As the first week of February comes to a close, Mid-Winter break is approaching rapidly. While most people are stuck in class, we get an entire week without classes, and endless choices of how to spend our time off. So instead of just sleeping until 2 p.m. and doom-scrolling, get out of the house, do something productive and feel good about your time off! Here are 10 of the best things you can do over break around the Bay Area or at home.
Local Trips
Living in the Bay Area, there are numerous places to visit that are just a couple of hours away, accessible not only by car but also by Caltrain or BART. For something local, a day trip to San Francisco, complete with a visit to Fisherman’s Wharf and a walk around Golden Gate Park, is the perfect way to spend an unscheduled day over break — make sure to bring layers! For a destination slightly further away consider Carmel-by-the-Sea for a multi-day trip: a quaint town known for its beaches, scenic beauty and local art.
Baking
With the extra free time, consider baking brownies, snickerdoodle or chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes or even simpler desserts like Rice Krispie treats. If you have more time on your hands and the bandwidth for some more intense cleanup, it’s always fun to attempt something more intricate like pie, cake or homemade bread. Check out Rosanna Pansino on YouTube or scour your TikTok page for inspiration.
Reconnecting with Friends
When time at home is feeling lonely, and the people in your family are getting increasingly more irritating, reach out to and spend time with friends staying in the area, either by hosting a game night, movie marathon or dinner party.
Crafting
Whether you are a creative person or like to stick to pre-made craft kits, making any type of artwork or craft is a fun way to keep yourself busy. With a quick Pinterest search, finding inspiration for painting, sketches, paper crafts, bracelets or whatever you aim to create is extremely accessible. Crafting materials can generally be found at an affordable price, with a variety of packs or kits that populate Amazon.
Catching up on Homework
As a Menlo student, I feel I have an obligation to mention the incredibly important, yet often lackluster, task of working on homework or catching up on late or missed assignments. There may be a big project due in a couple of weeks, or an assignment you never got around to completing. If that’s the case, a break from school is the perfect time to start fresh and get ahead on schoolwork.
Spring Cleaning
Returning to school after a week of break, knowing you still have a million things to complete, is always frustrating. As the school year ramps up toward the end of the year, finding time to clean and organize the house goes further down the to-do list. If you are at home during break, consider taking a day or two to tidy up your bedroom, closet, bathroom or commonly disregarded places like a junk drawer, car or shower. Set aside items that aren’t used regularly and consider donating anything unwanted to a local thrift store.
Going to a Movie Theatre
New movies are constantly coming out, so consider getting popcorn and an ICEE and delving into the cinema on the big screen. The horror sequel Scream 7, the romance movie Wuthering Heights and the thriller The Strangers: Chapter 3 will all be showing in February. Whether you are going with a friend, family or alone, the movie theater is a great way to spend a couple of hours, especially since there are many theaters located around the Bay Area.
Exercising
Athletic responsibilities don’t pause when school does. Keeping up on training and staying in shape is important for many, if not all, sports. However, even without official training, consider practicing on your own time or doing the workouts and conditioning appropriate for your program. Mid-Winter break is a time to recuperate, but also to improve yourself for when school resumes.
Shopping
Whenever I have extra time on my hands, I often find myself at the mall, walking around and sometimes not even buying anything. Whether you go with friends, family or alone, shopping can be a good activity, especially over Mid-Winter break while stores are less crowded.
Hiking
Although going on a hike might initially seem boring or ultimately a waste of time, surrounding yourself with nature and silence is one of the best ways to decompress over break. There are a plethora of trails in the Bay Area, like the Stanford Dish, Crystal Springs Trail and Lands End, all ranging in mileage. Surprisingly, one of my favorite times to go hiking is on foggy or slightly rainy days, which is often the weather over Mid-Winter break. With a water bottle, hiking buddy and a good playlist, hiking becomes a rewarding, free and fulfilling activity.
