The Ultimate Winter Bucket List for College Students

Hello and happy Holiday season! This is the ultimate Winter bucket list for college students!

It will, of course, include Christmas related things, but it’s also perfect for before and after the holidays.

Want this Bucket List as a printable?

There you can download anything you like, including this winter bucket list for students.

Let’s get started right away!

the ultimate winter bucket list for college students

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase via my link I may get a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend things I use and love, but for any questions, refer to my full disclosure here.

1. Decorate your Dorm/Apartment

There is nothing I love to decorate for more than the Holiday season! There is so much you can do, and it truly makes a difference whether or not you feel Christmassy.

I actually just published a post with 8 magical dorm decor ideas for Christmas, if you want to take this first idea off the winter bucket list for college students and work on it right away!

2. Arrange a Karaoke Party

Who doesn’t love to sing along to Christmas carols and songs?

I think a karaoke party is perfect for our winter bucket list for college students. Especially if you can get a bunch of friends to come along or you can arrange one yourself.

3. Go Ice Skating

Ice skating is one of my favorite winter activities!

Whether you have a hall in your area or an outdoor ice rink, ice skating is super fun with friends and really doesn’t cost much.

4. Watch Christmas Movies

Ok, this one isn’t very unique, but hey it belongs on our list!

Christmas movies are one of my favorite kinds of movies, and watching them with friends can quickly turn into a fun girl’s night.

Make some hot cocoa, have some snacks and snuggle into a cozy blanket! That’s what I call a perfect day.

5. Make an Advent Calendar

Advent calendars are super common in Europe, where I live, but I’ve seen them getting to the US as well.

I love opening a door every day in December. It just makes Christmas much more exciting, even as a College student. Haha.

You can easily buy one, but I would recommend even more is to make one for a friend who makes you one too.

Yes, it could be a little time consuming (depending on what you put in it), but it’s much cuter than a bought one (those are pretty wasteful too, usually).

6. Build a Snowman

If you get snow where you live, building a snowman is a must!

You could also make it into a fun challenge with your friends, or build other snow creatures.

We get snow every year in Switzerland, so I do this every year. I hope I will get snow when I’m studying in North Carolina next year!

7. Cook Something

Cooking is a fun activity that saves you lots of money in College!

So how about a cooking night with your friends instead of eating out?

8. Make Christmas Gifts yourself

As much as I love Christmas shopping, it can get expensive.

Not just that, but everyone has so many things already that it is just hard to find them something they actually use and want.

For that reason, I love making gifts myself to make them more personal.

Need gift ideas? Click here to get to all of my gift guides!

9. Do Secret Santa Gifts

Whether you are in a sorority or a club, Secret Santa gift exchange is a common thing in College. Participate!

If you’re not, you can still do this with a group of friends:)

10. Go Sledding

I love sledding! You could see if any of your friends live close, to borrow their sleighs, but if not you can go to a thrift store and probably find some for cheap!

If you don’t live in a hilly area, it can also be fun to go somewhere not too far where there are hills, even if it’s just a day trip!

11. Pass your Finals

Yep, this winter bucket list for College students needs to have some serious stuff too. Pass your finals, girl!

If you need some study tips, check out my study routine here.

12. Call your Best Friends from High School

Not just your mom deserves calls sometimes.

if you haven’t seen your best friends in a while, you should at least call them in the holiday season!

Tell them you miss them and that you should try to see each other in your winter break.

13. Start a Sustainable Lifestyle

This may sound like it has nothing to do with college life. But you are wrong.

Especially Christmas time needs to be made a little more sustainable. People don’t think about what is wasteful and what’s good for the planet and our health.

How to do that?

Don’t buy unnecessary gifts
Reduce your take away meals (or bring your own cup)
Wrap your gifts in recyclable or recycled paper. (nope, glitter on it isn’t)
Make personal gifts or useful ones
Gift experiences instead of things
Give away sustainable items such as metal straws, produce bags, experiences, etc)

This isn’t about being less “Christmassy”. It’s about being a conscious consumer and taking care of our planet in that busy season.

14. Make a Christmas Budget Plan

Talking about gifts, a Christmas budget is essential for your financial wellbeing.

If you feel lost about getting started, you can read this post I made about budgeting for Christmas.

15. Go to a Christmas Party

This definitely can’t miss from a winter bucket list for college students! Do you agree that Christmas parties are an essential part of the holiday season?

And, it’s another reason to wear your ugly Christmas sweater again:)

16. Go to a Concert

Yes, concerts are more like a summer thing. But there are lots of great artists and musicals going on during Christmas time, so why not check it out?

It can be a fun time with your friends and doesn’t have to be super expensive.

17. Bake Christmas Cookies

I hope you have a kitchen somewhere in your residence hall because Christmas cookie baking is a must!

You can make it all yourself or buy a mix and just decorate the cookies with your friends.

I do prefer the first option, but whatever you choose, it’s going to be a fun afternoon!

