Now that the holidays are fast approaching, a number of people, myself included, are on winter break. This is definitely the most wonderful time of the year, in part because of how memorable it is. Whether you’re 60 or 16, we all have our own holiday traditions. Here are some of the most universal, important ones to have on winter break.

1. Kinship with the animal kingdom

One of the most effective ways to de-stress and reacquaint oneself with the soul is to find some cats or dogs. Not only are pets much more lovable than other people, but they provide us with hours of love and companionship. If you’re single, who else will want to binge with you on your Netflix re-runs, or sit down and cuddle for hours on end? No one! If you’re unfortunate enough to not have a pet, then you can always go to a local Petsmart and hole out there for the winter, or you can steal one from your neighbors. Who cares if you’re the one who ends up “finding” their lost cat?

2. Family fun

This break, not only will you probably see your parents, but you’ll see many other relatives as well. Be sure to make the most of your time around them, as you may not be seeing them for a while after this. Talk about the important things, and always have something ready in case your aunt asks who you’re dating, or if grandma makes an inquiry on your crazy college shenanigans. Good conversation shifters include: talking about food, asking about food, and praising the food.

3. Extreme Christmas shopping

If you skipped out on Black Friday, this will only take a greater toll on your mental health, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Mark out a few days and map out a plan of stores you wish to invade, and plunge into the abyss of crammed shopping malls and dime-store covers of lackluster Christmas songs. Perfect last-minute stores include Five Below, Kohl’s, antique stores, landfills, and little gift shops.

4. Extreme eating

Another thing to stock up on, in addition to back-to-school essentials and holiday cheer, is food! Savor those home-cooked meals and stuff your face with cookies and gingerbread men to really get into the Christmas spirit. If you go to school far away and you’re home for the holidays, hit up all of your favorite restaurants and order enough food for two! The only thing better than eating your favorite food is eating leftovers of your favorite food. If you're eating enough to feel like Santa Claus, you’re doing something right.