The semester is over and now it’s time to rest and relax — well, yes and no. Our brains and bodies still need to stay active and alert. Besides catching up on sleep, there are other things that you can do over the winter break that will be fun and create some long-lasting memories.
Stream a movie.
The University Libraries has access to tons of movies you can stream for free. Look to see if that movie you’ve been wanting to watch is available. Then get the popcorn, soda, candy, and warm blanket for a relaxing day or evening. They have classic movies like Casablanca and It’s a Wonderful Life and Oscar-winning movies like Good Will Hunting, The Blind Side, and Selma. Just log in with your NetID and password to start watching.
Take care of your mind and body.
During the break, try a new exercise activity. Get out of your comfort zone and try kickboxing or get outdoors and take a hike with your furry friend. This will help you feel better mentally and physically. Campus recreation has some on-demand fitness videos you can access for free.
With all that exercise you are going to be hungry. Why not try to learn how to prepare some quick and easy healthy meals? Check out Ramsay in 10 for some 10 minute meals. Your mind and body will be refreshed and ready to jump into the spring semester.
Find the job of your dreams.
There are many ways to get set up to find the job of your dreams. But first, you will need to either create or update your resume and cover letter. Career Services has some resume resources to get your resume just right.
After you have your polished resume and cover letter, upload them to Jobs4Cats to find an on-campus job and then on LinkedIn to search near and far for a job.
LinkedIn can help you build your network of experts, employers, and connections now and after graduation. Then use LinkedIn Learning, to find a new skill from the comfort of your home or anywhere you get an internet connection. Not only will you learn a skill (or two, or three) you can earn certificates to share on your LinkedIn profile.
Get creative with your digital photos.
If you are like me, you have tons of photos on your cell phone that are just waiting to be shared. Take those photos and create a digital photo album for family and friends using tools in Canva. Think about all the happy memories of vacations, parties, or events attended you can share as a fun holiday gift. Don’t forget to include those “then and now” photos for a bit more fun!
Spend time with your family.
Time spent with parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins is always the best during the holiday break. But don’t forget about those furry family members. Whether you have a dog, cat, guinea pig, cow, horse, sheep, etc. they enjoy spending time with you too. Include all family members in game night (in-person or virtually) and make more wonderful memories. I always loved playing board games and cards. Don’t forget, students, faculty, and staff have free access to Zoom Pro accounts with unlimited meeting time to connect virtually.
Regardless of what you choose to do over the holiday break, have fun, stay safe, and we’ll see you in the spring. Eat ‘em up Bobcats!
Rebecca Ormsby is a communications specialist in the IT Marketing and Communications office.
