By ALEX COOK | Staff Reporter
Ah, winter break, the time when one can finally take a breather between classes. For many, this is their one chance to relax, but between every ski trip and a trip to the movies, there are days spent sitting on the couch, staying in bed until 5 PM, and scrolling through the depths of social media. So, how can you make the most of your time and avoid between-school boredom? Here are just a few tips for folks stuck at home during the holidays.
Avoiding The Algorithm
A common pitfall during breaks is to fall into excess scrolling. From Instagram to TikTok, almost everyone has had the experience of turning on their phone just to see what is going on, only to find minutes turn to hours, and when you look up, the sun has set and you don’t know what time it is anymore. These apps use algorithms to keep you scrolling as long as possible, which is great for finding more cat videos but terrible for productivity and making the most of winter break. So how can we avoid it?
Deleting your accounts is a nuclear option, but not for everyone, especially for those who need social media to keep updated with friends and family. So instead, acknowledging and regulating your app use can go a long way. Seeing how many hours you spend each week can be a wake-up call, and staying off your favorite apps will help. But even if you still want to keep TikTok around, you can still manage your time with it more efficiently, for apps you open on habit make them harder to access! The difference between a quick and accessible button and having to reinstall the app to access your account can break your muscle memory. Similarly, when you are on these apps, decide what you are going to watch. Even just saying, “I am now going to watch X,” will increase your ability to be mindful about how much content you consume
Decide How Your Space is Used
The trick lies in changing your surroundings or how you think of them. Segmenting where you live can be a great first step in that journey. It’s easy to let your mind wander when your work room is your sleep room and your entertainment room, and because not everyone has the luxury of empty rooms to organize their life with, you can create organization through segmenting. Decide where you will do specific things. By saying, “I will do Yoga when I step on my mat,” or “I will work on this project at this desk,” you are removing avenues to escape your intended goal. You will do it because you have entered your space to do something. You can achieve this effect in smaller ways as well: A work song or any signifier that acts as a way of saying to yourself, “Now it is time to do only this,” will work wonders in making sure you spend time how you want to.
Cooking For Fun
Many people get stuck in the thought of cooking as something you either do or you don’t. That one day, herbs and spices appear in your house, and you become proficient with a knife overnight. This leads to a perfectionist attitude that is unhelpful to learning how to cook and, more importantly, getting nice meals daily. Instead, instead, let’s reframe cooking.
Think of it more like doodling in class or dancing with friends: you might not know what you are doing, and you don’t have every resource at your disposal, but that is where experimentation comes in. Sandwiches, salads, and anything in or on a quesadilla is an amazing start. Little to no cooking is required; just you, your base, and a willingness to combine flavors to see what happens. From there, your opportunity to expand outwards is endless! Cooking chicken for one meal creates an opportunity for Caesar salads, chicken tacos, and chicken mac and cheese. Once you get your head out of the menu (and the frankly absurd amount of garlic) and start experimenting, cooking can be an enriching hobby for your mind, body, and soul. Just be prepared to stomach a few odd meals, and you’ll be surprised what you can do a few months down the line.