Winter break is a time to rest and refresh before the endless assignments and projects return during the spring semester. If you’re anything like me, the first week of winter break is spent with me catching up on sleep and TV shows and movies I didn’t have time to watch during the semester. While I do consider that to be entertaining, at a certain point, I get restless and need to fill the rest of my break with fun activities. Whether you’re traveling home for the holidays or staying near campus during break, these five activities will make your downtime a little more enjoyable!
- Bake Christmas Cookies – with a twist
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Baking cookies during the holiday season sounds like the most basic thing to do during break, but to make it more eventful, do it on Zoom or FaceTime with your friends. Winter break usually lasts for about a month, and by week two, I already miss hanging out with my friends. To combat those feelings of longing, schedule a time with your BFFs to bake and decorate cookies together. To make the stakes even higher, you could compete to see who can decorate their cookies the best!
- Drive Around to See Christmas Lights
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Many cities, towns, and counties have botanical gardens or neighborhoods that are known for their Christmas lights, so take some time during break to take in the beauty of these decorations. You could pile into a car with your hometown friends or family and take a scenic drive to see these decorations. This is also a cost-effective activity as well, driving around a neighborhood to see lights is free, and most botanical gardens will charge a flat fee for cars to come through instead of charging every passenger.
- Give Back During the Holiday Season
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The holiday season is a time to give and receive, and giving back to your community can help spread some holiday cheer. This can be done in your hometown or if you’re staying near campus as well; you can volunteer at local shelters, food banks, or participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. If you’re going to be in Richmond during break and want to help out this holiday season, you can find a drop-off location near you and donate presents to Toys for Tots.
- Reflect and Plan for 2024
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Winter break is a time for rest, relaxation, and a bit of introspection. During some downtime over break, sit down with your favorite journal, your notes app, or a piece of paper and reflect on the semester and 2023 as a whole. If you prefer some guidance when reflecting, try one of these journal prompts. After reflecting, set some goals and resolutions for 2024 and make a plan on how you want to achieve them.
- Visit a Festive Christmas Town
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Virginia is known for its charm and history, and the holiday season emphasizes that. Scattered throughout the state, there are different towns you can visit to get in the holiday spirit. For my NOVA girlies, check out Old Town Alexandria to see charming 18th-century buildings that are decorated for Christmas, or head over to Market Square to see the 40-foot Christmas tree all lit up at night. If you’re behind on your holiday shopping, you can also check out the variety of shops in Old Town. While this doesn’t exactly count, Busch Gardens’ “Christmas Town” is a fun activity with beautiful decorations, thrilling rides, and adorable holiday markets.