As the fall semester draws to a close, many students begin to look past the horror of finals to the warm glow of Christmas break. Starry-eyed and rosy-cheeked, these holiday lovers start humming joyful carols and bustle around wrapping presents, gleeful in the anticipation of the coming festivities. It is not for me to point out to them the fear of finals that should be gripping their souls, nor the fact that Christmas is still almost a month away. However, I have compiled a little list of things that they should definitely do before they head off campus:

  1.  Make sure to create elaborate travel plans that involve multiple Christmas vacation destinations, preferably in places with heavy snowfall. Don’t be afraid of packed airports or delayed flights; those are things that only happen to other people.
  2. Getting a one-bedroom ski cabin with your six best friends is a great idea and will in no way negatively affect your friendship. Sleeping in a bed is overrated, and winter cabins are known for their soft, carpeted floors.
  3.  Purchasing Christmas gifts from the bookstore the day before you leave is a good plan. The bookstore wouldn’t raise prices just because it’s Christmas, as that would be unfair.
  4. Choosing not to sell your textbooks because you might need them later in life is a wise investment in your future. Who knows when you might need to refer to your trigonometry textbook next?
  5. If you are running short on time, feel free to leave your dirty clothes piled up in a heap in the corner of your room. Why deal with them now when they can be next year’s problem?
  6. It is important to make detailed, aggressive plans for starting your New Year’s diet. As everyone knows, eating healthy around the holidays is a breeze. All that free food just means more healthy options for you.

If you follow these handy tips, you will be sure to have a blissfully optimistic Christmas break. May your holidays always be jolly and full of cheer.

Declan Feeley is a junior theology and finance double major whose interests include writing and investment theory. Declan can be contacted by email at dfeeley@nd.edu.