Winter break is a month to be free and see your friends and family but it can also be a month of getting bored really quickly. While most of the time hanging with friends is just lounging around someone’s house while you all talk and check phones, occasionally having real plans can always be a fun time.
Plus, having fun plans always makes for a great Instagram. Don’t tell me you’ve never made a plan and thought about all of the great photos and Insta-caption puns you could make later! Without further ado, here are a bunch of ideas for things to do with friends this winter.
1. Start (and finish) a series.
Let’s be real–it’s pretty cold outside and sometimes the best option is to just be snuggly and stay in. Be sure to pick something reasonable (I’m not talking something with over 12 seasons, like Grey’s Anatomy). Also, turning this into a pajama party is a wonderful idea because who doesn’t love wearing their pajamas and watching their favorite shows all day? I thought so.
2. Bake and decorate cookies.
Cook up a batch of homemade cookies and icing. Depending on your level of time commitment and skills, you might want to opt for premade cookies and icing.
3. Have a gift exchange.
Do a Secret Santa-style gift exchange with your pals. This is a great way to save money since you won’t have to buy gifts for everyone. It’s also super fun to do a big reveal and see who everyone gets
4. Try Pinterest ideas.
You know all of those pins you’ve hoarded throughout the year? Yeah, try some of those! Whether it’s hair tutorials, DIY sharpie mugs or homemade Oreos, give them a try! If it’s successful–great, if not, it’s even more fun if you’re with your favorite pals.
5. Catch up over coffee.
Sometimes the simplest plans are the nicest ones. Most of your friends are friends you haven’t seen in a while, don’t forget to take some time to catch up and tell each other about your fall semester. This also totally includes showing your friends the people from your school via creeping on Facebook.
6. Take a trip.
Live near New York? How about a trip where you visit unique places in NYC? Want to check out the chocolate shop in the next town over? Do it! Taking a trip together can be as simple as heading to a place you guys normally wouldn’t visit, it doesn’t need to be anything extreme.
7. Go ice skating.
While I personally deeply dislike ice skating, it can definitely be a fun experience to share with friends. Definitely wear lots of layers to serve as padding and be sure to tie your ice skates correctly.
8. Get manicures.
Why not give yourself a treat? Even if spending cash to get your nails done isn’t reasonable, you can end up doing some DIY manicures at home. All you really need is some nail polish and a nail file.
9. Plan a spring break trip.
Let’s be honest–the next time you’ll see most of your pals is spring break, right? Start planning a trip for spring break (or even the summer) while you’re all together. This is a great way to quench your wanderlust and thirst for travel. Start a group Pinterest board and Google Doc and plan away.
10. Attend a local event.
Just do it. If there’s a karaoke night in the local restaurant, if there’s a slam poetry night at the cafe a town over, check it out! Battle of the bands in the local high school? Go for it. Don’t be afraid to break out of your comfort zone and check out local events. If we’re being real, the worst that could happen is it’s lame and you and your friends make jokes the whole time and get milkshakes after.
11. Go thrift shopping.
While I can’t personally say I found something amazing while thrift shopping, I have seen some super interesting things. Thrift shops are collections of random things and they’re fun to look through and play around in. You could also get totally lucky and find something awesome, you never know!
12. Play video games.
Just Dance is incredibly fun to play with friends (and it’s a great workout!). Mario Party and even Wii Tennis are also a great time. Dig up that old gaming system and play some of your old favorite video games with friends. Seriously, let your inner child be free!
What’s your favorite thing to do with friends in the winter?
Oooh my friends and I are doing a Secret Santa. We started it last year and it’s just the easier thing to do since there’s many of us and it saves money. Everyone gets a really nice present instead of like 6 little presents. And I like the idea of baking cookies and marathoning TV shows together. That’s so cozy and fun! I love sleepovers.
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COFFEESLAG Ditto Review
Secret Santa is so fun, I definitely hope to try that next year with a group. It’s definitely a perfect night in–PJS and TV!