The dreaded month of January is upon us. Christmas has been and gone, New Year’s resolutions have most likely been broken by now and the cold weather isn’t showing any signs of budging. For students, coming back to university after the holidays means exams are just around the corner, essays are due, and, to top it all off, January is statistically one of the most depressing months of the year. Are there any redeeming factors about this month of academic deadlines, cold and broken resolutions?
Yes there are. The first thing to be enjoyed – primarily by females – is the post-Christmas sales. High street shops up and down the country knock down their prices, to the joy of us students. Shopping “just because I can” isn’t something your average student has the luxury of doing often, but suddenly Christmas money from aunties and uncles is being exchanged for now not-so-overpriced Topshop shoes and Urban Outfitters blouses.
Let’s not forget all the muscle toning you’ll be doing by lugging round your shopping bags, too. However, if the chaos of the crowds in town is too off-putting, the sales can still be a perk of January from the comfort of your own home. What better way to procrastinate from revising than effortlessly clicking “add to basket” on your favourite retail websites?
I should highlight that I’m not encouraging the reckless spending of all your Christmas money on a few items of clothing in the sales – after all, you’ll need to set aside some money to pump into those post-exam Willow nights. Although January comes with exams, it also comes with the collective sigh of relief across campus when they pass and the many, many tequila shots which follow. I know where I’ll be showing off my new bargain buys.
Unfortunately, the hype of the inevitably blurry celebrations will always be paired with the morning-after self-loathing, headaches and absent memories. When we’re waking up to greasy Oki’s takeaway containers next to us in bed – although some of us may be waking up to worse – it’s no wonder January is the most depressing month of the year. All is not lost, though. January 2013 is bringing with it a whole host of new films, including comedy Movie 43, dramas Broken City and The End of Love and action film Gangster Squad. If cinema is your thing and your hangover needs a quick fix, January is promising several cinema gems to get out and enjoy. I’d also like to point out (for no particular reason, at all, whatsoever…) that some of the starring roles in these films are played by Ryan Gosling, Gerard Butler and Emma Stone. See you all there.
Furthermore, on the music scene, Biffy Clyro’s latest album Opposites is due to be released at the end of the month – which blesses the rockers amongst us with some new tunes to take into February.
Last, but by no means least – in fact, this may be my favourite aspect of the month – January 21st is known as National Hugging Day. Although not technically registered as a holiday in the UK, National Hugging Day exists around the world and floods the Internet each year. If trending on Twitter isn’t enough, why not spread the love with a hug on the 21st? A word of warning though – the National Hugging Day website advocates that permission is sought before inflicting your enthusiastic embrace upon someone. You never know, you could just hug one of the many grouchy, hungover students who will inevitably have spent all their Christmas money on the night before.
All-in-all, even though most of us are dreading what January has to bring, it may actually hold some promise. Sales, movies, hugs and shots are what await us in Week 2 and beyond. Thank you very much, I’ll be around for hugs on the 21st.