If you can't think of things to do, one of your friends probably can. When all else fails, simply try going for picnics or hanging out at a shopping mall with your friends. A sleepover is another great idea. If you have nothing you need to do for yourself, you may want to volunteer to help someone else. Ask friends and relatives if they have any projects they need help on, and, if so, offer your services! The holidays are a great opportunity to have rare, cherished conversations with family members you haven't seen for a long time. For instance, you might want to visit your grandparents and have a quality talk with them. You might be surprised how funny and insightful some of your very own relatives have become without your noticing. Time with a cherished animal friend is underrated, especially if it's with one you haven't seen for a while. Your pet (or pets) probably miss you if you've been gone, so spend a little time walking them, playing with them, etc. A pet's unconditional love can be a great mood-booster if you've become oppressively bored over the holidays. If there's no one around that you'd like to spend time with, don't forget that you always have the option of making new friends. You might choose to do this at a social hang-out spot like a club, or, alternatively, at an event like a concert. Don't be afraid to approach and talk to people you meet - new friendships have to start somewhere! You'll never make new friends from inside your home, so get out there! Getting out of the house is the most crucial, pivotal step in turning a boring holiday into a fun, productive one. Having a party is a great way to have fun. You can invite your friends and have a fiesta themed on the weather. If it's sunny, have it beach themed. If it's cold, you and your friends can stay inside and have a nice cup of cocoa.

Summary: Spend time with your friends. Help another. Spend time with loved ones. Spend time with your pet if you have one. Get to know more people. Throw a party.


Push your lower spine slightly forward and extend your chest slightly out and up. In this position, you should feel as though the top of your head is extending as high as it can and that your belly is your center of gravity. Your spine doesn’t need to be literally vertical, as this would likely be too uncomfortable to maintain. Rather, focus on stretching your upper body straight upward as much as you can without moderate or greater discomfort. Angle your chin very slightly in and down, so that the crown of your head, rather than the top of your head, is your highest point. Angle your eyes a bit further downward so that you’re looking at the floor 3–4 ft (0.91–1.22 m) in front of you.  Close your eyes halfway, as if you have “sleepy eyes.” Look at the floor without fully focusing on it. Don’t close your eyes all the way, or you’ll likely daydream or possibly doze off. Your top and bottom lips, as well as your upper and lower rows of teeth, should be aligned and in light contact with each other. Don’t clench your teeth or lips. Lightly press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, just behind your upper front teeth. Breathe deeply through your nose while keeping your mouth closed. No matter your sitting position—cushion, chair, bench, etc.—lay your wrists on top of your upper thighs. Open your hands with your palms up, and lay the fingers on your left hand on top of those on your right hand. Touch the tips of your thumbs together.  The outer sides of both pinkies should be touching, but not pressing against, your abdomen. Now that your body is positioned, you can begin your zen meditation period.

Summary: Extend your spine straight upward, centering on your lower abdomen. Tuck your chin and direct your gaze on the floor about 4 ft (1.2 m) ahead. Align your lips and teeth and touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Rest your wrists on your thighs, overlap your fingers, and touch thumbs.


The hours hand is pointed directly at the number 6, which means it's exactly 6 o'clock. If the hours hand is pointed exactly at 6, that means that the minutes hand must be pointed directly at 12. The minutes hand is 2 ticks beyond the 9. So how do we figure out how many minutes there are in this hour? First, we multiply 9 by 5 to get 45. Then we add another 2 ticks to 45, giving us 47. We have 47 minutes in the hour. The hours hand is in between 11 and 12, while the minutes hand is 4 ticks beyond the 3. How do we figure out the time? First, let's tell the hour of the day. Because the hours hand is between 11 and 12, we pick the lower number. This means it's 11-something o'clock. Let's do the minutes next. We need to multiply 3 by 5. This gives us 15. Now we need to add the 4 ticks to 15 which gives us 19. There are 19 minutes in the hour, and the hour is 11. That means the time is 11:19.
Summary: Notice where the hours hand is on this example. Notice where the minutes hand is on this example. Notice where the hours and minutes hands are on this example.