5 Things to Remember This Holiday Season

1. Take time to enjoy the weather in-between holiday shopping and decorating.

Everybody knows the holidays can be hectic, but for a college student, even more so, because the holidays are filled with final exams and packing to go home or to get out of a dorm by a certain date. Try to host a friendsgiving, even if it’s small. Plan just one night to go see Christmas lights with some hot chocolate, with a partner or friends. Sometimes the holiday season will pass you by if you don’t make an effort to celebrate–the same goes for your birthday!

2. The most expensive gift is not the best gift.

Just because someone else can afford to spend more on gifts, doesn’t mean you have to feel bad about what you could afford. Most families are just happy to see you for the holidays, and won’t be judging how happy they are based on how much money you spent on them. I spent time this year knitting for a family member, and I know she’ll appreciate what I made myself far more than something I could go to the store and buy. 

3. You don’t have to change your family.

Thanksgiving is a famous time for “fighting at the dinner table.” However, some people just aren’t going to change for the better, no matter how much you may want them to. The holidays are special, and it isn’t worth your happiness or enjoyment of the time on people that refuse to listen. If you have the choice, simply don’t spend time with those people. Just because someone is related to you, doesn’t mean their entitled to your time, energy, or love. If you can’t escape them, do your best to remain peaceful, and if they say something outrageous, have some prepared responses that may shut them down quickly (like pretending you don’t understand a sexist joke, so the person has to explain it, and gets embarrassed).

4. You don’t owe people when they give you gifts.

I see this a lot with my college-age friends–they are so grateful for someone to go even the slightest bit out of the way for them, that they think that they have to repay the favor or buy something in return. A gift is a gift, not an obligation, and if someone makes you feel bad because you can’t afford gifts, they’re probably not a good friend anyway.

5. Relax.

Try and get Christmas shopping done online, early. Stressing over gifts last-minute is not fun, and often ends with an unpleasant trip to the mall and a gift that you have to settle for. Online shopping is a lot easier and you can spend several hours looking for the perfect thing without driving to a store, walking around, and fighting crowds. This will give you plenty of time to sit back and actually enjoy the holiday without having to worry.