By: Sam Dragna
It’s no secret that a glut of polarizing emotions accompanies the holiday season. I always find it crazy how Halloween barely arrives before the Christmas sweaters start taking over the shelves of my favorite department stores. As a college senior, I am thrilled to decorate my apartment and plan holiday parties with my friends. But behind the festivities, the season’s greetings tend to be accompanied by feelings of disconnection from those closest to me.
I moved to Oklahoma in 2021 to pursue my undergraduate degree, thus leaving my family and childhood friends behind on the southern coast of California. Despite the fact that I’ve fallen in love with my college town and have had a priceless experience (if you forget about the out-of-state tuition), it’s in what is infamously known as “the most wonderful time of the year” where I have found myself feeling the loneliest. What I have come to call my “seasonal slump”, has claimed me a victim one too many years.
If you’re feeling especially down this holiday season, let’s go through some ways to make these next couple of months as memorable as possible...
Coping With Homesickness
Family FOMO can hit you like a truck after moving far from home. However, we can reap the benefits of living in the digital age and stay in touch with the loved ones we’re missing. This year, try creating virtual traditions, like family Zoom calls while decorating the tree, opening presents, or just going on a morning stroll. Use that computer in your pocket to feel as present as possible. Might I also suggest taking breaks from comparing your holiday feels to your favorite influencers... let’s not forget that the highlight reels of people’s lives allow for minimal interpretation. Don’t drown yourself in TikTok this season.
Creating New Traditions
Chances are that the people around you are having similar feelings as you. Gather your roommates, neighbors, and classmates to make your festivities. This year, my friends and I plan to do it all: Friendsgiving dinner, pumpkin patch visits, white elephants, you name it. Spending time with those you love is what matters most, so ring in the holiday spirit with your own spin on family gatherings!
Celebrating You and All You Are Accomplishing
It’s okay to take a break from the gift-wrapping and studying to focus on ourselves. Focus on your self-care as much as you're searching for the perfect holiday gift. Spark up the pumpkin candle, find a new book or comfort movie, and allow yourself the time to unwind and spend time with yourself. I love a bubble bath and my favorite SZA album. The end of the year is always the busiest, so it’s easy to lose sight of all the great things that have come your way. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, wind down and give thanks.
Volunteer Work
It’s called the season of giving for a reason. One of the healthiest things I’ve done in college is to broaden my perspective. There are so many reasons to be grateful for the life I am living, and there are people who would give anything to be in your shoes. Giving back can be as big as you want it to be: donating to toy/food drives, volunteering at soup kitchens, and making care packages for a local homeless community. Giving back is an amazing way to get connected to your community, keep you busy, and make a lasting impact on a stranger.
The best thing about the holiday season is finding the beauty in duality: through the cold months that feel so isolating, you can be resolved by treasuring all that you have. The biggest blessings rendered by the holidays aren’t the gifts, but the love you can receive, whatever that may look like for you. Missing home is completely normal this time of year, and it doesn’t take away from the joy you can experience.
If you are missing a passed loved one this year, please accept my deepest condolences. Know that it’s okay to feel the spirit of the season and your grief. You are never alone in this season, and I’m sending the biggest virtual hug your way.
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