At last…your finals are done, you can finally relax and let that holiday spirit settle in. It is time to thoroughly enjoy your break and treat yourself because you absolutely deserve it. Every winter break, I love to get into the holiday spirit by cozying up at home and surrounding myself with the same holiday vibes from when I was little. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, you can switch up these ideas however you desire! Here are my favorite things to do for the ultimate holiday in:
- Set the mood with your favorite scents.
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Sometimes, I find it difficult to snap back into the Christmas spirit right after finals have pretty much consumed my life. So, first I love to set the mood by lighting candles or using air fresheners around the house. Luckily, I have been using the same scented holiday products for the longest time, so one sniff of Bath & Body Works’ Tis The Season Candle immediately makes me feel like a kid baking cookies for Santa all over again. For me, Bath & Body Works always has the perfect products for this time of year. Some of my other favorite scents are Vanilla Bean Noel, Winter Candy Apple and Twisted Peppermint, which are also available in room sprays, soaps and lotions!
- Play all the holiday tunes.
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Whether you agree with it or not, I am one of those people who starts listening to Christmas music the day right after Halloween. So clearly, jamming out to Christmas classics during winter break is a must. Sometimes I just search random Christmas songs on YouTube and let auto-play do its thing, but right now I have been loving Spotify’s pre-made playlists. Their “Christmas Hits” playlist has all of the holiday songs I could possibly think of, from “Run Rudolph Run” to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Just go ahead and click play to let the holiday festivities begin!
- Get cookin’ with a Christmas twist.
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Now that you have set the mood, it is time to get started on everyone’s favorite part: the food and treats. I am a huge fan of cookies and hot chocolate, so I always make sure to put a Christmas twist on them during the holidays. While I absolutely adore Starbucks’ peppermint drinks, making everything at home is so much more cozy and convenient. Since I am no expert, YouTube recipe tutorials for hot chocolate and cookies have definitely saved my life. Another great option is to make a gingerbread house, which is always super cute, simple and Insta-worthy. And if you want to dive right into cooking a full meal, Rachel Ama has a fantastic video for a delicious vegan Christmas recipe!
- Turn on the classics.
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What is holiday season without all of the classic movies? As soon as I have made my hot chocolate and snacks, I head to the family room and pick out my favorite holiday movies and TV episodes. My go-to classic movies are definitely The Santa Clause, Home Alone and While You Were Sleeping. I have also been obsessed with movies on Netflix, such as A Holiday Engagement (a charming romantic comedy) and The Christmas Chronicles, which stars Kurt Russell as a badass Santa Claus. I usually scroll through New Girl or Glee to find the best holiday episodes, but I honestly love all of them. So even if you do not have the exact holiday movie you are looking for, there is always something to binge-watch to get you in the spirit.
- Sit back and relax.
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And last but not least, turn on the fireplace, slip on some fuzzy socks and snuggle up in tons of blankets. Allow yourself to sink into your couch or bed and sip on that hot cocoa while your favorite movie plays in the background. We only get a limited amount of time to shut off our brains and chill with no worries, so use it! Use this time to entirely appreciate the simplicity of being home because when the next round of tests hits you, you are going to wish you were back here in this very moment.
While the holiday season can consist of going out with friends or traveling for vacation, there is nothing quite like spending a few days in. As weird as it may feel, you do not have to feel guilty for letting yourself destress, especially after you have just been through an entire quarter or semester of school. And with these at-home holiday ideas, you can get into that stress-free holiday spirit in no time.