Much love, Shaudeh Farjami

Head empty after finals, the mind of your average anywhere but the moral values for the holidays. High school friends, recharging, and hibernating— that’s the ideal break. The farthest routine from finals review and research paper season.

Slow your roll. Take a breath and appreciate the present at home. This holiday season, prioritize appreciating the little things. If you spend all your time hibernating in the shelter of your home town room, you’ll miss it. Regardless of the adrenaline rush that comes with the college semester, enjoy where your at right now because time with fly by faster than expected. Here’s a few reminders in the back of my mind this holiday break…

If your routine gets thrown off this holiday, just let it run it’s course. It is perfectly and undoubtedly normal. Instead of beating yourself up, give it your best effort to make time for just a few habits that motivate you to perform your best and be present with your loved ones as the best version of yourself. Sure, you’ll miss the gym or an opportunity to read before bed, but that is more than fine.

Spending time with your family and loved ones trumps hitting the iron temple or a nightly journal entry. The most important part of holiday break can easily be lost when you are distracted by claiming an unrealistic routine. Letting you in on a little secret: living a clean routine for the next 3 weeks does not cancel out damage done over the semester. As much as I wish that were true, that is merely a holiday myth.

Honor and devote time for family and friends who make you feel good by making time to shoot that text and dial that cool. The harsh truth is that tomorrow is never guaranteed. We all have people we love who are always in the back of our mind, but we don’t have the opportunity to see them often. Take the time to reach out and remind them how much you care.

Convinced my TikTok feed is broken. For some reason, I’m trapped in floods of couples holiday date ideas TikTok. First of all, I can confirm that driving through Christmas lights, watching Hallmark movies, and decorating cookies is equally as fun, if not even more fun, with friends and family. Part of being in your 20s means everyone is at a different place when it comes to their relationship life. Everyone is on a unique timeline, making it important to avoid comparison to others because there is no true standard.

What is meant for your will come with time. Take advantage of and appreciate your current chapter. These memories, opportunities, and lessons are fleeting. Stray away from tunnel vision wishing you had someone or something else during this season. Soon, you will get that chapter your waiting for. The best is yet to come.

Don’t let anyone else’s holiday experience take away from your own. Yes, I am talking about Instagram and snapchat. A platform exemplifying if you didn’t post it, it never happened. Practice gratitude with those you love, because it doesn’t matter what your doing. There is always something bigger, better, and shinier out there with each part of life. Hold your ground and do not allow comparison to take over. Comparison is the thief of genuine joy. A repeated offender renowned all too well.

Sending warm wishes, good health, and a whole lot of love this holiday. Foster your friendships, hold your family tight, and acknowledge the progress you have made as an individual this holiday season. Progress happens right before your eyes. If you blink, you just might miss your opportunity to reorganize how far you’ve done.

Much love,

Shaudeh Farjami