With Christmas coming, the expectation that every night should be spent glammed up, head to toe in sequins, hitting the town with friends, can be somewhat overwhelming. But for some of us, going home means leaving most of your university friends and going back to that quiet village in the middle of nowhere. As a result, I often find myself with a bad case of FOMO as I’m wrapped up in bed with my dog and a Netflix show. If that’s the case for you too then I’ve broken down a quick guide on how to perfect that cosy night in.
5pm: you’ve just returned home from work, exhausted, first things first, you want to prep your room so when you get out of that long relaxing bath, you are walking into a cosy haven with a Christmas candle going. I usually begin with lighting a candle, probably in the living room, tidying things up, and getting blankets ready so you’re ready to go when you get out. Also, if you’re feeling that bit extra, whack your pjs on the radiator before your bath, so you can come out to them toasted up.
6pm: take that bath, press play on a bit of Gossip Girl and soak it up. Bubbles are a necessity! Whilst running your bath, make sure to keep the door closed so the room is extra steamy, that way you get the benefit of a steam room whilst in the comfort of your own home! Bonus points for a glass of wine on the side.
7pm: get out the bath and get ready for bed. Whack on a face mask (Boots are doing very cheap Garnier face masks for sensitive skin at the minute). It’s definitely worth a try if you are looking to treat yourself! Whatever you want to eat whilst watching your movie, this is the opportunity to pop it in the oven. I usually go for something easy like a pizza or will buy some mince pies to eat whilst watching.
8pm: film time. Bonus mark for it being a Richard Curtis – enough said.
10pm: Films over, you’ve eaten your weight in things you shouldn’t have, and you’re probably now crying over Emma Thompson’s scenes in Love Actually. It is however, only 10pm at this point, and you’ve got the rest of the evening to process your emotions. This would be a great opportunity to go over your schedule for the next day, any last-minute revision, or to just settle down with a good book. I’ve been loving ‘Just Kids’ by Patti Smith at the moment, so if you have a spare moment, it’s definitely worth a try.
Hopefully this guide will have simplified what can sometimes be a hard task finding a spare bit of “me time” in the Christmas period. Whilst necessary, surrounding yourself with cousins and aunts you haven’t seen since last year can be somewhat overwhelming. There’s only so far small talk can go. This guide will help you defeat the FOMO and embrace the art of doing nothing!
Photo Credit: “Movie Night” by “Holly the Elf” is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.