How to Survive the Holidays
A guide to keeping holiday cheer from feeling dreary
By Helen Weil
The holiday season can be, to put it simply, rough. There are family members you’d rather not see, who will ask probing questions about your dating life/major/post-graduation plans that you’d rather not answer, and you have to deal with the rather aggressive amount of holiday decorations everywhere you look. For many people, this time can be way more stressful than cheerful with the mounting pressure to make the season magical.
Take a look at any Christmas movie or the ads on TV: everyone has coats, hats, and mittens straight from a Sears catalog, the snow is soft and white, yet they never even appear affected by the cold. Now look at everyone around you on campus: coats so big there might not even be a person underneath, students trying their hardest not to slip on ice or dirty, slushy snow. No wonder we don’t feel like we’re living up to these advertised expectations of holiday cheer.
The holiday season is difficult, but there are ways to make it easier. First, listen to yourself. Do what you want, not what you think you have to in order to live up to the expectations portrayed in the media. See the people that you actually want to see, not the ones you feel pressured to connect with, for your own reasons, whether that means they fill you with holiday cheer or make you forget about what you’re dreading, like final projects and exams, visiting relatives, and working a minimum wage job during the busiest shopping season of the year. And sleep when you want to. Let’s face it, once you’re on break, this is one of the few times in your college career that you can sleep as much as you want, so why not take advantage of it?
The holidays can stir up a lot of emotions for those with seasonal affective disorder and those who have lost loved ones. They might not have the energy for parties and celebrations, and even if they do, they might not want to celebrate without a specific person. It’s annoying when these emotions are so rarely talked about in relation to the holidays since to many people they seem too negative for what is expected to be a happy time. But you can’t pack these feelings away and put them on a shelf until after the holidays are over. Talk to someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or therapist, about how you’re feeling. Venting to someone can help you process your feelings and understand them, and the person you share your feelings with can help you find ways to manage them.
It’s also important to take care of yourself however you need to. There are lots of Christmas-y kinds of self care outlets out there. Put on some flannel pajamas, pour some eggnog or hot chocolate, and turn on a cheesy Netflix Christmas movie—I recommend The Princess Switch—or the Christmas episodes of your favorite shows. Why not also bake some cookies, go for a drive to look at the lights, bundle up and go for a walk, or take a long bath. If you would rather not be surrounded by holiday stuff for a while, go see a movie—there are always options that aren’t holiday-specific (just be friendly to the workers; since this time of year is so busy, they’re probably overworked and as stressed out as you are).
Yes, our experiences hardly ever match up to the expectations of Instagram posts or Hallmark movies, but the holidays don’t have to be miserable. Winter break is only so long, so enjoy it, and take care of yourself. Have a happy and peaceful season!