1. Spend time with your family (and Friends!). This seems like a no-brainer, but as my college career comes to an end and I am no longer guaranteed winter breaks, this has come to the forefront of my mind.
2. Bake Christmas cookies. Who doesn’t love Christmas and cookies? Why not combine the two by making delicious treats to share with those that you love. Whether you go traditional with gingerbread and decorated sugar cookies or come up with your own unique recipe, there are few better ways to get in the Christmas spirit than by smelling fresh-baked cookies.
3. Do something in the snow (if you live where that is an option). Spend time in the snow before we all get sick of both it and the permacloud. Whether that is skiing, making a snowman, having a snowball fight, or anything in between, bundle up and enjoy the great outdoors.
4. Take a mini-road trip. We have a MONTH off! You could take a full-length road trip if you wanted to. I, however, am trying to plan a road trip to Duluth, MN with my siblings. What better way to bond than to spend an extended length of time in the car with them? It also means that I get to create a road trip playlist with my brother, which is very exciting.
5. Read something that you want to read. I am a big proponent of reading over break, even if it is something really light and fun. There is no greater pleasure for me than ordering books from the library and having them waiting for me when I get home. This break I will be curling up by the fire to read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (and others if I have time).
6. Actually spend time working out. Just because it is the holidays does not mean that we have to slack physically. Personally, I am starting a half marathon training plan over break in preparation for the Holy Half. 13.1 miles sounds really scary right now, so I need the head start. Whether you decide to train for a marathon or just get out and move, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, even on break, is important.
7. Do a craft project. This is the perfect solution to those post-holiday blues. Whether it is painting a canvas, knitting a scarf, or working on a scrapbook (maybe with all of those cute holiday photos you took!), creating something with your hands will drive those blues away.
8. SLEEP. I know I will be doing this a lot, especially during the first week of break. Give your body a chance to recover from the rough semester.
9. Take some you time. This goes hand in hand with sleep because it is also critical to recovering from the semester. Whatever it is that you need to refresh and restart, take the time to do it.
10.Volunteer. This often sounds cliche at this time of year, but this time of year is exponentially harder for some people than others. Give back in your community, show compassion, and really remember what the season is about.
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