Just a week away until winter break! Though we go into break with high hopes and big plans for our time off, we can get stuck not doing much as the days slip by. Three weeks go by pretty fast and without classes and homework, it’s the perfect time to be productive in other areas of your life. Consider taking advantage of this upcoming free time with one of the ideas listed below.
Read a Book
The holiday season is the perfect time to cozy up with a book and some cocoa. You can finally get to that book everyone has been talking about or read the one that’s going to be a movie soon. Spend your break delving into a story without having to write a paper on it.
Start a Blog or Personal Website
We can get overwhelmed by our studies during the semester and be really focused on passing classes and joining clubs. The four (or five) years to get a degree will breeze by and suddenly you’re expected to be professionally ready to get a big girl job. Winter break is the perfect time to sit down and develop a personal website that shows off your career ambitions and experience. Or create a blog to share thoughts and develop an online presence. Either of these things will be a great addition to your resume and indicate to potential employers that you’re serious about your dream job, actively aware of social media and are Internet savvy.
Guilt Free Binge Watch
That six-season show has been teasing you on Netflix all quarter, but you’ve resisted the binge for the sake of GPA. Now is the time to give in! Get that binge-itch out of your system and catch up before school starts again. Bonus tip: Recruit a friend or family member to embark on that journey, you’ll bond over tears from Downtown Abbey’s latest death, or hold each other in fear of The Walking Dead.
Get a Seasonal Job
This spare time off can be lucrative too. A little extra cash and another job on the resume is a great use of your winter break. Almost all retail establishments and restaurants hire extra employees for the holiday season and if you do well you can easily return in the summer or next winter break. For something more flexible, you can try babysitting in your local community or for family members. Other places to look for seasonal work are specialized Christmas shops, holiday community events like temporary ice rinks, tree farms, or you can even apply to become one of Santa’s helpers at the mall.
Reorganize Your Closet
It’s time to make room for new Christmas clothes and a winter wardrobe! Take home summer clothes or things that you just don’t wear anymore. You can hand them down to siblings and cousins, sell them at consignment stores, or donate them to Goodwill. This is also the perfect time to scout new ways to pair clothes for the return to school.