Don’t be a turkey! Whether you are spending the holidays with family, friends or perhaps even a group of relative strangers, there are many ways to get into the spirit and enjoy yourself this season.
(1) Express Gratitude. Practicing gratitude can increase your happiness levels by about 25%. Here are a couple of exercises that work well for Thanksgiving at home, around work or out with friends.
Ask Questions. A great way to bring things that you’re grateful for to the forefront of your mind is by asking yourself questions. Ask yourself the following:
- – What was I touched by today?
- – Who or what inspired me today?
- – What made me smile today?
- – What’s the best thing that happened today?
Go Around The Table. This is another great exercise for Thanksgiving. When setting the Thanksgiving table, place an index card and pen at each place setting and follow these instructions:
- – Write the name of the person to your left at the top of your card, and then write something about that person for which you are thankful.
- – Pass your card to the right so the next person can add to the list.
- – Eventually, each card will make its way around the table. Take turns reading the thank-you cards aloud after the meal.
(2) Get Personal. Want another way to express gratitude…or love…or just a “thinking about you”? Send a custom greeting card on the fly right from your iPhone. Electronic greeting cards can often be poorly designed and cheesy, but justWink cards are attractive and funny, with occasionally salty language. Send them near and far.
(3) Get Crafty. There are SO many fall and Thanksgiving crafts that will help fill your time and get your house into the season. Doing arts and crafts with your kids also helps develop coordination, teach patience, boost self-esteem and contribute to bonding.
(4) Reach Out For Help. Were you asked to mash the potatoes? Are you at a loss for what to do? Use Food52 Hotline to search for answers to questions like “How much minced garlic equals one clove?” only swipes away. If you’re in a hurry or can’t find what you’re looking for, enter your question and mark it as urgent. The question, “How do you blanch vegetables?”, got dozens of views within the first minute, and I got three answers within five minutes. Even better, the answers also came via e-mail.
(5) Get Your Game On. Take a mental break and play (or check on the) games.
All Play And No Work. Play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well. Want some alone time? Check out Hidden Object – Turkey Trot. Or, get social and play with friends. According to a recent study by PopCap games and Goldsmiths University, gaming is good for family bonding and has shown a positive impact in cultivating quality time.
Even better, bust out a party pleaser like Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity to get to know your friends and family even better. Focus your play on the actual experience, not on accomplishing any goal.
Keep Up With The Game(s). With multiple Football games going on, you’ll want to stay informed throughout Thanksgiving, even while you’re sitting around connecting with friends and family. The CBS Sports app enables you to select teams and track them.
If you’re interested in a specific game — i.e., Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes — just click on the game, and you’ll get tweets, a preview, key player information, and more. This isn’t just about the national leagues! You can find NASCAR, High School, and European leagues, under which you’ll see games, scores, and news.
At the end of the day, Thanksgiving is all about connection, so we hope you enjoy your time with your family and friends.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Construction Recruiters!
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