December is both my favorite and dreaded month of the year. The inevitable pressure of examinations is finally upon us, but once that hurdle is conquered, comes the time to celebrate and relax. This blog will cover my personal tips to help you make the most out of the last month of the year before the calendar turns anew.
December in Germany carries a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, it is Christmas season, which already gives the month a soft glow. However, every university student knows the dark side of December. Exam season sits quietly in the corner, waiting to ambush you the moment you try to relax. It is the month where you want to enjoy the lights, the snow, the markets, all while fighting for your academic survival.
To actually enjoy December, you must first get through the exams without letting stress consume you. I learned this the hard way during my first winter here. I thought studying non stop would make me feel productive, but instead it drained every bit of motivation out of me. Personally, I find it impossible to study for an entire day without a break. My brain taps out after a few hours, so I started giving myself small rewards between sessions. Sometimes I go to the gym to clear my head, other times I pick up my guitar. The moment I step away from my desk, a different part of my mind wakes up, and when I return, studying feels less like a punishment.
Everyone handles pressure differently, but the key is to find a balance that stops you from burning out before the exams even begin. A tired mind does not retain anything. There is no shame in taking a break or admitting you need one. Although sometimes, I tend to brainwash myself into thinking I deserve a break when I was hardly productive.
Another challenge during December is the winter itself. German winter has a personality of its own. You wake up in the morning thinking it is the middle of the night because the sky is still pitch black. Then you look at your clock and realise you are already late. On your way home from university, the sun has already disappeared. If you have never lived through a German winter, this shift can feel unsettling at first.
Bremen adds its own flair to this experience because of how windy it is. The cold does not just sit on your skin. It digs in. This is why layered clothing becomes essential. A thick jacket that blocks the wind, a scarf that covers half your face, gloves that actually insulate, and boots that do not betray you when the ground turns icy. Warm socks are one of the small joys of winter. The kind you wear at home that instantly make life feel better.
I rely heavily on Google Maps or the Offi app to plan my travel, so I do not stand outside longer than necessary. But even with perfect planning, you will eventually come face to face with the unpredictable nature of the trains. Deutschbahn has a reputation for delays and cancellations, especially in winter. All you can do is accept it with quiet resignation and maybe carry an extra scarf.
Once you learn how to survive the cold and pass your exams without collapsing, December starts to reveal its beauty. Winter can be gloomy, especially when the sun disappears for weeks at a time. But the snow has a way of transforming the city. Streets soften under a thin layer of white, rooftops look gentler, and even the trees seem less harsh. It is a mixture of white and grey that somehow feels peaceful.
Of course, December would be incomplete without the Christmas markets. Bremen sets up its Christmas Markt near the Hauptbahnhof, and it becomes crowded the moment it opens. This is where many people try Glühwein for the first time, the famous hot wine that Germans seem to adore during winter. I do not drink alcohol much, which some might say is a waste for someone living in Germany, and Glühwein is not really my taste. However, I have friends who swear by it.
Apparently, there is a specific German idea of coziness called Möglichkeiten, which captures the feeling of sitting outdoors holding a warm drink (typically alcohol) while snow falls. I still find this idea slightly bizarre, but December is the perfect chance to experience it. Even if Glühwein is not for you, the Christmas Markt is full of gingerbread stalls, handmade crafts and small gifts you never intended to buy but end up purchasing anyway.
From here, my own idea of winter coziness begins to drift away from Glühwein and more towards warm drinks that do not require alcohol. One of my favourite ways to relax in December is sitting inside a quiet café with a hot beverage, looking out the window as the roads slowly turn white. There is something calming about watching snow fall from behind a glass pane. My favourite café in Bremen is Café Concordia, just a few tram stops away from the Hauptbahnhof. I always order the fresh mint tea. It comes in a tall glass with mint leaves floating inside, and for some reason it makes the cold outside feel less harsh.
That’s not all! If you are someone who likes a little movement to balance out all the studying, December gives you the perfect excuse to go ice skating. Bremen has an indoor ice skating rink called Paradice near the Waller Friedhof stop, which you can reach by taking the N10 tram line from the Hauptbahnhof. The rink is known for hosting events like disco skating, where the lights dim and music fills the entire space like a club on ice. Personally, loud music and flashing lights are not my thing, so I went during regular opening hours.
I walked in feeling confident because I was good at rollerblading when I was younger. That confidence disappeared the moment I stepped onto the ice. I could barely move without gripping the wall for dear life. My friend was gliding across the rink like a natural while I was scooting across the surface inch by inch. Despite the chaos, it was a lot of fun. Sometimes falling and laughing at yourself is exactly what you need to shake off the heaviness of winter. I definitely recommend visiting the rink, whether you are a beginner or someone who just wants a break from studying.
December in Germany is a month that can overwhelm you if you are not prepared. The exams, the cold and the darkness can feel like too much at times. But beneath all of that, there is a quiet kind of beauty. It is the month that teaches you how to balance responsibility with rest, how to find warmth in the middle of freezing winds, and how to enjoy small moments that often go unnoticed. Surviving December is the easy part. Enjoying it is what makes the effort worth it.
