Growing up and being at school can make it difficult to be in the holiday spirit. Sometimes, it just doesn’t seem like Christmas time when you’re stuck taking finals and studying until your brain melts. It was so much easier back when we were kids, barely any worries in the world and the magic of Christmas literally filled the air. Granted, we do have some Christmas lights put up around campus which is nice to bring in the holiday spirit, but it seems to me that it gets harder as we get older to keep the holiday cheer alive. But, you’re never too old to get back into the Christmas spirit! Here are a few ways that you can get it back!

1. Watch Holiday Movies

This may seem like an obvious solution to the problem, but I think we take it for granted. Act like a little kid again. Make a cup of hot chocolate, put on your jammies and turn on a favorite Christmas movie. Definitely make sure you watch Elf, The Polar Express and, one of my favorites, Eloise At Christmastime. The Griswald’s and How The Grinch Stole Christmas are holiday musts as well. Turn on the Hallmark channel! Constant holiday movies that’ll make you believe in Christmas all over again. And don’t forget the 25 Days of Christmas on Freeform!

2. Drink Hot Cocoa

Literally. All the time. Every day. Okay, maybe not that much but make sure you drink it when it’s cold outside and you’re all snuggled up in bed at least a handful of times. It just lets your body know that it’s cold outside and therefore Christmas is around the corner!

3. Go Sledding/Snowball Fights/ Build Snowmen

Go outside and be a kid again. Whenever it snows and there’s enough on the ground for some fun, call up some friends and be young again. Embrace the snow. Have a snowman making contest, break into teams and throw some snowballs, or go sledding down your favorite hill. And then go inside and have some hot chocolate!

4. Look At Christmas Lights

Lights are seriously one of my favorite things about the holidays. They’re so bright and pretty and sparkly, I just can’t get over it. Nothing screams Christmas like lights! Where I live, we go to Cedar Lakes where they have a huge display of lights up and drive around. They offer horse and carriage rides and everything. It’s magical. Look into it where you live as well!

5. Go Ice-Skating (Preferably Outside)

I went ice skating for the first time a couple of years ago and it was one of the best times I’ve had. It was outside and they had lights all around, hot chocolate stands and Christmas music playing. It was wonderful. It doesn’t have to be an outside rink of course, but for me that made it more magical and put me in the holiday spirit instantly.

6. Listen To Christmas Music

On replay. Every day. I’m not sure if there’s a better way than music to put you in any kind of mood, so why would Christmas be any different? Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” will instantly put you in the holiday mood. Personally, I like some Michael Bublé for some Christmas cheer. Find your holly station and turn it on blast.

I know how hard it is to make it feel like Christmas when you're away from home, but hopefully these ideas will help get you out of the end of semester funk and into the holiday spirit! There’s no reason to be a Grinch when Christmas (or whatever it is you celebrate) is upon us! Make the most of it and be the little kid you once were. You won’t regret it!