Black Friday shopping is one of the most stressful American traditions. You have to make sure you know the best deals available, drag yourself out of bed at an ungodly hour to get in line and fight the crowds as you try not to get trampled.
With elections in the not-distant-enough past and finals looming on the horizon, it might be best to skip Black Friday entirely. Here are some things you can do that day to de-stress instead:
1. Keep eating. Thanksgiving isn’t over until you say it’s over. Make that extra pie, set aside some leftovers, put on your eating pants and get ready to have the best Black Friday you’ve had yet.
2. Read a book. Think beach reads, but for fall. A nice, easy book that you don’t have to think about too much, but still keeps you interested. Also, not a textbook.
3. Binge watch a series on Netflix. This is always a good go-to for those days where you don’t actually have to do anything. All caught up on your shows? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
4. Get outside. If you find yourself in Oregon on Black Friday, you can take advantage of free parking at all of the Oregon State Parks. The closest Oregon State Park to campus is the Willamette Stone State Heritage Site, where you can get outside and learn a bit about Oregon’s history.
5. Spend time with loved ones. Whether you’re at home for Thanksgiving or you’re staying in Portland, you can spend Black Friday surrounded by the people you’re thankful for. You can do anything on this list together, or just chat and enjoy each other’s company, safely away from the chaos that is Black Friday.
