Although we may all be excited for a break from college for the next month, going home for the holidays isn’t always the most pleasant experience for college kids. It can be tough going from an environment where you feel you have total independence and control, only to be dropped back into an environment where you have none.
Dodging questions about if you’re dating someone yet, suddenly reinforced curfews and your parents always asking you where you’re going can get overwhelming easily. But don’t give up hope – there are still some ways to survive this upcoming break.
1. Find your out
Friends from high school or your hometown may not be your favorite people, but they’re worth keeping around as an escape over winter break. When your family starts to drive you crazy, tell them you’re going to see old friends and get away for a few hours. If you have siblings, they’re also a great way to escape your parents berating you with questions about your grades and if you made any friends in college. Tell them you and your siblings want bonding time and catch a movie or go shopping together.
2. Do a small chore every day or two
Make it a priority to do a small chore every day or so while you’re at home. Unload the dishwasher, clear junk off a counter, vacuum a room or clean something that’s often forgotten like the microwave. Trust me, if you do that your parents will be so happy that they’ll forget all about nagging you. If the small chores only appease one parent, I’d throw in an “outside chore.” Taking out the trash, shoveling the driveway if it snows or grabbing the mail might impress them. Most don’t take more than 15 minutes and save you a day’s worth of agonizing about how “you don’t do anything to help out around here.”
3. Look busy
If you seem really busy or engaged in something (other than your phone or a video game), your parents may give you more space. If you’ve always wanted to get into cooking or baking, now is your time to shine. Grab a book, learn to paint or suddenly get really into decorating for the holidays and put all your attention into that. If you look like you’re being productive in some way, your parents are more likely to leave you alone.
4. Plan a structured activity
To avoid having activities and conversations sprung upon you with no notice, schedule things to do with your family. Pick a TV show to watch together, have a designated night of the week to cook together, go to art classes together, plan hikes together or whatever interests all of you. Having a plan prevents awkward conversations and keeps your family focused on the task at hand.
5. Last resort: the present excuse
Say you have to go shopping alone to get presents and get out for a few hours. Do some real shopping for them and you. Go get a coffee as a little treat while you’re at it. When you get home, say you have to go wrap presents. Even if you aren’t really wrapping presents, you can use the excuse to lock the door and hide for a few hours. No one can argue with the sanctity of a surprise gift. You’ve just bought yourself an entire day of privacy and sanity.
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash.