Holidays are a mixed bag, good and bad all melted into one pot. But even through the stress, it’s worth it.
There are so many upsides to the holidays, from family to presents. It’s a time to relax, take a breather, and explore how you are going to attack the time ahead when you return. When highschool student Michelle Bottomley was asked if she finds holidays during the school year important, she said, “I love having 2 weeks off in the middle of the year because I feel like it’s a good time to regroup.” This feeling is felt throughout the high school years as breaks feel farther and farther between and the time off is cherished more and more.
Break time, we only get so many breaks in one year, and Winter Break is the longest. These holiday breaks are few and far between several days of locking in during the school year, so when they do come around, they are actually incredibly beneficial to individuals. According to an article by the Harvard Business Review, “Taking vacation — and even just planning for it — can also improve your mood.”
Holiday breaks often fall around midterms and finals, when they are most needed. Anyone who has spent time around high school students in general knows that teenagers need a chance to lift their mood and reduce stress. According to an article by NYU, “many subgroups of youth experience high levels of chronic stress, to the extent that it impedes their abilities to succeed academically, compromises their mental health functioning, and fosters risk behavior.” Bottomley expanded on the earlier question, saying, “It’s fun to have a holiday in the middle of that because it means festivities.”
Aside from the obvious love of break time, religious celebration is one of the foundations of the timing of when winter break falls during the school year. According to polls by Gallup, “about three in four Americans said they identify with a specific religious faith.” These holiday breaks give students a time set aside to celebrate these holidays and embrace their faith.
For non religious folk, it is still a time to celebrate being alive and what we can be grateful for. Many people still participate in family reunions, cozy time in, and a chance to reset for the rest of the year.
Let’s not beat around the bush, a great part of the holidays is giving and receiving gifts. Most of the holidays include a segment around gift exchanges, like Christmas morning or each night of Hanukkah. It can be fun to get some new stuff and watch as people you love open your thoughtful gifts. It can also strengthen the connections between you and your loved ones.
Since the weather is now cold and the holidays are creeping closer, keep in mind that the pros of them can most definitely outweigh the cons. Enjoy your break, and happy holidays.
