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If you are celebrating the holidays with friends or family make it fun. Create a price for the person with the wildest, ugliest, and cutest sweater or just give to your body, mind, and soul the time to recharge and forget about everything. 

7 things for college students to do during the Christmas Holidays

Winter week is approaching, and after an overwhelming week of finals, it's time to forget about school.

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Winter week is approaching, and after an overwhelming week of finals, it's time to forget about school. You have dedicated months to perfecting the best research paper or getting that internship or fellowship and need some time to forget adulthood. 

Grab your favorite drink, cozy socks, pen, and paper, and let us discuss how your life will change for the better during the Christmas Holidays. 

The Journalism Lab for Higher Education has compiled a list of seven recommendations and suggestions of things to do during this time. Being goal-oriented and setting a list of expectations for the New Year sounds meaningful and requires a lot of brain cells; this holiday season does not need them. 

1. Improve Mental Health 

According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of people surveyed said their stress increased during the holiday season, which makes college students more susceptible to experiencing mental health complications. These can manifest in physical illness, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or lead to suicidal ideation. 

Whether it is a complicated and messy family dynamic, navigating life’s never-ending challenges, or simply feeling lonely and underserving can be early signs that your mental health is declining. These signs are not obsolete, and everyone is different. Therefore, taking time to improve your mental health is imperative during this time. 

Often, because holidays are associated with feelings of joy, warmth, and excitement, students can feel alienated. But don’t be discouraged. You are not alone. 

A few things to do to improve mental health can be painting, going for a walk, meditating, dancing, and speaking to someone you trust about your feelings. If these things don’t help, your needs might be different, and that’s fine too.

Don’t be afraid to seek professional help. 

2. Volunteer your time

During this holiday season, think about helping someone else. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter, women's shelter, animal shelter, or another community center. 

It can also allow you to connect with others through volunteering. Also, consider donating any toys, clothing, or books you no longer use that might make someone’s holiday season brighter. 

3. Make a Christmas Playlist 

Making a playlist can be fun. The whole family can get involved in selecting their favorite songs to include in the playlist. 

If Christmas carols are not your thing, create the best playlist with some of the biggest hits this year: Titi me preguntó by Bad Bunny, Shut Down by Blackpink, and Unholy by Sam Smith, to name a few. 

And if you find yourself crying over BTS Jin’s deployment, you are not alone, and Boy With Luv will play on your heartstrings until he returns. 

Find those songs that speak to you and will help you cheer up, or reminisce of what could have, should have, but never really got the perfect ending with Sweet Melody by Little Mix.  

4. Give an unexpected gift

The best gift you can give someone is something they don’t expect, especially from a stranger. People who don’t have friends and family may feel lonely during the holiday season. 

Contact a local nursing home or senior center and ask if any residents need a little extra cheer and whether it will be possible to bring a gift for them. 

You will make this person or individuals feel loved, appreciated, and cared for.

Also, some hospitals allow knitted blankets for cancer patients or ICU patients. Reach out to a few local hospitals to find out how you can give back. 

5. Christmas sweater time

Who does not like a festive sweater that is so ugly that you want to wear one, let's face it because it's cute.

If you are celebrating the holidays with friends or family make it fun. Create a price for the person with the wildest, ugliest, and cutest sweater. Dessert will do for most. 

But if, celebrating by yourself, do not be discouraged. Take this time to shine from the confinements of your dorm room or home. 

Find a local thrift store and check if it has any Christmas sweaters left. If not, be creative and go to a local craft store and select some items to dazzle that sweater up. 

6. Watch a holiday movie

There are so many Christmas movies that will delight any viewer. The Polar Express and Home Alone are iconic movies you can’t ignore during this holiday season. But if you want some romance movies, Netflix or HULU got you covered. 

Find your favorite holiday movie, get your favorite blanket and drink and enjoy until you can’t watch any more movies. 

7. Relax 

Favorite time! I know I said you would lose brain cells if you focused on school or creating a list of goals for the New Year. But you have done such a great job this year. You have won little and big victories, some people know, and some you have kept to yourself. Take the time to appreciate all that you have accomplished. 

Give your body, mind, and soul the time to recharge and forget about everything. 

Enjoy the holidays!

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