Do you hear what I hear? It’s the sweet sound of winter break approaching, a time filled with no tests, no labs, no finals and no 8 a.m. lectures. It sounds heavenly doesn’t it? These next few weeks are a treasured break off from school.
If you’re anything like me though, aren’t you at least a little bit bored by about day four? I blame college for the constant need to be productive. In order to avoid going crazy from too much family togetherness and terrible TV marathons, I’ve compiled a list of things to do to keep you productive over the break. (Because we’ve all been there. You watch one episode of “America’s Next Top Model” and next thing you know, you’ve seen 14 episodes.) Before you groan, some of the things on the list are actually quite fun. I promise!
1.) Resumes and Cover Letters: It’s best to get the nitty-gritty out of the way first. Regardless of what field you are going into, a resume is something you should have. There are many different ways to go about making one, but basically you want your resume to be short, concise and clean. Get ready for summer internship applications that are due in the spring by getting this done now. Trust me, you’ll be happy when everyone else is scrambling. Cover letters however, are a different beast because you send a different one to each company. Generic cover letters are the worst because they show no personality or care toward the company or organization you are hoping to become a part of. Take special care in crafting cover letters, but don’t be afraid to be let yourself shine through.
2.) Book Flights and Hotel Rooms: Do you have a competition or a conference coming up next semester that requires you to travel? It’s smart to book flights and hotel rooms early. That way, not only do you know you’re all set far in advance, but you can typically find cheaper alternatives than you would if you waited until the last minute.
3.) Pamper Yourself: Get a fun haircut. Grab your mom, sister or friend and get a manicure or pedicure. Have you been thinking about going blonde all semester? Now is the time! Do something purely for you that you might not get the chance to do during the school year. You deserve that extra pep in your step that you get from indulging in whatever makes you feel beautiful.
4.) Clean Out Your Inbox: I confess. There are currently 1,918 (opened) e-mails in my inbox. It’s time for them to go. Utilize the power of folders and give your inbox a good sweep through. I promise you, this will not actually take as long as you think it would and you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished a whole lot.
5.) Set A Realistic New Years Resolution: There is something refreshing about going into the new year with a sense of purpose and commitment to a new goal. However, we all know those people who resolve to run 13 miles every day only to give up by day two. This year I encourage you to set a realistic new year’s resolution. For example, freshman year, my new year’s resolution was to not buy any sorority t-shirts for events I didn’t go to. This seems like a no brainer, but I’ll admit it took a good semester to sink in. I was able to follow through on this and although it was a relatively simple resolution, it felt good to make a change (and save money!).
6.) Be Entertained: A whole new slew of movies is coming out over the holidays. As a bona fide musical theatre geek, I personally cannot wait for Tom Hooper’s “Les MisĂ©rables” to be released Christmas Day (I may or may not already have my tickets.) If J.R.R. Tolkien is more your speed, then Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” will be released on December 14. Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy will be excited to see some of their favorite characters back on the big screen.