Finally… exams are over and the day you have spent ages longing for has arrived: instead of traveling hours to reach your significant other, you can be in their arms in a matter of minutes.
It has long been said that the best time of the year is the holiday season. Recently, I have found that sentiment to be true; however, not for the reasons you may assume. For me and other collegiate women in a long-distance relationship, it is a time of relief and utter happiness.
You can hold your person’s actual hand instead of absentmindedly watching them smile on a tiny screen that glitches every few seconds. You can take new pictures together as opposed to relying on your favorites album. You can plan impromptu dinner dates without having to work around your differently busy schedules. A huge weight feels as though it has been lifted off of your shoulders when home with one another for the holidays.
Soon, though, that sinking feeling you know so well by now will begin haunting your cuddle sessions and forcing its way into your nighttime drives once you remember that time is limited and begin counting the days until you are separated all over again.
Given this strict deadline, the most comfortable vacation routine may be to spend every second of the day with your partner. I know that feeling all too well. It may be difficult to focus on anything except for them.
Despite this pull, it is vital that you preserve other relationships in your life during the holiday season as well. Try your best not to give up once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like a family trip to Hawaii just so that you can squeeze in as much time as possible with your significant other before the end of break. Remember that although you are growing up and wanting to experience romance and independence, your parents and grandparents are aging too. Even more than you will regret missing an ice skating date, you will, one day, regret not baking cookies with loved ones or skipping out on Christmas morning early.
My advice for overcoming this desire and finding a balance is as follows: Prioritize your significant other—they are an essential part of your break. That being said, don’t let them be your only priority. Set a few days aside to catch up with old friends or go to that art installation your mom has been mentioning for months. Make memories you will never lose by intentionally carving out time for those you wish to see.
Your partner will want to do the same in order to maintain friendships and family ties while being in a romantic relationship. At the end of the day, you can always come back together and share the exciting moments you have spent with loved ones. This approach also ensures that you will not tire of one another over an extended period of access; rather, the health and well roundedness of your lifestyle will leave you feeling satisfied and more connected than ever.
In order to recenter yourself and return for the spring semester feeling refreshed and ready to take on new challenges and experiences, your holiday break should encompass all of the valuable relationships in your life.