This article was written by communications intern Alisha Bhandari.

The holidays are just around the corner. Sometimes the hardest part is figuring out what to do during the four-week break. Instead of spending the days sleeping in and binge-watching shows on Netflix or Hulu, try these 10 alternative ways to spend your holidays productively. 

1.    Consistent sleep patterns
It’s hard… I know. But waking up at the same time every day will actually help you to sleep better at night. A fixed wake-up time helps to build a strong desire for sleep throughout wakefulness. This sleep drive gradually builds, and shortening it by sleeping in will make it harder to fall asleep the next night. I’m not telling you to wake up at the same time as you do to get ready for school, but do try to keep your sleeping patterns consistent. 

2.    Pick up a hobby or unearth an old one.

Loved to paint but pushed it aside due to finals stress? Time to get back to it. Hobbies provide physical and mental health benefits by you an outlet to get the stress out and is a productive way to recharge your mental energy.

3.    Learn a new language.

Apps like DuoLingo, Babbel, and BBC Languages are great resources to learn all kinds of different languages. If you don’t feel like learning a new language, how about brushing up on your native language? Try to learn one new word a day, and begin to incorporate that in your everyday conversations. 

4.    Learn a new skill.

A new skill like time management, public speaking, cooking, or drawing. Whenever you learn a new skill, it changes your brain chemistry, making the white matter in your brain (myelin) that improves task performance denser, making them quicker learners in the long run, as well as preventing you from developing dementia at an older age.

5.    Sell the things you aren’t using.

Open a Carosell account! You can kill two birds with one stone, declutter your life, and make some money. It’s really simple to use, and sometimes you might find something second hand that someone else is selling, benefiting you as well as them.

6.    Create a portfolio for college.

To all the visual and performing art kids, you have no idea how important this is. Start off small, get a free account on Wix and start dropping stuff there and moving it around. The more it grows and the closer you get to college applications, you might want to consider purchasing the domain and editing it yourself.

7.    Stay active.

It’s known for people to put off their physical health during exam times. If you start exercising regularly, you’ll be able to sleep better, be more productive, and keep your brain sharp. The more you exercise, the stronger you get, this makes the heart become more efficient at pumping oxygen-abundant blood around your body, which leads to a lower resting heart rate (that’s good!).

8.    Redecorate.

This is a great way to help you declutter your life. It also gives your space a new look, which can spark inspiration in any aspect. Consider color theory as well as color psychology when picking out a new color scheme for your room. Colors do have different effects on our mind and body.

9.    Spend time with family.

Family time decreases the number of behavioral problems in a child. You also get to learn something new about your parents which leads to an increase in the family bond. Spending time with your family also benefits the child’s conflict resolution skills, since conflict comes with any family.

10.    Relax!

You have four weeks off, use them! Take time to recharge your mental battery, catch up on that show you wanted to, take a bath, and most importantly: take care of yourself. Come back to school with a fresher, more positive, mindset and be open to learning. Have a safe holiday everyone!