So you’re stuck on campus during winter break. Things could be worse, right? Sure, you’re a little jealous of your friends who all get to go home for the holidays and enjoy family time, old high school pals and escaping school life for a bit. And yes, you could also do with a home-cooked meal or two. But don’t forget that staying on campus during a holiday break has its perks, too! Check out these suggestions for how to make your holiday break at school productive, peaceful and surprisingly fun.
1. Redo your room
Begin your upcoming second semester in an organized fashion with a clean, decorated and totally rearranged dorm room. Whether it’s a simple furniture swap or a major interior redecoration, changing up your living space can have a refreshing effect on you and can be a great way to stay busy during your break on campus.
If you’re the artsy type, get crafty with some fun DIY decor projects. “I try to craft when I get some free time, just little wish cards, canvases [or] pin boxes,” says Iris Goldsztajn, a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles. Other ideas include making a photo collage of the adventures you and your new college friends have had over your first semester or finally getting around to covering up those horrible dorm-room walls with posters, magazine pages or artwork.
Staying on campus over winter break also means that you can get that new-room feel by finally giving your dorm a deep and thorough cleaning (you know you procrastinate on that more than your homework). If you’re the roommate who hasn’t touched the vacuum cleaner since moving in (or doesn’t even know where it’s kept), now is the perfect time to do a bit of much-needed winter cleaning. Break out the dustpans and cleaning wipes, and make your soon-to-return roomie proud!
2. Make some new friends
Staying on campus for an entire break can get lonely, but don’t forget that there are tons of students just like you also wondering how they’re going to pass the time. If you’re lucky, meeting other students will keep you busy during your upcoming stay on campus and any future breaks that you both stay on campus for.
So if you’re feeling lonely and could use some company, try to figure out who else is on campus! Find those who are also skipping the trip back home by knocking on doors in your building (bring some snacks and suggest you have a movie marathon!), asking an on-campus RA if there is a list of students who decided to stay at school or even posting an “Anybody here?!” message on your university’s Facebook page.
Having a friend there to make the most of what is likely an almost entirely closed campus will make your holiday experience much more enjoyable. Plus, with a couple of friends, you’ll have people to celebrate the holidays with! Make the most of your holiday away from home by going out to dinner with your new friends or even gathering everyone in your dorm room and doing a white elephant or Secret Santa gift exchange.
3. Buckle down and focus
As boring as wasting away your winter break studying may seem, you definitely won’t regret spending a couple days getting ahead on your coursework for the upcoming semester.
If you’ve signed up for a particularly difficult class or you’re anticipating being slammed with homework next semester, get a head start on understanding the different concepts you’ll be learning. If you’re taking an English class, start reading the assigned novels. If you’re in a science or math class, get all the formulas and equations under your belt by taking a couple online YouTube tutorials. Already bought your textbooks for your new history or language class? Take the initiative to get a couple chapters ahead! No doubt your professor will be impressed with your readiness for the class and will keep you in mind as an A-worthy student. No one really likes the idea of being a teacher’s pet, but we bet you sure wouldn’t mind a good grade in a difficult class!
4. Get off the beaten path
As a collegiette, it’s hard to balance academics, socializing and your personal life – so much so that it often means that you can go through college without really having explored the area surrounding your campus. Whether your school is located within a big city or a quaint little town, get out, explore and see what it has to offer.
Maddie Lonky, a senior at Emory University, has stayed on campus over break multiple times and loves to explore. “Exploring the area of your college is a great thing to do!” she says. “And there are always deals [and] cheap ways to do it.”
Not sure of what to do? If you’re an old soul, see if there are any antique stores you can peruse (a great way to find unique pieces for your dorm room!). Are you a nature lover? Check online to see if there are any nearby trails to walk. If there’s a hipster deep down inside of you trying to break free, take an afternoon to check out that nearby cafe or coffee shop you’ve seen all your classmates Instagramming pictures from.
