows, and admire your hometown.
2. Start a new TV show.
Yes, it keeps you inside for a long time, but when else do you have the opportunity to binge like this?! A couple of my Netflix favorites that you could finish in a week include "New Girl," "The End of the Fucking World," "The Carrie Diaries, "The Fall" and "Sense 8."
3. Go to a concert.
See who's playing in a town near you! Tag along with your family, or some friends who have the same break as you, and have a night full of fun, music, and dancing!
4. Visit friends at their schools.
Chances are, your friends from your hometown don't all have the same spring break as you. Take a weekend trip to visit your friends at their respective colleges! You can see what other schools are like, and blow off some steam while getting out of the house and off the couch.
5. Read a book (for fun)!
If you're like me, you miss reading for leisure. School always gets in the way, but now you have a chance to pick something new up! Snuggle in your recliner with some tea and indulge in a new story. A few of my favorites are "Turtles All the Way Down," "Gone Girl," and "The Great Gatsby."
6. Work!
It's true that no one wants to work over break. But if you're not going on vacation or have any plans for the weekdays, try to get some shifts in at your old job, babysit, dog walk, or whatever you can to gain some end-of-the-semester spending money. What college kid doesn't need some extra cash?
7. Go shopping.
What's better than some retail therapy? Sure, everyone else is wearing cute bikinis and sundresses in Cabo, *eye roll* but wait until they come back to school and see you have a whole new wardrobe. "Treat yo self" and go on a spree at your local mall. Just go crazy! You deserve it after midterms!
8. Spend time with your parents.
I know boring right? NO. Your parents miss you and you're lying if you say you don't miss them either. Watch a movie, play a board game, have a talk about life, see your extended family with them. They wait all year for us to come home, spending a little quality time with them shouldn't be sooooo miserable should it?
9. Redecorate/organize your room.
I know for a fact that this something I will be doing, and I really can't wait. Try something new and put your bed on the opposite side of the room, or switch up the furniture. Throw out or donate clothes that you never wear anymore! Organize your old bookcase and stuffed animals. Get your life together, so you can prepare for a really awesome summer.
10. Take up a new activity/hobby.
Whether it's painting, cooking/baking, sewing, journaling, it'll be something to keep you preoccupied, even if its just for a week. Create an outlet for you to destress and feel completely content.
Have an awesome spring break, and don't be discouraged that you're not on a beach, sipping on tropical drinks and getting a tan. A break is a break, it doesn't matter if you decompress with a vacation, or with little activities just for yourself. Now relax, you deserve it!