Breaks are something most students and staff look forward to. It’s the perfect relaxation time to get a full eight hours of sleep in a night, and to do whatever you want without having a fixed schedule. However, sometimes breaks can be the ultimate form of boredom, especially when you may be staying at home. Here are some activities and tips to consider when you feel the dreaded break boredom kicking in.

Start a new television series/ find a movie

The holidays coming up means new television shows and movies coming out on streaming services and theaters. By Thanksgiving and Christmas break, some of the most highly anticipated movies of the year will be out in theaters such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Bones and All, and Avatar: The Way of Water. On Netflix, a variety of bingeable shows have just been added like The Good Nurse, Love Is Blind S3, and The Watcher. Other TV show “classics” on Netflix like New Girl, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton are good contenders to beat your weariness. When in doubt and in boredom, drive to the nearest movie theater or stay in the comfort of your own home and watch a movie or start a show. 

Cook or bake

Cooking and baking may not be for you, but why not try it out. Ample time on your hands may give you time to unleash your inner chef. Go online on cooking and baking websites like tasty.com and allrecipes.com or check out a cookbook at the library to find some easy recipes. With the season of thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, baked goods are always a good gift giving idea. 

Make a list

With all the time on your hands during break, it may be the perfect opportunity to jot down some of your bucket list ideas or life goals. Think about all the things you want to do that excite you such as going skydiving, visiting another country, or running a marathon. Thanksgiving break might also provide you with enough time to brainstorm a Christmas list to give to your relatives and friends. Making a list during break may even be a list of the small tasks and errands you want to accomplish that day. This idea will for sure keep you and your brain occupied with endless possibilities over break. 

Cleaning and organizing 

It’s safe to say that most high school students usually keep a messy room with the many stressors and activities that they have going on throughout the school week and weekends. Though it might not be the most enjoyable activity for most, cleaning your room during your break might give you that sense of accomplishment and productivity you may lack during a time of boredom. Organizing and cleaning is also known to be therapeutic for some. While you’re at it, donate clothes that you haven’t worn in a while or are out-of-season to local donation drives or Goodwill. Again, it’s the season of giving so give away those old sweaters and jackets to people who need them. 

Get ahead of school work

Probably the tip that no one will end up doing unless you are extremely bored, and I mean extremely, is school work. Once we resume school and come back from winter break, quarter two and the semester one will almost be over. If you are feeling behind and want to catch up or get ahead on the class you have been falling behind in, doing work for that class during break may be your saving grace.