As Halloween passes by and November rolls around, a new sense of joy and peppermint fill the air. Most people are getting the holiday flavors at Starbucks and some Netflix and chill time in. What ends up happening, though, is that we get bogged down with studying for finals, buying presents, and getting ready for last minute Secret Santas - and don't even have any time to cherish the season!

Here are a couple reminders for what you should do to keep the holiday spirit in tact:

1. Make Time For Your Family

The holiday season is all about spending time with your family and friends, but we end up spending more time at the mall trying to find the perfect present for our third cousin on our mom's side of the family. Presents are important, but showing your loved ones that you care for them means that you need to spend time with them! Try baking a pumpkin pie or Christmas cookies with your siblings, or take your mom out to La Madeline for a warm brunch to really keep the family spirit alive!

2. Watch Christmas Movies

From the ages of three to sixteen, I have vivid memories of religiously watching the "25 Days of Christmas" movie marathons on ABC Family. My mom and I would make our hot coco and get out our Christmas blankets every day! As I got older, and the reality of life dawned upon me, this tradition slipped out of my life, and took a sliver of my holiday spirit away with it. Now, I am not telling you to watch each and every Christmas movie, but make sure to catch a few of them and relish in the holiday joy!

3. Don't Forget To Study

Although the holidays bring many distractions along with them, passing your exams might take priority over taking pictures with Santa! As soon as you ace all of your exams, go holiday crazy and enjoy the month of time you have without worrying about assignments and exams! Go to the movies, take pictures with the lights, and maybe even travel a bit!

4. Volunteer

It's easy to get caught up in yourself during the holidays, but remember, joy shouldn't only be for the privileged! Take an hour or two to volunteer at the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day, or go help out at a present drive. I guarantee that it will not only make someone else's day better, but also give you a feeling of satisfaction! Just imagine the look on a four-year-old with ripped, second-hand Toy Story pajamas as he unwraps a brand new present!