Ah, finally. Your tests are done, there is no school for two weeks, and the holidays are approaching. You feel as though a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Now you can focus on the most important task for this time of the year: getting into the holiday spirit.
The first few days of vacation feel great. You finally catch up on hundreds of hours of sleep you missed, and to top it off, your workload is, hopefully, light. You are finally able to kick back and relax. So you decide to scroll down your Instagram feed. And what do you see?
Blue waters, sandy feet, palm trees, piña coladas (virgin, of course), and beautiful sunsets. By the tenth picture, you get the point. You are stuck in the bitter cold while all of your friends are tanning, swimming, and lounging. But before you begin to lash out at your parents for not taking you anywhere, I advise you to put the phone down and stop your finger from any further scrolling.
My friend, do not let these photos and Snapchat stories ruin your vacation. Although you may not believe it, there is plenty to do at home. And the best part is, there is no need for struggle whilst packing your suitcase.
1. Step up your Netflix game. Take some time to unplug and unwind. Besides, with all of those tests, Netflix has been desperately awaiting your arrival. It is time to grab your favorite blanket, get comfy, toss your phone to the side, and catch up on your favorite shows.
“During the break, I sleep, eat, watch Netflix, and find any other way to avoid my relatives,” said senior Jina Lay.
Trust me, do not let this window of opportunity go because in three weeks, when midterms roll around, you will be wishing you had time to watch TV.
2. Day trip to the city. After you’re recharged and prepared to face the cold, take a day trip to Rockefeller Center. Ice skating and taking a picture with the famous eighty-five foot Christmas tree will fill another day in your not-so-boring stay-cation! After all, people come from all over the world to visit New York City, so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity.
3. Give yourself a spa day. Like I said before, a spa day will be needed once January rolls around. Whether it be treating yourself to a massage, getting a mani-pedi, or lighting candles all around your house while meditating, you do you. Besides it is a new year, and you need to be ready for a fresh start.
4. Catch a movie or go bowling. Yes, it may sound cheesy, but it will bring you back to your childhood days filled with bowling parties and Justin Bieber movies. Besides, either of these activities are great for a family or group of friends. So grab your bowling shoes and go to moviefone.com to check out the latest movies in theaters.
5. Eat food. Go on a food crawl. Whether you go to restaurants in Port, the city, or another town, indulge in all types of food and don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and try new foods. Plus, you can stick it to all of your friends on vacation because food Instagrams can definetely outdo pictures of palm trees or Caribbean sunsets.
6. Bake. Hopefully you are not discouraged by the banned bake sales at school, because with the holiday approaching it is a great time to bake all your favorite desserts. Whether you make snowflake-shaped cookies or red velvet cupcakes with green frosting, your friends and family will much appreciate your presentation of the holiday spirit. If you ned ideas for cool recipes thedomesticrebel.com has super creative and fun recipes.
7. Volunteer. The holidays are a time to give back to the less fortunate, whether it is by running a food or clothing drive or helping out at a soup kitchen. Just Google New York City or Bronx volunteer opportunities and you will find hundreds of options. Not only will it look good on that college application, but also you will feel proud and fulfilled for helping others.
8. Go on a college tour. Although college may be the last thing you want to think about during the holidays, go for it. Nothing bad can come from getting a head start (or in some cases, getting a late start). It may seem intimidating at first but hey, look at it this way: you’re finally getting out of Port!
One last tip: If you really want to escape the cold, you may want to consider hibernation. It doesn’t sound too bad if you ask me.
But for the rest of you, relax and enjoy yourself this vacation. Although you may not be flying on a plane or getting a tan, there is still plenty you can do to have a memorable stay-cation!Regardless, a sixteen day break from school is all that us hard working students can wish for.