The end of the semester is fast approaching (incredibly fast, I might add), and with the stress of final papers, projects and exams, it's easy to get swept away into the hurricane of pressure. However, with all the things left to do comes the ray of hope that there is, in fact, a nice break on the horizon. A good physical reminder of this is to decorate your room for the holidays!
Although Thanksgiving is technically first, I am of the opinion that it's never too early to hang up lights and put out snowman figurines—it’s a fantastic way to get your mind off of the trivialities of college life. Plus, by putting up holiday decorations you can make your room into more of a cozy space you can escape to after long hours of studying. Because of school, it can be kind of tough to find the time to do room improvements but this is a great reason to make the time in the name of self-care and mental stabilization.
For me, decorating for Christmas brings up all the warm, fuzzy feelings associated with this time of year and helps to remind me that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Scientific studies have shown that decorating for the holidays is a mood booster and can not only improve your mental state in the context of studying but can also provide a feeling of warmth and comfort against the gray, cloudy skies of Southwestern Michigan.
When asked why she enjoys decorating for the holidays, Alyssa Caruthers (senior, political science and English) said, “Mostly because I really like Christmas. It makes things brighter and gets me really excited for break and going home.” So with all this being said, what are some must-have decor pieces?
- Lights! (Personally, I like the warm kind. They’re very vibey.) You can grab these from pretty much anywhere, including Dollar General and Walmart. For those who aren’t able to get off of campus, Amazon has a pretty good selection for a good price.
- Snowman figurines! What’s nice about winter decor is that it doesn’t have to be relegated to Christmas. Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, you can pick up some cute snowmen (or snowwomen, or whatever. I don’t discriminate) and set them around your space to brighten it up a bit! These you can also find at a lot of places but my absolute favorite way to shop for bits and bobs of decor is thrifting! Neighbor To Neighbor is located a hop skip and a jump from Apple Valley Market, and although I haven’t been there in years, I’d imagine that there are some cute items to peruse. You can make a relaxing afternoon out of exclaiming over antique-looking angel figurines with your friends and then take some back to your dorm room for relatively cheap prices.
- Holiday-themed blankets! I know that these aren’t necessarily “room decor,” but hear me out: They’re warm and comfortable and can make your heart feel a bit better after a long day. Again, Walmart, Dollar General and Amazon are good go-tos for these. I remain convinced that one can never have too many blankets.
If you don’t really know exactly how to decorate your living space, browse on Pinterest for a bit. You’re bound to pick up some fun ideas.
If you’re looking for a little activity to take your mind off of the stress of school and would like to perhaps improve a lousy mood, try setting out some holiday decorations! (When I finally get mine up they will be left there until at least January.)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.