As Fall term comes to a close, we can all let out a sigh of relief knowing we get a long break to relax and recover. However, Winter term is just around the corner and every student knows surviving this term requires some mental preparation. Here are few things you can do over winter break to get your mind and body ready for the cold weather:
1. Relax, all day in bed if you have to.
It’s been a stressful term of hard work and late nights, you deserve a few nights of sitting in your bed for hours at a time watching Friends or the new Stranger Things. Take some time to be bored and enjoy not having any responsibilities for a while.
2. Make your parents bring you breakfast in bed.
Let’s face it, your mom and dad missed you and are so excited to have their “little baby” home for the holidays, they’ll be thrilled to relieve you of some of your post-term stress. Take full advantage of the stocked fridge and having something other than ramen in the cupboard.
3. Go on a road trip.
It’s really easy to get caught up in the relief of being able to relax all day, but don’t let that happen! Before you know it, you will have wasted away your entire break without doing any of the exciting things offered to you only in the winter (snowboarding, skiing, sledding, building snowmen, snowshoeing… the list can go on forever). Grab a group of friends and remind yourself that there’s life outside of the classroom.
4. Ask for something useful for Christmas.
I know we’d all love to get that iPhone X in our stocking, and I know that most of us (including me) will be sorely disappointed on Christmas morning when that beautiful white apple box is nowhere to be found. This year, ask for something practical that can help you this winter like a nice new jacket or maybe some quality headphones so you can study better. Believe me, you’ll be thanking yourself later when it’s 30 degrees and raining outside or that inconsiderate guy from COLT 301 is screaming into his phone in the library.
4. Don’t stress, enjoy the free time you have.
I’m a senior, about to graduate in the spring, so I understand the feeling of the 100-pound weight of what my future’s going to be at all times. However, it’s not called winter break for no reason. Allow yourself to breathe, everyone needs a break sometimes and winter term will only be harder if you don’t utilize yours.
The bottom line is, winter term will be as difficult or easy as you want it to be, and part of that will have to do with how you take care of yourself over the next few weeks. Remember to give yourself a break and enjoy your time with your family and friends, the time for working hard will come soon enough.