Although the thought of holiday gift shopping probably sounds as appealing to you right now as studying for finals, the entrance of November signals the unofficial beginning of winter and the holiday season. If the decreasing temperatures combined with the pressure to study like mad are becoming more than you can handle, try taking pleasure in some underrated causes. Although the desire to consume may overtake you this time of year, there is also an increase in the number of things, days and occasions to get excited about in the march towards winter. Read on to discover things to look forward to that do not include Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, snow, gift buying and general overindulgence.

November is:

Family Stories Month- Bust out the family albums and wax poetic about those home videos. …Just try not to bore your friends too much.

International Microfinance Month- Help Vandy alum and recent Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus celebrate his win by educating yourself about his theory and practice.

I Am So Thankful Month- Get a head start on your Thanksgiving thanks and start making that list!

National AIDS Awareness Month- Get tested, encourage others to get tested and don’t forget that this disease is crippling millions the world over.

National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month- Okay, go ahead, get your spoon and indulge!

This week is:

World Communication Week: Revive ties with that old pen pal, make a new Facebook friend, e-mail your friends from high school and for goodness sake, call your mother!

November dailies:

3: Cliché Day- Go out and have fun, because you only live once!
7: Election Day- VOTE!!!
13: World Kindness Day- Be nice to your roommate, even if he or she borrows your stuff without asking.
19: Have a Bad Day Day- Sometimes, you just need one of these. Complain without guilt.
21: World Hello Day- Bonjour, Buenos dias, Guten tag, Salaam!
24: Flossing Day- You already do this every day, right?
29: Electronic Greeting Day: Write on all of your friends’ Facebook walls