Cue the Christmas music, commence the highlighting and flashcard making. It's that time of year again; just as we return to school from Thanksgiving, it hits us. We have barely more than a week left of classes, and then finals are upon us.
While some may think that finals ruin the holiday spirit, I think that you can still have your cheer and coffee-fueled study sessions. So in that mindset, I've come up with a list of holiday-themed study breaks to try this December.
1.) Get a group of friends together and hit the ice rink. If you're a little rusty like I am, you'll up concentrating more on not falling than your exams, and you'll laugh away any stress you may be feeling.
2.) Go for a walk in the evening to see the decorations. If you're in a city, find the main holiday tree or the best light displays or go to the department stores to see their displays.
3.) Have a cookie swap with friends, because we all know that stress-eating is a real and central to the finals-taking experience. Whether they're store-bought or homemade, it's a great way to be a smart cookie and diversify your snack reserves.
4.) Take a fifteen-minute break and make yourself hot chocolate and listen to your favorite holiday tunes. You'll find yourself singing along (even if you are in the library).
5.) Have a holiday movie marathon. Finals may bring the Scrooges and Grinches out of all of us, but the classics are bound to put you in the spirit.
6.) Go shopping for ugly Christmas sweaters. Hit up the thrift shops in your area and see who can find the most obnoxious sweater out of the bunch. Plan a day (or night) to wear them together.
7.) Decorate your dorm, apartment, or house with lights and homemade decorations (if you're crafty) or store-bought garland and ornaments. It may not be up to Martha Stewart's standards, but it's better than only having blank walls to stare at when you're looking off (pensively) into space.
8.) Make small goodie bags and hand them out to friends or acquaintances you see during finals who look stressed. Because, the best way to get into the spirit of the season is to give to others.
So this December, don't barricade yourself in the library. Take breaks and enjoy what some would say is the "most wonderful time of the year."
