As TikTok quickly made its comeback after a brief ban, the ability to brain rot is as available as ever. Snow days make it easy to fall victim to mindless scrolling and lying in bed for hours. Before you know it, the day is over, and you are left wondering how you could have better spent your time. The first step to having a successful snow day is putting the phone down and taking a break from social media. Of course, rest is ideal on snow days, but why watch reels for hours when you could have been taking a nap?
Although a productive snow day would be ideal, it is not always practical. Many of us students feel burnt out in the winter months and it is nice to receive an unexpected break once in a while. This is the perfect time to catch up on sleep and practice self-care. Whether it be mindfulness or a 10-step skincare routine, set some time aside on your day off to do something that is relaxing for you. Hop in the shower, put on a face mask and simply close your eyes for 30 minutes to disconnect yourself from the stress of the outside world.
For those who prefer to stay busy, distracting yourself by completing much-needed to-do list items is the perfect way to avoid brain rot. A couple of options include cleaning your room, doing the laundry or organizing your desk drawers. Even if you think there is nothing to do, take a look around and I am sure you will find something that needs a little upkeep. There is no need to spend the entire day deep cleaning your living space, but some polishing could feel very rewarding while still allowing for ample amounts of rest.
This is also the perfect time to catch up on work or get ahead. Time and effort spent now will equal more rest later. Even a simple half-hour stretch of work can ease up some of your stress later on.
If you are still looking for ways to entertain yourself, try the old-fashioned approach of watching a movie or a marathon of a particular series. Calling and catching up with a friend or family member is also something to consider adding to your day. Though, if you would like to disconnect even more and have others around you, try bringing out the old board and card games. These games can make time fly and bring a pleasant sense of nostalgia.
Staying cozy inside all day can be very tempting, but do not forget to take advantage of what is all around you: snow! If you find yourself succumbing to reels, maybe it is time to put on snowpants and venture into the cold. There are countless snowy activities that you can take part in, including but not limited to: sledding, building a snowman, having a snowball fight or shoveling (if you live in a space other than a dorm). Yes, shoveling. Maybe not the most fun activity, but definitely an essential one!
Brain rot is often inevitable on a day off with seemingly nothing to do. The simplest solution is choosing something different to engage in that you are actually interested in or excited about. So go ahead and pick your favorite from the list and be left at the end of your snow days being satisfied with how you spent your newfound free time!