Hi Lobos! This year has been hard considering the pandemic and the fluctuating situations surrounding it. So far Rocky is standing strong as it always has. However, getting through a pandemic is hard as, by now, we all know. It is a good thing that we had Christmas break, which I was hoping would be stress-free. It wasn’t. I sat around and watched Netflix. So how do we make sure that, if your next Christmas break is still spent in a pandemic, you can actually enjoy it without falling into the same patterns?

Fort Collins has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment but with covid limitations, most of that entertainment is inaccessible. Fortunately, there are other options.

First, you can exercise. I know. That requires moving and most of you don’t like doing anything, but hear me out. Snow sports and hiking are all things that a lot of people do already. If one were to accept the idea that exercise may be beneficial those activities have the potential to be extremely entertaining in addition.

Obviously, for Collins is one of the best places to go hiking in the world. If you haven’t already hiked through all of Colorado it might be worth it to look into hiking trails you have never been on. If you have hiked every trail then you could challenge yourself and hike through as much snow as you can.

Of course, snow sports are also an option, this year it may actually be a better time to hit the slopes than it would be any other year. With the travel limitations, there will be fewer tourists taking up space. That means more space for snowboarding, sledding, skiing etc. 

If exercise is not for you, but you still want to get out of the house, go on a road trip. Again, the covid limitation will likely make it easier to do this because there won’t be as much traffic and if you stop every once in a while, you won’t have to worry as much about having an anxiety attack due to crowds. You could go with friends, family, or by yourself, though I don’t recommend the last option because road trips are better with other people. Just make sure you can drive. 

Not being able to drive might make it hard to do anything outside. However, you could always simply have a little fun in your own backyard. Make snow art. Make forts, snowmen, snow angels, or pictures etc. Just avoid phallic symbols… (or don’t–whatever floats your boat!)

I should clarify that, considering the cold, I will not be doing any of those outside things. Fortunately for me and other hermits, there are plenty of things to do inside.

I will be engaging in a giant fort war. My family and I will each make forts, gather snacks, and then shoot each other with nerf guns. I strongly recommend you and your family do the same. After all, the holidays are all about family.

There are plenty of other things to do with your family. Personally, I have always wanted to participate in a game show or baking show. I can’t bake, but still. That brings up the idea that you and family could make your own game show. After all, there is no better way to bond with your family than developing a little competition.

Unfortunately, family time isn’t always the best way to cheer yourself up, but someone who prefers to be alone still has all the benefits of Christmas day. That means those of you who don’t like your family, you still have presents! 

Presents are the best part of Christmas. We tend to overlook this fact. So maybe, just this once we could actually engage with the gifts we receive. A lot of us may just put them aside and never touch them. Often we don’t realize how good our gifts are because we never actually use them. It is a sad truth. Between now and next Christmas, maybe look for some of those things and use them now? 

As a bonus, if you look into your gifts, thank you cards become so much easier to write because you actually know what you are saying thank you for.

Don’t procrastinate on your thank you letters. Getting a thank you tends to mean a lot to gift-givers, especially when they are genuine.

One break might have been hard, but the next one doesn’t have to be! You can make it easier–if not fantastic. Get outside. Travel. Spend time with your family, and appreciate the benefits of Christmas or even next weekend! As long as you take all of that into consideration your winter break is bound to be a little bit better next year–and maybe we won’t be so isolated.