There’s fresh snow on the ground, excitement in the air, a guy crying at Anderson Academic Commons—the quarter must be close to over. While stress from finals overshadows the usual ambiance on campus, it’s important that we also consider our plans for DU’s extensive winter break. After all, it’s twice as long as that of universities on the semester system, so binge-watching “Friends” doesn’t suffice the way it might for your friends with a three-week hiatus. A month and a half is a long time—long enough for you to double your freshman fifteen weight gain on home-cooked meals and for your family’s long absent charm to wear off on you. To ensure you make the most of break, here’s what to avoid doing:

Decrease your health level

I get it­—after 10 straight weeks of Sodexo and eating out, home cooking is pretty appealing, not to mention all the holiday foods that will be in the vicinity. But this free time should be utilized to get your eating back on track and maybe take a fitness class or two so you come back to school feeling revitalized, not sluggish. As long as you don’t adopt the Thanksgiving feast mentality for all of your meals, you should be good.

Take your family for granted

Homesickness often plagues us all by the last few weeks of the quarter, but a few weeks back home with overbearing parents or combative siblings can have us craving even DU’s communal bathrooms and 8 a.m. classes. Don’t take your frustration with this re-acclimation out on your family. They’ve missed you, they’re thrilled to have you home and you’ll be back in your shower shoes at school missing them before you know it.

Underwork yourself

Six weeks is the perfect amount of time to pick up a seasonal job or even an internship. It’ll keep you busy while giving you valuable experience and a little extra spending money for the next quarter.

Overwork yourself

That said, you shouldn’t extend yourself too much. After all, the purpose of winter vacation is to relax and make you feel ready for the next round of classes, not to make you feel like you need another vacation.

Hang out with people you’ve outgrown

College forces you to grow out of a lot of things and sometimes that list includes people. Don’t be surprised if you return home and find yourself re-evaluating your high school relationships. It’s okay to catch up with old friends but they don’t have to monopolize your time. On that note, don’t feel pressured to surround yourself with people at all—alone time may be just what you need after an entire quarter without so much as a room to yourself.