The winter season is upon us, bringing with it many days of no school, no sun, and nothing to do. Of course, there are plenty of ways to fill that time, and most of them don’t require much.

1. Read a Book

Reading often is seen as a chore, and is even homework sometimes, but it’s also a great way to spend your free time and exercise your brain, keeping it strong so you can think clearly. It’s all about finding a book that you’re really interested in; that you know will hold your attention and make you want to keep reading.

2. Build a Snowman

It may seem cheesy, but every Minnesotan grew up loving snowmen, even if the task was way harder than it looks. Who’s to say high schoolers can’t build snowmen now? They certainly don’t have to be perfect, but sometimes all you need over the weekend is to de-stress, and building a snowman can do just that. Plus, who doesn’t love playing in the snow?

3. Bake Cookies

Everyone loves them, and you can’t beat the smell that fills your house when they’re baking. Chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, or sugar cookies; either way, warm cookies on a cold winter day are unbeatable, and baking them is a great way to fill the time.

4. Random Acts of Kindness

It’s normal to need a little cheering up from time to time, especially in a season known for cold weather and less sunlight. That can mean a simple smile given to a passing stranger, or paying for the person in front of you at the drive-thru. Regardless, an act of kindness, no matter how simple it may be, can make someone’s day, and will definitely make yours.

5. Ice Skating

A classic among winter activities is ice skating. Picture this: gliding around on the ice, while flurries of snow adorn your hair, then kicking back to the chalet to treat yourself to a tasty cup of hot chocolate. Sounds like a perfect addition to a Minnesota winter. There’s many places in the Twin Cities area to break in your skates. A local hotspot for ice skating would be the Eagan Civic Center, where they have club skating nights when anyone can join the fun and skate with friends.

6. Go Sledding

This winter activity is always a must try once the temperatures drop below 20°. Zooming down an icy, slick hill gives a thrill that only a plastic sled can provide. Hitting the hills with friends and race to see who can slide down the hill the fastest is the best way to forget the woes of school, homework and tests.

7. Volunteer

A wonderful way to spend your time in the winter months is to help out the less fortunate. Eagan does a great job of helping out families during the winter through Adopt-a-Family programs, however, you can take it a step further by volunteering at shelters and organizations such as the Dakota Woodlands Women’s Shelter and Feed My Starving Children, both conveniently located in Eagan. You can have fun with friends, meet new people, as well as doing something for the greater good.

8. Have a Movie Marathon

An ideal way to kick back after a stressful four months of school is to pop in a couple of movies and curl up in a blanket. You could enhance your knowledge of older cinema by watching classics, or venture back to your childhood roots by revisiting Disney and Pixar movies. Another favorite movie marathon line up would be the Harry Potter’s films, but whatever movies you want to watch and would be a nice break from reality is up to you.

Whether it’s cozying up inside, or roaming in the snow outside, there’s no lack of great ways to spend your winter weekends right here in Eagan, and you won’t ever be bored!