How To Make the Most of Your Winter Break

Winter break in your hometown can be an extremely strange time. For me, it feels like I am in limbo, not home for that long, but with not much to do. To avoid these feelings of boredom, there is so much to do to keep you thinking, relaxing and preparing for next semester.

Reading

Reading is such a beneficial hobby, and one that I often lose track of during my busy semesters. The feeling of getting lost in a good book is unrivaled, and winter break is the perfect time for that.

There is nothing like a thriller or mystery on a cozy winter evening. My favorite of these are “The Perfect Son” by Frieda McFadden or “Golden Girl” by Elin Hilderbrand. 

Winter break can be the perfect time to dive into a more literary read. Literary fiction that can slightly challenge you and make you think can be great for a time without much schoolwork. My favorite literary fiction picks are “The Women” by Kristin Hannah and “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano.

If you are looking for a challenge, I have really enjoyed tackling a classic over longer breaks. Three to four weeks is the perfect amount of time to not have to rush through the work. 

With classics, it can be more pleasant to pick one with a movie adaptation, and first read the book, and then watch the movie. My favorites for this are “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott or “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. 

cooking

Cooking can also be a great way to pass the time over winter break. Similarly to reading, it can keep you off your phone while still stimulating the mind. 

Last winter break, I undertook a sourdough starter. This is a very intense, but very enjoyable, way to throw yourself into cooking. I was not a fan of the amount of time the sourdough would take, but it was extremely rewarding once I finally figured it out. 

Simpler options that are great for the winter can include soups, pasta dishes or non-sourdough bread. Also, expanding into baking is a good decision, as you can create sweets such as cookies, cupcakes or different dessert bars. 

exercise

I love going to the gym or exercising during winter break, because it’s a great way to get out of the house.

If you have a gym membership at home, anything to get you sweating is great in the wintertime. I love the stairmaster, incline walking or cycle classes. Cardio like this not only gets you sweating, but can really help to clear your head. 

Even without gym memberships, exercise can be a great outlet. Despite the cold, I find it so refreshing to bundle up and walk or run outside. Along with that, I love at home YouTube videos for pilates or yoga. Yoga with Adriene or Move with Nicole are my favorites for at-home workouts.

I struggled during my first winter break with feeling like I had too much time to just relax, and not enough time to do anything meaningful. With activities such as these, you can recharge your battery for the upcoming semester while still filling your days. 

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