Seven Tips to have a Successful Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and I know that I could not be more excited! With Thanksgiving break comes traveling back home, reuniting with family members, running into friends from high school, and just having the comfort of being in a familiar place. While it may be a short break, here are some tips and ideas for how to maximize your trip back home!

1.     Do something special with each of your family members

You have probably been away from your family for three months, so take time out of your day to spend with each of your family members! Whether entails baking in the kitchen with your mother, walking the dog with your sibling, or watching a sports game with your father, make an effort to have quality time with each person, because you will not get that privilege when you are back at school!

2.     Hang out with old friends

This is one of my favorites! It is so nice to be able to see the people that had such a large impact on your childhood. Catching up with old friends allows you to reminisce on past, talk about how your college experiences are going, and keep up with the latest details of people that you have heard from since high school.

3.     Go to a place that had sentimental value for you growing up

Personally, in my town, there is a local park with a small pond where I would always go to take a run. That park has played a significant role in my life, because it is where I discovered my passion for running. Everybody has a place in their hometown that has helped to form the person that they are today, so go back and visit that place and reflect on how far you’ve come!

4.     Do laundry

I know this sounds super annoying, but it is always good to get a little bit of laundry done before the whirlwind of finals hits back at college! Also, there is no waiting around for washers/dryers and no need to pay, so it is a win-win situation!

5.     Decorate your room for the holidays

It will seem like Thanksgiving break flys by, but you’ll be home for the holidays in the blink of an eye! While your home, stop by Target or any crafting store to pick up some holiday decorations for your room! This way when you come back for winter break, your room will already be prepared for the holiday festivities!

6.     Take a walk or a drive by yourself

At college, you are constantly surrounded by people, so it is critical that you have some time just to think by yourself. Grab your headphones and go for a long walk, or if you have a car, drive a scenic route and just check in with yourself mentally. This will definitely bring you some peace, especially after having to deal with all of the stress from college.

7.     Keep on top of school work/start preparing for finals

I know that this is the last thing that you want to think about during Thanksgiving break, but the reality is that finals are just around the corner, so it is critical that you are cognizant of your upcoming workload. I am not saying to lock yourself in your room to study for the entire break, but just be aware of your work and start looking over final study guides, so you are not shocked when you arrive back at school. I promise you that putting in this little effort will have a huge pay off when you are in the midst of craziness back at college.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving break and is able to relax and retreat from the stressors of school for a nice week!