Snow days are one of the best things about cold Iowa winters. There is nothing better than waking up to get ready for school to realize that it has been canceled. But what should you do with all this new free time? With temperatures dropping, here are some ideas to make the most of your day off.

Spend time outside

A snow day is a great opportunity to do winter activities where you can have fun and get some exercise if it’s not too cold outside. You can go sledding, build a snowman or have a snowball fight. And while there aren’t any mountains near here, you can go cross-country skiing. Some areas, like Ashton Cross Country Course, which is only a few blocks away from West High, have paths that are not shoveled specifically for skiing or other winter activities. You could also help out your parents by shoveling the driveway. Afterward, you can warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and a blanket.

Spending time with family

Whether you are trapped at home because the cold temperatures and snow make it difficult for your car to start or you’re stuck watching younger siblings, a snow day is a great way to catch up with parents and siblings. You can play a board game, re-watch a favorite movie, or just do your best not to drive each other crazy. 

Baking

By the time winter break ends, most of the holiday cookies, chocolate and other treats have been eaten. So a snow day is a great chance to make more. Making cookies, bread, brownies, cupcakes or other baked goods can be a good way to have fun while improving your cooking skills, making good food and warming up your house on a cold day. 

Homework

Coming back from winter break, it is hard to get back into the habit of getting homework and assignments done on time, and it can be easy to fall behind. And if you do get behind, it can be difficult to get back on track while keeping up with work from other classes and extracurricular activities. Even if you are on top of everything, a snow day is also an opportunity to get ahead, so that you won’t be stressed out later. 

Relax

School can be stressful, and an unexpected day off can be a great opportunity to make time for you to focus on your mental health or just chill. You can catch up on sleep, start a new Netflix show, or play a video game that you haven’t figured out how to install on a school Chromebook.