Thanksgiving break is right around the corner. Finally! We have some free time! We can relax before we stress out about finals. If we’re lucky, we’re able to take this time to spend with friends and family without the stress of responsibilities. Sometimes, we end up with a lot more time than we bargained for and boredom can get the best of you. If you’re still in the stress mindset, there are plenty of things you can do!
- Paint!
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For me, this is one of the most relaxing and freeing activities I can do after hell week. If you’re thinking about using your free time with your friends and family, host a painting session! You and your loved ones can gather around to share the paintings you all created. Find paper, paint and just doodle whatever comes to mind without any pressure of making it perfect with friends or family. I really recommend this to destress, even if you’re no good at it. You can even go the guided direction and follow along to a Bob Ross video like Home Before Nightfall or Winding Stream.
- Cook.
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You can get involved in the Thanksgiving cooking, or you can just go over to a friends house and cook a meal with them. When volunteering to help with Thanksgiving dinner, remember that it’s a heavy-duty task! You’ll have to put in some work and the people you’re cooking with may not be 100% into joking all the while. If you choose to invite a friend over to cook a random meal, you might have more opportunity to talk and enjoy each other’s presence. Regardless of the option you choose, both are bound to be fantastic! If you’re the one planning to host Thanksgiving, or Friendsgiving, you’ll need a guide. It’s a lot of work.
- Host a game night.
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I’m certain that everyone has at least one board game just laying around. Maybe like ten pieces are missing but that doesn’t matter when you’re with friends and family. Nobody can pass up a friendly (or very competitive) game of Scrabble or Sorry. I’d ask you to chill and enjoy the competition, but someone is bound to get really intense. Just remember, it’s all in good fun. If you’re feeling a little bit extra: here’s how to host the perfect game night.
- It’s decorating time!
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Every family has their own putting-up-the-Christmas-tree-ritual. Some families put it up as soon as November 1st arrives and some wait until after Thanksgiving to put the tree up. No matter what date is your family’s favorite, putting up the tree can be a very fun and wholesome activity. Whether it’s a real or fake tree, nothing is more fun than making the arrival of Christmas official than setting up your tree.
If you don’t celebrate Christmas but still want to partake in decorating, there are plenty of ways to make your living space look like a winter wonderland.
- Make a list of what you’re grateful for.
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Our modern life demands that we work an accelerated pace, that we always do something. Sometimes it’s difficult to take a moment to just breathe and be grateful for the love and things we have. You need to have some introspection to make sure you understand what’s important to you. You should also let your friends and family let you know just how much you love and care about them. You should learn how to make a perfect gratitude list.
- Watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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This is a tradition that is mainly of the continental United States but it’s a tradition that some Puerto Rican families have started to adopt. If you and your family can’t agree on a movie or show to watch, then tune in and watch the parade! You can wake up early and watch the floats and the many artistic performances. It’s a fun way to start the morning: energetic and high spirited.
- Get your Holiday Shopping done!
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Even though Black Friday sales are essentially a scam and they are a hassle, even if they’re online, some people do like to take this time to get their holiday shopping done. If you’re one of those people, this can be a bonding moment. You can get presents at affordable prices. You’ll be able to get most of them done before December. However, why not go ahead and do it with company (without spoiling any gifts!).
Don’t forget to give yourself and your loved ones some love this week. Yes, you’re upcoming deadlines are important, but put yourself as a priority too and have some fun! Take things day by day so you don’t stress yourself out. Spend time with the people you care about the most and let them know how much you love them.