The fall semester is over, and the spring semester is still a few weeks away. Winter break is here! It’s important to wind down and enjoy some time with friends and family during your time off. However, once the holidays are over and everyone goes back to work, life can sometimes get a bit boring – so here are some great activities to help you make the most of your time off this winter break!
Volunteer
If you have some free time, local organizations and charities are always looking for extra help! Think of something you’re passionate about: chances are, there’s an organization for it! There are many unique groups who need help right here in the Hudson Valley, including animal shelters, libraries, museums, mentorship programs, and many more. By volunteering, you can meet new people, have a great addition to your resume, and have fun, all while supporting a cause you care about! If you won’t have much time when the semester starts again, you can always look into one-time volunteer gigs; organizations often need extra help with special events that only happen once. Check local websites, keep an eye out for bulletin board notices, and stop by places that might need extra help to see what’s out there.
Work on Your LinkedIn Profile
No matter what your major is or what your plans are for the future, having a network of professionals will help! Even if you haven’t decided on a major yet, you can benefit from creating a professional profile and adding professors, fellow students, bosses, and coworkers whose experience and advice could be useful as you begin to search for jobs or transfer colleges. While you’re at it, you may also want to take the time to tidy up your personal profiles on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook to make your online persona more professional and appealing to future bosses and admissions representatives.
Make a Career or Financial Plan
When you’re in the middle of the semester, it’s easy to get caught up in the little day-to-day struggles like figuring out where to get dinner and completing the assignment that’s due early the next day. It’s easy to get discouraged and begin questioning why you’re working so hard for your career and degree when you’re tired, stressed out, and broke. While you’re on winter break, it’s easier to see the big picture, think positively, and plan for the future. You can plan for just the spring semester, or take it further and plan the next few months or years, in terms of both your finances and where you hope to be with college and your career. Having your plans and goals mapped out and written down will help you get through the mid-semester blues if they set in.
Apply for Scholarships
Every January and February, the Ulster Community College Foundation opens their scholarship application website to continuing and transferring students. Winter break is an excellent time to work on your applications and get them sent in before the full force of the spring semester sets in again. Check out our scholarship application tips post to get started!
Do Something You’ve Been Putting Off
We all have those things we put off, either because we don’t want to do them or because there’s just no time to do them. Winter break is an excellent opportunity to go for a dentist appointment, take your car in for the service it’s been demanding, or clean that closet (or room) you’ve been shoving things into for years. Even if it’s something you absolutely dread, just do it! You’ll be glad you did once you’re low on time again when the spring semester begins.
Do Something FUN!
Is there a book you’d love to read? A trip you’ve been wanting to take (even if it’s just for the day)? Maybe you want to start learning a new language or practice your drawing skills. If you haven’t seen your friends in a while, you might want to invite them over to catch up. Whatever it is, take the time to do it! Doing something meaningful and enjoyable is an important part of rejuvenating yourself after a long semester and enriching your life.
Get Started Today
Hopefully these tips have inspired you with some fun and productive things to do! What plans do you have for winter break? Comment them below!
