Creative ways to spend winter break

By Lilly Kujawski | Editor
Illustrations by Kaitlyn Carr

Pleasure-read a 2019 release

“Trick Mirror” by Jia Tolentino

From New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino, “Trick Mirror” is a collection of essays about self-delusion in American society. Tolentino explores and analyzes subjects like politics, feminism, social media, reality TV, scammer culture and self-image, and the ways they intersect.

“The Travelers” by Regina Porter

Regina Porter’s novel “The Travelers” chronicles the experiences of various characters and the way their lives are woven together in some way or another. Porter uses grace and intricacy to tell a story that grapples with race, relationships and what it means to be American.

“Odes to Lithium” by Shira Erlichman

In her book of poems, “Odes to Lithium,” Shira Erlichman illustrates her experiences with mental illness through a series of odes dedicated to the medication lithium, used to treat bipolar disorder. With honesty and precision, Erlichman’s poems tackle the realities of sickness and recovery.

“Find Me” by André Aciman

André Aciman returns with this sequel to his New York Times bestselling novel “Call Me By Your Name.” “Find Me” follows Elio’s father Samuel on a trip from Florence to Rome, moves to Paris with Elio, and catches up with Oliver in New England.

Brave the cold

Go ice skating

Round up friends or family for some classic winter fun at the ice rink. Buhr Park, Veterans Memorial Park and the Ann Arbor Ice Cube all offer open-skating and $3 ice skate rentals. Admission prices ranges from $3 to $6. Check the ice rink websites for open-skate dates and times.

Take to the hills

Dig out that old sled, find some friends who aren’t afraid of the cold and revive the childhood joys of sledding.

Winter bird watching

Winter is actually a great time for bird watching. Cardinals, Blue Jays, Morning Doves and Woodpeckers are just a few of the types of birds that can be spotted during Michigan winters. Study up on winter birds in Michigan, start putting out bird seed and grab some binoculars. Bird watching is sure to bring peace and relaxation to your winter break.

Hide from the snow

Up the stakes with a friendly game night

Invite a group of friends for a night of board game fun. Revisit an old classic, like chess, Monopoly or Clue, or try something new, such as What Do You Meme or Cards Against Humanity. Or, bring the fun to a family function. Just don’t let a friendly game of cards turn into a family feud!

Take up a new hobby or pilot a project you’ve been putting off

Have you always wanted to learn how to knit, play guitar or speak sign language? Winter break is the perfect time to immerse yourself in a new hobby or skill. Or maybe you’ve been meaning to put together a collection of essays or set up a recipe box. A break from school is a great opportunity to catch up on all the projects that have fallen to the wayside to make room for academics.

More fun ideas

Reorganize your space

Take a roadtrip

Start a puzzle

Study an interesting subject for fun

Catch up on sleep

Visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while

Try out a new recipe

Build a snowman

Volunteer for a good cause

Throw a dance party

Write a loved one a letter

Start a journal

Watch a new show

Start planning a garden for spring

Visit your favorite museums

Cook for your family

Create a scrapbook

Do an indoor workout

Bake holiday cookies

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