What to Do When You Stay on Campus during Thanksgiving Break

Staying on campus during break feels like the climax of basically every sci-fi film.

Most of the city has already evacuated, and you are one of the few people left to face the army of zombies, aliens, or vampires that are getting closer and closer by the second. But unfortunately, there aren’t any exciting creatures lurking at the edge of your campus waiting for a fight, so you’ll have to think of another way to spend your time.

Here are some possible things you could do Thanksgiving weekend on campus.

1. Run in your city’s 5K Turkey Trot
Pretty much every city has a Turkey Trot. Find out where yours starts, lace up your running shoes, and take part in a tradition that’s been around for over a century. It doesn’t matter if you only run when you’re late for class or see a large insect. The Turkey Trot is for people of any skill level who want to burn off calories before their big Thanksgiving feast. So, go run 3.1 miles with the people in your community.

2. Treat yourself to a fancy meal
After the run, you’ll likely be ready for that Thanksgiving feast. The only problem is you’re not sure if you’ll be able to fit a 15-pound turkey in your microwave. You’re also not sure if you feel like spending 4 hours in the kitchen preparing the meal. It may seem like everything is closed on Thanksgiving, but here are a few restaurants that will be open: Applebee’s, Boston Market, Cracker Barrel, Denny’s, IHOP, and Ruby Tuesday.

3. Prepare your Black Friday shopping list
Whether you choose to brave the long lines and insane crowds or shop online in the safety of your apartment, Black Friday will go smoother if you know what you want. It’s easy to get swept up in all the great deals and attention-grabbing displays, so making a list of what you want will make the shopping process less overwhelming. You can write it the old-fashioned way with a quill and paper, or you can use the aid of an app like BFAds. The app shows you hundreds of sales in your area and allows you to compile your favorites into a systematized list. BFAds also notifies you as soon as one of the products on your list goes on sale.

4. Go to the movies
No matter how much you prepare for Black Friday, something about it will always be stressful. What better way to eliminate stress than to eat popcorn drowned in butter and drift away into another world through the screen? This year, a variety of highly-anticipated films are being released right before Thanksgiving weekend. If you’re looking for something thrilling, consider watching Justice League. If you’re looking for something that’ll make you laugh, try Daddy’s Home 2 or A Bad Moms Christmas. Based on the New York Times bestseller, Wonder opens November 17 and serves as a great option for lovers of all things dramatic and inspirational. The Disney-Pixar film Coco also opens before Thanksgiving and is great if you’re looking for something light and entertaining.

5. Enjoy the break
After taking advantage of all the things you can do during the break, take advantage of all the things you can’t do by relaxing and enjoying the simplicity of not having any deadlines or plans. Grab some of the leftovers from your fancy meal and catch up on Stranger Things 2. Start reading that book you’ve been trying to read for over a year now. Waste an hour doing nothing simply because you can. Do whatever you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t had time for.

Staying on campus during break doesn’t have to be boring or lonely. You can use the time you have to do just about anything.

After all, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate what you’re thankful for, so use the break to do all the things you love most. Have any tips on what to do over break? Comment below!