18. Take a Roadtrip

Roadtrips are fun all year round, but winter is such a magical time of year, especially when it snows.

It can get pretty dangerous though, so please take care or try a train route!

19. Have a Girls Night with your Friends

A girls night can’t miss from a winter bucket list for college students! You can make face masks, watch movies, make popcorn, and talk! Such a great activity for cold winter days.

20. Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

I think Christmas should be thought of as a time to help others, not just to see your family again and get gifts.

An animal shelter is a great place to volunteer. That will not only boost your resume but also your kindness:)

21. Send Handwritten Christmas Cards

I know, handwritten cards may be old school, but isn’t Christmas the perfect time to do things like that?

You will definitely surprise someone with a card. Who doesn’t love getting cards and letters in the mail?

22. Start a Gratitude Journal

The holidays are the perfect time to start really thinking about what you are thankful for, and what you wish for the next year.

To me, Thanksgiving and Christmas both mean to go a little deeper and be grateful for what you have.

Having a journal for that can help to remember writing it down, and you can come back later and read it. I love doing that.

23. Go to a Spa/ Have a Spa Day

Winter can get cold and you might feel like getting sick. That’s the perfect time to treat yourself and have a spa day.

As a college student, you probably won’t have money to go to a fancy spa.

But it doesn’t have to be. Going to a hot spring”water park” (or however you call an indoor pool place) and doing a facemask at home really won’t break the bank.

24. Have a Photoshoot

Every season has its special thing. I love taking pictures in the snow! And it’s a fun time with friends.

Or, you take pictures with your family for Christmas cards.

25. Plan your Spring and Summer Break

I am definitely guilty of planning my spring and summer vacation waaay too late!

Winter break is actually the perfect time to think about how you want to use your free time.

Here are some ideas:

Volunteer
Work and make money
Start your own biz (click here to get started)
Travel abroad
Study abroad
Go on vacation
etc.

26. Create a New Music Playlist

It doesn’t have to be just Christmas songs. But I like creating a playlist for each season, so this is a good bucket list item!

27. Have a Snowball Fight

Another one that depends on your area. But if you do get snow, a snowball fight is a MUST!

28. Make a Gingerbread House

Who doesn’t love gingerbread? Making a gingerbread house is another fun activity as a college student. Do things, girl! Don’t just waste your time on your phone.

29. Wear Matching Pajamas with your Roommate (or BFF)

This probably sounds super cliche. But hey! It’s picture-perfect for social media- and also fun to do as friends. How about this pair?

If you’re not besties with your roommate, that is totally normal. Pick someone you are good friends with, your boyfriend/girlfriend, or your sister, and get matching pajamas!

30. Take a Walk in the Snow

This one is a good idea for a study break! Instead of being on your phone and watching random YouTube videos, you could go outside and take a walk (in the snow.)

I loved doing that when I was younger, so it just sounds so relaxing to me. Try it out!

31. Get good deals on Black Friday

If I could give you one piece of advice about Black Friday, it would be to be intentional and not fall for “deals” of things you don’t need.

If you’re interested in learning more about my tips on how to save money on Black Friday, read this post!

33. Celebrate Thanksgiving

Talking about Black Friday, Thanksgiving actually comes before it. Haha.

Anyway, get together with your family, or if you can’t go home for the break, celebrate Friendsgiving with your friends!

34. Go Home for Christmas

Coming home for Christmas if you live far from home is such an exciting time. If you can, I would love for you to go home for Christmas.

But also, be excited for the new year!

Enjoy your family time, but don’t be too sad to leave them again. There are exciting things waiting for you!

35. Have a Board Game Night with your Family

Christmas is a good time to get together and play some games with your family again.

Avoid being on social media and just enjoy your family and friends. Games can be fun!

36. Try a new Fitness Class

Feeling 20 pounds heavier after the holidays? Yeah…I feel you.

Your college probably has a gym, so they might also have some free fitness classes you could take. Just ask!

37. Go to a Christmas Market

Even if you don’t live in Germany, the country of Christmas markets, I am sure you can find one near you!

The one I’ve visited in Atlanta was tiny but still had a Christmas market vibe. So it did feel more like home:)

38. Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter

Another volunteer idea is a homeless shelter. Christmas is a hard time for the homeless, as you can probably imagine.

You can make them happy by volunteering for a homeless shelter or a food bank where they serve food for them.

39. Make a Review of your Year

Reviewing your year is a very important part of transitioning into the new year, which many people forget.

A review doesn’t have to be time-consuming. But I still suggest to take your time and really think about what made you happy this last year, in many areas of life.

You could review:

Your travels
What you learned
Your finances (income and expenses)
How your grades developed
What goals you reached

40. Write Goals for the New Year

Last but not least, write your goals for the next year!

Try to be specific and don’t over-estimate yourself, but also don’t be afraid to dream and really think of what you want to achieve.

With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this winter bucket list for college students!