Winter can be a little dreary, due to wind, snow and ice storms and the various types of precipitation, from freezing rain (often called sleet) to heavy snow to absolutely bone-chilling temperatures. But there are still good things to enjoy about winter; it just depends on what makes you happy and how you look at it.

There are two important things to always consider: your social life and your mental health. Winter is the time of the year where you lack the intake of Vitamin D (sunshine) because the days are much shorter, and that can have an impact on your mental health. In order to keep healthy, you need to find something to do that helps you stay distracted from your problems, keep in touch with your friends, and to take your mind off school. Winter exams are approaching and if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be at your best. If they haven’t, it’s still a nice break from the hurried studying and practicing test answers (especially if it’s one of those with an essay question or two).

So, what can you do to have a great time during winter? When it’s beautiful, or even very cold and rather miserable to be outside? There are options for both scenarios that you may have not considered.

There are outdoor activities, both around campus and organized by campus clubs or organizations, even by your residences themselves. You don’t need to do all of them, but some are varied enough that you can usually find something you might want to try. There are trips to ski resorts so you can (depending on the rules) choose from downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tubing, or tobogganing. There may even be skating options available in an indoor arena, an outdoor rink, or even a frozen lake.

These activities don’t have to be entirely focused on sports – there are other options that are available to you. There are generally volunteering opportunities from a church to a community kitchen, to community events that also include students.

And if it’s entirely too cold outside for your liking, you could consider the indoor activities in a way to get to know your friends and/or roommates a little better: anything from video game competitions to board games; even having a movie marathon. In addition, you can share your favourite meals in a giant potluck, especially if you’re one of the late departures due to an examination scheduled late in the month before the holiday break starts; or baking your favourite cookies, such as gingerbread cookies.

There are also other options! Maybe you just want a little time alone – you can do crafts, read a book, or even learn how to knit (or crochet) a scarf that is just perfect in that colour you saw the other day. Whatever option you choose, make sure it makes you happy and content, and ready to face not only winter, but your schoolwork as well.