Staff Editorial: Tips for being at home over break
For many Geneseo students, winter break indicates a return to family homes, or at least an extended stay at a non-dormitory home. If you’re lucky, this can be a welcomed time of rest and relaxation, surrounded by family or any other folks you might not get to see during the academic year; however, we here at The Lamron know that this is not a luxury that all students experience. Perhaps staying at home is stressful for you, either due to family conflict, lack of autonomy, or even an abusive home environment (for support in situations of domestic violence, we urge you to refer to resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233)). If this is the case, we have a few tips for how to survive the holidays if you’re finding yourself stuck at home.
1. Carve out a safe space. While this can be hard if you are sharing a room or not staying in your own home, creating a haven to return to if you are feeling burnt out, frustrated, or hurt, can help develop a sense of comfort or security in whatever place you are in. If finding a physical space to do this is not possible, you might try meditating, watching a comfort show or movie, or playing a specific song that makes you feel at home in order to provide some emotional support for yourself when you’re feeling down.
2. Branch out. If you are lucky enough to have a car at home, you might find a sense of escape in going for long drives just to get out of the house; having your own transportation can also enable you to find safe spaces outside of your home, whether that’s a friend’s house or your favorite local coffee shop. If you’re finding yourself transportation-less this break, taking long walks might become an important hobby. Though getting some fresh air and stretching your legs will not ameliorate whatever situation you’re looking to escape from, it is likely to take your mind off of those stressors and allow you a moment of reprieve. Additionally, if you have friends in your hometown or nearby, you might make plans with them more frequently or even try to stay with them for periods of time if they live on their own or have more supportive home situations.
3. Distract, distract, distract. While this may not be the healthiest long-term solution to staying at home, surviving this one-month stretch of visitation may take more than going on walks, depending on your home situation. Whether it’s finding a new show to binge watch, burying yourself with work, or soaking up some nice extended nap time, remember that it’s okay to find yourself looking for a little distraction instead of attacking your problems head-on; while, of course, this sort of confrontation or processing is extremely valuable and even preferable, we know that it’s not always possible to create even more conflict in an already trying home situation. Be gentle with yourself—this, too, shall pass.
4. Take care of yourself. This step is often the easiest one to forget, regardless of the time of year or place that you’re in; however, if you are in a house where your safety or stability feel threatened, or your value feels overlooked, this step can be particularly easy to dismiss. That does not mean that self-care is less important during this time of year; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. In a space where your well-being may not be the top priority of those around you, it’s important to take care of yourself to the best of your abilities. While that may not mean going for a run or getting a healthy eight hours of sleep a night, there are small, simpler ways to implement self-care into your life that can really make a difference. Perhaps you set small goals for yourself each day—maybe on Monday you’ll make your bed, on Tuesday you’ll shower, and on Wednesday you’ll go for a ten-minute walk. If you’re feeling adventurous and can afford some self-care investment, you might even book a spa day, go on a hike, or do whatever makes you feel at your best. Remember—even if you do not feel valued right now, you are loved by so many people, and your health, safety, and well-being are always of the utmost importance.
Good luck with your break, and happy holidays to all, Geneseo! We can’t wait to see you next month.