Even though winter break is a great time to get away from all the drama at school, it can quickly become “boring.” There is a drastic change from living in your 8-person suite in Forest to living in your room at home… alone. I always find that friends have different schedules over breaks with vacations and family time, so here are some activities that you can do on your own to be productive and have fun at the same time. (Many of these ideas were submitted by Her Campus staff members and members of Alpha Phi.)
Catching up on Television shows— When you’re busy during the semester with classes, meetings and homework, it almost becomes impossible to stay current with television shows. Many people have told me that they like to catch up on shows, such as Gossip Girl. Others have said that they have tried to watch entire series of a show, such as One Tree Hill. This is a great chance to relax, but make sure you don’t stay in front of the television 24/7!
Reading books for pleasure —This is the perfect chance to read a book that you haven’t had time for during the semester. This should not be a book required for your Literature class for the spring semester. Try using http://www.goodreads.com/to figure out what you might want to read!
Reorganizing room/closet —This is one of my FAVORITE activities. I often like to “clean out” my closet in order to make more room for new clothes bought and gifted during the winter holidays. Try giving old clothes that you never wear anymore to Salvation Army and Goodwill. Also, cleaning out random items such as your makeup bag, DVDs and markers can be very refreshing!
Outdoor activities — Ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing… and the list goes on! Most mountains for skiing and snowboarding have equipment rentals , so don’t worry about having to buy new gear just for a fun day trip.
Bake—Holidays tend to have GREAT recipes, so take advantage! Many people mentioned that they like to experiment in the kitchen with recipes from friends and family members. Learn something new and have yummy foods to bring back at the end of January!
Solo shopping at the Mall— Shopping with a big group of people can be stressful since you’re not taking time specifically for yourself. Try shopping alone at the mall and ask sales representatives for their opinions. While you’re at the mall, you might as well get your nails done, too! Treat yourself.
Research new music & update your iPod —Do you have certain songs in your head that you’ve heard at school? Try reading music blogs such as Pitchfork to find out about new music.
Scrapbooking—We all know that collegiettes™ LOVE to take pictures during the semester. You should organize these pictures by printing them out and creating a scrapbook. Your roommates will love to see what you have come up with to display in your room.