02 Apr 2020

You might see these holidays as a complete bust. No beach days, parties, hang out sessions or trips away. 

I know, I know, it’s a real dampener on our good vibes. But hey, in self-isolation, Shakespeare wrote his best plays and Edvard Munch created the famous scream painting.

I’m not saying you have to achieve something revolutionary during your school hols (but if you have the ambition, then SEND IT), but here are some gnarly things to do rather than play The Sims all day (I'm guilty).

 

1. Get artsy

Draw on a monobrow and channel your inner Frida Kahlo because it’s time to get artsy! Rip out your pencils, pens and paintbrushes and get weird.

Do a self-portrait if you were an animal for a day, paint aliens building the pyramids or Aphrodite coming out of the ocean. Get that imagination of yours working.

2. Learn to cook and bake

When I moved out of home, I was completely up the creek without a paddle thanks to my overwhelming lack of cooking skills. This may sound boring, but for real, this is the perfect time to learn how to cook. Do it for past me who lived on noodles for way too long. 

Baking is also a vibe. I mean, who doesn’t love eating unbaked batter even though you really shouldn’t and decorating cupcakes? My mate used to bring something he baked to every party and everyone genuinely loved him. You could be that guy when the world goes back to normal.

3. Start a book club with your mates

For some of you, you’d probably rather jab your eyes out rather than read a book but I implore you to open up that mind of yours and realise that books are kinda the best things on the planet. 

Do you know what’s even more fun than reading on your own? Making a book club with your isolated mates! Wow! Viiiibe?!??!

The best books I read in school were:

  • The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (I mean, duh)
  • Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
  • The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
  • The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
  • Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

4. Learn an instrument

It’s time to master the piano or cello. How? Well, I don’t know if you know about this thing called Google. You’re kinda able to learn anything on there whether that’s through Youtube tutorials, online courses and resources.

Now is your time to become the next Jimi Hendrix since Fender is giving out free guitar lessons!

5. Start a blog, Youtube channel, podcast or TikTok account…

Whether you want to post film reviews on your blog, singing covers on YouTube or whatever the heck you kids do on TikTok, time is on your side to get creating... and time is on everyone else’s side to consume.

I mean, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’ve spent most of my isolation so far watching and rewatching @theinspiredunemployed’s videos on Instagram and binging random Youtubers that tell me what they do in the morning.

But I'm hungry for more content, I’m ready to hear what you’ve got to say people! So get creating!

6. Watch some foreign movies/tv-shows

Sure, everyone will be watching a tonne of movies and TV shows. But why not dig a little deeper, try something different and start watching some gnarly foreign content. Trust me, you’ll get used to the subtitles.

Some of my faves are:

  • DARK (TV show)
  • Mommy
  • The Diving Bell and the butterfly,
  • Chungking Express
  • Mustang
  • Good Bye Lenin!
  • Amelie

7. Create a vision board

Oh man, this sounds tacky and lame. But hey, we’re all drowning in hysteria which is fair enough as these are crazy, uncertain times. But if we all focus and manifest some good energy, things might get a little better.

Make a PowerPoint, word document, a list in your journal or print of pictures and make a collage. It can be of anything- your dream job, car or countries you so badly wanna travel to! Just focusing on some good vibes, even if that’s just sitting on the beach with your mates or being a little fitter, will help you get through such a whack time. So get dreaming!

8. Attend the Year13 Expo

Okay, ya got us. This isn't actually happening during the school holidays. But far out, we're so psyched for the Year13 Expo that we had to sneakily throw it in somewhere!

Set aside some time in your holidays to start thinking of questions you'd like to ask our presenters. You'll be able to hear from influencers who are killing it in their careers, experts who can help you launch your career, and a tonne of great exhibitors (you can find them all here).

This is your chance to turn your passions into something that you can do for the rest of your life, so we don't wanna hear any lame excuses for why ya couldn't come!

Now who said ya had to leave the house to have a sick holiday?!