8 Things to Do if You’re Bored Over Winter Break

Whether you’re home from college, or you’ve simply got some time off from your online school obligations, winter break can sometimes stretch longer and farther than you expect. While you probably don’t want to jump right back into homework, you might be at a bit of a loss for what to do to fill your time — and make it worthwhile. But there’s a whole world of activities you can use to fill your time, and it all depends on where you want to go with it.

No matter how much time you have to yourself this winter, you shouldn’t let it go to waste. A break is meant for you, so you should use it! If you’re on the hunt for a few entertaining, fun, and productive ways you can spend some time this winter, here are a few worth checking out.

1. Get Healthy

The school year — especially right before the holiday season — can often be a hectic time where you let your health fall by the wayside. Whether you’ve noticed that happening to you or you’re simply looking to stop it in its tracks, you can devote some extra time and energy to bringing your health into tip-top shape this winter. Start an exercise routine you love, start meditating daily, or make sure you eat fruits and vegetables. Maybe do all three. It’s all about what helps you feel your best.

2. Make Some Cash

If the holiday season takes you away from your on-campus job or otherwise interrupts your regular cash flow, winter break can be a great time to save up a bit of extra money. While you can apply for a new job altogether, there are plenty of ways for students to make money over winter break. Babysitting, shoveling snow, and even pet sitting can be great ways to put a little extra change in your pocket.

3. Volunteer

For some, the holiday season is all about giving back however you can. If you have a bit of extra time over break, why not use it to contribute to positive change in your community? Whether you’re brand new to volunteering or you’ve done it for years, you can check out what your community has to offer and get involved. Find a cause that you care about and want to contribute to, and offer a helping hand.

4. Practice Self Care

Self care can take so many forms, and that’s the beauty of it. But just like your overall health, self care can sometimes take a backseat when you’re overwhelmed with schoolwork. One of the best ways you can spend some time over winter break is devoting some energy and hours to some well-deserved self care. Focus on your mental health, clean your room, do something you enjoy, or make a favorite recipe. Essentially, find what makes you feel good.

5. Take Up a Hobby

Maybe you’re on the hunt for something a bit new and exciting this winter. Why not take up a hobby that you’ve always found intriguing, but you never had the time to take the plunge? Try out sketching, knitting, making YouTube videos, baking, or anything else that strikes your fancy. You don’t even have to be good at it, as long as it’s something you enjoy.

6. Read

Reading for pleasure often feels like a foreign concept to students who’ve found themselves stuck in a maze of textbooks and assigned readings for class. But reading can be for you, too. It’s a great way to spend some quiet time and wind down in a productive way. Reading lets you escape into another world and helps you explore your creative mind. Plus, nobody is saying you need to embark on Ulysses or get cozy with War and Peace. You can find books that really speak to you — light reading meant for winter nights and vacations. When you find a book you love, you’ll fall right in.

7. Learn a Language

Have you ever wanted to travel somewhere amazing and talk like a local, or even better connect with friends, loved ones, and members of your community who speak a different mother tongue? Why not brush up on your foreign language skills this winter? There are so many language learning apps and courses you can look into, with many taking only a few minutes a day. While you might not step back on campus fully fluent, you can get a start on your journey.

8. Get a Head Start on Your Resolutions

If you know what your goals for the new year are right now, why wait? The turn of the clock can often be an arbitrary way to determine success and goal setting. If you have a bit of extra time on your hands, take it for all it’s worth! If your goal is to exercise more often, start out now. If your goal is to be more organized, start organizing. It could help your resolutions stick even better.

Winter Break Is Far From Boring

There are so many productive, interesting ways you can spend your winter break, from giving back to caring for yourself. No matter what you do with your time off, spending it on yourself and those you care about can make it all feel truly worthwhile.