Winter Break is here. Congratulations! You’ve made it through another semester. So now that you have a few weeks to unwind, you’re probably wondering what to do during your break. Your activities can range from relaxing in bed, binge-watching your favourite TV shows, spending time with friends and family or even doing some recreational reading.
A time to relax
After completing a semester, it is expected that you would be mentally and even physically exhausted. I mean, after all, you spent a lot of time working on your assignments and studying for your tests and exams. Winter break is the perfect time to get some much-needed sleep and relaxation. It’s okay to stay in bed a bit later during your winter break. You deserve it after all your hard work. It’s always important to ensure that you take some personal relaxation time every now and then. Therefore, there’s no need to feel guilty if you find yourself waking up at 11:30am on a Tuesday morning during your break. Trust me, no one will judge you. While you’re at it, take some time to catch up on those TV shows or movies you’ve been neglecting throughout the semester.
Outdoor activities
Partaking in outdoor activities is also a great way to enjoy your winter break. Ice skating is always a great winter activity to do and if you’ve never tried ice skating, this winter break is the perfect time to give it a shot. You can also try cross-country skiing if you’re willing to be adventurous. If that’s too much for you, going for a walk outdoors is another great option. Try to get as much fresh air as possible.
Spend time with family and friends
If you have the opportunity to spend time with your friends and family, your winter break would be the perfect time to do this. You can use this time to do fun or new activities together. Spending time with others is a great way to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.
Recreational reading
Another great activity to take up during the winter break is recreational reading. Recreational reading can be a great way to reduce stress, relax and work on your mental health. You can read novels, comic strips or whatever you’re interested in. Immerse yourself into a different world and let your mind go free.
Start preparing for the new semester
I know you probably don’t want to think about university during your break. However, after getting enough rest and relaxation during the break, you need to start preparing for the following semester. Closer to the end of your winter break is the perfect time to start getting ready for the new semester. Ensure you know what courses you are taking the following semester and start to prepare for them.
- Want to make adjustments to your schedule? Check the Priority Enrolment Appointment dates for your year on the Undergraduate Calendar.
- Want to get ahead on your readings? Visit D2L Brightspace to see if/when professors upload the course outline so you can get ahead of the bookstore or library lines.
- Want to get ahead of courses or get some support? Check out the Tutoring schedule of the TRSM Academic Success Centre for course support or the Supported Learning Groups that Student Learning Support has to offer.
- Set up your own Grade Calculator to help you forecast and track your semester’s grades as you get your assessments back. Grade forecasting has been shown to motivate and increase studying effort in students.
In essence, it’s important to ensure that during the winter break you get to rest and relax, as well as plan ahead. Try to do as many things you’re interested in and just enjoy your break. You truly deserve it!
