Thanksgiving: An underappreciated holiday that is almost always completely glossed over by the approaching hype of gingerbread and snow angels.

Too many people skip right over Thanksgiving, and rush full force into the Christmas Season the second the Halloween decorations come down.

Rather than skip over this holiday and go straight into singing Christmas carols and decorating my room with ornaments and reindeers, I for one like to revel in Thanksgiving and everything that comes with it. For college students, depending on how lucky you are, Thanksgiving Break is a time where you get to trek home for anywhere between 5-10 days and return to everything and everyone you’ve missed.

Despite the short amount of time to get in as much as possible, where there’s a will there’s a way to check every box on my ultimate Thanksgiving Break Bucket List that’s sure to ensure the best break ever.

1. Hit All Your Old Favorite Spots

Whatever store, diner, park, convenience store, etc. you’ve been dreaming of since the last time you went home - go. Go again, and then go one more time. Go to the places you tell all your friends about and then get frustrated when they don’t understand how amazing of a place it is. Hold your traditions strong.

2. Hug Your Family... A Lot

They’ve missed you and you’ve missed them. Try not to roll your eyes when they ask you for the fifth time about something you really don’t want to be asked. Make them feel appreciated for everything they’ve done for you while you’ve been away - this is the time of being thankful anyway.

3. Reunite With Your Friends

This is the moment that you and your friends have been talking about since the first one went off to school. Get ready for the happiest group hug of your life. Take lots of pictures, tell each other everything, spare no details.

4. Go Black Friday Shopping

This is the perfect time to get whatever sweater/scarf/pumps/etc. you’ve been complaining about needing for forever. Also what college kid doesn’t love a good sale?

5. Go Back To Your High School

Go back to the place where you became the person you are now. Go with your friends and maybe cry about how washed up you are? Or just reminisce about all your great times together in a place you swore you hated every morning at 7:45 for a very long time. In the spirit of being thankful show some respect to the four years that flew by faster than you knew possible.

6. Have A Sleepover

You’re never too old to have a sleepover with your bestfriends. Have one.

7. Pretend It’s Just Like It Used To Be

For this brief period of time almost everything will be exactly like it was before you left for college. Take advantage of that.

8. Eat Enough Home Cooked Meals To Last You

Before you know it you’ll be back in the dining hall of your school trying to figure out what you are exactly eating.

9. Let The People You Love Know How Much They Mean To You

Tell your family, your friends, your pets, your neighbors, your nail tech and everyone in between how much you’ve missed them. You might have lost touch with some, but it’s not too late to fix that. Everyone is busy regularly, so during this brief hiatus in a hectic schedule communicate everything you haven’t had time to before.

If you can get all this done you’re on track for a perfect break full of smiles, laughs, and memories!