Experienced Miami University students understand that Winter Term can feel long, especially if you’re not taking a class or studying away. It can be hard to stay productive and entertained after your friends go back to their universities in mid-January. So if you don’t have any solid plans, we have created a list of our Top 10 Ways to Stay Productive to help you take full advantage of your six week “break”!
1. Apply for leadership positions
Winter term seems to be a popular time for application deadlines. SOUL (Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader) applications are due at 8 am on January 8. Resident Assistant applications are due January 11. And in just a few weeks we’ll have the Scholar Leader application deadline (February 1) and HAWKS deadline (February 20). Take advantage of some downtime now to think about and apply for these excellent student leadership opportunities.
2. Job Shadow
Speak with your parents or relatives about spending a day shadowing them at work. Not only will this benefit you, but most will love that you are taking an interest in their career! If you don’t have any relatives who work in your interested career, reach out to a local business that may have opportunities in your field and ask for an informational interview. Be sure to show up with a list of questions when the time comes! At minimum, you’ll learn more about the company and potential jobs, but it could also turn into a great connection and job or internship opportunity down the line!
3. Read a book… for FUN
When was the last time you read a book that wasn’t assigned for a class? Dig out your favorite teen romance novel or find something new that sticks out. Your local library has so many great options for you to just curl up and spend the day reading.
4. Reach-out to your favorite high school teacher
Your old high school teachers would love to hear from you and how their class has helped benefit you in college. They’ll likely love having college students visit their class to share their experiences. Pay it forward and give advice some great college advice! Be sure to shoot an email a day or two in advance to make sure it’s okay to visit (you don’t want to interrupt presentions or test days!).
5. Find a Job
Post-holiday season, you might be tight on cash, and working would be a great way to spend your time. However, it may be hard to find somewhere to hire you for only six weeks, so consider contacting places you worked in past summers or try babysitting.
6. Set a New Year’s Resolution
In the spirit of the new year, set some new goals! Are you going to improve your health? Spend more time with your pets? Or learn something new? Try writing down your goals and setting a schedule, so that you have a better chance of achieving this resolution! It’s also a great time to reflect on your Fall 2018 semester and think about what went well and how you’ll want to do even better during Spring 2019. What habits do you want to keep and which do you want to break?
7. Apply for Scholarships or Internships
Winter break is the perfect time to revamp your resume and begin the summer job hunt! Stay ahead of the game and apply early to snag your dream internship. While you’re home you can also improve your interviewing skills by practicing mock interviews with your parents.
8. Volunteer
If you already did #6 and are looking to boost your resume, try volunteering during winter break. You could help at places like the local food pantry, park district, or reach out to United Way. This is a great way to give back to your community this holiday season!
9. Try Something “New”
We understand better than anyone that sometimes Oxford can feel like living in a bubble. The closest mall is 30 minutes away, and if you don’t have a car, you probably haven’t been to a movie theater in a while either. Take advantage of being at home, and do the things that you can’t always do in Oxford!
10. Help out around the House
Your parents will greatly appreciate you making dinner a few nights a week or helping clean up a bit. This is great preparation for when you are living off campus and have to cook on your own.
BONUS TIP: RELAX
While it is important to stay productive, winter term is also a time for you to relax. Catch up on your sleep and spend some quality “me time.” After college, you probably won’t have another six week long break until you retire, so take full advantage of this and ENJOY it!
Hannah Frier | Marketing
