As the holiday season approaches us, we can begin to feel very overwhelmed. Whether it is the stress of picking out the perfect present for your best friend, successfully finishing the semester and nailing your finals, or the anxiety of being home for winter break and seeing family members. The holiday season can definitely be a lot. While it is one of the most magical times of the year, it can be hard to stay grounded and true to yourself during the holiday season. To combat this, and make sure that you have a hot girl holiday season, here are 25 things you can do!
Day 1: Make a bucket list for your winter break
If you are not particularly pumped to go home for the holidays, try making a list of all the fun things you can do, or people you want to see when you are home! This break is all about you, it is the perfect time to practice self care and give back to yourself after a challenging semester. Now is the time to binge all the shows you want to watch and haven’t gotten around to! Pick up the books you have been wanting to read before the break is over!
Day 2: Start a Journal
One of the best things you can do to ground yourself is open up a journal and write. Try following a different prompt every day and see what you can discover about yourself! Journaling is a great way to get out all of those feelings you’ve been bottling up and *trying* not to dump during thanksgiving dinner.
Day 3: Try out a new recipe
Go onto Pinterest, TikTok, or just Google and search up some fun seasonal meals to recreate! This could be fun to do with a friend,family member, or even a great solo task!
Day 4: Listen to a podcast
Try listening to a new podcast! Sit and listen to an episode and see what you think. Some of our favorites include “Anything Goes” with Emma Chamberlain, “The Skinny Confidential Him & Her” by Lauryn Evarts Bosstick & Micheal Bosstick, and “Gals on the Go” with Danielle Carolan & Brooke Miccio. Whether you listen to one of their episodes or find one on your own, a podcast is a great way to unwind, get some good advice, and put things into perspective!
Day 5: Go on a Hot Girl Walk
As we all know, the HGW movement has really taken off— and rightfully so! Going for a walk is a great way to get some fresh air, enjoy nature, and take a break from any family craziness that may be going on during the holiday season.
Day 6: Take a bath/hot shower
Sometimes we all need a little quite time to use our favorite bath bomb and relax in some warm water. Put on your favorite playlist and wash away all of your stress and worries with some nice hot water!
Day 7: Read a new book
Go to your local library, order a book online, or find one you haven’t read at your house! A good book can really make all the difference, and is such a nice way to unwind at the end of the day. Some of our favorite books are “Love and Other Words” by Christina Lauren, “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides, and any of the Colleen Hoover books!
Day 8: Have a movie marathon
Invite some friends over, gather up your family, or hunker down on your own for the night and have a fun movie night!
Day 9: Spa night
Take a night to pamper yourself and do some external self-care. Light your favorite candle, listen to some music or put on a show, and have a little spa night. Do a face mask, hair mask, paint your nails, a nice unwinding night.
Day 10: Yoga
Doing yoga for even just 5-10 minutes can help you feel centered, calm, and rejuvenated! Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, yoga is a great way to keep yourself grounded during the holidays. Yoga By Adrienne or Boho Beautiful on YouTube have great follow along videos that make it super easy to start your practice and get you into your flow!
Day 11: Pick up new hobby
Spend your time at home this holiday season improving yourself! Learn an instrument, take a course online and get a certificate, spend more time reading, baking, and really master a hobby or skill of your choice!
Day 12: Start a new tv series
After the fall semester has come to a close, you will finally have the time to catch up on all the new shows you may have missed out on! Hop onto Netflix, Hulu, DisneyPlus, or any other platform of your choice and dive into a great new series!
Day 13: Make gingerbread cookies
A classic holiday treat, a way to make your whole house smell like Christmas, and something so fun that is sure to get the holiday vibes rolling!
Day 14: Get a seasonal drink
Trying a new seasonal drink from Starbucks or any other coffee place is such a fun way to treat yourself, romanticize the holiday season, and try something new!
Day 15: Make hot cocoa
While we’re still on the drink chain, hot chocolate is a must! Making it at home is so fun, and especially if you are cozying down next to the fire or a movie, it helps to elevate the holiday vibes to the next level.
P.S. Don’t forget the mini marshmallows on top!
Day 16: Decorate!
One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit and celebrate is to decorate! Decorate your christmas tree, hang up fun lights, get some winter wreaths, and go all in for this holiday season.
Day 17: Make sugar cookies/frosted cookies
In addition to gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies are another must for the holiday season. Get out your cookie cutters and bake some delicious holiday-themed cookies that will be the perfect remedy for any holiday stress!
Day 18: Do something weather related
If you live somewhere cold, go ice skating or enjoy the snow in some way! If you live somewhere warm— like Florida, take advantage of that by getting outside more and not having to worry about layering up (or frostbite).
Day 19: Drive around and look at decorations
No matter what holiday you celebrate, looking at all of the decorations is such a magical experience. Spend a night with friends, family, or alone driving around your area and take in all of the great decorations the different houses have! Try looking online to see if there is a particular house/neighborhood in your area that is notorious for going all out with their decorations, and make a fun trip out of it!!
Day 20: Do some spring semester prep
If you have some extra time and want to feel prepared for the new semester, try cleaning up your computer! Get rid of old downloads, sort out your emails, organize your google drive, and get your computer in tip-top shape for returning to campus after the break. This will help to eliminate some stress as you enter into the new semester, and give you something productive to do during the break!
Day 21 clean your room / donate stuff
While we are on the topic of being productive, what better time to clean out your closet and donate old clothes/items than the holiday season? The holiday season is the season of giving, so it’s a great time to get rid of all of your old things and donate them, so somebody else can get great use out of them! You will also be making room for all the new things you will be receiving this holiday season :)
Day 22: Make a pinterest board/ vision board for the new year
“New year, new me” doesn’t have to just start in January- begin setting goals for yourself and creating good habits starting this holiday season! I know, it can be hard during the most hectic season of the year, but start by making a vision board on paper or on pinterest that represents all you hope to accomplish in the new year, and get those positive vibrations going!
Day 23: Make a new playlist
Finding new music and making a new playlist is a great thing to do while you have some free time this holiday season! It is a great way to unwind and ground yourself amidst the holiday craze.
Day 24: DIY a gift
Pinterest is your best friend this holiday season! It is a great place to tap into your creative side this holiday season when gift giving! Give a homemade DIY gift to a friend or family member, this will not only make it more personable but also be a fun way to blow off some steam and have fun with your creative side..
Day 25: Volunteer!
This holiday season can be really hard for a lot of people, including yourself. A great way to get yourself out of a slump and make an impact on your community is to get involved and volunteer for something! Especially around the holidays, there are so many ways to make an impact in someone’s life, and it is always such a great way to stay grounded and find moments of gratitude amongst the craziness that the holiday season can bring.