Using Your Winter Break for a Great Spring Semester
By: Antonia Le ‘22
This year, USC’s winter break lasts from December 19 to January 12, which gives students just under a month to rest, relax, and recharge before getting back on the grind. However, I know that I’d hate myself if January 12 came and I spent my entire break being unproductive. If you’re looking for something to do over winter break that will help you start the Spring 2020 semester on a good note, read onward for some tips that might help you!
1. Review what you need for next year
If you’re taking a math class next semester, it’ll do you some good to brush up on your math skills over the break! After all, you don’t want to go into a difficult class completely cold, having done no preparation at all over a whole month. Now, I’m not saying that you should devote your entire winter break to learning (or re-learning) Calculus, but working on a few problems a week will do wonders. Just set aside ten minutes a day for five days a week for math, leaving weekends for you.
This advice applies to more than just math classes. Set aside a little bit of time every day to go over material you think you’ll need for next semester. For example, if you’re taking an IR 101 next semester, try brushing up on some big world history events so you’ll have a foundation for class discussions later.
By devoting a tiny bit of every day to brushing up or refreshing your mind, your break will still be a break, but you’ll enter the next semester feeling ready to take on whatever your professors throw at you. A little bit goes a long way!
2. Apply for jobs/internships
I’m the kind of person who is always telling myself that I’ll send in applications tomorrow or next week during the school semester, but I never end up doing it. Why? Because midterm season always arrives super quickly, and then I’m swamped until finals. For some people, there’s simply no time to look for things to do over the summer during the school year.
You never know how much time you’ll have in the upcoming semester, so it’s important to use your winter break wisely. You’ll have a lot of time on your hands during winter break, so why not use it to update your resume and send it out for some cool job opportunities?
The worst-case scenario is that no employer responds. Even so, you’re still left with a nice new resume and a feeling of accomplishment because you got something done and put yourself out there. Ultimately, there’s no reason not to use your winter break to get yourself employed.
3. Clean out your closet
If you’re not from the Los Angeles area, you probably have to lug a heavy suitcase back and forth between your hometown and USC with every school break. I know that I keep on bringing clothes back and forth that I never wear, simply because I either think I’m going to wear them or don’t have the heart to throw them out.
However, with all the free time you’ll have between semesters, it’s the perfect time to sit down and pull a Marie Kondo with your closet. Generally, cleaning out one’s closet takes less than a day for most people, so it’s a very feasible task to do when you have so many days waiting to be filled.
At the end of it all, you’ll find yourself with a lighter suitcase to bring back to school, the knowledge that you won’t have to pack as much to go home at the end of the spring semester, and the nice feeling of an organized new wardrobe for 2020. Why not ring in the new decade knowing that there’s no more junk in your closet? Is there any better feeling?
4. Make a game plan
Surely, you’ve registered for classes by now, so you have a pretty good idea of what your schedule looks like next semester. So, it’s a good idea to sit down, look at your class schedule, and figure out how much time you have for studying, extracurriculars, and/or employment. This way, you’ll head into the spring with a good idea of what you’re able to do. This will help you decide which clubs you’ll be able to join after the Involvement Fair (if any). Moreover, it will also help prevent you from dividing yourself between too many commitments and causing unneeded stress.
Sure, your game plan may change over the course of the next semester, but having a general idea of what you’re able to do from the beginning will save you a lot of time and energy, ultimately leading to a better semester!
5. Catch up on your favorite entertainment!
Breaks shouldn’t just be about work. They should be about having fun, too! And who says fun can’t be productive?
This might just be me, but I get a little stressed out when I know that I’m extremely behind on my favorite show, or my list of books to read is way too long. Despite this, I often forget and waste my breaks by not catching up on my Netflix queue or reading lists, instead simply re-reading or re-watching old content.
However, if I make it a point to read a book or finish a TV show when I have free time, I often feel a lot less stressed by the time I actually need to start doing work. This is because I was able to treat myself while also crossing an item off of my to-do list. It’s truly the best of both worlds!
If you’re feeling absolutely burnt out by the fall semester, relieve some stress by sitting down with a new show or a new book. I know that I’ll be watching Legacies or Dimension 20: The Unsleeping City. Taking some time and watching a show or reading a book means that by the time the spring semester rolls around, your mind will feel recharged, and you’ll feel ready to own 2020.
These tips won’t work for everyone, but I hope you found something that works for you. Good luck on finals, and happy new year! You got this!
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