The holidays can be a surprisingly stressful time. Thanksgiving, in particular, can be tough on college students who, rather than relaxing and having fun on the holiday, are worrying about finals and papers and all kinds of school troubles. So, here’s some suggestions of things that might ease your mind a little so you can actually have a good time.

1. Do Your Homework... Early!

So very sorry to start with the worst one, but it has to be said. If you want to really, truly have fun over the Thanksgiving break, you have got to come up with a homework gameplan. I always wait until the last possible moment, which wrecks my Thanksgiving break with all my stress and regret. It’s like clockwork. Learn from my errors, make good homework choices and live a happy and fruitful life.

2. Watch Your Favorite Parts of the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Personally, I don’t care that much about most of the parade. I do need to see all the musical theatre performances, the Pikachu balloon and the arrival of Santa Claus. Our priorities may not align. Maybe you’re really into marching band stuff or something. I don’t know, you do you. Just make sure you know what you’re looking for so you’re on the right channel at the right time and not missing crucial holiday moments.

3. Watch the Westminster Kennel Dog Show

For the love of all the is beautiful, you must absolutely watch this. Have you ever seen a dog? Have you ever seen a whole bunch of dogs? A whole bunch of the best dogs in the whole world running around and being cute? It’s a great time and missing it would be regrettable. Level up the joy on this one by watching with a loved ones and coming up with new, absurd names for the breeds of dog you see. Or place bets on winners (wagers of sweets are strongly recommended.)

4. Help Out in the Kitchen

Whether you’ve got a signature dish that everyone adores or you can’t do anything other than set an egg timer to keep the garlic bread from burning, do some kind of cooking. Nothing gets me in the spirit like making a thing and then eating it. Even better if I get to share it with people.

5. Enjoy Yourself, Take Care of Yourself

This year of all years will a tough one if you find yourself in a politically divided family. You may want to fight with people you disagree with, you may want to hide, you may not even know what you want to do. Please take care of yourself. However you decide to deal with negative interactions, make a call that prioritizes your safety and mental health. Hopefully, you’ll have a positive night, but if you find yourself upset or uncomfortable, make a choice that’s good for you.