I know that while being at school, it’s difficult for a lot of us to take our minds away from what seems to be an endless list of things we need to accomplish. I want to emphasize the importance of detaching every so often from the endless responsibilities you have. Let yourself enjoy the fact that the holiday season is finally upon us. We crave this time of year as soon as it escapes us, so it’s incredibly important to begin living in the moment and appreciate the fact that it’s finally here again. For your convenience, I’m going to tell you how to spice up your final days at school to prepare yourself for winter break and what many of us refer to as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
Grab a holiday drink
It’s that magical time of year when all the coffee shops and cafes have their festive coffee cups and limited-edition drinks. We are lucky enough to have a Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts right on campus where you can stop by before, after, or in between classes for a quick pick me up. The UC cafes also serve warm apple cider and other festive drinks. Personally, getting a nice warm or cold holiday drink to sip on during my classes or while studying boosts my motivation and enhances my mood significantly.
Group fitness class
We are so fortunate to go to a school that offers so many unique fitness class options. Personally, I love to switch up the way I work out. I can’t stick to the same type of workout every day and the Rec Center classes are perfect for spicing up your workout routine. During Halloween, the cycle studio offered glow spin classes in the dark with glow sticks and halloween music. I’m sure the cycle studio and other group fitness classes will be partaking in a similar way for the winter season. It’s so important to take advantage of these opportunities we are provided with, and the holiday season is a great time to experience something new and exciting to pump us up for the winter while also getting in a great workout.
Decorate your dorm room
You can even do something as simple as decorating your dorm or apartment with holiday decor. Whether it’s a decorative pillow or a holiday-scented essential oil for a diffuser or candle (if permitted, of course), a little goes a long way for decorations. That way, every time you step into your room, you are reminded of the holiday season and winter break that we are slowly but surely approaching.
Holiday movie marathon
This was one of my favorite things to do back home with my friends in November in preparation for all the holidays that were on their way. It’s so easy to get together with your friends at school and binge-watch holiday movies in a common room in your residence hall, in your room, or if you live in an apartment, in the living room. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can also have some hot chocolate to really get yourself in the spirit.
holiday playlist
Last but not least is the holiday playlist. I make one every year, and I never regret it. This one has such versatile uses while being at school. You can play it while getting ready for the day in the morning and listen while walking to class or working out. I’m constantly listening to music regardless of what I am doing, and switching my playlist from my regular one to my holiday one really gets me excited for the holidays and puts me in such a festive mood.
Even though we spend a notable chunk of November and December on campus, it’s so important that we take part in small everyday activities that make us feel closer to home during this difficult and cold time at school. Participating in holiday festivities makes the time we have to spend at school before winter break go by so much quicker, especially during finals season. Let yourself indulge in some holiday magic while we finish off the semester at UConn!