It’s no secret that November in any college is the most stressful time of the year (with the exception of finals). The shiny newness of the semester has long since worn off, you’re constantly tired, you’re sick of your classes, fall break has come and gone, and you’re probably surviving on a Nutrigrain bar and six cups of coffee a day. The shining beacon to a break in our suffering comes in the form of the most underrated holiday of the year: Thanksgiving. This is a time set aside for you and all your loved ones to get together, appreciate each other and eat–or, if you’re a college student, catch up on your sleep and avoid thinking about finals with every fiber of your being. If you’re struggling to make it through the last week until Thanksgiving, here’s 10 things to motivate you to get through the final stretch:
1. No due dates
Just think about how you get to leave all of your responsibilities behind for a few days! You can make your primary obligation binging all of “Good Girls Revolt” and only feel minimum guilt.
2. FOOD!
Does this really need a description? Show your thanks for your loved ones by eating every single roll on the dinner table–you ARE the broke college student, after all.Â
3. How happy your pets will be to see you
Just think about how happy your dog/cat/bunny/fish/lizard will be to see you on your long-awaited arrival home! If you don’t have one, just make a trip over to a high school friend’s house to cuddle with their pup.
4. That you’re almost done with the semester
It really does feel like syllabus week was yesterday, but now you’re more than halfway through the semester and haven’t dropped out and become a stripper or died yet. Yay for you!
5. How much sleep you’ll catch up on
You might be pulling three all-nighters in a row right now, but think about how you’ll soon get to sleep in your own bed in your own room for as long as you please. If that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is.
6. Gilmore Girls revival
Thanksgiving this year is marked by the highly-anticipated revival of Gilmore Girls–so you have a built-in excuse to leave the table when your grandfather goes on a political rant. Bonus!
7. Family
Sometimes all you really need is a hug from your mom… or two, or 12. Soon enough you’ll be surrounded by all your loved ones and can take a minute to breathe and be with people who will always be proud of you, no matter what.
8. How stress-free your environment will be
College is stressful already, but nerves reach an all-time high around this time of year. Getting away from all of this stress, even if just for a couple days, can do wonders for both your physical and emotional health. Soon enough you’ll be away from all of it; you can do it!
9. Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping
You might be a poor college kid, but even you can afford these great deals going on. Nothing says thankful like ripping that must-have sweater out of an old lady’s hands, right?
10. That it’s not finals season…yet
This time of year might be stressful, but at least it’s not finals yet! Your stress will increase tenfold once the holiday break is over, so take time to enjoy yourself and pat yourself on the back for making it this far.Â