Think about the good stuff.
If you’re feeling a little (or a lot) down about the thought of being away from home this Christmas, just take a moment to think about all the challenges you’ve faced in the last term. You’ve conquered lectures and seminars (extra points for those 9am ones), assignments and deadlines, all whilst living away from home. You’ve probably done at least one thing you’ve never done before and overcome challenges you hadn’t even anticipated. See, you’re a champ.
Reach out.
Everybody gets lonely sometimes, which can make you feel isolated or even lead you to isolating yourself. Avoid that trap by taking the time to ring, text, email and Skype friends and family - they’ll want to hear from you as much as you want to hear from them. So, pick up that phone.
It’s all about balance.
As great as a Netflix binge sounds, the truth is it could leave you feeling a bit fed up. You may feel like you haven’t achieved anything, or even feel guilty if you intended to do something productive, but didn’t. The key is to find a balance. It’s the holidays, so if you want to watch a boxset (or three – no judgement), then go ahead. But even just an hour or two of uni work or a workout beforehand will give you that feeling of achievement, making that chill out time feel even better.
A bit of structure.
Not having the structure of university life can leave you feeling a little lost or as if there’s too much time to fill. So, make your own structure. Whether that’s setting your alarm for a certain time every day (it doesn’t have to be super early), getting some exercise every other day or even something as simple as eating your meals at similar times every day, it can help you feel like you know what’s coming up and what you’re doing next.
Get some fresh air.
At least once a day, get outdoors even if the sun isn’t shining. Whether it’s for a walk, a coffee, a look around the shops or maybe a run, being outside can raise your spirits. Check out the activities taking place in Chester during the festive period and go along if you fancy it. Why not ask other people to join you, or even ask if you can join them? It could seem a bit daunting at first, but remember, they’re in the same position as you.
Help your mind.
The mind is a wonderful thing but sometimes it needs a bit of help. If you’ve got a lot going around in your head and perhaps no one to talk to then and there, putting your thoughts down somewhere can make a difference. So, whether it’s in a journal, on your laptop or on your phone, write about the things you can’t seem to stop thinking about.
Something to look forward to.
Your uni friends will be back before you know it, so make plans to meet up with them when they are. This will give you something to look forward to once the Christmas period is over and remind you that although you may feel a bit lonely, there are plenty of people who want to see you and are thinking about you.
