With the semester well underway and midterms fast approaching, it’s hard not to think about Spring Break every moment of the day. I know for myself and my friends, we are literally counting down the hours until our flight takes off to Florida. Due to my overwhelming excitement for the moment I am free from the shackles of schoolwork, I have compiled a bit of a list of things I will be doing to reset myself over the break, both mentally and physically. This list isn’t necessarily things that I will be doing for sure, because as we all know, whatever we plan never goes exactly our way, but instead it is a list of things I am hoping to accomplish over break. Having an entire week of time where you have nothing that needs to be done can be overwhelming, so this list can function as a way for you (and me!) to feel like you have a bit more control over your time.
Finish Schoolwork
Now, I know this seems like the exact opposite of what you should be doing while trying to relax, but I know for myself, I cannot relax until everything that needs to be done is completed. I have a couple of assignments and projects that are due right when I get back from break, and I have already begun working on them. There is nothing worse than when you think you are finally in the clear, with no more work for the week, just to find out you forgot about an assignment or project. Take the time this week to get everything done, your future self will thank you!
Catch Up on Your Hobbies
During the semester, I find myself getting so completely overwhelmed and drowning in schoolwork, to the point where I rarely have time to do things that I actually want to do. Over this Spring Break, I have decided that I am going to do all the things I have been meaning to do for weeks that I simply have not had time to do yet. One of these things includes reading more! I have a few books that are sitting on my bookshelf that have been calling my name for months, and I will finally have enough time to sit on the beach and read them. Do those things you have been thinking about for weeks, months, or years, and you will feel infinitely more productive and well-balanced. Without doing things that bring you joy, life can get too monotonous, and you can fall into a rut. Take the time while on break to actually make sure you are doing what you want!
Reconnect with Friends
Another thing I will be doing while on Spring Break to practice self-care is checking in on my friends who I have not talked to in a while. With all my friends and myself at different colleges, finding the time to talk to one another and catch up on each other’s lives feels close to impossible, but Spring Break is the best time to do so! Even if you are not going to physically see your friends, take the time to call them and check in. Ask them questions, reminisce on silly memories, and laugh about all of the crap that has happened since you last saw them!
Practice Self-Care
One of the things that I am looking forward to most when I am on break is the amount of self-care I will be able to do. Besides catching up on reading, I will also be doing a complete “reset” routine. Multiple everything showers, fake tanning, drinking tea, meditating, the whole nine yards. Having an entire week of time to do whatever you want can feel a bit overwhelming, but taking the time to better yourself is one of the best things you can do! Paint your nails, do a face mask, watch that TV show you have been meaning to watch! Anything that makes you feel good, take the time to do it this week!
Catch some ZZZssssss
When I was first thinking about this article, I went around and asked my friends what they would be doing during this break in order to “reset”, and each one of them answered the same: catch up on sleep! I know this seems obvious, but spring break really is the best time to catch up on all of that missed sleep! Whether it be sleeping on the beach with the sun beating down on you or cozied up under your covers with a good book and a cup of tea, take this time to really establish your sleep schedule. Classes, assignments, and exams have all messed up my sleep schedule, so I greatly look forward to having an entire week to fix it! Sleep in, go to sleep early, take a nap; you deserve all of it!
Spring Break is a time to rest, relax, and reset, and with this guide, you will be able to do just that and take control of your life so that you can have the best Spring Break possible!