When people think of holiday breaks, many envision vacationing in snowy or sunny locations, embracing or escaping the cold weather. Although it is common to hear such plans, a large number of people also stay home for the holidays.
“[I like] not having to be anywhere at a specific time and just sleeping in and just staying at home,” said junior Autumn Deetz-Rodriguez.
While breaks do provide the opportunity for interesting travel, the sort of lack of organized plans for students that stay nearby can also be perfect for relaxation. Most of the time, traveling can be stressful, with many different things that could go awry, from missing or delayed flights to forgetting essentials when packing. This can be avoided by staying at home, indoors with a book or other form of entertainment. Additionally, inviting family and friends over for celebrations can be a good way to socialize, and it can be made easier when at home with one’s usual supplies.
“[I’m going to] probably catch up on work and homework, hopefully there won’t be too much, and then just hang out with my family,” said Deetz-Rodriguez, who stayed at home during the Thanksgiving break.
However, one of the main reasons people go on trips is to visit loved ones who live further away and may no longer be able to travel. While there is little that can top face-to-face conversations in such situations, there are alternatives, such as zooms and FaceTimes.
Holiday breaks can be a good time to reset before beginning school or work in the new year. Taking the time to clean out unneeded items can be beneficial to having a healthy year, since it can rejuvenate the mind. Because this time of year often comes with many decorations, it is necessary to put them back in storage, which can sometimes be dragged out or forgotten once usual activities resume.
Even though it can be fun to go on vacations, it is just as important to stay home for at least some breaks in order to return to one’s job or school ready to work. Going out of town can be tiring, and sometimes it can be better to take this time to prioritize relaxing tasks.
