We all know the feeling. You just spent Thanksgiving eating obscene amounts of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and so many other Thanksgiving foods. Then you spent the next three days eating obscene amounts of Thanksgiving leftovers. Going back to school after five days of home-cooked bliss is hard. You come back to school with no motivation already counting down the days until Christmas. So in the true holiday spirit, here are some ways to avoid/get over (because let’s be real, it’s nearly impossible to avoid) the Thanksgiving hangover.
1. Listen to copious amounts of Christmas music.
Getting yourself in the Christmas spirit (even though some people have been in the spirit since Halloween) will help motivate you to just make it through two more weeks of class and finals.
2. In addition to #1, watch every Christmas movie you can.
Activate that split screen and get inspired by the Grinch’s holiday transformation as you transform into a model student preparing for finals.
3. Bring as many leftovers back to school with you as possible.
Nothing helps more than having real food to get you through finals. Cancel that Favor order and heat up some turkey. (Please don’t eat food that’s gone bad though – the last thing you want is to have food poisoning during finals.)
4. Decorate your dorm/apartment/bedroom for Christmas.
Again, getting yourself in the Christmas spirit can motivate you to finish the last couple weeks of the semester strong. Also, there’s nothing more ambient then doing homework next to your Christmas tree with Christmas scented candles burning.
5. Bake, bake, bake.
I’m talking about cookies. And cake. And any other kind of desert you can think of. They can be plain, generic cookies that you just take out of the package and put in the oven, or you can do it all from scratch if you happen to be a regular Betty Crocker. Warm cookies make for a great study snack, and they also make your whole apartment smell like heaven.
6. Get started on gift shopping early.
Sure, the semester ends two weeks before Christmas so realistically you’d have plenty of times to get gifts after finals, but gift giving is fun. Even if it’s online shopping, looking for the perfect gift for your significant other or your mom or sister is so much fun. It’s even better when you find the perfect gift that you know they’ll love.
7. Make a wish list.
I’m not just talking about Christmas, but if you want to make your Christmas list, go ahead. You can also make a wish list of things you want to do over Christmas break, like yoga or Pilates, or even just reorganizing your apartment. Making a list of things you want to do can help put everything in perspective.
8. Drink a lot of coffee or tea.
My favorite thing about the holidays is that the weather gets colder. Even if it’s only cold for a few days (it is Texas), there’s nothing better than curling up with some fuzzy socks and a mug of hot tea or coffee when it’s cold outside.
9. Don’t stress.
I know, I know. It’s way easier said than done. But, you can do whatever will help you relieve stress in a healthy way. Dance, work out, draw, watch YouTube videos, anything. If it helps you, do it. The last couple weeks of the semester are always the most stressful, and being overly anxious about things won’t help.
10. Talk to people.
Finals week sometimes gets so stressful that you neglect your friendships and relationships. Try your hardest not to let it. Even a quick text asking how they’re doing and telling them you’re thinking about them is more than enough. Ask them to study with you or go get coffee for a much-needed study break. It’ll help you relieve stress and it’ll probably help them do the same.
11. Study, study, study.
We all want to just chill and do nothing until Christmas, but the reality is that we do have to get through finals. You don’t want to start off Christmas break worried that you didn’t pass a final or a class, so get it done. It’s difficult for all of us, but it’s also possible for all of us.
