Winter break will be coming around the mountain of homework, piled high like the snow in December, when school ends. After that, the real question becomes what do you do for winter break?
There are many ways to pass the time with your family and friends, whether it is in person or not. You can put up Christmas decorations, make gingerbread houses, go sledding or sing Christmas carols. To me, the best way to pass the time during winter break is spending time with those you care about and doing whatever you love to do most.
This year has been difficult for everyone. We’ve had to deal with a lot of uncertainty regarding health and political unrest. Let’s take this time to relax and really enjoy what’s left of 2020.
For me, I like to relax during the bleak, gray winter months by taking walks near my house. I live out in the peaceful countryside with a river running close by.
Wild animals and people leave tracks on the freshly fallen snow around the levee. Ducks walk across the frozen water as the sun dips down. Deer and moose stretch their necks to grasp at the branches that still have leaves. Swans fly into the pink, yellow, orange and blue sunset sky, startled by the approach of human life. I am always amazed by how breathtaking the view is near my home.
I love taking walks around the levee with my neighbor’s dogs over winter break. Hugh is a white, brown and black Great Pyrenees mix bundle of fluff. He has a big bark and an even bigger heart. I always feel safe around him, which is why I try to always take him on walks with me. He enjoys them as much, probably even more, than I do.
This winter, I encourage you to be outdoors. Staying indoors will keep you warm, but you can warm up outside if you keep moving.
Take your family and friends sledding. This is a lot of physical activity if you do it the old-fashioned way. Grab your sled, run up a giant hill and give your friends a helpful push down while they shout for joy or scream in terror, just to start the process all over again.
Ice skating can be an indoor or outdoor activity. You can go to a rink or find a frozen body of water. Even if you fall and get a few bruises, seeing the masked smiles on your friend’s rosy faces will be worth it.
Dress up in a hat, coat, gloves and boots to make a snowman. Make sure you grab extra clothing, a face and limbs for your frosty friend while you’re at it. This can be an activity or a game for you, friends and family. You can work together as a team to create your masterpiece.
If you are not an outdoor person, that’s OK because there are lots of fun, indoor activities you can do. Bake treats you haven’t baked before, take silly Christmas card photos with your family and pets, listen to Christmas music and dance in the living room, have a warm drink in front of a toasty fire.
My family and I enjoy playing cards, Yatzee, chess and other games over the long winter months. We also watch old Christmas movies while driving with we’ve collected over the years, such as “Christmas in Connecticut,” “The Shop Around the Corner” (the 1940 version), “It Happened on 5th Avenue,” “White Christmas,” and many more classics. When we get bored watching the movies we have at home, we drive to the library and borrow ones we don’t have but still enjoy watching.
Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year” and 2020 is no exception. Stay safe while out on the icy roads and practice COVID-19 safety wherever you live.
Though the skies are gray, and the world looks bleak, just remember you are not alone. Spend time with family and friends this holiday season, doing indoor or outdoor activities you all enjoy. Try new things too. Being in person might not be possible for you this year, but you can still call or video chat to hear their voice and see the faces dear to your heart.
Kim Stager can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @journalismgoals.