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By Kat Clark, Gradlife Ambassador

One of the best parts about working with Gradlife is that I get to meet new people on a regular basis; people who come from all areas of the world, who are interested in a number of different things, and who can teach me new ways of looking at life. Many of these grad students I’ve talked to have mentioned the fact that they are going to be away from home for the holidays, and weren’t sure how they felt about that. Having just recently been in the same situation, I know that as much fun living abroad is, it can be a little disheartening around the holidays to be away from the ones we love. With this in mind, and knowing that there are many people in our U of T community probably feeling the same way, I want to share with you some of the things I did to combat the “winter blues” and “holiday ho hums” when I was away from home in the hopes that it will help you out if you’re ever longing for home.

Take Time for You

For some, the holidays are less about huge celebrations and more about taking the time to relax. As grad students, that’s more often a case of “easier said than done”. This year though, especially if you’re away from home, I encourage you to take some time to yourself to reset and restore. We all suffer with extremely busy schedules during the school year, so taking the time to have a bath, read a favourite book, or listen to some music is a great way to rest your mind and get you ready for everything the New Year has in store  for you. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed with the business of the season (school or holiday wise), don’t be afraid to take a step back, think of what brings you some calm and focus, then go do it. Many people will say that the holidays are about showing goodwill to others, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be good to ourselves too.

Connect

The holidays are about family, but the great thing about travelling is that we get to choose our family. When I was living abroad, my friends who were also new to the country (and conveniently ALSO found themselves at a loss around the holidays) became a wonderful support system. We made Thanksgiving meals together, ate Christmas lunch together, did Secret Santa, and reminisced over the holidays at home while finding happiness in each other’s company. As we get older, our families become made up of the people we choose to love and not just the people we grew up. This year, if you’re feeling a little blue being away from home, grab some of your chosen family friends/wonderful friends and create your own celebration. The holidays are about being with people you love, no matter where you are.

Celebrate YOUR Way

More simply put, do what you would do at home.

Is your tradition making a huge turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and veggies? Great! Make your own version. A lot of grocery stores offer holiday meal specials that you can take to go: Whole Foods on Avenue Rd. has a great selection of this type of food, even if it is a little pricier. If you’re looking to stay on budget, head to Loblaws or No Frills to pick up a chicken as a turkey substitute. Looking more to sit down and enjoy some atmosphere while you eat? A lot of restaurants in the area are also offering holiday menus where you can enjoy a delicious dinner with none of the preparation or clean up stress.

If turkey isn’t your go-to meal, that’s ok! Toronto is FULL of restaurants just waiting to be discovered. A quick Google search of your favourite food from home will present you with endless possibilities to find comfort in a little familiarity.

Embrace Technology

AKA Skype. Skype in during family traditions, skype in to chat and catch up, skype in for a movie date, skype in just because. Technology is a wonderful friend to the traveller, so don’t be shy about using it to connect with the people back home.

…Then Get Out of the House

One of the easiest things to do during the holidays, especially when you’re celebrating them alone, is to become cooped up inside binging on familiar TV shows and comforting foods. While this kind of downtime is sometimes a good thing, it can also lead to something we ALL want to avoid: cabin fever. To avoid getting down in the dumps about being alone, get outside the apartment (or dorm) and surround yourself with people, immerse yourself in nature, or simply stretch your legs for a trip to the nearest coffee shop so that you get SOME sort of face-to-face interaction with other people. You don’t want to realise at the end of a few days that you’ve forgotten what you sound like because it’s been so long since you talked to someone.

When in Doubt, Try Something New

A great way to avoid the winter blues (especially in this dreary, wet December we’re having), is to plan a trip. It can be as simple as a shopping trip, an afternoon spent reading, or a night out skating. For those with the time and the budget to do something a little more extended, why not plan a trip solo or with a few friends in the same boat? Head out of the city for a bit: visit Niagara Falls, see a show in Stratford (or do the Justin Bieber tour), visit the first Tim Hortons shop in Hamilton, browse the Christmas Market in Kitchener, explore the Badlands, or visit Dundern Castle in Hamilton (pro-tip: it’s BEAUTIFUL at Christmas). Whatever you choose to do, make sure you’re surrounding yourself with things that inspire you, excite you, and bring you joy.

Whatever you end up doing over the winter break, we hope that you find time to have fun, to connect with the people you love, and that you get a little downtime from those assignments and research papers. Happy Holidays! See you in the New Year 🙂