The holiday season is truly the busiest time of year. On top of finding the perfect gifts for all the amazing family and friends in my life, decorating my room, and preparing for Christmas vacation, I have to deal with the inevitable bane of the semester: finals season. Of course, there is no way to avoid them, so here are a couple ways to balance between studying for finals while maintaining some Christmas cheer.
Listen to Christmas music while studying
This is the perfect way to multi-task between studying for finals and keeping the Christmas spirit alive. My go-to Christmas playlist is either "Christmas Classics" or "Christmas Peaceful Piano" since I am most productive listening to instrumental music when I study. And I have found that instrumental versions of Christmas songs enable me to get some quality studying done while simultaneously getting excited for Christmas
Arrange a "Secret Santa" or Christmas get-together with your friends
There is no greater study break than quality time with friends, especially because you will most likely not see them for a while. If you want to arrange a "Secret Santa" or any other gift exchange, you can. But I always remember, having genuine people in my life and spending time with them is the best gift in the world. So other than baking cookies and talking together, no material "gift" could ever beat that.
Make some hot chocolate
Nothing gets me in the holiday mood than a hot chocolate with marshmallows, cozy socks, and a good book. During finals season, treat yourself to a nice cup of hot chocolate. The best thing about hot chocolate is it's yummy and it won't keep you up all night like coffee.
Go to a Christmas party.
Nothing says "Study Break" more than a Christmas party. Maybe throwing on your Santa hat and ugly Christmas sweater will get you in the Christmas spirit. It feels good to be around your friends dressed in Christmas attire, listening to Christmas music, and having some Christmas-themed fun.
Get excited for Christmas at home
Nothing gets me more excited for Christmas going home and spending the holiday with my family. Christmas Eve is my favorite day because my family participates in the traditional "Seven Fishes" menu from our Italian heritage, and being a huge fan of seafood, I love having all of my favorite foods on this one day beside all of my family members. Thinking about all the good food and good times I will have with them motivates me to get through finals week. Once it's all over, I have going home and relaxing to look forward to.
Watch your favorite Christmas movie
Another great idea for a "study break": watch your favorite Christmas movie. Some of the classics, like a Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, remind me of the days where I would watch ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas as a kid. Using this as a study break may allow yourself to relax and bring yourself back to the time when all you worried about was the scheduling of 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family.
Never forget the "reason for the season"
Sure, it is easy to get caught up in the middle of December with finals stress. And sometimes, it seems like Christmas will never come. But in the times like these, it is important to remember what the season of Christmas is all about. If you close your eyes, when you hear the word Christmas, you have already painted a picture of it in your head. It may not necessarily be presents under the Christmas tree, or a man in a red suit with a white beard named Santa, but maybe Christmas is about the things we can't see--like love, hope, and faith.
Overall, finals can be stressful, but they do not take away Christmas spirit unless we let them. So if you need a little help along the way, start with some of these seven ways, and soon enough, you'll start to feel like it's Christmas.