Ok so I know all you teens are off for the Holidays and your probably wondering what your probably already planning your schedule. I truly hope and pray that you will take that time for YOU! Not to just sit at home on the computer or the phone, but to truly enjoy quality time on YOU. I found a few things online and a few of my own ideas and put a list together for you.
1 Study/Schoolwork
School may be out but there is that possibility that you have a
project to complete, or that you'll be going back to school in January
to sit exams. Make the best of the holiday by getting as much work done
early. Set specific times to get your work done and make a list of the
things you need to do for school. It's also a good idea to avoid
distractions from all the 'more exciting things to do'.
2 Rest
You're on holiday from school for several reasons, and resting is one of
them. Take the few days you have to relax and have some personal time.
Yes, you may have planned some things for the holiday, but that doesn't
mean you can't sleep longer hours or just lay around for a bit doing
nothing in particular.
3 Study Your Word & Give Praise
With everything that happens this Christmas, don't forget to give
praise. This is a good time to give thanks for the past year, and think
of the abundant blessings in the year to come. Spend some time at your
place of worship, with other believers, or you can give praise at home
with family or individually. All-in-all, don't forget the reason behind
the season. What better time, then now to open up your bibles and study the Word of God. I don't think there is anything more relaxing and fulfilling than this. Development your understanding and wisdom; to apply to all areas of your life. I truly wish I had started doing this at your age. I can only imagine how many choices i would have NOT made :-)
4 Read for the sake of reading
Knowledge is never wasted, and the holiday is a good time to read a book
just for the sake of reading. This can be a nice relaxing exercise that
keeps the mind active but has nothing to do with school work. You can
either check out a bookstore to purchase new books or save a few bucks
by swapping books with your friends and family.
5 Watch some educational documentaries
Maybe there is a particular area of interest you are studying; well if you have Netflix than let me tell you, there are so many amazing documentaries on there.Please do not spend your time watching this foolish reality shows on TV that will only add a negative energy to your spirit. Instead watch The Discovery Chanel, The Food Chanel etc. But my choice is always a documentary.
6 Watch a movie
There are quite a few new movies hitting the big screen this Christmas. You can also check out a DVD store to
borrow a movie you missed out on earlier this year.
7 Develop a hobby (like scrap-booking)
Outside of sports and languages, you can spend your holiday developing a
hobby. Whether it's writing, photography, cooking, graphic design or
just about anything else; this hobby could make you more prepared for
your future profession, or could be an opportunity for you to start your
own small business. It may be a good idea to get help from someone with
more experience or take some classes to improve your skills.
8 Get fit
Your health is important no matter your age, and getting fit is a good
way to spend your holiday. Adopt some healthy habits this Christmas by
jogging, joining a gym, playing a sport, or just eating healthier. Your
health is your business and it's best that you start healthy habits
early in life. Remember to check with your doctor about your current
health before you change your diet or to take on too much exercise. Also don't forget to attend my Health Me / Healthy YOU workshop on January 26 2013 at 175 Advance Blvd#46 at 1pm
9 Watch the election debates
We are the future and it's important that we keep informed. This
Christmas is one with a lot of political happenings it's important that Teens get in tune with
what our politicians have to say. Through the debates we may be able to
better understand the plans and goals that the leaders have for our
nation.
10 Go green
Going green is definitely in! We've made mention of how important it is
to take care of your body, but it's equally important to take care of
our planet. Whether you decide to recycle your trash, conserve on water
and electricity, or reuse specific items, your continued support will
help to keep our island beautiful and can help cut costs for you and
your family. Do your research and find out how you can recycle paper,
plastic and cans, and about how you can make a compose heap with your
perishable garbage.
11 Set Goals
Somewhat closing the Christmas holiday, is the New Year and that means
New Year's resolutions. While on holiday it's a great time to look back
on the year you've had and set goals for yourself for the New Year. You
shouldn't just write down what you want, but you should also be planning
how to achieve these goals and check points for yourself along the way.
12 Get in some family time
Whether it's a trip to visit those out-of-town or specific nights
planned to hang out with the ones you live with, Christmas is a great
chance to spend some time with family. Plan a night out or a night in
and enjoy it with dinner, movies or games. Family time is healing time :-)
13 Volunteer
Everyday is a day of giving, you can play your part by volunteering in
your community. It doesn't take much to give a helping hand for even a
few days out of your holiday. Some places you can check out are
hospitals, old age homes, orphanages, schools and churches. You have
many options and giving back is something we all need to become more
interested in. Besides the humanitarian aspect of it all, giving back
can help to give you work experience and will look good on your resumé.
14 Go out for dinner
Plan a dinner or brunch out with just "your siblings" to spend some quality time. It's something you should try and get into the habit of doing from now. This holiday is a good
opportunity to check out a new food spot for a quick meal, or night out
at dinner. Round up the troops and go enjoy a day out with great food
and your siblings.
15 Get a job
Although a short holiday, you can get a Christmas job if you go out and
hunt for it. You can help out at a company that's planning projects for
2013, or at a store to help reduce the pressure during their Christmas
buzz. Volunteering gives you valuable work experience and will look good
on your resumé. The plus is that you can get a couple dollars in your
pocket that you can spend or save.
16 Clean up & Get Organized
It's quite usual for a teen to have a messy bedroom, especially during
the semester when you're so busy finishing assignments and studying. But
there's no reason why it's got to stay messy when you have free time on
your hands. Take some time this holiday to clean up your room, throw
out the stuff you can dump and organise the stuff you need to keep.
While you're cleaning up, go through your clothes and books and see what
you have that can be donated to the less fortunate. Let me know if you find some things; we can pass onto the homeless and families living in shelters :-)
17 Catch up with friends
Many teens are glad to have friends home for the holidays and this means
there's a chance for you to catch up on the things you missed and hang
out. Maybe as a group you choose to do some of the things we already
mentioned (like going to dinner, the movies or developing a new hobby), or you may
decide to keep it simple and just hang out at home and order a pizza.
18 Learn a language or sport
Knowing more than one language or being able to play a sport is always a
good thing. Whether you decide to take special classes or learn on your
own while on holiday, this can be a rewarding experience and can open
up new opportunities for you. Another language always looks good on your
resumé, and by learning a new sport you could join a sports team at
school next term.
19 Go shopping
Christmas shopping with friends and family is always fun, even if you
don't have much money to buy many things. Gather your shopping buddies
and your shopping list and go get gifts for your loved ones. This is a
nice way to spend the day or night and at the same time you're
supporting local businesses.
20 LIVE, LAUGH and LEARN To DANCE!
