Winter Bucket List for a Busy Student
Whether you love the winter season and are prone to singing Christmas songs as early as November, or you’re much more of a summer person and prefer the warmer weather, there is still so much that you can do as a student during winter. If you’re staying at your student accommodation in the city, there will absolutely be festive events and get-togethers for you to enjoy. And if you’re going away to visit family and friends, you’re sure to enjoy the change of scenery! Either way, remember to check out Abodus Advent Calendar this year, where you’ll find lots of fun ideas of what to do in the lead up to Christmas.
To help you enjoy this winter, we’ve put together our own winter bucket list. Make sure you spend this frosty season focusing on your wellbeing and planning for the year ahead. The below list should help you!
- Get your Christmas shopping sorted
Winter tends to be the season of giving! Getting thoughtful gifts for your loved ones is so rewarding and is something many people look forward to every year. We know, however, that this can be a little stressful for a student on a tight budget, but you really don’t need to spend loads of money to make others feel special and loved. If you’re looking for some good discounts and gift ideas, make sure you check out our VIP programme, exclusive to Abodus residents. Our partners, like Nuud, Bluebell Essential Oils and Noughty Haircare offer some amazing discounts for their products that your family and friends are going to love.
- Take a step to improve your health
While the weather is cold outside, winter offers a great time to focus on areas of your life you might have somewhat neglected. Being a busy student means you sometimes forget to eat healthily, exercise and take time for your mental health. Make sure you slow down this winter and maybe take a yoga or meditation class? We’ve got a great meditation class with our friends, Yoga Therapies on Instagram Live on Monday, 13th December, at 7.30pm. It could be a great place to start to unwind after exam stress and focus on your mental health ahead of the busy holiday season.
- Learn to bake
Who doesn’t love a warm cupcake with a cup of tea on a dark January night? While eating healthily is important for your body and mind, so it is treating yourself! If you’ve never tried baking, take time this winter to learn how to bake the most delicious apple pie or the best brownie! And if you’re looking for ideas, check out our friends from Superfood Bakery. They offer naturally gluten free and vegan baking mixes that are a great place to get you started. If you are a more advanced baker, how about baking your own ‘Winter Cake’? Check out this amazing recipe we love!
- Visit a Christmas market
One of the most unique things you can do in the lead up to Christmas is visit your local Christmas market. They offer an opportunity to find some unique hand-made gifts for your loved-ones and a chance to have a mulled wine or two. If you’re looking to ignite your Christmas spirit this year, there is no better place to do so!
- Go ice-skating
This one is an absolute must-do if you’re looking to embrace the joys of winter! Most student cities have an ice-skating place open throughout the winter months, where you can either bring your own skates, or rent some if you don’t have your own. Even if you don’t know how to skate, you can still enjoy it! Organise a group of friends and go together – you’ll have a great time laughing at your clumsy moves on the ice and can finish off with a lovely hot chocolate to warm you up.
- Catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while
While everyone assumes that being a student means going to parties all the time and hanging out with other students in between and after lectures, sometimes it can be the opposite. We all get stuck in a routine, and especially if you’re balancing university with a part-time job or other commitments like sports and clubs, it can be hard to make time to just have a coffee with friends. Make time for it this winter, especially try and see friends you haven’t seen in a while! This might just be one of the best and most heart-warming things you do this winter.
- Volunteer your time to help others
If you do have time to spare, however, consider dedicating some of that time to volunteering or getting involved with your local community. Whatever you’re passionate about (supporting the homeless, working with children, marginalised groups like LGBTQI+ community, asylum seekers, etc…), you’re sure to find a local charity or community group to get involved with in your city! If you’re looking for somewhere to get started, check out the websites like ‘Do It’ and NCVO to find local and remote volunteering opportunities.
- Plan for 2022
The end of every year and the start of the next offers an opportunity to step back and examine where you’re at in life. Take a look at how the year has gone and start planning for 2022! If you’re passionate about getting organised check out our blog on organising your life in five easy steps. Want to start your own business in the future? Find out here how you can structure your side hustle around your studies. And if you’re worried about the climate change and want to make changes to be more sustainable, check out our blog with top tips for an eco-friendlier lifestyle.
Planning for the year ahead can help you be more mindful about what you want to focus on and achieve going forward. Whether you love a spreadsheet or you’re more of a pen and paper kind of person, there are so many great tools to help you plan. Check out The Happiness Planner, one of our VIP partners! They offer a great selection of journals and diaries to choose from that can help you with your planning.
Whatever you’re doing this winter season, make sure to tick off at least a couple bullet points from YOUR winter bucket list! And if you take up any of the above suggestions, post your photos on Instagram and tag @abodus_student_living too – we would love to see what you get up to.
