Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or, at least that’s what the holiday tune tells us. In reality, the winter season can be a mixture of some fun, and a lot of stress. While that stress comes in many forms and for many reasons, in order to enjoy your time this break, you’ll have to learn how to cope with it. That way, you can make the most of the holidays.
If you’re a first-year, you probably missed your loved ones while you were away and couldn’t wait to see them again.Then, once you were finally reunited for a couple weeks, there’s a good chance you had the realization that there’s a stark difference between when you’re at home versus when you’re at school. For the first time, you may have understood what every other student had to learn their first time going home for a long break: being on your own is kind of nice. That’s when the holiday stress kicks in.
The first type of stress I tend to deal with this time of year is learning how to get along with my family all over again. When I first get back home, it’s always great. Then, I begin quickly butting heads with my parents and many siblings. Whether it be about curfews- something I didn’t even have to think about while at school, or why my sister is wearing my shirt and pretending like it’s hers, the family arguments can be exhausting and make me wish I was back at Western already.
When I begin feeling this stress, I cope with a few different techniques.
First, I remind myself how lucky I am to have loved ones who support me and care about me at all. Then, I go on to reminding myself that break is only a few weeks. If I was able to survive my first 18 years with these people, then I can surely do four weeks. And then, if all else fails, I just go somewhere else for a while to calm down.
The next type of stress that I come across is holiday financial pressure. Trying to buy presents while remembering that you’re about to start a new term and have to deal with the cost of that can be daunting. My gut tells me to buy everyone I love a gift, while my bank account tells me the exact opposite. When this type of stress arises, I remind myself that nobody I love will actually care about how much their present costs. It’s true what they say- it’s the thought that counts. While we all want to do extravagant things for the people we care for, sometimes it’s just not possible. If you find yourself in this predicament, a good option would be to opt for DIY gifts. For some DIY inspiration, refer to our previous issue.
Another thing I tend to find myself stressing about is travel. Getting to and from campus can be difficult if you don’t have a car. However, I always find myself to be okay if I put some time into planning it extensively weeks prior to leaving. Getting those plans figured out well ahead of time will save you some immediate stress.
While this time of year can cause a high amount of stress, finding ways to cope can make it enjoyable again. Some pressure is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean it should be distressing. It’s your break; don’t let the stress turn your holiday into a time you dread versus a time to relax.
Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu
