Occidental College
Campus Conversations
Ten Things to Do Over Winter Break
January 13, 2013
Blogger: Madi Tsuji
After my semester abroad, pretty much everything would be boring in comparison, but this year’s winter vacation takes the cake. Not only am I wallowing in Rome withdrawal-related depression, I’m not working or doing much of anything productive. Sleeping 14 hours a day has gotten old, even for me, and I wander aimlessly (in my house) for something to do, anything to keep me occupied. Probably my lowest point was the other night when I spent an hour playing with an iPhone app that lets you put your face into the body of a cat. Friends are either out of town entirely or traveling during their time off. If you’re in my boat, read on for some things to do over break that might break up the monotony!
- Go through your clothes. This is a favorite activity of mine because I like hanging out with my clothes, but really: separate the clothes you never wear and donate them or sell them to a Buffalo Exchange for some quick cash. That purple sequined miniskirt you swear you’ll have something to wear it to? You won't. That dress that is just a smidge too tight but you’re convinced once the holiday fat is gone you’ll wear all the time? You won’t. Do yourself a favor and free up the space in your closet, because that means you’ll have more room for new things!
- Do the project you’ve been meaning to do forever. Maybe you’ve been meaning to clip out your favorite articles from all those magazines you’ve been saving, or maybe you saw a crafting project on Pinterest that you’ve been dying to do. It could be a complicated recipe you want to try, or a new makeup-organizing system, or alphabetizing your DVDs. Maybe this is the year you decide to learn how to use eye shadow like a grownup. (Just me?) Whatever it is, you won't be able to do it when you’re back at school and swamped with college life!
- Read lots of books. I just got a tablet and am really into reading books using the Kindle app. I personally like reading book series because it takes up more time, but then again so did one reading of War and Peace. Lots of books are available for free online, or go to a library and read that non-academic book you’ve wanted to read forever.
- Get creative. Buy a drawing pad and pledge to fill it up with sketches, or get into finger painting. Write short stories or learn a new musical instrument. Remix music on your laptop or learn the entire Single Ladies dance.
- Take a workout class. These are tough for me because they usually involve waking up early, but there’s so many cool workout classes out there now that you don't have to suffer through a boring elliptical session ever again. Barre, hot yoga, SoulCycle, MetCon (metabolic conditioning… I know, what?), CrossFit, the list just goes on.
- Get into something new. I know from experience that the best way to beat boredom is to get really obsessed with something new. Become a nail polish junkie and do professional looking manicures on yourself, learn a new language (I recommend Dothraki if you want to impress people…see season 9 episode 3 of The Office) or use this time to watch on the first two seasons of Downton Abbey so you’re caught up in time for season three (started last Sunday on PBS, but you can also find it online!) and to discuss with your friends next semester.
- Do a mini-road trip. I traveled a ton when I was in Europe, and it’s weird to me that I’ve been to more European countries than American states, so I want to make it a goal this year to see more of my home country. Go a state over, or even just make a day to go to the next town and check out whatever they have there.
- Organize things. Get around to sorting your photos on your computer, or go through your iTunes library and make sure everything is sorted into the right genre. Start using a program like Evernote, or buy a day planner and get in the habit of using it. If it’ll make your coming semester easier, do it!
- Get started on that summer internship. I hate to say it (really, I do) but the time to start applying for your summer job or internship is now. Perfect your resume, build your LinkedIn profile, reach out to past employers, and start writing a good cover letter.
- If all the above fails to interest you, there’s always the Internet. I suggest yourllbeanboyfriend.tumblr.com (and the more Oxy-relevant yoururbanoutfittersboyfriend.tumblr.com), robert-pattinson-hates-his-life.tumblr.com, theuselessweb.com, textfromdog.tumblr.com, dogshaming.com, mentalfloss.com, cracked.com, sporcle.com, literallyunbelievable.org, emceezansari.tumblr.com, textsfromhillaryclinton.tumblr.com, lucilleandmitt.tumblr.com, and boston.com/bigpicture. Plenty of procrastination fodder here.