If you’re bored, the first thing you’re probably going to do is reach over to grab your phone. You’ll remind yourself that you’re only going to be on it for five minutes, but later you realize you’ve spent over an hour mindlessly scrolling. To avoid that, here are 10 screen-free activities you can do over the winter break.

1. Journaling: Keeping up with mental health remains of utmost importance and in the midst of the pandemic, people around the world have tried journaling to calm themselves. Journaling is simply taking thoughts from your head and writing them down on paper. Looking back at these notes would act as a reminder of how life was through tough times. You can even try photo journaling by including memories during different time periods in your life.
2. Play a Board Game: There are so many board games out there that you could possibly play. Games like chess are both fun and educational. Sitting down in the warmth of your home with a game of chess in front of you while snow falls outside is the perfect way to spend a winter day. If all you own is a deck of cards, there are still multiple games you could play. If you don’t have anyone to play with, you could build towers out of cards. Seriously, the opportunities are endless.
3. Reading: Reading a new book may seem obvious, although there’s a whole new world when it comes to literature. You could visit a local library and check out the librarian’s recommendations, or try exploring the shelves of books yourself. If you’re feeling adventurous, try reading a different genre or even a book in another language. Hot chocolate with a good book near the fireplace is always a great way to stay cozy during a cold winter night.
4. Trying new food: In the present day, there are tons of different restaurants with various cuisines. Trying out new food is a great way to interact with different cultures around the world, and potentially discover something delicious to implement into daily life. If you’d rather dine at home, lots of YouTube tutorials demonstrate how to cook various types of food from different countries. New cuisines may not only be delicious, but also provide an opportunity to learn about different cultures.
5. Holiday Lights: There are so many places where you can see holiday lights this year. Going on a drive in a neighborhood and taking pictures can be a memorable experience in and of itself. A short drive around a park or a neighborhood that has houses trimmed with lights and giant inflatables of Santa Claus is something you’ll only see during the holiday season.
6. Preparing for the new semester: With the new semester coming up, it is important to start preparing for classes and exams. Winter break is a great time to review the past semester’s concepts, and get a feel for new classes. Making flashcards, and looking back at notes will help retain the information that you may have learned at the beginning of the school year.
7. Cleaning: Even though cleaning may be a tiring task, the end results are often satisfying. A messy closet filled with old, dust-lined clothing is a strong sign something must be done. After about a few minutes of cleaning, you may feel like you’re going nowhere, although with just a little more time and effort, you’ll feel proud of yourself, and your closet will be clean.
8. Exercise: Exercising daily is essential for a healthy life. During winter break, challenge yourself to see if you can workout every day. Try listening to different types of music every time you go on a morning jog, or try finding a new show to binge on as you run on the treadmill. You can even try playing a sport or do a dance workout.
9. Spend Time With Family and Friends: Making memories is always a worthwhile activity. Get together with some of your friends and family members and spend some time with them. You could exchange gifts by participating in a Secret Santa, or even simply tell stories by the fireplace.
10. Goals: As the new year approaches, it is a good idea to set a few goals to follow. These goals could be academic, personal, athletic, or really anything you want to achieve. Rather than jumping into the new year without a direction to follow, give yourself an idea of what you want to accomplish in the future through setting goals.