Finals are stressful, the end of the semester is stressful, even your family can be stressful. So when you finally get some time to yourself after the end of the semester at the beginning of Christmas break you need to relax. Here are my favorite ways to relax over winter break.

1. Set the Mood.

Light some candles and rearrange your room to get yourself in the relaxing mood. Maybe decorate your Christmas tree or put up some extra twinkly lights to really get yourself in not only the Christmas spirit but the relaxing spirit.

2. Read a good book.

I love to read a good book, but I rarely have time to read for pleasure when I'm at school. Reading a book is relaxing, it's time-consuming. Getting lost in a good book can mean sitting in bed all day, just simply reading. You feel like you get to know the characters and feel like you're experiencing their lives. It's the perfect escape over break.

3. Watch your favorite Christmas movie.

Get into the Christmas spirit by watching all of your favorite holiday-themed movies. There's the classics like White Christmas, Holiday Inn, and Life is Beautiful. There's the Hallmark movies that everyone's mother is obsessed with and the children's Christmas movies you secretly love to watch.

4. Finish binge-watching your new television series.

At school, it was so tempting to stop studying in order to continue binge-watching your favorite shows. Well, now you don't have to feel guilty for tuning out the whole world and watching two whole seasons of your favorite shows.

5. Eat some comfort food.

There's nothing like good home cooking or returning to your favorite local restaurants. Christmas is the perfect time to head back and eat your favorites. There's the seasonal food and then there's your old favorites. You can have both when you head home for winter break.

6. Take a long hot bath.

I don't know about you but for me, baths are a relaxing and a luxury. Very few college dorm rooms, apartments, and houses have bathtubs. So, when I head home I enjoy taking baths every chance I get.

7. Treat yourself.

Treat yourself in whatever way works for you. Whether it's cupcakes for breakfast, like me, or a good workout give yourself a little treat. Allow yourself a few little treats over break to hit the max amount of relaxation possible.