I can’t speak for anyone else, but I am struggling to feel the holiday spirit. 

Between finals, searching for internships and recovering from my wisdom teeth removal and subsequent sinus infection, it feels like I have no time to even think about the upcoming holidays. And as if it couldn’t get worse, I got my period this week.

When I do have a spare moment, I spend it scrolling through TikTok or taking a nap in an attempt to give my brain a much-needed break. 

In short, my attention must go a million different ways at once, leaving little room to think about how Christmas is just around the corner. 

But this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way.

I spend every year waiting for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve to come around, only to find that the holiday magic I felt growing up has simply vanished. 

Maybe it’s finals. Maybe it’s the state of the world. Maybe it’s the realities of getting older. It’s probably a mix of all of the above.

When I do take a moment to think about Christmas, there’s no gleeful anticipation, no sense of motivation to get through the semester. Instead, I’m overcome with melancholy, a far cry from the unconditional happiness of my youth. 

It’s perhaps the instinct that leads me to play Phoebe Bridgers’ Christmas singles instead of Bing Crosby, music my brother calls “depressing” and “not-Christmas-y,” which, in fairness, is true.

For college students, the holidays can often be a uniquely challenging time. The financial burden of purchasing presents and participating in holiday activities, along with the long stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break, can lead to overwhelming stress for college students. 

Going home for winter break can be a stressor in itself. On the one hand, there’s the opportunity to see the friends and family you missed while away. But there’s also the reality of packing your things, booking travel and saying goodbye to the support network you’ve built at college. It makes perfect sense that celebrating the holidays may not feel like the happy occasion it ought to be.

Current political and economic realities can also put a damper on our collective sense of holiday spirit. For many, food is a massive part of celebrating the holiday season. 

However, with grocery prices rising and benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program once again in limbo as the Trump administration threatens to withhold funds to Minnesota and several other blue states, many may feel justifiably worried about their access to food for Christmas.

Seasonal affective disorder, a form of recurring depression brought on by changing daylight patterns, may play a role. Additionally, the loneliness, financial strain and busy schedules brought on by the season can contribute to holiday depression. 

Believe it or not, a gloomy Christmas can be just as common as a holly-jolly one.

Nevertheless, Christmas is still on its way and the holiday traditions go on, so I reached out via Snapchat to find students willing to talk about their holiday traditions and how they’re feeling this winter season.

I only got one response, which itself could reflect a lack of free time or motivation among students this month. 

University of Minnesota second-year student Logan Wilson described with glee his family’s unique holiday traditions, which date back generations. 

“Every single gift has a hint on it,” Wilson said. “So you have to guess before you open it.”

Wilson said everyone receives an additional present at the dinner table.

“Every person has a Christmas present in front of them wrapped in white tissue paper with a poem on it,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the poems are handwritten and personalized to each individual, reflecting on their year. The care and consideration poured into this tradition make it his favorite part of the holiday.

“It is meant to be thoughtful,” Wilson added. “Not to be a corporate buy, buy, buy thing.”

Wilson said he admires the amount of work it takes to make all of this holiday magic happen, especially considering the large size of his family, but he was unable to put his finger on who exactly was putting in the effort.

Wilson’s struggle to articulate where this labor was coming from led me to consider just how much work my parents put into making Christmas happen every year. After all, the Christmas decorations don’t put themselves up. 

So I’m stuck wondering: How do our parents do it? Because it’s not like the holiday stressors stop after college.

This year in particular, I am struck by the work my parents put into making the holidays special. One week before Thanksgiving, my grandpa died. It was not unexpected, but that never makes it easier. 

The next week, my parents were ready with Thanksgiving dinner for the family. My dad had picked up the Christmas tree, and my mom was wrapping presents. Because even as life gets difficult, they understand something that we as college students take for granted. 

The Christmas spirit is not some intrinsic, tangible thing you lose with time, and the holiday magic you felt when you were younger never just materialized. All of the traditions, decorations, delicious food and family celebrations were the result of work. Labor that was done, even when life was difficult and stress was at an all-time high. 

I don’t mean to downplay the struggles that accompany the holidays. It’s more than reasonable to feel burnt out or even depressed this time of year. But those feelings aren’t going away by sitting in bed and listening to Phoebe Bridgers. 

If you want to experience that holiday magic, you need to go out and find it. Whether that’s by attending a local holiday event, watching Christmas movies with friends or even just walking through Dinkytown to admire the lights, it’s critical that you make an active effort to celebrate.

It’s time to make your own Christmas spirit.