I went shopping for Black Friday once while I was in college a hundred years ago. I vowed never to do it again, and I'd kept that promise to myself since that crazy morning. Admittedly, there are people who love the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping, but I am not one of them.
If the thought of getting up early to run from store to store to catch a sale or two makes you cringe, you are not alone. If you're off work for the Thanksgiving weekend and looking for something to do with your time, we've got just the list for you.
Instead of whiling away hours in front of the television, mindlessly doom scrolling through Netflix or Hulu, get in some outdoor adventures and good-natured home help before the mad rush of Christmas comes calling. Here are our favorite activities to fill up your weekends between now and December 31st.
1. Take a Hike
While this can be used as a way to tell someone to go away, we mean it in a more literal sense. If the weather is amicable where you live, getting on some nature trails during your Thanksgiving weekend can be a fun, friendly way to spend an afternoon.
Exercise is a great way to relieve the stress of the holidays and can help curb any weight gain you might be expecting from all the lovely food that comes calling during this festive holiday time of year. The spirit of Christmas is just around the corner, and staying physical can really improve your mood and enjoyment of this hectic time.
2. Declutter Dance
If your post-Thanksgiving kitchen isn't enough to make you want to clear everything out of your house, you might be able to skip this one. However, most people can find something to give away or sell before Christmas time.
In with the new, out with the old is a great saying to live by, and it fits this time of year perfectly. You can go through your house room-by-room, boxing up old utensils, towels, toys, tools, and other odds and ends. These make fabulous holiday donations to thrift stores in your local town. You could also donate them to homeless shelters that could make decent use of them. This will, in turn, give you room for all the trinkets and presents you'll have under the tree on Christmas morning.
3. Stocking Stuffers
If you like to decorate your home for Christmas, putting up your stockings can be a great way to spend a chilly afternoon. Seeing them stuffed with goodies can be an uplifting, fun, and mood-boosting experience for your family.
When I was little, my parents would always let us open our stockings on Christmas Eve, and I looked forward to it every holiday season. I've continued this tradition with my own children, who also anticipate this fun time. Whether you stuff stockings with socks and candy or gift cards and cash, your family will love seeing the spirit of Christmas starting so early.
4. Facetime Family
If you live far from family and friends, it's likely you didn't get to see them over the Thanksgiving holiday. If you're missing those you love this weekend, you can always schedule a Facetime get-together. Sharing laughter and love during the holidays is an important part of helping people overcome the depression that can often set in during the holidays.
Being able to see and talk to those you love can go a long way in stemming any sadness from separation or disappointment in the circumstances. If you can Facetime or Zoom call your relatives, enjoy a call where everyone can say “hello.” and “love you.”
5. Family Photos
Even if you don't get them professionally done, now is a great time to take some fun and silly family photos. Find ways to make eachother laugh and then have someone snap a picture. Genuine laughter can turn into some of the best photos, and when everything settles, photos and memories may be all our loved ones leave behind.
Don't miss the chance to capture family and friends while they're around, especially if you are visiting from out of town. These loved ones you don't often see can have a personal reminder of how wonderful it was to see you that'll last until you can come back around. Family photos also make great holiday gift ideas if you're lacking something special for a family member.
6. Movie Marathons
My favorite holiday movie is easily It's a Wonderful Life. It's old, black and white, and my personal tradition. My husband and I love to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with our children, and as a parent now, I love to listen to my children laugh at all the parts I also find funny.
Whether you watch an old, good Christmas movie or pick out a couple of new films, a movie marathon is a great way to spend an evening during this busy holiday weekend. Remember to pop some buttery, salty popcorn, fire up the smore maker, and enjoy big mugs of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows to top off a one-of-a-kind movie night.
7. Meal Prep
The last thing most people want to think about after Thanksgiving is more food. However, a little prep goes a long way, and another hectic, crazy, family-filled weekend is coming up in just three short weeks.
I am not your traditional meal prepper. I don't block off a weekday or weekend day to prep the entire week's worth of food. However, when I cook, I always try to add a little extra (because I'm only prepping for myself) and store it away in my meal prep containers. If you're prepping for yourself, it's easy and doable to prep while you're cooking a regular meal for your family. Add a little extra and then set it aside for the next day's lunch or dinner.
8. New Year's Plans
We all love a good New Year's resolution. Even if you're not making the traditional “lose weight” or “save money” type plans for the new year, it's still a good idea to spend some time thinking about what you might like to accomplish in the coming year.
For years, I told myself I'd lose weight by my next birthday. This year was no different, and my birthday came and went. However, in October, I started to make small changes to my diet and exercise routine. Six weeks later, I can see and feel a difference in my body. I'm not near where I want to be yet, but consistency is key. If you want to gain something specific from the coming year, start getting it down in your head and heart now.
9. Self-Care Schedule
I'll admit that as a mother of seven, I struggle with self-care. There's always someone who needs something, and most of the time, I'm too tired at night to care about basic necessities that are part of most people's everyday lives.
However, if you have to scratch it into the wall in your kitchen so that you see it every day, do yourself a huge favor and schedule some self-care time. It doesn't have to be a trip to the spa. It can be a long bubble bath. You might want an hour to work out by yourself. You might want to curl up on the couch and nap. Whatever self-care means to you, be sure to indulge yourself this weekend. You deserve it.
10. Small Business Support
If ever small businesses needed your support, it was from Thanksgiving to Christmas. If you want to shop today but hate the thought of Black Friday, consider supporting some of your favorite small businesses.
Whether you shop online or in-person, giving your financial support to a small business will mean much more intricate and personalized gift-giving on Christmas morning. Your friends and family will know you were thinking of them when it came time to pick out their gifts.
11. Volunteer Vision
One way to use your spare time is to volunteer at charities and shelters. During the holidays, we often overlook the homeless and those on the fringes of society. Helping them know we see them will give you the best feeling in the world.
Whether you want to pack up food for underprivileged people or hand out donations to feed the homeless, every act of kindness during the holiday season matters. Stop by your favorite retailer and buy some donations to take with you, and you'll have an afternoon full of great memories.
12. Go Exploring
One tradition my husband and I like to do with our children is to map out a route through our community we've never taken before. We set out after lunch and drove around, pointing out interesting landmarks and other oddities. We eat dinner out and come home in time for a fun movie before tucking our children into bed.
Exploring your community can lead to some of the neatest places you've never seen before. You can find great hole-in-the-wall restaurants and other eateries that will pleasantly surprise you with their food and beverage selections. One lovely aspect is that you can often do this activity on less than a tank of gas.
13. Family Date Night
When my husband and I were young parents, we went on a date without our two oldest daughters. We enjoyed our time together, but we both knew something was missing. From then on, our date nights have always included our children, and I'm grateful for the memories of life and laughter we've made.
Family date nights aren't for everyone, but if you find yourself wanting to include your children in your date nights, it's a great way to bond as a family and keep those bonds growing stronger as your children age and grow up.
14. Christmas Card Delight
I'll admit that I am terrible at Christmas cards. I just never can get into them. However, if you like filling them out, now is a great time to start. You'll have plenty of time to get them in the mail before the Christmas holiday.
If you have older children, you can enlist their help with addressing envelopes and placing stamps in the proper place as well. Before you know it, you'll have all your cards signed and sealed, ready to deliver to the post office on Monday.
