Who doesn’t love going home for Thanksgiving? Think of the food, the time to sleep in, the procrastination of those projects we all got assigned a week ago. It truly is a glorious time.
However, those perks come at a price. A price so otherworldly, you won’t find it slashed on Black Friday.
Say it with me. Living. At. Home.
It’s been a good bit of time since we’ve lived with our parents for this long. Yes, we love our families and can’t wait to spend time with them— but this lifestyle change is a hard transition, even for just a week. Here is the Reflector approved guide to temporarily living with your parents again.

1. Get out of the house.

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Yes, your parents love you. Yes, they’re so happy you’re back in town. No, they don’t want to just see you living on the couch eating their food. Use this free time to GTFO of the house and make it seem like you’re being productive. Get a haircut. Grab some coffee. Go to a grocery store that isn’t Walmart. Literally anything.

2. Meet up with some friends.

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No, I’m not talking about the people you used to hang out with in high school and now avoid at Target like the plague. Reconnect with the people you have that group text with and gossip about everybody getting married and pregnant. It will be a good break from having to fight with your sister over what to watch on Netflix.

3. Make a to-do list.

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Making a to-do list is one of the greatest things you can do this holiday. Don’t run for the hills just yet, this list doesn’t have to be about the papers you should be writing for your class. While it might be beneficial to knock some homework out of the way, you can set some softer goals too. Some of our goals include binge-watching “The O.C.” and crafting an extremely tacky sweater for the holiday season. Productivity at its finest.

4. Schedule family time.

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Hang out with your parents and your siblings. You don’t see them everyday, and for some, this is the first time you’ve seen them since you had motivation to get good grades this semester. Game nights, movies, and dinners are classic examples of chilling out with the actual fam.

5. Be the pristine child.

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Fake it until you make it. First, your parents are probably loving life now that they don’t have to clean up after you. Please, for the love of all that is good, don’t be a slob around the house. Also, give your parents a hand running errands to be in their good graces. It’s an investment for when things go awry.

6. Grades, grades, grades.

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There are only two sides to this coin. If you’re a wizard and have managed to pull out stunning grades, now is the time to show that off. Pull up Folio and flip your hair. However, if your grades are not so on-point now is the time to plan a response that will divert attention from your GPA. Looking for an internship? Focus on that. Talk about your extracurriculars or your obnoxious roommate. Better put this one on your to-do list.

7. Bring gifts.

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A great way to invest in a good time spent at home is to bring gifts. The more personalized the better. Maybe stop by the University Store for some Georgia Southern apparel or pick up their favorite bottle of wine on the way out of Statesboro. Is it really bribery if it’s drenched in love? Yeah, we didn’t think so.
So pack your bags and some snacks for the ride because this trip home is going to be the best ever. Happy Thanksgiving.
Feature photo provided by Giphy.