It’s been a long semester. You’ve spent too many nights staying up too late in just the past two weeks, let alone the last 15. You’re overtired, over caffeinated, and probably so over everything that has to do with your classes. But finals are done! Winter break starts in just a few days, when you’ll be free to go home and see your family, throw in a few loads of (free) laundry, and eat a nice home-cooked meal. But that’s in a few days. For now, you and your friends want to celebrate the end of finals while you’re still on campus. Here are a few suggestions.
1. Take a nap
You can’t celebrate if you’re going to fall asleep in 10 minutes. So, when you’re done with your last final, head to your room and settle in for a short winter’s nap in your bed (not in the library in the midst of power-studying). Nothing crazy that will throw off your sleep schedule, just a little 30-minute to one-hour recharge to recover from the last few days. And if you lie down for your nap and wake up six hours later: go back to sleep. A good night’s sleep is all the celebration your body needs right now.
Related: 5 Quick and Easy Tips to Sleep Better in College
2. Go out for dinner
You’ve probably been living off ramen and instant coffee for the last few weeks, and the last time you went off campus may have been Thanksgiving. Get a couple of friends and head out for dinner. There’s no need to break the bank and go to a fancy steakhouse or anything, but you should go to that new restaurant off campus you’ve been meaning to check out for a while. Or go to your favorite diner and try something new on the menu. Either way, you deserve a break and a nice meal that wasn’t prepared in large quantity at the cafeteria, so treat yourself to exactly that.
3. Go for a run
Or go to Zumba or yoga or do a few deadlifts. You’ve probably been glued to your computer, whether you wanted to be or not, and the only time you’ve moved was to go to class or head back to the library to study more. Release some endorphins and hit the gym or studio for some much-needed stretching. If you’re in a place where winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating are popular, try checking those out now that you have the time, especially if you’re from a place where those sports aren’t popular.
Related: Working Out Your Mental Health: 3 Benefits of Regular Exercise for Students
4. Clean up
Sometimes when we’re focused on school, we let other things fall by the wayside. Maybe it’s just letting your dirty laundry sit in a pile on the floor instead of putting it in the hamper. Or you let the pizza boxes and used dishes pile up on your desk with the promise of cleaning them tomorrow. Now’s the time to clear all that out, especially since you’re about to leave for a month. Unless you’re a Microbiology major, you probably don’t want to leave that petri dish behind to fester. Plus, the end of the semester is a great time to purge all the handouts and old syllabi from your desk since you’ll never need them again.
5. Go to your favorite hangout with friends
Unless you live near most of your college friends, it’s going to be about a month before you see them again, so spend some time with them. Chances are you’ve been neglecting these relationships with all the cramped scheduling of finals. Don’t worry: it doesn’t make you a bad friend. It happens to everyone. Just don’t forget to catch up now that you have the time. Whether it’s at someone’s apartment, in whoever’s dorm room is the biggest, or that secret spot in town that only you seem to know about, call a meeting for friendship!
Related: Our Best Advice for Having Fun and Making Friends in College
You and your peers deserve a good celebration together after all your hard work. Congratulations on making it through the semester! Take a break, relax and recharge, and get ready to do it all again next year.
If you're a major planner and already thinking about spring semester, why? Just kidding. We're here to help with 13 Tips for Winter Break and Second Semester Success.
