It’s the countdown to Christmas, a time for cold nights with hot cocoa, peeling open Advent calendar doors and watching Home Alone under a duvet. But in reality we all have to remember we’re not six years-old anymore and actually have responsibilities during the busiest month of the year.
Fear not, however, the little elves at UnCOVered have come up with a sure-fire way to handle the Christmas madness and maybe even have some time to feel like a six year-old again.
1) Christmas Presents
First things first, get these bad boys sorted! You might pride yourself on being the best December 24th shopper this side of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but honestly the stress just isn’t worth it.
Make a list of everyone you need to buy for and what you plan on getting them. I always keep a note on my phone so I can be as specific as possible, plan a budget and know where each gift is coming from. Plus, putting an emoji tick next to the stuff you’ve bought is weirdly satisfying.
And remember, the Internet is your friend! Send presents back home and avoid the hassle of bringing them back with you.
2) Assignments and Exams
One of the few drawbacks of being a student is the volume of work that comes your way over the holiday period, especially when it comes to assignment deadline dates and exam preparations.
The key seems to be to do something every day, even if it’s just a little revision, planning or quotation finding. This way you don’t get that horrible voice in the back of your head telling you to make a start. Once you get the ball rolling it’s never as bad as you thought it was going to be.
Much like the presents, you can make a list or timetable to keep on top of every assignment or exam, prioritising by deadlines, or which will take the longest. You can even turn this into a bit of a game, seeing how many things you can get through in a day.
3) Packing for home
Any time I pack I always forget that certain little item, toothbrush, phone charger, that really good pair of socks that’s thicker than all your other socks but manages to disappear throughout the winter. This is why I now bundle these things together and put them in a really obvious place before I start packing. Sometimes I even put things by the front door so I definitely can’t leave without them. (Although people will ask you why there’s a razor and a bottle of vitamins by your door).
The most important thing is to be conservative with what you’re bringing home. Your bags are going to be full enough with all the winter clothes you’re going to need so leave the forth pair of shoes, especially if you have to rely on public transport to get home.
Also, keep in mind that you might be bringing back more than you think after you’ve unwrapped your presents!
4) Christmas party planning
Has this year’s Christmas party been put on your head to plan? No worries. The trick here is to keep it simple and look out for decoration bargains. You’re having a Christmas party with your student friends, not entertaining the Queen. Pound shops and the like have plenty of cheap decorations that’ll look good for the evening.
On top of that, don’t forget that doing a secret Santa present giving is way easier and much more affordable that trying to find a nice gift for all of your buddies. Plus, it’s a lot more satisfying to get one solid present rather than a bunch of naff ones.
5) Bringing something to Christmas lunch
Whether it’s at the big day itself or the last supper with your housemates before leaving, bring something along to show you’ve been thoughtful about it. It doesn’t take a lot of planning and only has to be small but it can earn you a lot of points and stop you from feeling awkward if everyone else brings something.
Popular ideas include, after dinner chocolates, a centrepiece for the table, crackers, a party game, a festive table cloth or any other festive paraphernalia.
6) Preparing for next semester
It’s hard to look into the future when you’ve got a lot of stuff going on now, but it actually doesn’t take much to keep on top of what’s coming next.
Be sure to check your university email account frequently to look out for any updates on new modules, reading lists or any other preparative work that needs to be completed. Future you will thank you when you’re not having a panic because you already feel behind.
7) Having a rest
Probably the most important point of all!
Don’t forget to plan time to have a break from everything. You should do your best to enjoy your time outside of the university bubble, it can be easy to forget there’s a world outside of that sometimes. Be sure to catch up with old friends and family, watch classic movies, play games and get stuck in with the spirit of Christmas.
It’s cliché but if you get yourself in the right mind set it really is the most wonderful time of the year.
