Collegiettes, spring break is coming up and hopefully you’ve started planning. Whether you’re heading home for some family time, going to the beach with friends or even heading across the pond for a more exotic adventure, there’s one basic thing you should keep in mind:
keep it classy.
This seems obvious, but as someone with experience, I know sometimes it just happens. You’re having a great time, you have a few too many drinks and then you spend the rest of the next day in your room, unable to move too far from the bathroom. Or worse, you wake up in a room — and it’s not your own.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m certainly not telling you not to go out and have a few drinks, if you so desire. There’s nothing wrong with drinking—as long as you do it in moderation, with the recommended amount being two to three units.
So ladies, here are some tips for staying classy and still having fun.
· Take a break – literally. Instead of going out late and partying like you do every weekend at school, take the chance to get dressed up and have a classy night out, whether you make it a girl’s night out or a family occasion. Spend the day pampering yourself with a mani-pedi and then get dressed up and go to a nice restaurant or bar. You can even just go to Chili’s, if that’s your thing. But having a casual night can be a nice break after constantly going out.
· Set a goal. Make it a goal to only have so many drinks, or to only go so far with the cutie you met at the beach. If you’re not sure this will work, try to make it a matter of pride, a challenge you feel you absolutely have to succeed at. It might sound ridiculous, but it helps. Also keep track of your drinks, but avoid tally marks, as those don’t exactly make the classy list. Not to mention, if you don’t know how many you’ve had, your night probably isn’t going to end well.
· Buddy up. If you’re with friends, grab a buddy who will either make sure you don’t get out of control or that you get home safely if you do end up going too hard. Make sure it’s someone you trust to save you, not to encourage you in drunken actions you might later regret.
· Make plans for the day. If you’re someplace new, or even at home, try to make plans for the day, whether it’s exploring the area, going to a different area of the beach or even just hitting the mall. You’ll either make new discoveries or new purchases, and either way is a win-win. If it’s raining out, have a chill day in. Read “The Hunger Games,” watch every episode of “Vampire Diaries,” play Apples to Apples with the family or even finish that arts and crafts project you’ve been working on since freshman year…of high school.
· Find a casual bar.You don’t have to drink just to get drunk, and sometimes going to a local bar rather than the club down the street can be a lot of fun. Check for places with live music or specialty drinks – odds are they might be cheaper, not to mention it’s easier to talk to the locals when you’re not shouting over blaring music.
Spring break’s about taking a break, not just getting drunk and going crazy. Have fun, go out and party – but keep it clean and classy. What happens on spring break doesn’t always stay on spring break, and sometimes the consequences are more than you expect. We’ve all heard the horror stories, so make sure you’re not one of them.