It’s that time of year again. Days are getting shorter, the weather is getting chillier, leaves are changing colors, and Thanksgiving Break is finally right around the corner.
After working hard all semester, this highly anticipated vacation from classes is definitely well needed. But it also brings up an important question—how will you be spending your week off?
Many of us would respond to this question with the obvious answers: sleep, eat, and sleep some more.
However, while it may be tempting to just sleep your break away, it’s also important to remember that a week off from class provides room for a lot of opportunity. Relaxation is important, but there are a lot of other ways you can take advantage of your break as well. Keep these tips in mind to make sure you make the most out of your vacation this fall.
1. Get yourself back on track.
At some point during the semester, every student has that moment where they feel like some aspect of their life is falling out of balance. It may be your grades. It may be your social life. It may be the amount of sleep you’re getting. But regardless of what it is, Thanksgiving Break is the perfect time to regroup and adjust back to the state of stability you were at before the semester became hectic.
Dedicate some of your free time to doing whatever you have to do to get yourself back in sync. Catch up (or better yet, get ahead) on those homework assignments you’ve been struggling with. Try to get back to your regular sleep pattern. Call up some of the friends you haven’t seen in awhile due to your busy schedule.
“Just do whatever makes you happy because right after Thanksgiving Break is finals,” says Spandana Mantraradi, graduate student in the College of Business. “So do whatever you can to relax.”
By the time your vacation is over, you’ll feel so much better kicking off the week having abandoned all of your pre-Thanksgiving Break worries.
2. Help someone else.
This time of year is often referred to as the season of giving, so why not give up a little of your free time to volunteer or do something productive for your community? With Thanksgiving coming up, there should be all sorts of activities you can help out with—volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating to clothing and food drives, or helping at a local homeless shelter, to name a few. Have some holiday spirit and make a difference by helping others.
3. Do some Black Friday shopping.
So this one may not be for everybody, but if you have the patience and some extra cash, consider spending a couple hours of your break hunting down some Black Friday deals. Get a head start on some of your holiday shopping, or treat yourself to a little splurge for all the hard work you’ve put in so far this semester.
If you’d prefer to avoid all the Black Friday chaos, try looking into other pre-holiday and post-holiday deals. Many stores are starting to extend their holiday sale opportunities. According to an article in Fortune, “…some of the world’s largest retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart are all offering Black Friday-like deals much sooner this year to capitalize on what they believe is heavy consumer demand.”
Online shopping is also an option for those who would prefer a little less hassle, (Cyber Monday, anyone?). An article from Business Wire reported that shoppers will complete almost half of their holiday shopping online this year.
4. Enjoy a nice home-cooked meal.
This one is self-explanatory.
5. Spend time with the people who matter most.
One great thing about holidays is that they provide a time for family and friends to get together. Chances are, Thanksgiving may provide you with the opportunity to see loved ones you may not have spoken to as much since being away at school. Use this time off to enjoy a meal together, catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives, and be grateful the people in your life who you can always depend on.
Overall, no matter what your Thanksgiving Break plans may be this year, just always remember that time is precious. It’s one of those things you can never get back…so make sure you’re always making the most of it!