If you’re a high school student you remember the snow days of your childhood: receiving the call from Bill Briscoe and knowing it’s a day of doing absolutely nothing, except potentially rolling around in the fluffy white snow. 

Now, snow days are still spent at home, with a device on the table, spending what used to be free time doing algebra. The gain: these “virtual learning” days don’t have to be made up at the end of the year. 

Across the country, 40% of school districts now do virtual school on snow days, with only 20% preserving the traditional day off, according to the Atlantic. The other 40% of districts are in areas where snow isn’t a concern. Current high school students are the last remaining group who will remember that day off. 

Don’t let a few assignments turn the day into all work, no play. Here’s a few ways to make your snow day fun, even with virtual learning. 

Have a good breakfast

With how early school starts, there isn’t time to enjoy a full breakfast. Use time on snow days to make an exciting big breakfast. Heck, any sort of breakfast is probably more exciting than the granola bar you normally eat on the drive to school, but snow days give you the opportunity to go all out. Make waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon or go all out and make all three. You have time to both make and enjoy a special breakfast today. 

Do all your school work at once, maximize enjoyment by doing it early 

In the case of a snow day, nothing is making you get up at 5:30 a.m., but that doesn’t mean you should sleep the day away. Wake up around 8 or 9, and try to get all your work done before eating lunch. Teachers are required to post assignments that should take no longer than 30 minutes, and will be available to email from 9 am to 2 pm. By getting up earlier, you can knock out your work and still have time to relax. 

Even if every teacher posts a 30 minute assignment, your work will only total 3.5 hours- way less time than the normal school day, and it doesn’t even have to all be completed today. Start early, and you’ll have the entire afternoon to do traditional snow day activities like drinking hot chocolate after sledding down the dusting of snow on your driveway. 

Make a hot beverage to enjoy during your school time

Coffee tastes the best in an open ceramic mug, according to Coffee Informer, something not too doable for students. On your day at home, fill up a ceramic mug with a hot cup of coffee, add milk and sugar to your enjoyment, and drink it while watching the EdPuzzle your science teacher posted. 

If coffee isn’t your cup of tea, hot chocolate or tea are also options. 

The best part- when you finish the first cup of your respective beverage, nothing is stopping you from making another. 

Do something you couldn’t do if you were at school

With no teacher or administrator to tell you “take out your headphones” or “put your phone away”, the world is your oyster. Put in your airpods, or even turn on the speaker and learn with music in the background. If you’re really able to multitask, turn on the TV and spend your school day with Friends. 

Doing stuff you can’t do at school doesn’t just apply to technology. Spend the snow day in your pjs. Wear a hat. Even doing the school day without a mask can be seen as a treat on a snowy day.