Make Like a Bear And Hibernate On Winter Weekends

Would you rather snuggle under the covers and watch a movie than go to that holiday party hosted by your second cousin’s ex-wife? Or bake cookies with your roommate than battle the lines at the mall?

Here are some reasons why it’s okay to become a hermit for an entire weekend (or two) during the winter. (Maybe it’s more of a personal validation for my laziness, but feel free to use these excuses in your own personal validations...)

1. Save your skin and hair – avoid the drying winter wind, give your face a break from make-up, try a rejuvenating facemask, give your hair a few days off from the straightener and curling iron.

2. Clean out your cupboard, refrigerator and freezer – eat that can of soup that you bought 3 months ago, eat the leftovers from yesterday’s dinner out rather than throw them away, eat the rest of the week’s groceries before they go bad.

3. Work on all the projects you’ve been putting off for the past several months – file the pile of papers on your desk, do a deep clean of your apartment/room, do that laundry that’s been piling up.

4. Save money for Christmas presents – put the money you’ll save on gas/transportation, eating out, going out and shopping toward Christmas presents for family and friends (or to make a credit card payment or bill).

5. Get in the holiday spirit – listen to Christmas music, make holiday cards, watch holiday movies/ specials, bake cookies, decorate your house/apt.

6. Catch up with family & friends – have quality roommate bonding time, if you live at home spend time with your family, call friends and family members that you haven’t talked to in awhile, email or send Christmas cards to family & friends.

7. Relax! – take a long bath, catch up on sleep, read a book, catch up on your favorite TV shows online, lay around and don’t feel guilty about it!

8. Avoid getting sick – stay out of the brutal winter weather, keep away from other sick friends and strangers, build up your immune system by catching up on sleep and eating healthy.

9. Stay in shape – avoid the extra calories from a night out (both alcohol and drunk food), break out those old kickboxing and pilates tapes, do sit-ups or free weights, or be too lazy to get up off the couch and cook.

10. Make or personalize gifts – bake cookies, knit a scarf, decorate a set of greeting cards, paint a picture frame, make a collage or scrapbook.