Now that it is getting colder outside and winter is right around the corner, people are not going outside as often on campus unless they are headed to class. Students are taking shortcuts through buildings to get to their next class so they do not have to stay outside as long.

I know I have cut through the library a couple times in my college years. During the winter, it can be hard trying to find fun activities to do during this brutally cold season. For me, I love the cold weather and can always find fun things to do, so I am here to share some tips on how to have a fun holiday break, and not a blue one.

A fun idea to do during breaks is to watch some good holiday movies with family or friends. Whether it is on Hallmark, Freeform or you have it on DVD, sitting on your couch with a nice warm and cozy blanket while drinking a warm beverage in your favorite mug is a good way to start your break and unwind from final exams.  

A good way to involve kids, or anyone really, in the holiday spirit is to bake some fun. Make any kind of dessert you want, but have fun with it. Decorate cookies or cakes and make them look festive. Kids especially love to measure things. So throw a little flour at each other, crack a couple eggs and just laugh at how funny everyone looks. Don’t forget the selfies! 

Something I have always wanted to do is have a gingerbread house-making contest. It is something you can do with extended family or friends. You just make teams and have enough gingerbread sets that you can buy at any grocery store and then have someone judge them at the end. It is a great way to bond with people and have a couple laughs, and of course the winning team gets bragging rights. If it goes well the first time, it can become a family tradition every year during the holidays.

The last idea might not be for everyone, especially if you do not like the cold, because it involves going outside into the dreaded cold. One thing I love to do is go window-shopping. First, find a town that has an old-timey feel with a main street that has lots of tiny mom and pop stores down the entire street. You can admire all the festive lights and the cute quaint shops filled with different knick-knacks for your holiday shopping needs. On occasion, you might hear a group of carolers sing holiday songs to put you in the spirit.  

Whether you like going outside or not during the holidays, there are many options for fun to choose from, and these ideas are great ways to bond with family and friends during the winter break. I think we can all agree that everyone wants a fun holiday, and sometimes bonding with close ones is the best kind of break. 

Kate Rehwinkel is a senior management major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or kerehwinkel@eiu.edu.