Now that the fall semester has finally come to an end, it’s time to start enjoying winter break! You get to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year, while having a whole month off of school. Without having to do homework and study (unless you’re taking winter classes), you’re going to have a lot more free time than usual.
As tempting as it may be to hibernate, think about how satisfied you’ll be knowing that you improved yourself over break! There are so many ways you can become a better version of yourself, both physically and mentally, so here’s some ideas:
Pick Up a New Hobby
Winter break is the best time to pick up a new hobby because of all the free time you’ll have. For instance, believe it or not, many people find comfort in knitting. It’s not only for older people; college students can really enjoy knitting a scarf or a beanie! You’d also be surprised at how relaxing and stress-relieving it is to color, draw, and paint. If you’ve never knitted anything or colored in an adult coloring book before, winter break is the time to try it!
Read a Good Book (or Two!)
It can be really hard to make time for leisurely reading during the semester because you’re probably too busy reading for class. Throughout the semester, I make a reading list of all the books that I plan on reading once school is over. Whether you use books to escape to another world or to educate yourself, reading more will always improve yourself in some way. Plus, reading is a good excuse to stay in bed even longer. Why not try Book of the Month Club? BOTM is a subscription service that automatically sends you a book each month, making your search for a good book that much easier!
Learn to Make a New Recipe
Whether you are a seasoned chef or the only cooking experience you have is from watching the Food Network, learning to make something new can be so exciting! Take a break from college dining halls and take advantage of the full kitchen in your home by cooking some good food. Channel your inner chef by creating your own recipes, or finally make the ones that you’ve been dying to try. Spoon University now has a chapter at Montclair State, so check it out for some tasty recipes and food tips!
Volunteer For a Good Cause
Volunteering is never a waste of time, especially if it’s for something you truly care about. It’s extremely rewarding to know that you helped improve someone else’s life. Food pantries and soup kitchens are a great place to start. Animal lovers can definitely volunteer at an animal shelter. The opportunities are endless; you can even look them up online at VolunteerMatch! If you have a few extra hours a week during break, try donating your time to help out your community.
Enhance Your Resume
You never know when you’re going to quickly need to send out your resume, whether it is for a job opportunity or an internship. That is why it’s important to always keep it updated with every new experience you have. You should definitely take the time to fix your resume over break because it can get pretty tedious. On the other hand, if you’re looking to build your experience, try starting your own website or blog to get yourself out there. Check out WayUp for tips on how to enhance your resume and learn new career skills. Taking the time to enhance your resume over break will lead you on the path to success this year.
Discover a New Way to Exercise
I will admit that sometimes my exercise falls short over winter break. It can be hard to get out of bed and to the gym in below-freezing temperatures. Beat the boredom of the gym by trying a new form of exercise this winter! There are so many places that offer fun exercise classes that will get you moving (and some might offer a student discount!) Groupon has so many deals for fitness classes, so definitely check there. I love taking kickboxing, yoga, dance, and spin classes, so why not try one over winter break?
There’s no better way to spend your extra time than by doing something to improve yourself. Try any of these six ideas to become the best you can possibly be over this winter break. You’ll be so much happier with yourself knowing that you’ve made so much improvement.
Happy Holidays!