Santa’s Not Bringing Gifts Anymore—But You Can Still Keep the Magic
Welcome to Twenty Something. This column- written by Caitlyn Garrity– explores the uncharted territory called your 20s. It’s funny, it’s witty, it’s honest.
Nothing is less magical than the holidays when you know Santa isn’t real (sorry if this is news) and you’re freshly out of your parent's house. You are now responsible for buying others presents–including “Santa and Mrs.Clause”–PTO is limited, and the drive home from work is pitch black.
The transition from college to true adulthood is hard enough; to make things worse, the holidays will never be the same. You know that feeling of walking into the holidays as one of your parents’ kids, and now you walk in as your own entity. You’re no longer at the kiddie table, even if you’re still forced to physically sit with the baby cousins.
When you start working your first 9 to 5, you miss out on some traditions you’ve enjoyed over the past 23 years. Time off is limited, and for those of us who have fled the nest and started our careers far away, getting back home and spending ample time with our loved ones becomes challenging.
For some of you reading this and who haven’t experienced a post-grad holiday season yet, I don’t want to instill a sense of dread for what’s to come. But I would say that many of you have already experienced some of what I’m talking about. The holidays, even in college, were a time of excitement, joy, and, above all, magic. In college, we got time off during Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate with our families–free of work and our obligations.
Now, many of us only get a few days off, and if we want to save our PTO for other times in the year, that will be about it. We spend much of our week working, and many work for an entry-level salary. So that also means having to stress about budgeting for Christmas gifts but leaving some room to buy decor for ourselves to bring holiday cheer to our homes.
The holidays are different, but the magic doesn’t need to die. In my first year after college, the holiday season lost its sparkle. But now, I’ve learned from my mistakes and found ways within my means that allow me to enjoy the holidays. You could say I’ve become my own Santa and am bringing the holiday magic back to myself.
I’ve curated a few tips for keeping the holiday magic alive when you’re a busy, entry-level professional living alone or with roommates.
Don’t let the dark tire you
Wintertime means a dark ride home from work. The early darkness can make us extremely tired after a long day at the office. I urge you not to succumb to tiredness and head straight to your bedroom after work. Instead, push yourself to stay vertical and still enjoy the hours left in the day.
To my female readers, I wouldn’t recommend going for a walk after work alone, so grab a friend and tour some neighborhoods that have glowing holiday displays. You can also do a puzzle at home, cook a nice, cozy meal accompanied by holiday jazz, or start a Christmas movie alone or with friends! Whatever it may be, staying active and “alive” after work will help alleviate some of the dullness of a dark winter evening.
Try hosting for the first time!
I’ve never been one to host, but if you’re new to your city, you must take the initiative and stop waiting for the parties to come to you… and create the party!
This could be a simple dinner, cocktail hour or full-blown Christmas party! Whatever it might be, carve out the time to decorate your rental and spend quality time with the people you love. Who knows, this could become your first adult holiday tradition!
Explore the holiday events in your area
Get out and explore your city’s holiday events! Whether your city is brand new or one you’ve grown up in, there’s plenty each city/town has to offer to celebrate the holidays.
One of my favorite “events” I’ve seen in almost every city is pop-up Christmas bars. I get a group of friends or my boyfriend and enjoy a festive bar experience. They often have fun cups and limited-edition holiday drinks to enjoy. Holiday experiences put on in your area are a great, easy way to reconnect with the holiday spirit.
Decorate early (screw the haters)
Please stop listening to other people online about whether you should decorate on November 1 or December 1. Decorate whenever the hell you want.
I’m sure there’s some study out there that says Christmas lights make you happier, but the literal second I put up my Christmas tree, I could feel a rush of serotonin. Decorate however and whenever you want; I only ask that it brings you joy. After all, your environment is everything, so whether you work from home or an office, a festive home environment is always a good idea.
Surround yourself with holiday cheer
It doesn’t matter how you do this. In the weeks leading up to seeing my family, I find holiday cheer through music, jazz, and YouTube videos. This sounds incredibly bizarre, but let me explain.
If you’re in an industry where you sometimes have admin work where you can listen to music, I highly recommend finding a solid holiday playlist. This could be classic Christmas music or holiday jazz, but filling your ears with holiday cheer while working helps you get in the spirit and also makes the time pass a little easier. I also shamelessly start my day listening to Christmas jazz, and I’ve found that I feel more at peace in the mornings.
Now for the YouTube component, I live in South Carolina but grew up in Minnesota, so Christmas looks incredibly different. Finding the Christmas spirit when it’s sunny and 65 degrees hasn't been the easiest, so I love to mimic that environment through technology.
In the same vein as admin work, I love putting on a cozy Christmas ambiance video to help me get into a cozy mood while working. It not only tricks my brain into thinking I’m in a festive, snowy cafe but also helps me be more focused throughout the day, especially during independent tasks.
Be kind to yourself and, more importantly, to others this holiday season. You don’t know why the holiday season is hard for someone; they might be experiencing the holidays without a loved one for the first time, being far from home, or having a hard time adjusting to a new season of life.
Perhaps the best way to create magic this holiday season is to spread love and kindness to others and ourselves.
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