The dinner table has been cleared, leftovers are packed safely away, the pies are warming in the oven and TVs are tuning in to the big game. Except yours. Because if you’re anything like me, you have no idea what the big game is and very little interest in watching it. So how are you supposed to spend the rest of your afternoon and evening, if you aren’t into zoning out in a turkey coma on the couch? Never fear, decades of Thanksgiving Day sports aversion has left me with loads of ideas on how to keep the family/friends chill vibe going into the evening and truly make it a day to remember.
Take A Nature WalkÂ
Come on, face it. You could use some fresh air. Why not round up your family and friends and go for a stroll to avoid passing out on your sofa? Even if it’s just twenty minutes around your neighborhood, it’s enough to get your blood pumping. If you live in a cold climate, bundle up and bring a thermos of hot chocolate to keep warm. If you’re up for a little more adventure, state parks and preserves are open 356 days a year–why not jump in the car and make an afternoon out of it? By the time you get home, you might even be ready for a turkey sandwich…
Bored? Games!Â
Board games are an excellent way to maximize on festive fun. Even if you didn’t host a dinner, invite friends over for a post-meal game night. Have everyone bring their favorite or set up a few of your own. This is a great idea if you have kids at your gathering, as you can give them their own space with Candy Land or Trivial Pursuit Junior while the grown ups battle each other at Cards Against Humanity or Settlers of Catan. Try to avoid video games, at least for some of the time, and focus on collaborative team fun.
Cook n’ Book
One of my favorite Thanksgivings was the year I hosted dinner and asked my guests to bring their favorite book instead of a dish to share. Over dessert, we all took turns talking about why we selected our title, what the book meant to us, who we thought would like it and why. Then we traded with one another. I sprung for $5 Starbucks cards for each person, and passed them out as a reminder for my friends to get together after they finished reading and talk about the books they traded.
Scavenger HuntÂ
This takes a little preparation, but it’s so worth it. A week or so before Thanksgiving, take a walk around your neighborhood. Pick out points of interest like cool graffiti, a neighbor’s cute sun bathing cat, your favorite band sticker on a car or a funny street sign. Make a checklist of these items and present them to your guests after dinner. Either pair them up or let everyone go solo for a neighborhood scavenger hunt. Have them snap photos (respectfully, of course) of the different items on the list. Whoever gets the most and returns on time (say, 60 minutes) gets a prize. In past years, I’ve given away a homemade pie, a bottle of beer, or some handmade holiday cards. Have fun with it!
No matter how you decide to spend your day, don’t feel like you have to get sucked into couch-land. Be intentional with your time and do things that will remind you and your loved ones how much you truly have to be thankful for.
