The Ultimate Halloweekend Survival Guide
How to go on a crazy bender and remain functioning.
by CHARLIE WENIG ★ OCTOBER 25, 2021
You already know what time of year it is. Pull out the candy corn, the fishnets, and the glitter… it’s halloweekend, baby! Growing up, Halloween was a one-and-done deal. You get one costume and let loose for one night (and by let loose, we mean chase that sugar-high), then you reel it back in and continue on with your week. Oh, how I miss those days.
Halloween in college is an all-out, week-long production that leaves you on your literal deathbed by Sunday (who knows what to expect this year, however, as actual Halloween is also on a Sunday). Along with dropping your life savings on costumes comes the overwhelming pressure to coordinate plans with friends, find the perfect group costume, and make Halloweekend the best weekend ever.
Is there a way to bounce back on Monday morning and calmly pack away your cat ears and bodysuit without the raging hangxiety from the weekend? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Here’s how to have a fun a** Halloween weekend and ace your midterm the week after.
Credit: Pinterest
1. Beat your hangover.
It’s no secret that you will be having multiple nights out with multiple costumes over the course of Halloween weekend. Naturally, it can be hard to keep rallying. The best way to keep the Halloween fun going without the crippling hangover is to nail down your drink of choice. Sure, your Tito’s and Sprite mixie might taste good, but the headache the next day is never worth it. Try subbing your typical soda mixer for something with little to no sugar. A staple go-to is mixing your favorite alcohol with sparkling water and lemon/lime juice. This drink never disappoints and will leave you feeling ten times better the next morning than the blue jungle juice from your favorite frat does.
Credit: Pinterest
2. Make a weekend plan.
The key to surviving a bender is preparing yourself for it. Plan out your halloweekend so you can pace yourself and still have fun. No one wants to go too hard one night and not make it to the next one. Knowing your limits and not pushing yourself is key to a memorable halloweekend.
Credit: Pinterest
3. Know your outfits.
When you’re in a tight situation, typical, last-minute outfits come in handy. However, the time to do that is not Halloweekend. Remove the unnecessary anxiety from your weekend and make a note on your phone for what days you will wear what costume. If you want to take it a step further, try the outfit on beforehand to make sure you feel confident in your costume. Your room does not need to look like a clothing warzone every night of Halloweekend.
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4. Take care of your future self.
The build-up to Halloweekend might be more important than the weekend itself. Make sure to always put your health first when it comes to preparing for a bender. Eat well in the days leading up and make sure to drink lots of water before and after going out. The best way to feel less gross the morning after is to take care of your future self before you go out.
5. Don’t give into Halloweekend expectations
Every single year Halloweekend is built up, and maybe a little too much. The pressure to spend way too much on way too many costumes is a stigma that we need to break. No one actually cares that you have the craziest social schedule for Halloween weekend. At the end of the day, Halloweekend is just like any other weekend except you’re in a costume. Keep a positive attitude but don’t feel disappointed the week after because your Halloween weekend wasn’t the most insane weekend of the year.
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Halloweens will come and go and come again. Even if you f-up really bad this year, there will always be next year and the year after that. But for now, let loose, keep your expectations low, and have a fun a** Halloween.
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest