How to relax and rejuvenate this winter break
After four months of hard work, you deserve a break.
With the winter holidays just around the corner, here's some advice from Concordia’s student success mentors on how to spend your time off, from sleeping in and eating latkes to admiring the city lights.
Pencils down!
You’ve placed the period on your final sentence, finished up your last art critique, performed your closing-night show. Now what?
Electrical and computer engineering student Renny Kochubaby plans to reconnect and relax.
“I’ll respond to friends and family I haven’t talked to in a few weeks. Then I’ll just sleep 10 hours every day and get back to life.”
Jesse Toufexis is completing his Master’s degree in History and Philosophy of Religion. For him, finishing the term means indulging in some well-deserved downtime.
“I’m going to stay in my apartment for two days and play video games, read or do whatever I haven’t been able to do,” he says.
“Actually, I say I’m going to read, but probably not.”
New and old holiday traditions
For some students, the winter break heralds some beloved holiday traditions.
"Every Christmas we watch Spinal Tap, have two big feasts and sing along (quite off key) to traditional carols," says drama therapy grad student Katherine Downey. "Our favourite one is 'You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.'"
For international students like Kevin (Yuanchen) Liu, an undergrad double majoring in marketing and accountancy, important holidays don’t always fit neatly into the academic calendar.
“We have the traditional Chinese New Year — Spring Festival — but normally it’s during the time we head back to school.”
Liu takes the occasion to celebrate both holidays, Skyping his family in China and celebrating in Canada with friends.
“For Christmas, we go out to eat together. During Spring Festival, I’ll try to gather some of my Chinese friends and make dumplings.”
Tell us about the food!
Several mentors will enjoy highly anticipated holiday-specific dishes.
Toufexis is looking forward to delicious treats at home, including latkes, cheesecake and cherry chip delights.
“They’re these little balls — cookies with maraschino cherries and chocolate chips in them. And they’re covered in powdered sugar.”
Asif Bin Hossain, a master’s student in aerospace engineering, misses the delicious fresh fish in his home country of Bangladesh.
“When I travel to Toronto, my grandma always cooks a lot for me. For those weeks I say no meat, only fish!”
Downey’s favourite holiday foods are always sweet potatoes, yams and turkey. She goes by the wise rule of enjoying “everything in moderation” in this festive time. Celebrate and eat healthy during the holidays by setting goals and moderating your portion sizes, she encourages.
“There will always be leftovers! I have to remind myself of that constantly over the break.”
Do what feels good
Downey also plans to stay physically active. “I'll try a few AikiFit classes in Toronto with my dad and some dance classes with my friends. I'm always up for a hot yoga class during the cold winter days.”
According to Jazna Rossi, an undergrad in finance and international business, sometimes it’s also good to break completely from your regular routine — provided you set limits.
“I take a break from being healthy during the time off and then come back to it after the New Year. I eat chocolate and relax on the couch.”
Hossain agrees: “Give yourself some love!”
Reboot and refocus
Students who have year-long courses or an upcoming thesis may want to continue studying and working over the break. But Toufexis is intentional about resting despite these realities.
"I’m applying for programs and two of the applications are due in February, so I might work on them. But I won’t put any pressure on myself."
If you do choose to work, he recommends setting a schedule.
"Plan out exactly which days you are going to work. Otherwise, you’ll be thinking about it even when you should be relaxing. Tell yourself, "I have four weeks off, so Monday and Friday I’m going to work, and then the rest of the time I am going to chill out.'"
Sticking around campus over the break? Find out which services are open and when.
Is this your first Montreal winter?
Hossain speaks from experience when he says, "Don’t get sick over Christmas. Drink a lot of hot water. You can get a cold or the flu. The weather really gets to international students, especially if this is their first winter. Keep your Tylenol on hand."
For those hailing from countries with warm climates, the sparkling flakes come with some warnings.
"It’s exciting when you see your first snow, but the after-effects are pretty bad. You should know about black ice and frostbite, too," warns software engineering grad student Thungashree Maragowdanahalli Somegowda.
That said, there are better options than staying indoors.
“The weather also makes you lazier. I recommend going out and making plans.”
Celebrate in the city
There are plenty of markets around the city if you want to decorate your home. Toufexis recommends the new Christmas market on Prince Arthur Street.
“I like to get my tree from the local places.”
Admiring the decorations is a great excuse to bundle up and get outside.
“The lighting is so soothing, so beautiful,” says Hossain. “Even if you don’t have these kinds of lights in your home, seeing them can make you happy. My favourite two spots are the Old Port and the top of Mont-Royal.”
A new luminothérapie installation brings extra warmth and cheer at the Place des Festivals until January 29.
There are also many ways to celebrate the arts around the city.
“Les Grand Ballets are doing The Nutcracker, and it's always spectacular,” recommends Downey. The company has a youth discount program for audience members under 30.
Perhaps you’d rather dance than watch?
“Last year I went to New City Gas for New Year’s Eve and loved it!” Somegowda says.
Spread the cheer and volunteer
To feel the full warmth of the holiday season, share your time and help others by volunteering. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the city.
“Last year I volunteered to do gift wrapping in the mall,” says Rossi. “You can go to places like the Eaton Centre and offer your time for the benefit of certain foundations.”
Toufexis adds that the Welcome Hall Mission has soup kitchen opportunities, as does the Old Brewery Mission. It’s important to contact them ahead of time to find out when you are most needed.
Find out more about Concordia's Student Success Mentors. Plus, read up on how to beat the winter cold and how to stay warm and happy in the Canadian winter.
