Sometimes the holidays can be an incredibly stressful time - from traveling long hours to dealing with difficult family members - so I thought I would share some Thanksgiving survival tips that I've picked up over the years!
1. Audiobooks/Overdrive books
Thanksgiving = traveling = boredom. Whether you're traveling via plane or car, traveling is exhausting and usually entails hours spent trapped in a seat. As someone who travels by car during the holidays, I use audiobooks (sometimes I forget and still call them books-on-tape- #nerdalert #grandmastatus) to survive the long hours spent driving. Through my library back home, I checkout free digital audiobooks through an app called Overdrive - it is literally the best app discovery I've ever made! I find that listening to audiobooks keeps me more awake while driving and makes the hours go by more quickly. This Thanksgiving, I'll be listening to Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella - 5/5 stars for the Shopaholic series if you want a good laugh and love British accents
2. Pack Simply
I have a tendency to overpack - especially when it comes to visiting home during the holidays. I think I'm going to need so much stuff when in reality, I spend most of my holiday weekends in pajamas since my family really doesn't care what I'm wearing. To try to simplify things, I go as minimalist as possible and select pieces that really can't go wrong. This year, I'm packing combos of sweaters/scarves/leggings (my favorite leggings are these crazy warm ones I impulsively bought off Amazon last year) because this is a tried and true combination for me that is not only comfy but also sufficiently cozy looking for the holiday season! If your tried and true style combination is jeans and a sweatshirt or dresses with tights - whatever it may be - it's always handy to have outfits with you that you know are flattering and don't require any extra planning on your part. This helps me stress less and focus more on the important things :)
3. Group App Games
I'm that annoying family member that tries to rally my entire family into playing a board game with me instead of having us all stare at our phones! An easy way I've found to get my family engaged quickly is to play group games on my phone - my favorite is Ellen DeGeneres' Heads Up. It's simple and a hoot when people get really into the game. With some of my girl cousins, I'll also pull out phone games like truth or dare - not only does it bring back some hilarious memories from when we used to play it back in our teen years, it's also a fantastic way to start up some really thought-provoking discussions.
4. Knitting
This one might sound a little bit weird - but let me explain myself. You know how everyone has that one boring aunt/cousin/grandmother who you love with all of your heart but just can't manage to have an engaging conversation with? As much as you truly want to care about your grandma's flourishing tomato garden, it just isn't the most entertaining thing in the world. That's where knitting comes in. I always feel horrible about being on my phone if I'm having a conversation because I want to make eye contact with the person and show them that I'm listening, so knitting has become my alternate strategy. It's perfect because it provides just enough entertainment and satisfaction that it allows me to continue any boring conversation. It's also great because even if you're knitting, most people are aware and know that you are able to listen to them despite being simultaneously engaged in the process of making a scarf. Plus, it's the perfect hobby for the fall season so it's a win-win all around for my Thanksgiving weekend :)
5. Let It Go
*Cue Elsa* Normally I'm a bit fitness-tracker obsessed. It's not even because I exercise that much - I just have a compulsive habit of tracking my attempts at maintaining a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to the holidays though, I just let. it. all. go! Life is way too short to be worrying about how many pounds you're going to gain from eating that turkey or how much exercise you're going to have to put in to work off those buttery mashed potatoes. What other time during the year is it perfectly socially acceptable (in fact, encouraged) to eat 3 times your weight in delicious foods?! Answer: Never.
Do you use any of these survival strategies for the holidays? I would love to hear from you! Wishing everyone safe and happy travels this Thanksgiving :)
