On Nov. 1, exactly one day after our weekend-long Halloween celebration ended, my friends and I cozied up on their dorm floor with blankets, pillows and hot chocolate and decided to watch “Love, Actually,” an amazing Christmas movie.
A day later, my Christmas playlist was made, and I’ve already begun celebrating the winter holidays.
Has it snowed yet? Very minimally, but it’s getting colder, and Starbucks has already released its holiday menu –– its iced gingerbread chai has been a hit for me so far. So, even though it technically doesn’t feel like Christmastime yet, the inner child in me still wants to begin celebrating.
As a first-year college student, being so far away from home during the beginning of the holiday season feels different.
While Thanksgiving break is approaching, and I’m certainly excited to return home and see my family, it doesn’t give me the same feeling as winter break. During Thanksgiving break, I know that soon enough I’ll be on a plane back to State College, dreading the inevitable stress of finals week and wishing to go home all over again.
Currently, the only thing actually pushing me towards getting work done and being excited is the fact that I will be returning home for Christmas, getting to watch movies with my family and opening presents soon enough.
There’s something very nostalgic about Christmas, especially as it becomes more of a special occasion, considering that I’ve been away from home for a while. So, while it hasn’t even been Thanksgiving break yet, I personally don’t find a problem with celebrating Christmas and getting excited a little early.
In terms of wish lists, some of my most-wanted presents are new comfy sweat sets from Garage or Brandy Melville, new perfumes and most definitely a lot of Penn State merch. One of my love languages is gift giving, so I also can’t wait to go home and curate the perfect selection of gifts for each of my family members.
I’ve definitely been laughed at by friends when I revealed that I already made a Christmas playlist and finished my wish lists, but it truly invokes a sense of nostalgia and excitement that makes the wait to go back home so much more worth it.
In fact, research has shown that decorating early for Christmas and reminiscing about the holidays can actually improve happiness and mental well-being, not only bringing joy to yourself but also to those around you, as Christmas is all about spending time with and appreciating your loved ones.
While I haven’t decorated my dorm yet aside from getting a small Trader Joe’s wreath and a soft snowman blanket, I know that my next TJ Maxx trip will consist of me buying the entire holiday section!
While some people might think it’s too early for celebrating the holidays and enjoying the spirit it brings, I think this is the perfect time to.
Being so far away from family and hometown friends can be difficult but being reminiscent of joyous times during the holidays can provoke feelings of nostalgia and overall improve your happiness, and can hopefully make anxiety about finals go away, too.