- Do you leave course assignments undone and your room a mess because you are excited to return home for the holiday?
- When you get back to your hometown, do you race around trying to visit every single friend from high school?
- At the Thanksgiving dinner table, do Uncle Eddie and Aunt Betty goad you into arguing about politics?
- When your friends and relatives are trying to engage you in conversation, do you find yourself checking “just one more thing” on your device?
If you answered “Yes” to any of those questions, it might be time for an intervention. And you’re in the right place. We’ve enlisted the help of two experts on holiday health, and they share five Thanksgiving tips for how to keep your sanity — and keep your time off from school stress-free.
STAY PRESENT
Relax and enjoy your time at home
“Being present can be difficult during holidays, but it’s worthwhile to fully enjoy things that bring us peace and joy,” says Jessica Gage, Psychology Department Co-Chair at Portage Learning and a licensed professional counselor. “Some of us dread holidays for a variety of reasons, and that’s OK. Knowing what our hearts need matters, so be present in the things that will enhance your life.”
Taryn Latsko Roche grew up near Pittsburgh, PA, but ventured South to earn a Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of Kentucky. She’s now a Product Communications Manager for Tempur-Sealy International and lives in Lexington, KY, with her husband, Fran, and their dog, Sadie.
“Going to school and eventually moving over six hours away, I quickly realized how important it is to actually unplug and savor every single minute when I’m home,” Taryn explains. “Finals and projects often make me feel like I need to stay ‘on,’ but giving myself permission to relax and enjoy my time off really helped me power through those final weeks of the semester.”
CATCH UP BEFORE LEAVING
Taking care of small tasks can pay big dividends
Taryn says she’s always been the queen of making lists and checking off tasks that she completes. (Her Pro Tip: The first item on your list should be something that’s already been accomplished.)
“Before leaving for any kind of break, I made sure to have a list ready with tasks that absolutely need to be completed before heading out. I made another list of things that could wait until I came back from break.”
She also warns against packing procrastination.
“Waiting until the very last second never left my room very clean. By the time I got to my senior year of college, I learned to start getting my stuff together Sunday or Monday to avoid the last second rush the day before Thanksgiving.”
Cleaning up isn’t just smart, Professor Gage acknowledges, but it’s also much healthier.
“Oh my goodness, yes,” she urges. “Clear out that fridge and wash those sheets. Your future self will thank you.”
DON’T PLAY POLITICS
Elect to keep arguments off the menu
“Holidays are for laughter and good food, not politics,” Taryn points out. “There’s enough going on in the world, so I like to keep the dinner table convos light and endearing.”
But if Uncle Eddie and Aunt Betty do push for political discourse, Professor Gage offers some scripted one-liners to keep them at bay:
- “That’s a hot topic, Uncle Eddie, but not as hot as this turkey.”
- “We both believe that’s an important topic, but I don’t think now is the time.”
- “I’m on Thanksgiving break, so I’ve turned off my brain. Ask me again in January.”
- “I promised myself I’d argue only about canned cranberry sauce tasting better than homemade.”
“It’s OK to use humor to deflect in ways that prevent other people from draining our emotional energy,” she adds. “And it’s easier to do when we already have the script.”
MINIMIZE MEET-UPS
You can’t please everyone — so don’t try
Taryn says it might sound cliché — but it’s vital: Choosing quality connections over quantity really can de-stress your stay at home.
Taryn Roche
“On my first few breaks from school, I tried to see everyone and ended up overwhelmed and exhausted,” she remembers. “By my senior year, I was down to a few meaningful catch-ups over Pittsburgh food that I couldn’t get down South. I stopped cramming every minute of my schedule.”
If you’re finding it difficult to decide who to hang out with during a whirlwind few days away from campus, Professor Gage suggests prioritizing your “cheerleaders.”
“You’ve been working hard, and you deserve to have people who will celebrate and encourage you,” she underscores. “Try to take pictures with them to look back on once break is over.”
And finally…
TOSS THE TECH
It’s time to get mean with your screen
There’s FaceTime on your device. And there’s face time in the living room. Taryn says she’s never regretted choosing the latter.
“The only time I pulled my laptop out over Thanksgiving break was to cross-examine my Black Friday weekend shopping cart before pushing ‘place order.’ Otherwise, putting the tech away and enjoying my time with family made the holidays way more enjoyable.”
Professor Gage says if you must open a device, be intentional about it.
“If you do open your laptop or keep your phone nearby, set a timer to remind you when it’s time to call it quits,” she recommends. “I’m a person who will want to type out an idea I have for a paper or follow up on one quick email. The problem is, there will always be ‘just one more thing.’”
Oh, wait, there is one more thing: We hope your holiday is stuffed with fantastic food, captivating conversation, and plenty of relaxation.
It’s called Thanksgiving break, after all. Even if Uncle Eddie and Aunt Betty argue otherwise.
(Need to catch up or get ahead on your college credits? The period between finals and second semester is a great time to take an online course with Portage Learning. Check out our list of course offerings here.)
