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While it may be tempting to put the bulk of your responsibilities on hold over winter break, it may not be in your best interest to let it all go.

Hanging out and relaxing are of course needed to recharge before going back to school, but if you want to be primed for a successful spring semester, here are five ideas on how to stay productive during your break while enjoying the good things in life:

Buy a Blank Journal or 2019 Planner — or Both!

Before going back to the grind, take a bit of time and some of that Christmas money to buy a blank journal or 2019 planner — or perhaps both. By writing things down, you’ll start to wrap your head around the semester and upcoming events. Plus, by planning your days during the break, you’ll be into a new habit when classes start. A journal gives you the opportunity to get creative, draw, write poems, and express yourself while also staying organized. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get organized, here’s your chance. Just like academic note-taking is an art form, so is journaling to a certain extent.

Get Your Ride Ready

There’s still a lot of winter left. So unless you’re storing your vehicle for winter, whether it’s a truck, car or RV, you’ll want to make sure it’s up to par for nasty weather. Make sure the tread on your tires is still good and safe to drive on icy roads. Having a blow out on the highway because of bare or worn tread during winter would not be fun. It may be a good time to get the oil changed, windshield wipers replaced, fluids topped off, and a winter emergency kit prepared. Do you have jumper cables, a spare tire, a jack, tools, and an ice scraper?

Shine Up the Dorm Room

You’ve probably figured out by now a cleaning schedule with your roommate. It might be a good time to revisit it to determine if the schedule and duties line up with any expectations you may have. Might as well get your room spic and span before another hectic semester sets in. Give everything you touch in the room a good wipe down because you know it probably hasn’t been done thoroughly in a while unless you cleaned before you left on break. It’s safe to assume most surfaces are contaminatedto a certain extent.

Make Organization Kits

Whether you live in 200-square-foot dorm room or a cozy apartment, it may come in handy to put together storage kits for everyday tasks. Using a storage bin, you could make a laundry kit that includes detergent, fabric softener, bleach, dryer sheets, paper towels and quarters for the washer and dryer if needed. A cleaning kit may include sponges, scrubbing brushes, dish soap, and whatever products you prefer to use to get the job done. Similar kits could be made for hygiene supplies and studying materials. You get the idea.

Don’t Forget to Have Some Fun

Maybe being productive to you over the winter break also entails doing some fun stuff like learning a new skill or trying something new. A lot of cooking and baking is probably taking place anyway over the holidays, so it might be fun to try a complicated recipe you’ve been wanting to dive into for months. Some friends and I tried our hand at making paella for Christmas Eve dinner, and it was a great way to bond while learning a new recipe. Just make time for the good stuff in life. Start a new book, write in your journal, try a new exercise class — anything that you don’t normally have time for during the school year.

Cut yourself some slack; you deserve it. You can be productive in all sorts of ways. If you give yourself the needed break while also getting organized and having some fun, you’ll feel more energized and motivated for the upcoming spring semester.