ST NORBERT NEWS

Pastoral Care

End of term

40 Productive Things to Do During the School Holidays

 

Exams are over and school’s out.

 

And millions of students around the world are thinking to themselves, “Now what am I going to do with all this free time?”

 

Sure, there are games to play, movies to watch, and friends to hang out with.

 

But there are also plenty of productive things to do during the school holidays.

 

So, I’ve come up with this list of 40 meaningful things to do.

 

1. Reflect on the semester gone by.

Take out a sheet of paper and answer these three questions:

  • What did I do well in the past semester?
  • What did I not do so well in the past semester?
  • What will I do differently in the coming semester?

2. Set process goals for the coming semester.

 

This is a follow-up to Point #1.

Set process goals for the coming semester instead of performance goals, because process goals are far more effective.

 

What’s the difference between the two types of goals?

 

Process goals are what you intend to do, while performance goals are what you intend to achieve.

 

Here’s an example.

Performance goal: Get an A for math next semester.

Process goal: Do three extra math questions every day after dinner.

 

By setting process goals, you’re more likely to take action than if you only set performance goals.

 

So take some time and set 5 to 10 process goals for the coming semester.

 

3. Watch educational YouTube videos.

Here are a few of my favorite educational YouTube channels:

For more suggestions, check out this Mashable article.

 

4. Watch documentaries.

You can watch thousands of high-quality documentaries for free at Documentary Heaven.

 

5. Get a job.

Don’t worry too much about what the job will pay. As the saying goes, “Take a job for what you will learn, not for what you will earn.”

 

This is especially true when it comes to school holiday jobs. The best learning experience might just come in the form of an unpaid job or internship.

 

6. Learn a new language.

Visit these websites and learn a new language:

7. Find a cause you care about.

The school holidays are a good time to give back. Find a cause you care about, and start thinking of ways to support that cause.

 

Then read this article, which lists 10 ways to support a good cause.

 

8. Volunteer.

As a follow-up to Point #7, find a practical way to serve and contribute. You could volunteer to clean up the beach, help out at a nursing home or animal shelter, or deliver meals to the elderly.

 

9. Improve your physical health.

 

You have more time during the school holidays. So this is a great opportunity to start sleeping well, exercising regularly, and eating healthily.

 

 

 

10. Learn a new skill.

You could learn skills like…

  • Public speaking
  • Cooking
  • Drawing
  • Self-defence
  • Negotiation
  • Listening
  • Positive thinking

11. Read.

I strongly recommend that you read these five books:

12. Take an online course.

There are thousands of online courses to choose from on Coursera and Udemy.

 

13. Build or fix something.

Fix a broken fan, build a computer, or make a table. These are skills that will come in handy in the future.

 

14. Visit museums.

A trip to a museum will make you more knowledgeable, and you’ll probably leave feeling inspired too.

 

What’s more, it’s typically free (or cheap) to get in.

 

15. Start a business.

You could start something small like a …

  • Babysitting business
  • Dog-walking business
  • Pet-sitting business

Or you could think big like these 12 kids, who have built million-dollar businesses in arenas like app development, online advertising, fashion, and hair products.

 

16. Learn to manage your money.

Money management is a valuable life skill. Get started by checking out the resources at Practical Money Skills for Life.

 

17. Pick up a new hobby.

You will probably feel bored at some point during the school holidays. That’s the time to pick up a new hobby like…

  • Juggling
  • Gardening
  • Playing the ukulele
  • Dancing
  • Photography
  • Stargazing

18. Sell the things you aren’t using.

I’m sure you own many things you aren’t using, which other people would be willing to pay for.

So hold a garage sale, or put the items up for sale online.

 

19. Visit a nearby college or university.

Whenever I visit a college or university campus, I feel a sense of excitement. Colleges and universities are so full of youth, passion, knowledge, and potential.

 

This school holiday, visit one in your area. Learn about the courses and programs offered, and get a feel for the campus culture.

 

You might just leave the campus with a clearer vision of your future plans and goals.

 

20. Achieve an athletic goal.

Take Point #9 a step further and work toward a specific athletic goal.

 

Here are some examples:

  • Do 15 pull-ups in 30 seconds
  • Do 50 push-ups in 1 minute
  • Do 60 sit-ups in 1 minute
  • Run a mile under 7 minutes
  • Hold a plank for 2 minutes

21. Reconnect with friends and family members.

Reconnect with friends and family members whom you didn’t get to spend much time with during the school term. 

 

At the very least, send them a text or email to show them that you’re thinking of them.

 

22. Enjoy nature.

Go for a hike, have a picnic, fly a kite, or visit a nature reserve.

23. Learn about a country or place you don’t know much about.

The world is a fascinating place filled with fascinating countries and cities.

 

This school holiday, take some time to learn about the history and culture of a country or place you aren’t familiar with.

 

More information on this article can be found at: https://www.daniel-wong.com/2015/11/09/productive-things-to-do-during-school-holidays/

 

The Pastoral Care Team