There’s nothing worse than ringing in the holidays still stuck in school, working on end-of-the-semester projects, or studying for finals, but there are ways to help motivate you to end the year with a bang. We all know by the time dead weak rolls around and lack of sleep begins to threaten our sanity that motivation to do anything, let alone finals, becomes very hard to find, but don’t give up. There’s still hope that when you return home, although your brain will be dead, your holiday spirit will be restored. So here are a few tips on how to motivate yourself for finals and enjoy the holiday season, while keeping your sanity and maximizing your holiday productivity.
Movies
There’s nothing better than snuggling up in bed with the heater on high, your favorite onesie on, and twinkling holiday lights in full effect. One of the best additions to that is an endless Christmas movie list with your name written all over it. To get in the spirit, watching heartwarming, cheerful, and downright hilarious Christmas movies do just the trick to make anyone feel jollier. Whether its pee-your-pants funny movies like Elf, Christmas with the Kranks, Jingle All the Way, Scrooged, Home Alone, and Santa Clause, or emotional, sappy movies like It’s a Wonderful Life, The Polar Express, The Grinch, The Holiday, and Love Actually, you are bound to find the perfect one for you. So, grab the people you love, laugh endlessly, and enjoy the never-ending joyous spirit Christmastime brings.
Decorations
Okay…I don’t know about you, but I always pride myself in being the first in my family to start decorating for the holidays. It just makes everybody so much happier. Putting up a tree right after Thanksgiving, hanging a wreath on the front door, sticking candy canes on the lawn, placing the garland above the fireplace, and more set the tone for the most magical time of the year. I know all you scrooges out there are thinking I need a chill pill, but Christmas has got me feeling some type of way. While you may break your back trying to make everything look just right, it will totally be worth it in the end. Don’t forget that green, red, and bright white lights are how you do Christmas right.
Music
*cue the classics*
This might be my favorite one of them all. Christmas music is the perfect way to get in the festive mood. Malls, restaurants, grocery stores, and more know exactly what they are doing when they start playing the most popular holiday tunes. The best way to make your ears scream with Christmas joy, however, is to start your own playlist. Whether its Spotify or iTunes, bringing all of your favorite jams together is the most effective way to enjoy whatever comes on. If you are stuck on where to go first, then I suggest starting with Spotify’s ‘Merry Christmas: The Best Holiday Music’ playlist for a traditional and modern sing-along. Now, let’s hope we are on Santa’s nice list for some sick speakers, am I right?
Activities
Although SoCal seems to be on a broken thermostat of a thousand degrees, there are still many holiday activities to indulge in before Santa comes down your chimney (or maybe through your open windows). My favorite thing to do during the holidays is to go ice skating. If you are in the Los Angeles area, L.A. Live is the perfect place to do it. Not only do they have a huge Christmas tree in front of the rink, but your favorite music plays on a loop. Who said you needed snow to have a good Christmas? Grabbing some skates and a friend is the best way to create a memorable experience during the holidays. Next up, if you haven’t already, be sure to attend a Christmas lighting. They happen everywhere, and it always warms my heart to see the bright light illuminate so many mesmerized faces. Lastly, indulge in some delicious sweets while you wait for Christmas dinner. Pillsbury’s Christmas decorated sugar cookies are the way to go, but if you feel like you can take on a challenge, bake a cake or start some cookies from scratch. This is the most fun way of creating memorable experiences with your family, while laughing along the way.
See, that wasn’t so hard, was it? Now that your ready to take on the holidays, I wish a…
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!” (“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore)