As classes start to wrap up and the air grows colder, the holiday cheer begins to set in. For many college students, Thanksgiving break is the time to catch up on much-needed sleep and enjoy quality family time. 

However, this holiday break also marks the beginning of finals season, and if you’re lucky enough not to have any homework, you’ll have an ample amount of time to study. It’s easy to forget to be thankful around this time of year, when the stressors of academics heighten and the hardest part of the semester is yet to come. That’s why it is important to take a deep breath, relax, and indulge in a piece of pumpkin pie! 

Here are some tips on how to have the most productive yet relaxing Thanksgiving break in preparations for finals.

Top Tips for Thanksgiving Break

1. Self-Appreciation

So far, you have tackled a ton of exams, quizzes, papers, and presentations. You have worked so hard, so it is completely okay to reward yourself by taking the time for self-care and appreciation. For some, this can look like eating your favorite ice cream or spending a whole day just with the family. It’s all personal preference on what relaxation and self-appreciation look like, but feeding your soul along with your stomach is important. 

2. Quality Time

When you aren’t busy studying or catching up on schoolwork, make sure to carve out quality time to catch up with old friends and family members. You can even make a study date with an old friend from high school who I’m sure is preparing for finals as well.  

3. Reflection

Be sure to reflect on where you have been and where you are wanting to go. What are things that have been successful for you? What has helped your productivity? What would you change about the semester if you could do it differently? Asking yourself questions like this can help when creating a new roadmap to tackle finals.

4. Stay Healthy

Last but not least, traveling for the holidays does create a risk for illness and no one wants to tackle finals with the flu. That being said, please remember to wash your hands, take your vitamins, and stay active. 

By the end of the break, you’ll hopefully feel energized and refreshed enough to ace your exams and finish out the semester strong. Our team at Campus Crates would like to wish y’all a very Happy Thanksgiving and good luck in preparations for finals week!