5 Holiday Hacks to Help You Survive Winter Break

I'm going to cut right to the chase. Holidays suck. Christmas break is a double edged sword for college students. On one hand you don't have class for 3 WEEKS but on the other hand, most of us end up going home which can bring forth a whole slew of challenges by itself. I myself, am navigating these waters right now. Not well, but I'm trying and at the end of the day all you can really do is try.

The holidays are STRESSFUL for anyone, and for those of us who battle with our mental health, they can prove to be even more exhausting. There are a thousand variables that can go awry and at any given moment it can feel like there are 1000 different things to do. You've got to buy presents for all your friends and family, you have to bake cookies, wrap presents, finish finals, travel home, but what happens after you get home? Some of us are lucky to have our own rooms in our parents houses but what about those who's rooms got converted into home gym/craft room/ study? The truth of the matter is, no matter how much you love your family, you need your alone time and finding it when you are staying at someone else's house is challenging. You don't want to be rude but at the same time you just know you're going to scream if you have to listen to your mom talk about Aunt Sarah's Christmas card ONE MORE TIME. So here are some tips or "hacks" that I've come up with over the years that I use when I need to make a quick stage exit. Use responsibly.

#1- "These Shoes Were Made For 'Walkin" - Starting with my favorite one, when in doubt walk it out. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed or grouchy and I need some space I grab my coat, pull on some boots and go for a walk outside by myself. Getting some fresh air really helps to clear my head and technically it counts as exercise so you can justify eating some Christmas cookies later! Bonus points for listening to your favorite "pick-me-up" songs to reset your mood. Just watch out for cars and don't get lost.

#2- "You've Got Mail!"- Okay, admittedly this is a short one, only to be used for quick moments of relief but it's still valid and applicable so I'm putting it on the list. Sometimes when I need to leave a situation for a second to keep from imploding I ask if anyone has gotten the mail. It's a misdirect and a certified topic changer that gives you an excuse to leave the house for a couple of minutes. *Warning!!! Only works in certain scenarios, my mom hates getting the mail and so our mailbox is almost always full. If your parents are serial mail getters this one might not be the trick for you. Also, remember what Harry Potter taught us- no post on Sundays!*

#3- "I'm dying!"- In the age of the smartphone we are blessed with all sorts of acceptable phone related excuses such as (but not limited to) "Hang on my phone is dying I need to go plug it in", "Oops I don't have any bars here", "I'll be down in a minute I have to make an important phone call!", or my personal favorite- "I think I left my phone upstairs hang on I am going to go look".

#4- "Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness" - Yet another goodie, the shower. Sometimes when I'm stressed and need some alone time I will claim to be sweaty and need to shower. (Obviously you have to have done something before this for it to seem legit but digging in your parent's basement to find Great Aunt Jessie's antique ceramic Christmas tree totally counts as strenuous physical activity to me) Make sure to bring some fun shower stuff like holiday scented bodywash or bath bombs from Lush (#notanad I wish...)

#5- "And That's The Truth Your Honor"- The last tip I leave you with is brutal honesty. Sometimes you can't get away and the best thing you can do is to take a big deep breath (or however many you need) and just be HONEST. Try to calmly articulate how you are feeling and explain you need a minute to refresh or need to leave the situation altogether, If they are family or friends they will (hopefully) understand and respect your needs. Try and remember that these people love you and they aren't intentionally trying to make you feel this way, sometimes being more in touch with your emotions makes you like a super absorbent sponge. You soak in your surrounds and hold them deep inside you and you don't always even realize how much you are holding in. It's okay to wring some of it out.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

12-17-2018