Sometimes, the holidays sneak up on you when you’re in college. You’re thinking about your finals and drowning in school work when all of a sudden everyone else is thinking about the holidays. The world is getting in the Christmas spirit while you’re sitting on the sidelines like the Grinch himself. Luckily for you, there are a few ways you can get into that holly jolly Christmas spirit.

1. Cozy up and watch some Christmas movies

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? Sitting on your bed with some warm blankets, a cheesy Hallmark movie, or one of the classics such as "Elf," playing in the background. They are happy, funny, and have the ability to lift your mood instantly.

2. Decorate

Buy yourself a little tree, hang some stockings, or buy a Christmas blanket. Decorating will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit! I think that it is super cute when people decorate their door for Christmas. What's more fun than having your door wrapped up like a present?

3. Hot cocoa, all day every day

What’s better than cozying up with hot chocolate and whipped cream? Add in those Christmas movies and blankets and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a good night. If you want to go the whole nine yards, you can even add a little peppermint to spice up your life a bit.

4. Fairy lights do wonders

Looking at all of the decorated houses is one of my favorite things about Christmas time, but you can’t really throw a bunch of Christmas lights into a dorm room. That being said, adding a few fairy lights could be a simpler version of lighting up the night.

5. Christmas songs

Michael Buble is defrosting my friends. His album is my personal favorite, but there is 100% no shame in listening to the Christmas station 24/7. Be sure to blast the Christmas jams like “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for a jolly moment of laughter, or you can be like my roommate and cry to different renditions of “Silent Night.”

6. Christmas sweaters & socks

You never know when you are gonna need that ugly Christmas sweater, but maybe you don’t want your Christmas spirit to come on that strong. So how about some festive socks: bonus points if they are fuzzy too! If you want to go big or go home, then onesies and matching PJs are always a great option when it comes to festive apparel. After all, it’s never too late to achieve your childhood dreams of becoming an elf.

7. Plan a “Squadmas”

Plan a Christmas party! There are so many options. You could do a White Elephant and give your best buds the wackiest gifts like a shake weight. But there’s also Secret Santa where you give a thoughtful gift from deep down in your potentially existing heart.

If you want to keep it simple and ball on a budget, then a dinner with your friends or roommates would be your best option. This is a great way to de-stress during dead week, right before finals hit you like a truck.

8. Cookies

Baking sugar cookies brings me back to when I was younger when I would make them for Santa with my mom. Sugar cookies are especially fun, because who doesn’t love frosting things? Even if decorating isn’t your forté, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from college, it’s that if someone’s hungry then they’ll eat anything, even ugly cookies. My favorite thing about the cookies is that I find myself eating more than decorating.

Unfortunately, finals and papers sometimes take over December and you forget about Christmas, but make it a point to celebrate! You made it through another semester in college and that's just as important as the holidays. So, just because you are away at school doesn’t mean that you can't get into the Christmas spirit.

My advice: go crazy.