“In the past I’ve been on campus for parts of break, and I used this time to try new brunch and dinner places in my college town, Westwood, California,” Iris says. “I really like food, so trying out all these cool eateries and greasy diners is definitely a great time.”
Spending winter break eating greasy food? Count us in!
5. Try something new
While unwinding from what was probably a hectic and stressful first semester is a great idea, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend your time Netflix-bingeing and sleeping. With no roommate, no obligations and no real schedule to adhere to, why not take a couple weeks and master a new talent or pick up a new hobby?
If you still want to relax this winter break but “couch potato” isn’t exactly what you’re going for, pick up a unique hobby that your friends are sure to be impressed by when they make their way back to campus. If beauty is your thing, then practice your nail art skills or attempt all of those super-confusing braid hairdos you keep seeing on Pinterest. If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen in your dorm or apartment, spend your time cooking some holiday treats that are just a little fancier than your average batch of chocolate-chip cookies. There’s nothing better than bringing the holiday celebrations indoors with the scent of peppermint bark, after all!
6. Work, work, work
A great way to spend your time stuck on campus is working. If you already have a job that needs some holiday help, offer to work extra hours. If you don’t have a job, then start looking! You definitely won’t mind having a couple extra paychecks in your pocket for the spring semester. Plus, you might even start to rethink your plans to stay on campus for spring break (hello, Florida with the girls!).
Not only will working bring in some extra cash (by now you’re probably experiencing a serious emptiness in your pockets from all those spring semester textbooks you had to buy), but it will also make winter break go by much faster for you.
“I was able to work during [one break], so I got more money, which is always nice,” Maddie says. “It was an on-campus job and it definitely helped pass the time. It was a relatively short break, but it did keep me busy.”
Spending your time working is not only a way to be productive, but it’s also a great way to keep up that much-needed human interaction, especially if there aren’t many people on campus with you.
7. Commit to be fit
Winter break is a great time to start getting into shape. If you’re lucky enough to have a campus gym that is open during your holiday break, commit to following a solid workout plan that you will (hopefully) continue into the spring semester.
“I have had to stay on campus over some shorter breaks because I live too far away to go home for short periods of time,” says Caroline Pirozzolo, a freshman at Ithaca University. “While all my friends are gone and campus is quiet, I love getting up early to work out! It sounds crazy, but I love being up and getting a head start on the day. The gym is also really empty during breaks too, so no waiting for machines—a HUGE plus.”
Iris agrees, saying, “I love the gym being so empty! I can just chill on the elliptical and watch the Food Network!”
If your gym is closed but you still want to get fit this winter break, why not work out in your dorm room? With no end to the Pinterest workouts you can find online, you can make this winter break the one when you finally start the health kick you’ve been meaning to get around to. You know what that means—squats, yoga and breaking out that medicine ball!
8. Take a road trip
So, you’ve spent a couple days of break on campus… and you’re totally bored. You watch Christmas movie marathons like nobody’s business, and you rarely wear pants. Basically, you need to get out.
Why not take a small road trip and visit a nearby city or tourist hot spot for the day?
“My freshman year of college I stayed on campus for my fall break,” Maddie says. “All my friends had left, but my older sister was able to come, and she stayed with me. We tried a lot of restaurants, went to a food festival and got to explore Atlanta together. We did the CNN tour, aquarium and World of Coca Cola — all major touristy things to do in ATL.”
Of her time in the big city, Maddie says, “It was fun to learn a new city and have my sister to do it with me and to get to do all the touristy things, since they are things everyone wants to do, but a lot never end up finding the time [to do].”
This option is great if the immediate area surrounding your campus isn’t that exciting or if you live next to a city that you have always wanted to visit. Grab a couple new friends (or have a family member visit) and make some memories!
The holidays away from home definitely aren’t ideal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of your time on campus. Whether it’s your first time staying at school for break or whether it’s one of your last, make it one that you will remember. After all, some of the best college memories are made during the times you would least expect!