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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KCL chapter.

With the beginning of advent fast approaching, here at KCL Her Campus we are thinking of possible alternatives to the traditional, chocolate advent calendar. You may have seen the recent scandal with blogger Zoella’s luxury calendar which, costing £50, was described as ‘tat’ by parents of her fans, but Zoella is not alone. Jo Malone, Hotel Chocolat, John Lewis, Liberty’s and a variety of other high-end brands are offering lavish advent calendars, some of which could set you back several hundreds of pounds.

We have devised some simple, feel good plans to help us through the festive build up. These will be perfect for those looking to watch their waistline before the Christmas feasting begins, those who want to do something conducive around the festive period and in turn feel better about themselves, and those who simply want to save their money. Take a look at our suggestions below!

 

1) Good Deed Advent

Simple, free and undoubtedly a feel-good option.

With the nights seeming ever shorter and the stress of Christmas rapidly approaching, it’s easy for the most content amongst us to struggle during the winter months. The ‘Good Deed Advent’ is a healthy alternative for the mind and body which simultaneously benefits those in need.

We’ve drawn inspiration from Camerados, a campaign which uses prototyping programmes, social enterprising and simple online campaigns and resources to encourage communities to come together to end isolation. These projects aim to bring about large-scale impact to local communities, offering a clear, concise and simple objective to services helping those suffering during tough times: friends and purpose. We definitely support this concept and believe that a good deed alternative will truly benefit all those involved.

So, for 24 days this December, why not spend thirty seconds of your day being a friend or ‘Camerado’ within your community? This doesn’t have to mean spending money, maybe look into outreach programmes that help homeless people, like KCL’s very own Hot Chocolate Society, and volunteer some of your time to help.

 

2) 24 New Recipes

A costlier option, but definitely a good idea in the run up to lots of festive eating. Why not try and cook a new recipe every day leading up to Christmas Eve? This suggestion doesn’t have to be over expensive, nor does it need to be particularly complicated and for those who like cooking, it could be rather fun and productive! It might be festive feasting; turkeys, spiced wines, sprouts and minced pies as a warm up for Christmas Day, or simply a new breakfast smoothie or pasta dish you’ve been wanting to try.

Channel your inner Nigella and see what you can come up with! Here are a few of her sanity preserving shortcuts.

 

3) Exercise More

Another free mood booster!

This could be a squat challenge, an ab programme or simply to walk 10,000 steps every day, (of course making sure you log this on your King’s Move app to collect points for drinks, food or king’s merchandise). Or you could get involved in the King’s BeActive bespoke timetable of sport, fitness and activity sessions, which are structured around course timetables. Whatever you chose, this is bound to make you feel happier and healthier before the feasting begins!

 

These are just a few suggestions, let us know how you decide to celebrate advent this year!

King's College London English student and suitably obsessed with reading to match. A city girl passionate about LGBTQ+ and women's rights, determined to leave the world better than she found it.