It's the day before the first of five final exams I have to take for the fall semester.
I’ve been cramming since the end of Thanksgiving. There are too many tabs open on my laptop, and several review papers scattered across my desk, as I study late into the night.
While I’m studying like my life depends on it, the holiday cheer is just outside my door, except I can’t experience it because I’m stuck reviewing my textbooks.
The holidays are the most joyous time of year, filled with love, celebration, and happiness. But as happy and fun as the holidays can be, many people often get caught up in school, work, and other tasks, causing them to feel the yearly holiday blues.
People often feel hopeless, like they never get the holiday experiences, like holiday shopping, decorating, or being with friends and family, because they are stuck with exams and work.
One student, Giselle Colao, a sophomore physics major, said, “With work and school, I’m very held back. Last Christmas I had to work in the morning, so I spent less time with my family. It restricted the full experience.”
Understandably, schoolwork and people's jobs are priorities during this season, so how can students combat the sad feeling that rolls around every year?
One of the best ways to enjoy the holidays and still be a good student is to learn time management. Part of being a college student is learning to juggle multiple aspects of our lives and being independent.
Charlie Higgins, a sophomore biology major, said, “I definitely try to use a planner to study ahead if I know I have an event.”
Planners are one of the best tools to help students manage their time for a more enjoyable holiday experience. There are different types of planners suited for everyone that can aid students with the stress at the end of the semester.
I personally love using physical planners that include a calendar and stickers. Being able to write out and organize my schedule in front of me gives me time to plan out my study time and fun events to enjoy during the holidays. I feel less stressed knowing that I planned ahead for the busy holiday season. Planners also allow students to look forward to the holiday plans they have upcoming, without worrying if they'll have time to study.
There are also a number of apps for online planners with different settings and customization tools, allowing students to feel fully prepared and organized with their schedule.
Even posting a calendar on your dorm wall or using the calendar app on your phone can keep a student organized and prepared to get through the busy season while feeling the holiday cheer.
In addition to management, it is important to take care of yourselves during the holidays as it can be a very stressful and exhausting period.
Simply taking time for self-care, health, and rest helps tremendously in dealing with sadness during the holidays. Prioritizing your well-being is essential in preventing the blue feelings from worsening. It is important to know when it is time to take a break from all the hard work to prevent yourself from becoming burnt out and missing out on the joy of the season.
Knowing your limits and setting realistic expectations and boundaries for what you can and cannot do during the holidays helps create a positive environment for people and prevents the buildup of sadness and stress.
Students often feel quite guilty for taking time away from studying; however, we are all humans outside of school work and jobs that deserve to enjoy themselves and have fun with friends and families during this magical season.
Colao says that students should “Silence everything and really enjoy time with your loved ones.”
“For the most part, I think for the holidays, students should forget about school because it’s core time with your family,” she said.
Another thing that students often forget during this time is that they're not alone. Many students often feel like they are dealing with all this work and pressure by themselves, when in reality, so many people around them are feeling the same sadness.
It is important to know that students can ask for help. Reaching out to anyone, whether it be friends, families, coaches, professors, or teachers, getting help, and finding a support system is a great way to help manage during this busy season and prevent students from falling down the rabbit hole of anxiety and depression.
I often reach out to close members of my family and even work with friends on how we can manage our schedules, get work done, and still have time to enjoy fun holiday events together. Knowing that you're not alone and working together with other people brings a sense of comfort and stability to many, which, in turn, wards off the blue feelings.
If students are feeling stressed and alone, Seton Hall offers student Counseling and Psychological Support Services (CAPS) to help students with their health. CAPS is a great support tool for Seton Hall students if they need to talk to somebody. Students can request individual therapy sessions, attend group therapy and workshops, and manage stress one-on-one with counselors.
Another great way to fight the holiday blues is to look into local holiday events. There are a number of celebrations that go on throughout the month of December that students can attend. One of Seton Hall's most popular traditions for the holiday season is the annual Christmas tree lighting.
As a college ranked with the most holiday spirit, according to Best Colleges, we pride ourselves on spreading the holiday cheer to all students and faculty. Our annual tree lighting takes place on Dec. 2 at 6:00 p.m. Students can join in on the holiday fun with classmates, friends, and family at Seton Hall to celebrate the Christmas season.
At the end of the day, there is only so much planning and managing a student can do. It can often be overwhelming to be on a time crunch during the holiday season. Planning ahead, taking breaks, and reaching out are some of the best ways students can receive the support they need. This eases the sadness and stress that they feel during finals and allows them to enjoy the joys that the holidays bring.
Here’s to a stress-free holiday season! OR Here’s to a not-so-blue holiday season!
Ashley Smith is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Opinion section. She can be reached at ashley.smith1@student.shu.edu.
