Camille Colombel, one of our Library Assistants, has written a blog to give you some ideas of ways to spend Christmas in Liverpool.
Yep. Here we are, already. The Christmas holidays are approaching and for many of us, more than unwrapping gifts and eating a gigantic amount of food, it is often the long awaited – or not, moment to go home and spending time with our family.
However, for several reasons, many students won’t be able to travel home for Christmas. Now let’s face it, spending the festive season away from the family can feel emotional. Hopefully by that time you had plenty of opportunities to make new friends and to discover the city, but if you need some inspiration, here are 5 ideas to make the most of your Christmas holidays in Liverpool.
When it comes to going out during Christmas time, I usually get excited at the idea of visiting Liverpool Christmas market with my friends and I am looking forward to treating myself with a delicious mulled wine. By the time my cup is empty I am warm enough to go for a late walk around the city and marvel at the magical atmosphere brought up by the lights in the city centre and the Royal Albert Dock. If you are more on the artsy side, you will enjoy discovering the exhibitions at the Tate Liverpool or at the Victoria Gallery & Museum (they organise a lot of free events too). If you are feeling adventurous you could also jump on a train for a day trip to Chester which looks amazing with all the Christmas lights.
I personally love the idea of spending my winter evenings reading a good uplifting book. I always find what I am looking for while browsing the shelves in the library (I often end up borrowing more books than I can read). You might prefer searching on the Library catalogue first to find inspiration, from novels to non-fiction, from well-being books to magazines (PressReader is your best friend here!), we have plenty of options. We also have a good selection of audiobooks and ebooks on Overdrive. You can even download the Libby app and read/listen to them from your phone.
Also, this year the library staff have organised a Secret Santa book display, so if you like surprises come to one of the University libraries and grab your wrapped-up book. Who knows, it could be your next favourite read!
Liverpool is literally bursting with options when it comes to eating out, and most of the time you don’t have to spend a fortune. You will find everything you crave on Bold Street, but other areas of the city will certainly whet your appetite, like Lark Lane or Smithdown Road. The other option is to cook yourself a nice meal, which I know for some feels like a chore but for others (including me), it is a very relaxing task. You do not have to go crazy on the grocery list, just think about simple and tasty recipes like a creamy sweet potato soup or a tasty shakshuka.
I know that at this time of the year we usually feel like spending all day on a comfy couch with a hot drink, but if you can, try to take at least 10 minutes each day to go out in the daylight. The benefits provided by a short exposure to daylight are numerous, amongst others it helps raise our serotonin, increase our vitamin D levels and reduce stress. So wrap yourself up, put your gloves and hat on and step outside! My favourite places for a walk in Liverpool are Sefton Park and Princes Park, but wherever you are in the city, there is usually a nice park around.
That being said, if some days you really don’t feel like going out, that’s ok too! Even though daylight hours gradually increase after the winter solstice on the 21st December, it usually still gets cold and dark early long after January is gone. We have to be gentle with ourselves and recognise that our bodies needs some rest. Make sure to get enough sleep, to hydrate yourself regularly and to spend time doing things that make you happy. Watching a good Christmas movie with your friends can be the ideal plan to beat the winter blues.
The weeks following the Christmas holidays can feel quite draining and with exams approaching, you don’t want to go back to uni completely exhausted. Take care of yourself while you have the time to do so, and believe me, your future self will thank you for that.
If you need support during the Christmas break, the Student support team will be in the KnowHow room in the Sydney Jones Library between 10am and 2pm on the Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th and Friday 31st December. Drop in on the Wednesday or Friday for support if from the team if you need it. On Thursday 30th, the team will be delivering an activity session for anyone who wants some company and doesn’t have any plans on the day. This will involve activities, cake and coffee and a generally nice atmosphere to spend a few hours.
0 Comments.