With finals winding down, and the fall semester coming to an end, it’s finally time for the longed-awaited (or dreaded) time of the year— winter break. An entire month with no assignments to worry about. An entire month spent with family and friends from back home.
While the holidays come with their own excitement and stress, waiting for Christmas or New Years can sometimes make you go out of your mind. If you’re anything like me, winter break can be fun for a little while, but if your family members work like mine, and if your hometown is your college town, it can easily go from being a vacation to a never ending break with nothing to do.
As a third year college student, I am no stranger to this feeling–especially as a person who loves to stay busy and prefers being with other people. That being said, I consider myself an expert on keeping myself company and thriving while being by myself for some time. Below are six suggestions for how to keep yourself busy and have a wonderful time doing it.
1. Rest
Take the first few days to pamper yourself and replenish your energy. Finals have likely drained your energy and consumed most of your time. It is so important to let yourself rest and give your mind and body a break after working so hard. You have earned it!
For the first couple days, or even the first week of break, I suggest you commit yourself to your favorite self care routine— whatever fills your cup the most. This could be going for a run after not having the time to do so, cooking yourself your favorite comfort meal, reading a book you’ve been wanting to read, or simply resting! Allow yourself to sleep in, lay in bed for most of the day, and stay in your pajamas! Sometimes, simply allowing yourself to be still and unproductive is the most effective way to replenish your energy.
2. Romanticize the Season
Winter is arguably the hardest season. It’s freezing, the sun doesn’t come out as frequently, and the holidays can make everyone cranky. All of these things can be exacerbated when you are bored and stuck inside with nothing to do. While it is easy to feel bogged down by the season, it’s also possible to romanticize it and find beauty in the mundanity.
The best way to romanticize winter and your time off is to indulge in everything the cold has to offer. You can play in the snow if you are adventurous, go for drives to see the Christmas lights, or go to Christmas markets! And for days when it’s too cold to leave the house, grab some hot chocolate or coffee, bake yourself a treat, dedicate yourself to a craft you love doing, have movie night, or have a night cozied up with books. If you are able to identify the things that feel uniquely “wintery”— traditions you had as a kid or habits you’ve formed as an adult during the season— you can entertain yourself by doing everything that can only be done during this time. One of my favorite ways to romanticize winter is to go to a lakeside park and take a long walk with an audiobook and a hot tea. After this, I love to take a hot shower with all of my favorite scents to warm up, and finally, crawl into bed in my favorite pajamas and light my favorite holiday candle.
3. Challenge Yourself
One of the best things to do with your time off is to sharpen your mind or your body in a unique way that revives and pushes you. This can come in the form of making a mini challenge for yourself. This challenge can be fun or it can be a personal goal you have, such as visiting five local coffee shops and rating them. Another example could be challenging yourself to go to a new exercise class, or learning a new hobby or skill. If you’re burnt out on motivation but have a hard time being still, a challenge is a good way to motivate yourself and make trying something new fun. I haven’t decided on the challenge I’ll give myself for winter break, but I have a couple of ideas!
4. Do Some Work
Now I know this tip seems to contradict all of the previous points I’ve made, but the best way to keep yourself busy is to actually be productive. There are many different directions you can take this. One thing I love doing over winter break is doing a closet clean out, purging everything that no longer serves me. Organizing your space or redecorating your room can be one way that you prepare for the new year, and how you feel refreshed for the new semester. Another way you can “work” over break is committing to professional work that you’ve been putting off in lieu of homework. This can be applying for internships or jobs, polishing your resume, or even spending time volunteering. A month is a long time, and if you dedicate even one day of the month off to doing something to bolster your professional life, you’ll thank yourself for it later when your semester ramps back up.
5. Get Creative
This tip is self-explanatory. Create something! Even if you’re not particularly artsy or crafty, there are so many ways to express yourself. Making curated playlists, Pinterest boards, vision boards for the new year, or even doodling on a notebook can be a fun way to rejuvenate the right side of your brain after a hard semester. If you are a very creative person, immerse yourself completely in your favorite activity. I love to scrapbook, so over the break I have decided I will allow myself to do as much scrapbooking as I want. I know that whenever I do something creative rather than scrolling aimlessly on my phone, I feel much more satisfied with how I’ve spent my time. Plus, there’s a feeling of accomplishment once you’ve finished the project!
6. Call Your Friends
As a certified people-person, I know better than anyone how hard it can be to be away from friends for a whole month, especially if you stay on campus during break. Chances are, despite enjoying time with their families like you are, your friends are missing you too. The best way to cure loneliness is to give them a call. Even if it’s just once during the month off, it’s a good idea to stay connected, and it will likely make your friend happy knowing that you are thinking of them during the time off. While keeping yourself company is important, it’s also just as important to meet with the friends that are nearby, and to call or text the ones that aren’t.
I hope these six tips have inspired you and helped you feel just a bit better about the long stretch of time away from class. Winter break–and winter in general–can be a difficult time of the year, but I find that romanticizing the harder parts of life helps me feel grateful even when I am struggling. Occupying your time and being comfortable alone is an essential skill that I’ve improved on since becoming an adult. If you are home for the holidays and are missing your college friends, give them a call or connect with them in some way. Otherwise, use these tips to keep yourself company. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find out something new about yourself!