Things to Do During the Holiday Break

December 25, 2020

This holiday break will be unlike any other before it. However, we’ve come up with a few suggestions of things to do safely during the holiday break to be refreshed and start the new year right.

Enjoy the outdoors

There is just so much to do outside during winter, whether with your household or solo. Spending time in nature is proven to be beneficial to our physical and mental wellbeing. It’s also just a really good time!

Cross-country skiing, fat biking, tobogganing, skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding or a good old fashion snowball fight are just a few ideas of what you could do. Gatineau Park is particularly lovely at this time of the year.

All you need is warm layers, a good attitude, and some hot cocoa at home for when you come back inside to warm up!

Discover new hobbies

If getting out into the cold isn’t quite your favourite here are a few suggestions of things you can do instead.

Puzzles have gained in popularity this year. Books have always been lovely and are a wonderful way to kick back and relax. Activities like knitting, crochet and embroidery are also coming back in style. We recommend you look to local businesses to find new hobbies to take on.

Plenty of local shops offer DIY or hobby kits for you to entertain yourself with. Here are some of our favourites:

A cocktail kit along with a bottle from a local distillery to perfect the art of mixology;
Some DIY terrarium, moss frame or a mushroom grooming kits to get your green thumb going;
A guided journal to give journaling a try;
A sugar cookie decorating kit or giant gingerbread man to decorate to satisfy your sweet tooth;
And a good old puzzle to keep your hands and mind busy.

Have an at-home spa day

Sometimes, we just need a spa day. So, slip on your favourite robe and indulge in some well-deserved relaxation. We’ve got it all planned out for you here.

Check-in on your loved ones

Video or phone calls, messaging or even snail mail—make sure you connect with those you care about during the holiday break. It’s not because we can’t be physically together that we also have to be emotionally distant.

You can always gift a last-minute present to brighten their day.

Cook up a storm

The holiday break is perfect for trying out new recipes. Having the stove going will also make your house extra toasty and who doesn’t love the smell of home cooking?

Our Chef’s tomato basil soup is perfect for all seasons! Comforting banana bread is always a good idea and it’s also a great option for sharing—or not.

If cooking isn’t really your cup of tea, why not go for something simple, like a chai latte? Better yet, skip all the cooking and go straight to assembly with a mouth-watering cheese and charcuterie board.

And you can always swap recipes with your loved ones and bond over food, remotely!

Catch-up on sleep

Good sleep directly correlates to good mental, physical and emotional health. We eat well, exercise and try to maintain a balance in our lives, but often, we seem to forget and neglect rest. The holiday break is a great time to catch up on some sleep! Why not use this pause to build good habits that we can keep going well into the new year?

Find out how to sleep better here. We spend a third of our lives in bed, we might as well get better sleep!