How to Actually Enjoy Black Friday
After a beautiful meal with family and friends, Black Friday often has you rushing to the mall at 2 a.m., or stuck on your couch recovering from all that food everyone ate with delight. Well, we have some ideas for how to actually enjoy Black Friday this year.
Black Friday can be a day of fun and play for you and your family. After the joys and contentment of this Thanksgiving holiday, why not let everyone's gratitude, full hearts, and happy bellies last through the weekend with some great activities to enjoy Black Friday?
Go Shopping With the Family
Keep the Thanksgiving gratitude vibes flowing by spending Black Friday shopping for Christmas gifts with the family. Choose one favorite store for each shopper to get the chance to peruse, and focus on finding presents for others. Let the day be about family and giving to those you love. Make it special by stopping at your favorite cafe for pumpkin spiced lattes or hot chocolate to make it a real family day out.
Take a Day Trip
If Black Friday's buzzing energy feels overwhelming, try something a little different this year. Many stores offer their post-Thanksgiving sales beyond Friday, so you can always do your shopping online that morning, or over the weekend instead. Instead, whether you’re with family, friends, or going solo, you can take a day trip on Black Friday to enjoy the peace and quiet of the holidays. Jump in your car with some lunch boxes and plan to have a picnic somewhere beautiful. Go for a drive into the surrounding countryside, take a trip to your favorite park, or simply go somewhere you’ve never been before. Taking a small day trip on Black Friday is a great way to beat the crowds, enjoy the holidays, and get a little downtime so that you’re feeling refreshed and recharged for the next week.
Play Games
Whether you’re spending the holidays with friends or family, playing games is an excellent way to enjoy Black Friday. Some great games for people of all ages are charades, a scavenger hunt, or board game favorites and card games. Put an extra fun Thanksgiving twist on your games by saying the winner gets to eat the last slice of pecan pie. Staying home and playing games is also a great way to let the festivities continue, and to enjoy spending more quality time with those you love. You can also create a new family tradition by buying a new board game every Black Friday to play during next year's festivities.
Go for a Hike
Chances are you ate as much as you could manage during your Thanksgiving feast the night before, and you may feel anchored to the sofa come Friday. Time to getting moving! Black Friday is a perfect day to go for a lovely hike. Slip on your favorite sweater and barn coat and plan to spend the day moving your body and breathing in some fresh air. Your whole family will definitely thank you later. Going for a hike is a lovely way to spend time in nature, away from the Black Friday rush and crowds, and it’s also a great activity to do with friends, family, or even alone with your dog.
Watch a Movie
Thanksgiving's end reminds us that Christmas is right around the corner. Seize the day by pulling out your favorite holiday films and plan to have an evening with popcorn, hot chocolate, and your favorite Christmas movie. Curl up with the family under a cozy throw blanket and spend Black Friday enjoying some classic holiday films. We love “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” “A Christmas Story,” “Home Alone,” and “The Muppet Christmas Carol” for the kids. If you don’t have a family holiday movie tradition, perhaps this is the year to make one happen.
Decorate Your Home for the Holidays
Some people wait all year long to start putting up their Christmas decorations, so if you love holiday decor and just can’t wait, decorating on Black Friday is a wonderful way to enjoy the day and stay in the festive mood. Take out the boxes of Christmas decorations, stockings, and string lights to get ready for the holiday season. Another great way to spend Black Friday is by doing arts and crafts to prepare for the Christmas season. Create sparkling pinecones with the kids, weave your Christmas wreaths by hand, or simply do a fun snowflake cutting project with the whole family.
Make Black Friday a continuation of the holiday festivities this year so you and the family can actually enjoy the day. Who knows, perhaps you’ll come up with some new fun-filled family Black Friday traditions this year that will last for years to come.