Hi everyone!
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break and are prepared for the last couple weeks of the year! 2023 has flown by and I know I’m in desperate need of some family time before we move into 2024. For me and other far out-of-state students, family time usually happens in the middle of December after the end of the semester because we choose to stay in Iowa City rather than go home for Thanksgiving. Even though it can get a bit lonely, I’ve found that there are a bunch of things you can do to occupy the time, so here’s a quick list of things that I did over break to keep myself entertained!
Working on my Finals
I’m sure this is something that most students go home to avoid, but I for one really enjoy using my free time to work on future projects. With the deadlines a couple weeks away, I get to make a dent in my upcoming workload while also having control over how much I do. I would much rather make a small contribution to my workload during my break if it means that later on, I won’t have to stay up for 24 hours during finals week. Future me will thank me later!
If you’re also like me and don’t like the idea of being stressed out during finals, starting on your projects over Thanksgiving break is a great way to make finals week a little bit easier. Since everyone is gone, you’ll have no distractions and plenty of time to work!
Catching up on TV Shows
During school, I tend to have trouble balancing my schoolwork, social life, and the growing list of shows on my must-watch list. But Thanksgiving break is a perfect time to get back into those binge-watching sessions!
This year, me and my boyfriend have been watching Game of Thrones and we totally plowed through season 5 and half of season 6 over the course of the week. Binge-watching one of my favorite shows has forced me to take some much-needed rest time which I’m super grateful for as I prepare for the last leg of the semester.
Going to the Gym
Again, I know some people would rather sit around and relax, but the lack of students makes the rec center so empty! As someone who struggles to find gym time, I really wanted to prioritize taking care of my body this break and it was worth it! I felt like I had the massive rec center to myself, and I was able to use all the equipment I needed to complete my workouts as quickly as possible.
Even now, I’m still feeling a bit sore, but the ability to exercise is something I find myself taking for granted when I’m swamped with work, so it was nice being able to move around and get my stamina up before everyone came back from break.
Trying Out New Restaurants
If you’re a freshman or sophomore who ends up staying in Iowa City for Thanksgiving break, the dining halls usually close during the week, so you’ll have a great opportunity to try out new eating locations around the city. My boyfriend and I ended up going to Baroncini for his birthday (a pasta and pizza place) where we had the BEST pasta ever! It was truly worth it, even if it was a bit pricey.
At the very least, you’ll have some leftovers to take home, so why not try out some of our amazing local businesses here in the city!
A Trip to the Theater
Every Thanksgiving weekend, new and anticipated movies come out that become blockbuster hits! This year, the new Hunger Games prequel film was released, so, my boyfriend, his roommate, and I, all decided to head to the theaters and see it for ourselves (after we did an entire Hunger Games marathon, of course!)
There are two theaters in the Iowa City area, so if you’re a big movie fan and want to do something different for the night, watching a movie with friends is a great way to relax while on your break.
Prioritizing Hobbies
It can be really difficult while in school to keep up with your hobbies. However, Thanksgiving break is a great excuse to finally find that time to get back into them. For me, my creative writing projects always end up falling on the back burner, but I love being able to finally have time to work on the things I’m passionate about.
Whatever your hobby, Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to prioritize it again!
Black Friday Shopping
Whether you like to do it from the comfort of your bed or you prefer to go out and wait in lines, you can do both in Iowa City. Since the city is mostly local businesses run by Iowa alumni, I love being able to hop between the stores and support our local businesses in person! I’m a big clothing fan, so I love having my pick of clothing stores throughout the city.
If you’re a big Black Friday shopper like me, I’m sure Iowa City has some deals to die for!
Those are all the things that I end up doing over Thanksgiving break! I know it might not seem too eventful, but overall, I like to spend the time prioritizing myself whether it’s getting ahead on work, resting, or letting my creative juices flow. For me, that’s a break well spent, and I hope that this list gives you a couple ideas on how to take care of yourself as we move into the final few weeks of the year.
Thank you for reading and see you guys soon!
