In college, it's easy to forget about the hassles that come along with living at home. Thanksgiving means seeing family, an abundance of home−cooked meals and a chance to do free laundry (if you live close enough).
Thanksgiving also means reunions with old frenemies and that same loving family nagging you to get off the couch — who says watching a day's worth of movies is a bad thing? The important thing to remember is that nothing should get in the way of you lounging around and watching holiday specials to your heart's content. Here are a couple of tips that will help you combat the fast−approaching Turkey Day break:
1. Avoid any unnecessary friend drama. Maybe this only applies to girls, but I'm sure everyone can understand what this one's about. Coming home from Tufts, you may forget those things that used to drive you crazy in high school. WHY can't your friend ever drive herself anywhere? WHY does she always interrupt you mid−sentence?
The fact is that the break is a short one. These same annoying qualities may reveal themselves during your few visits, but don't forget that petty annoyances are a high school trap. Try to keep your energy focused on the positive — and emphasize how much fun your school is — and, if all else fails, you can sneak out early and "help your mom with the stuffing."
2. Fake patience with parents. It does seem somewhat ridiculous from an outsider's perspective how lazy college students are on breaks. It makes sense given that people are usually preparing for a string of exams or relaxing after one. No, parents, we didn't miss helping you unload a car full of groceries, nor did we miss having to call you at 1 a.m. to let you know we're going to be home late.
Unfortunately, telling them all the things they do that we love not having to deal with at school won't generally work in our favor. The best thing to do is usually to comply with their requests, and then they'll probably be more willing to comply with your requests, even when you start to push the boundaries. Think of it as a practice in negotiation.
3. RELAX. It sounds simple. Why wouldn't we relax at home? It's not always so easy. Some professors obnoxiously assign things due the first few days back from Thanksgiving break. However, if you are efficient at the beginning and end, there is plenty of time for tranquility in between.
Making these few days stress−free will seriously help your productivity when you get back. Don't go into reading period already exhausted if you can help it. I see sleep as the Band−Aid for all wounds, and I intend on getting plenty while I'm home. I'm sure many of you already plan on doing so — especially anyone who's been through reading period and finals before.
Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season and precedes the notorious Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years holidays. It is a fantastic tradition filled with delicious food, football and parades. I suppose on the downside, it's also one of the few times a year that you have all your extended family sitting at one table … at one time. Things can get hectic. Try to maintain composure; if you just have fun and relax, then nothing can faze you.
Rest up, and be ready to squeeze in everything you can at Tufts between Thanksgiving and winter break, especially those of us going abroad. With these tips, your holiday should flow seamlessly. Now all that's left to do is feast!
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Anna Christian is a junior majoring in psychology. She can be reached at Anna.Christian@tufts.edu.
