It is hard not to love this time of the year. 

As Christmas trees are assembled and lights are strung, the air seems to become heavy with the magic often associated with the holiday.

For some of us, the Christmas season starts on Nov. 1 — or sometimes even earlier. These people are often the ones who leave Thanksgiving dinner early to camp in the cold outside their favorite stores in anticipation of Black Friday shopping.

For advertisers and business owners, Black Friday — as well as Cyber Monday — are a huge draw. More than $23 billion in sales revenue was accumulated on Black Friday this year, while more than $6 billion was spent on last year’s Cyber Monday, according to CBS News.

While one holiday does not have the thrill of opening packages, the focus of both Thanksgiving and Christmas should be on what you can be doing for the people closest to you.

What the majority of people often need during the holidays is, simply, company. It is easy to get caught up in all the gifts you may receive, or to get excited about all the holiday parties you are going to attend.

Some of your own friends and family, however, may be dreading the upcoming month.

Sixty-four percent of people who suffer from mental illness said their symptoms worsen during the holidays, according to a study by the National Alliance of Mental Illness.

One anonymous surveyor said, “The holiday season beams a spotlight on everything that is difficult about living with depression. The pressure to be joyful and social is tenfold,” according to BP Hope.

The reasons why these people feel that way are mixed. Some said it is because of the financial strain, while 66 percent said they have experienced loneliness during this time of the year.

With finals coming up and the excitement over the holidays growing, the people you care about on campus or back home may not be at the forefront of your mind.

But while you are studying or spending money on Christmas shopping, take a break and shoot a text to someone you have not spoken to in awhile.

In doing so, you are saving yourself a lot of money and connecting with someone in a way that a new pair of Air Pods will not.

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