Knowing you’ll have a couple of extra days this winter break, you might not know how to fill your time. Don’t worry, we’ve come up with some ways to help you stay creative, active and positive this winter.
Enjoy the outdoors
There is a philosophy Scandinavians apply to their lives during the winter months: Friluftsliv, “the love for the outdoors.” Essentially, it means that no matter how old you are, where you live, what your physical condition is or what the weather is like, you are committed to going outside. Here is a list of things to do outside while staying safe.
Walk, jog or run your own virtual race. Whether you’re trying to break your 5K, 10K or another longer run record, there are ways to recreate a race experience for yourself. Create your own race bib, plan a safe route and make your own start and finish line. Ask friends and family to help cheer you on on the day of your race, either virtually or from at least 6 feet away. For training tips and warm-up drills, check out the Rec Center’s virtual 10K training program.
Take a hike. Whether your winter location is cold or warm, take advantage of what Mother Earth has given us. Find new trails, beaches or lakes you haven’t been to yet and go on your own adventure! What matters is most is taking in fresh air whenever you can.
Play with nature. If you’re surrounded by snow, make a snowman, go snowshoeing or even sledding. If you’re surrounded by sand, make a sand castle or bury yourself in it. If you’ve got nothing but grass, make the longest grass rope that ever existed. The important thing is to get outside and make the most of what you’ve got. Layer up or dress down, it doesn’t matter, just get outside!
Spend time with loved ones (in your household)
Go camping at home. Campgrounds may be closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the camping to you. Set up a tent in your living room, on your deck or in your backyard. Pretend you’re in the backcountry with no service by turning your phone off for the evening. Put a starry night screensaver on your computer, listen to a “forest sound” playlist and enjoy a peaceful night of playing games, relaxing or reading. Don’t forget to make s’mores (no campfire needed!).
Get onboard with board games. Take out your board games and get competitive! No better way to have a good time than gathering those around you and playing some games. Don’t own any games? A deck of cards can go a long way. From poker, 21 to Texas hold’em or slap jack, there are many ways to have fun with those in your household.
Start a club. To help stay connected, consider starting an informal club around a shared interest or hobby. Maybe it's a monthly book club or weekly TV show or movie watch parties. Perhaps you could organize your own video game tournaments or virtual craft parties to work on projects together. Give your club a fun name and set regular meetings to stay in touch!
Focus on you.
Learn something new. Have you always wanted to learn acrylic painting? How about how to start your own podcast. Take this winter to learn something you’ve always wanted to learn. There are plenty of tutorials online to help you get started.
Prepare for your future. Whether you’re looking for a job or an internship, learning new skills can help give you an edge over other candidates. As a CU student, you have free access to LinkedIn Learning. There are hundreds of courses for both technical skills (HTML, data analytics, project management) and non-technical skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership).
If you aren’t sure where to start, browse job postings for positions that interest you. Take note of the skills or qualifications that employers are looking for, and see if there are courses on developing those skills. In case you missed it, check out some other ways to stay professionally prepared over break.
Take time to recharge. Practicing self-care techniques now can help build strong habits you can use in the future when things may become more stressful. Take this time to catch up on sleep, try out some meditation or breathing exercises, watch the Rec Center’s free meditations videos or listen to Health Promotion’s meditation soundtrack. You can start a gratitude journal or even make time for your favorite hobbies. What matters is to focus and prioritize you.
For more tips and resources for living your best life at CU visit the Student Affairs website and be sure to follow us on social media @CUBoulderLife on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!