Holiday activities to get you through finals week
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas lights are shining, Mariah Carey’s Christmas album is rightfully being overplayed, and Saint Joseph’s University students are panicking over finals.
Some of us may be completing mounds of work that our teachers decided to assign right before finals week, while others may already be ahead of the game with studying and preparing for exams. Yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year, but college makes it the most stressful time as well.
Luckily, the end is in sight. Soon enough, the semester and finals week will be over, and there will be plenty of time for fun activities to celebrate the holiday season. Here is a list of some things you can do over winter break:
Explore the City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia has so many Christmas activities to offer during the holiday season. You can shop at all of the stores uptown for your loved ones. While you’re in Macy’s, check out the light show that they host each year right in the middle of the store. Then walk over to City Hall’s Dilworth Park and browse the Christmas Village. If you are feeling sporty and spontaneous, go down to Penn’s Landing and try to conquer the art of ice-skating.
Cruise through your town: One of my favorite activities during Christmastime is to drive around, listen to Christmas music, and look at the holiday decorations that cover my city—all while getting to bond with my friends. This is a fun and comforting activity, especially for a bitter, cold December night when you just don’t feel like exposing yourself to the winter weather.
All Christmas movies, all the time: If you are someone like me who is obsessed with curling up near your Christmas tree at home and watching holiday movies, you’ll be happy to know that Hallmark channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” plays Christmas movies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you need a break from Hallmark movies, Freeform’s “25 days of Christmas” runs all the classic holiday movies that are near and dear to our hearts. What better way to celebrate the ending of the semester than not moving from your couch or bed?
A sweet treat: Nothing says Christmas like tons of cookies and other treats. Pinterest is filled with creative recipes for you and your loved ones to bake together to distribute at holiday gatherings. If you can’t bake, that’s what gingerbread houses are for. Grab a kit and get to work on building the perfect gingerbread Christmas village.
Kick back and enjoy the time off: Before you know it, the holiday season will be over and we will be back on Hawk Hill getting ready to start the spring semester. Try to enjoy your time off by relaxing and taking the time to take care of yourself. Bingewatch a couple Netflix shows, catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while, and get plenty of much-needed sleep. After a stressful week filled with final exams and assignments, winter break is the perfect opportunity to spend time outside of the four walls of the library.
However you choose to spend your winter break, I hope that it is filled with lots of love, laughter, and memories made with your loved ones. College students deserve this time to get back in touch with ourselves and focus on things that are not related to academic studies. While the thought of the semester ending hangs over your head, remind yourself repeatedly that there is a light—or many Christmas lights—at the end of the tunnel.
