Ice cubes down the toilet, spoon under a pillow or backward pajamas. Although students use these rituals to “manifest” a snow day, they often find themselves being sluggish and unproductive if the snow day does end up happening. With MCPS’s retraction of the option for virtual learning on snow days, students are often left with no new schoolwork. When students get these days off, they can use their day productively in many ways.
Organizing
Whether it be a desk, closet or bathroom, going through and organizing items is a zero-cost way students can spend their snow day. For inspiration, students can look towards social media for ways to properly arrange their items in an attainable manner. Organizing can also benefit others when students donate clothing, shoes or furniture that they no longer have use for to charities that support those in need.
Community Service
The winter months can be especially challenging for those in need, so snow days are a perfect time for students to give back to their community and increase their SSL hours. For example, Kits to Heart is an organization aimed at helping cancer patients and offers great ways for students to get involved and help others from the comfort of their homes. Students have dozens of opportunities to choose from within the organization including decorating journals and creating inspiring cards.
Preparing Meals
With school and extracurricular activities, students have packed full weeks. This often means that nutritious eating can fall through the cracks, even though it is essential for fueling students through their busy days. Meal prepping breakfast, lunch or snacks is a smart way for students to spend their snow days to be prepared for the future. They can find delicious, prepable recipes online to save time and energy later.
Studying
Although cramming weeks of content in one night is normal for some students, it is certainly not the most effective way to study. Using snow days to study for upcoming tests is not only a way to ensure a more successful result but is a destresser for the night before the test. Taking notes, watching review videos or going over classwork are all simple ways that students can increase their understanding of the material in advance.
Exercise
With sports practices often canceled along with school, many students do not get their bodies moving during the day off. To get their heart rate up and pump some serotonin, students can complete an at-home workout. YouTube is full of equipment-free workouts with no equipment needed. Whether it be a cardio workout, pilates series or simple yoga and stretching, there is an option for all students.
Students can get the most out of their snow days by combining classic snow day activities like sledding with these productive options. Although checking boxes on a to-do list can be very satisfying, students should also utilize snow days to get more rest than usual and feel refreshed and ready to tackle the days ahead of them.
