3 Ways To Get Ahead Over Winter Break
Hey Brad!
Yeah Chad?
What should we do for the next month? We’re on winter break!
Isn’t it obvious? We’re gonna party!! Probably watch Stranger Things too.
This is a variation of the conversation many college students are having right now.
Brad and Chad just finished up their last final and now they’re free for the next 5 weeks. They have the holidays, new years, and a whole lot of time in between.
Most students use this time to “relax”. If they’re not partying, they’re catching up on those 4 Netflix shows they fell behind on.
This is not a good use of time.
Once you enter the “real world”, you won’t get a couple months off a year. You’ll get maybe two weeks.
While most of your peers are partying or watching netflix, consider doing these 3 things.
1. Read a book
If you’re not already in the habit of reading, this is the perfect time to start! If you spend the next 5 weeks reading a little bit every day, you’ll be able to get through at least one book. Once you’re in the routine, you’ll be more likely to read for pleasure once school starts back up.
I know you just had your nose buried in textbooks all semester, but consider these 3 books:
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
This book is one of my favorites and has been recommended to me by a few mentors. If you really want to change your life and become a more effective, efficient, and overall happier person, give this book a read and apply what you learn.
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
If you’ve ever been curious about the guy who created the Mac and the iPhone, this is the best story you can read. It not only picks apart Steve’s brain, but it also includes interviews with over a hundred of the closest people in his life. Upon finishing this book, I can feel Steve’s influence & soul inside my Apple products.
Bonus: Walter Isaacson also wrote about the lives of Leonardo Da Vinci, Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin. I haven’t read these yet but I hear they’re amazing.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
I’m sure you know the story of Harry Potter. Whether you’re an avid fan of the series or not, the way J.K. Rowling wraps up the epic saga that spanned over a decade is quite the read. I love when a story can suck me in so deep I forget where I am. This happens literally every time I read Harry Potter. Harry taught me about loyalty, trust, bravery, courage, and friendship, more than any other story. I take these lessons with me in everyday life.
2. Get into health and fitness
You just sat in a wooden chair, hunched over, reading small text in a dimly lit library for the past few weeks. You need to let off some steam. At the same time, there’s always improvements you can make to your diet.
Health
I’m a huge fan of cooking and meal prepping. I know exactly what I put into my body, how many calories i’m consuming, and how much money I spend on food every week. If you’re on that ramen diet, or have never cooked, try watching some YouTube videos and implementing cooking and meal prepping into your life. Your body AND your wallet will thank you.
Fitness
Whether you’re a daily gym rat or someone who’s never stepped in a gym, there’s one workout program that will get you shredded if you follow it AND eat healthy.
Insanity. It’s a 60 day program that will transform your body. You can do your own research and read reviews, or you can take my word and give it a go. You literally watch the DVD’s and follow the 60 day journey by marking each day off your calendar. Sounds easy, but it’s not. When you’re busy in school, or working, it can be really hard to implement this into your life because you will be sore like you’ve never been sore before. During the 5 week winter break, it will be much easier to commit to this program. (Insanity is expensive, too bad you can’t google the program and find it on RuTube *hint hint*).
3. Travel
This is the fun one and many college students do this. But if you have the means, travel to another country and immerse yourself in a new culture.
Yes you can fly to another City in the U.S. but it’s just not the same.
If you’re living in the United States, and have time or monetary constraints, I’d recommend traveling to Mexico City. It’s a ~3 hour flight from LAX and costs under $300 round trip. Also, the Dollar is strong right now so expenses will be low in Mexico. ($1 = ~19 Pesos as of this writing).
I was in Mexico City a couple times at the beginning of 2017 and fell in love with the city. It is rich with culture ranging from castles to museums and hosts some of the best food in the world. Despite being an American, the people were extremely welcoming and nice. It was an eye opener because I saw the rich and the poor side.
Travel gives you perspective, which provides clarity, which helps you become more self-aware.
What are your plans for winter break? Please let me know in the comments below!
Thank’s for reading! :)
