Holidays are a time for rejuvenation, spending time with loved ones and stuffing your face.
But what happens when things don’t go as planned?
It’s easy to be disappointed when you have the holiday blues. We want to help you fend them off this season.
You can’t go home
No matter how soon you plan the trip, sometimes travel just doesn’t work out. Your flight gets canceled because of the weather, you can’t get off work, you don’t have a car or you simply can’t afford it.
“Every year it’s almost impossible to get off work for the holidays,” said Alexa Pearson, a senior majoring in psychology. “For Thanksgiving I get a couple friends together to have a ‘Friendsgiving’ and have contests and games. It kind of makes up for not being home.”
Things to do when you can’t make it home for the holidays:
- Binge-watch whole seasons of your favorite TV shows.
- Get ahead on your homework.
- Volunteer.
- Be a tourist in your own city.
- Bake everything!
You don’t get along with your family
Family is great, they’re your constant – but they can also get under your skin.
“I really just don’t want to be bombarded with all of the questions. It’s always, ‘What are you doing after college?’ or ‘Why don’t you have a boyfriend?’”said Kylie Henderson, a senior majoring in chemistry at the University of New Haven.
“My cousins are my saving grace, so just find someone you can share the same frustrations with. Sometimes I’ll even invite [or] beg a friend to stay with me during the holidays.”
If you can’t find solace in specific family members, Brandon Bariteau, a USF alumnus, suggests bringing a convenient distraction.
“Keep the time limited, or bring something to relieve those emotions when they start coming up, like a book or music,” said Bariteau.
You’re single
November is almost over, the leaves are changing (in places other than Florida) and cuddle weather has finally arrived – but you’re single.
It’s easy to feel bad about it, think of it as a blessing in disguise. You save money on gifts, you can eat all the food you want, you don’t have to worry about wearing that cute outfit while you meet his family and you can play Christmas music 24/7.
Things to do when you can’t get your mind off of it:
- Call that old friend that you keep promising to catch up with.
- Use this time to relax and focus on yourself.
- Get in some extra hours at work and make money instead of spending it.
- Set goals for the new year.
- Build a stronger relationship with your family.
“Try to think of the good you have in your life, instead of beating yourself up over being single,” said Rickey Whiteman, a business major at St. Petersburg College.
You can’t afford gifts
The best gifts are those that come from the heart. I know it sounds cheesy, but you don’t have to have the most expensive, extravagant gift to show someone you care about them.
Pro-tip: Throw a lot of inexpensive and handmade notes or crafts together to really win family, friends and classmates over. Putting the effort in shows that you really care. Pinterest and Etsy are lifesavers for fast and affordable gifts.
“I have made coupon books for my family members since I was little,”said Cassidy Power, a Hilton St. Petersburg employee. “They include things like cleaning your car or breakfast in bed, along those lines. They don’t cost a dime and most of the time they forget to use them anyway!”
The holiday season is more than a break from school; it’s a chance to get some well-needed relaxation to motivate you for what lies ahead. Keep these holiday tips in mind and you’ll be ready to bounce back into the spring semester feeling better than ever.
