Winter Break Do’s and Don’ts for College Kids

The winter break between college semesters provides students with an ideal opportunity to recharge.

However — as so many parents know — it can be challenging for young people to adjust to having so much free time. It’s critical that these four weeks off from school are not wasted, and it’s essential to plan for a healthy balance between family life, productivity, and idleness by setting some realistic goals.

Here are some do’s for our young people to keep in mind during winter break.

Spend time with family. You have been in your own world for the past few months, and your family misses you. Once school starts up again, you won’t have the chance to reconnect. So take advantage of this time and be around your parents and siblings. Go out to dinner as a group and see a movie or two.

Sleep. College students are one of the most sleep-deprived populations — and winter break is the perfect time to catch up on the sleep you lost at college. Sleep deprivation has been linked to lower GPAs, since sleep affects concentration, memory, and the ability to learn. Winter break provides the ideal opportunity to get on a better sleep schedule.

Reconnect with high school friends. Unlike spring break, which varies depending on your college, winter break is consistent, making it easy to meet up with local friends. Reconnecting with friends feels good and may open your eyes to new opportunities.

Read a book. For the past few months, you’ve been forced to engage in required reading. Now it’s time to delve into a book that interests you personally. Read for enjoyment, not out of necessity. Reading is good for your mental health. A recent study at the University of Sussex found that such reading is the most effective way to overcome stress.

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Go to the gym. As a result of high-fat dorm meals, late-night snacking, and partying, college freshmen gain 10 pounds on average in the first semester, as noted by WebMD. Most gyms offer reasonably priced winter break programs for college students — providing a great opportunity to get back in shape and establish a healthy addition to your daily schedule. Working out will give you more energy to devote to your studies and friends when you return to college.

Network. Have your parents invite family friends over to informally discuss summer internships. Talk to your friends’ parents as well.

Organic networking can open your eyes to summer internship opportunities, and winter break is the ideal time to start applying for these internships.

Work. Part-time retail work will allow you to earn some extra money while engaging in the real world. Such work will also enhance your communication skills and ability to handle stress.

Volunteer. By necessity, you’ve been fixated on your own needs at college. By putting others first, you will broaden your perspective and prevent yourself from becoming the type of self-absorbed person you always despised.

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Here are some smart don’ts for winter break.

Don’t sit home and binge on Netflix. You need to go out and meet up with high school friends. Organic networking can open your eyes to summer internship opportunities, and winter break is the ideal time to start applying for these internships.

Don’t miss out on sleep by over-partying. As detailed in Student Health Magazine, sleeping ranked second — behind being with a loved one — in a recent college survey that asked students what they’d like to be doing right now. Try not to fixate on the fear of missing out and force yourself to attend every local party. Sleep deprivation harms your immune system and may result in illness that can lead to your missing a substantial amount of time at college.

Don’t fixate on social media. Unplugging calms the mind and allows students to reboot their brains. In a recent student from the University of Maryland, a majority of college students described their online dependence as an addiction. Winter break allows students to lessen their technology addiction and its harmful effects on the brain.

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Don’t engage in schoolwork (unless you absolutely have to). Winter break is an ideal time to take a mental breather from school. Freeing your mind up from schoolwork will allow you to return to college re-energized.

Don’t intern at a company during winter break (except in very special circumstances). Interning for a few weeks during the holiday season does not give students real insight into a corporation. Many workers are on vacation or focused on holiday parties. Rather than dedicate your valuable time to commuting and engaging in most likely mindless work, spend those hours on more productive activities.

Daniel Riseman, founder of Riseman Educational Consulting in Irvington, New York, has been counseling students and working with families for more than 17 years.