Every college student shares the common goal of surviving fall semester, particularly at University of Waterloo where there is no reading week. Winter holiday’s promise freedom, a rest from tireless exams, and excessive amounts of food you thankfully don’t have to cook for yourself. It all seems like a great idea… until you’re finally home and you remember all of the reasons you like being at University. Maybe it’s a place of your own where you can clean on your own schedule, or the relative solitude compared to the Christmas parties with your extended relatives. Regardless of what it is our fantasies of the holiday’s rarely match with the reality, and that’s ok. So here are a few tips to keep you sane and ready to receive all the warm fuzzy feels the holiday’s bring without any drama.
1) The Questions
With the great freedom of University, unfortunately, comes great responsibility. Suddenly you’re the one making decisions in your life and you’re held accountable for them. Now when you come home for the holiday your family and friends want to hear how your adventures are going, and almost everyone will have an opinion on what you’re doing and how you’re spending your time. This can get frustrating when all you want to do is forget or unload your troubles during the semester, not receive tons of advice on the subject. The thing to remember in this circumstance is that your family and friends  just want to be in your life and they’re trying to relate to you and give you the advice they wish they’d had. While it seems like they’re judging you for all your decisions most family and friends just want the chance to be useful to you. In order to not feel attacked you should focus on sharing the positives in life. Explaining why your program is still awesome even though you hate this one course and have come to terms with the fact you’re not going to get above a sixty in it takes too long, and there are often situational factors people not at your university can understand. So instead share the positives of life. Explain how you love that new choir you joined, or how your understanding of politics has deepened thanks to that one class. Ask them for that delicious chicken casserole recipe that only took them twenty minutes to make instead of telling them how you never have time to eat. Help lead the conversation so that you can enjoy it just as much as they can, and who knows? Maybe you’ll learn something new to take back with you!
2) The Food
It all looks great when you’re in your own apartment on the fifth canned soup of the week, or dining on spinach at the cafeteria, but when you get home you are forced to eat whatever is on the table, or are often tempted to eat too much. Holiday’s are especially bad for this because they often include turkey and potatoes as well as all those yummy gingerbread houses you end up building. The best you can do is promise not to deny yourself these treats, but also take control when you can! Choose healthy breakfasts so that you won’t be worried about eating five cookies after dinner or offer to make dinner for your parents if you really can’t stand your mom’s ravioli. The family will appreciate your help and you’ll get a little more control over what’s going in your body!
3) The Pressure
Let’s face it, you had high hopes for the holiday’s. You were going to catch up on your readings, practice piano like you can’t in your dorm, and see every friend you’ve ever thought about. Unfortunately it’s just not possible to get everything you want done over the holiday’s. Most of us are burnt out by the time we get home and just need time to vegetate. Instead set up flexible and relaxed goals for yourself. Maybe fit in fifteen minutes of piano when you have the time, or check out one short book that’s an easy and fun read, but don’t force yourself to do it all. Try to schedule your holiday’s in the most relaxing way you can. Sometimes that means not seeing all your friends, but hanging out with a close few. Give yourself time to appreciate how cool your mom is now that you don’t have to follow her rules, and binge watch that show if that’s what’s going to make you happy. This is your break, so don’t create any more pressure for yourself than absolutely necessary.
Although the holiday’s are hectic and crazy, it is a time to celebrate with those you love. Hopefully these tips will help you keep your cool (and not get overwhelmed) while dealing with holiday festivities and snow :)