Dear Susie and Jasper,
Hi! My winter break is coming up and I need a big reset before next semester. How should I use my winter break to have fun while also reseting my body because right now it’s very hard to keep going to school? Any advice?
Thanks,
Winter Worries
Dear Winter Worries,
Lets focus on reseting your body first. School can be very draining, but once you get past finals you can pretty much get through anything. To fully decompress I would sleep in without guilt because if you sleep in and let your body wake yourself up than that shows how much sleep you need to catch up on. Do some comfort activities: take baths, watch your favorite show/movie, just do whatever is relaxing to you. Ease your mind.
Secondly, have fun. It is important to have fun with friends or family, so your mental health can increase. You can bake or cook, crafts, gaming, watching movies with friends, and more. If you want to do some unique holiday activities with friends you can sled, gingerbread house competition, make gingerbread or holiday cookies, snow ball fight, a fun board night Christmas themed, and a secret Santa or white elephant exchange. Plan stuff with your friends because they are probably in the same situation: bored and wanting to do something. Reach out plan things because other people want to do stuff to.
Relax, reset, and most importantly have fun. It is your break, so make it your break.
Sincerely,
Susie
Hey Winter Worries,
First of all, reset your body because right now you’re running on academic fumes and iced coffee. School has drained you harder than your phone on 3% with Bluetooth, hotspot, AND brightness on max. Sleep in like it’s your full-time job. If your body wakes up at 11? Noon? Two? That’s not being lazy, that’s called healing, sweetie. And while you’re resting? Treat yourself like royalty who retired early: long, dramatic bubble baths, wearing pajamas like a lifestyle, rewatching your comfort show for the 47th time, or doing absolutely nothing and looking fabulous doing it. Embrace your reset, no guilty feeling allowed.
Now… FUN. Mandatory. Non-negotiable. Because joy is literally medicine and your mental health needs a prescription refill. More non traditional ideas to do because traditional things can be BORING. You can host a cozy dinner with friends where everyone brings one dish and one dramatic life update. A holiday photo shoot with ridiculous outfits (ugly sweaters are encouraged and slaying is optional, but expected). Take yourself on solo dates and act like the main character browsing target candle aisles. You can have a karaoke night and scream-sing your stress away. Or try a fun winter workout like ice skating and pretend you’re in a rom-com montage. You can also create a hot chocolate tasting party because why not? If you want the tradition things you can sled, gingerbread house competitions (go aggressive-this is war), snowball fights because it’s cheap therapy, secret Santa or white elephant with gifts that are either iconic or unhinged, and bake-offs where someone always burns something and it’s hilarious. Be the social CEO. Send the message. Make the plan. Everyone is bored.
Later,
Juicy Jasper