How you can avoid dying of boredom in these frosty times

Tis the season to be Jolly! The time to kick back, relax, and escape the hustle of deadlines… unless you're that person procrastinating on assignments (we see you). But what if the weather outside is frightful, and all you want is to stay cozy indoors? Fear not—here’s a list of fun, light-hearted indoor activities to keep you entertained (and productive-ish) during the break.

1. Host a Festive Movie Marathon

Gather your flatmates or enjoy some “me-time” with classic holiday films. Whether it's Love Actually, Home Alone, or Elf, nothing screams Christmas more than questionable plot lines, cheesy rom-coms, and oversized mugs of hot chocolate. Bonus points if you make it a pyjama party!

2. Bake Some Christmas Treats

Channel your inner Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood and whip up some festive snacks. Coventry’s supermarkets have all the ingredients you need to bake gingerbread men, mince pies, or even that last-minute Christmas cake. Pro tip: Instagram the disasters as much as the successes—both are memories in the making!

3. Join (or Create) an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Flatmates gone home? No problem. Hide random items around your accommodation and set challenges for yourself—or turn it into a virtual scavenger hunt with your friends over Zoom. (Yes, hiding snacks for “future-you” totally counts as self-care!)

4. Have a Board Game or Card Game Night

No Monopoly-flipping tantrums allowed! If you’re stuck in halls or with friends, board games and card games are perfect for a night of laughs. Classics like Uno, Jenga, or even Cards Against Humanity never get old. Just remember: friendships > winning.

5. DIY Christmas Crafts

Get crafty and create some DIY Christmas decorations for your room! All you need is some paper, glue, scissors, and a sprinkle of creativity. Try snowflakes, garlands, or ornaments. Feeling ambitious? Why not try decorating a tiny “student-budget” tree!

6. Have a Coventry-Themed Quiz Night

Think you know your uni town inside out? Create a quiz about Coventry’s history, famous landmarks, or quirky facts (like how we have two cathedrals!). Invite your friends online or in person to join in the fun—and declare yourself the Coventry King/Queen by the end of it!

7. Level-Up Your Gaming Nights

Whether it’s FIFA, Animal Crossing, or Call of Duty, nothing beats a gaming sesh to pass the time. Not a gamer? No worries! Watch your mates rage-quit or try Jackbox party games for an easy, everyone-can-join alternative.

8. Cook a Multi-Cultural Christmas Feast

Coventry is such a diverse city, so why not experiment with global Christmas dishes? Try cooking Filipino lechon, Jamaican rum cake, or even a French bûche de Noël. Better yet, invite flatmates from different backgrounds to share their festive recipes—instant foodie bonding!

9. Plan Your Goals (and Dream Big!)

It might sound boring, but Christmas break is the perfect time to reset and plan for the year ahead. Create a vision board or list out New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s smashing your next semester, starting a YouTube channel, or actually making it to the gym (maybe…), the possibilities are endless.

10. Do Absolutely Nothing and Love It

Lastly, it’s perfectly okay to just chill. Wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, sip on a hot drink, and enjoy the break. After all, you’ve worked hard all term. Binge a random Netflix series (Wednesday, anyone?) or scroll TikTok guilt-free. No productivity required.

So...

Whether you’re staying in Coventry or heading home for the holidays, Christmas break is what you make of it. So grab your ugly sweater, turn up the Mariah Carey, and make the most of your time off.

Who knows? One of these might just become your next Christmas tradition!