Winter is a terrible time of year. The snow, the lack of sunlight and the frigid temperatures make for an awful three months. The holidays and a hefty two-week break from school can help to combat these dreary days, but they can still drag on like Derrick Rose’s back-to-back injuries. In order to make these few months bearable, below are some ideas of entertaining things you can do during the winter.

1.Volunteer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           There are lots of opportunities to give back to your community this time of year. The Open Door Mission serves over 2,000 meals to the Omaha Community and it offers flexible times for volunteers to serve. During the holiday season, it runs a toy sorting and bagging drive in which they give gifts to over 6,000 homeless and needy children each year. In addition to the Open Door Mission, United Way of the Midlands and The Salvation Army each offer special holiday volunteer opportunities.

2. Throw a Bowl Game Extravaganza                                                                                                                                                                                      Holiday season is synonymous with College Football Bowl Season, and through the month of December to January 6 some of the best match ups in college football materialize on to your television screen. On days that are blessed with back to back bowl games, you can have a few friends over. You can make some chili and spend the day plopped on your couch cuddled up in footy pajamas and fuzzy blankets.

3.Take Advantage of all the Cheesy Winter Cheer                                                                                                                                                                                       Omaha is full of holiday and winter activities. Downtown you can look at lights or take a carriage ride, Mahoney offers an outdoor skating rink and Starbuck’s has their famous peppermint mocha. Even though the temperatures are brisk these activities are nostalgic and should be taken advantage of. However, the nostalgia doesn‘t have to end there. As the snow begins to fall, head outside and start the fun. Build a snowman and fort, have a snowball fights and fall back into the fluffy stuff to make a snow angel.

4. Read the entire Harry Potter Series                                                                                                                                                                                          Winter gives you lots of time indoors and winter break offers two weeks sans homework or excessive stress. In these two weeks you could be productive and knock out one of the best selling book series of all time. Overall the series includes 3407 pages and is one that you just cannot put down. Winter break is the perfect time to spend five days reading, and then right after you will still have nine days to watch the all the movies.

5. Sleep and Watch Netflix                                                                                                                                                                                                                Yes, it is okay to be basic. Winter is a time in which you should relax and enjoy yourself and since going outside isn’t the most fun thing in the world take some time and sit inside. It’s okay to spend a day here and there where you never leave the comfort of your toasty warm bed and it is even more okay in the dark, cold, terrible winter.