One Week Stretch – Spring Break, Here I Come

The week before spring break is filled with deadlines, midterms, 5-10 page papers, too much money spent on coffee and an unbearable eagerness for Friday to finally come. But day dreaming about our spring break plans, whether it be heading home sweet home, some place warm or wherever you find your paradise, will certainly not make time pass any faster – nor will it result in the midterm grades you had hoped for.
 
Staying on our A-game this last week of school is pretty important. Peer support is the best motivator, so grab a friend and prep each other for your one-week stretch.
 
Write It Out

Making a to-do list is key. Between juggling several classes, that presentation you have, a meeting with your TA, online shopping for bikinis and figuring out what you’re going to eat for dinner, a list gets the job done without the “I feel like I’m forgetting something” feeling. What do you think the note pad/notes section of your cell phone is for? 
 
Collect yourself

While your zipping around campus going from class to class, or posted up in the library studying for hours, take some time to breathe and collect yourself. Closing your eyes for a few minutes and inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth can be very powerful in calming yourself down and collecting your thoughts. Take a few minutes to block everything out, regroup and do what you need to do to get through the day.
 
Exercise

If you have ever seen legally blonde or heard the most cliché of exercise inspiration, you already know that “endorphins make you happy.” But yes, exercise truly is the best release of natural hormones in your body. Endorphins flood the body with a positive feel-good energy – a natural high. With consistent breathing and physical exertion, the body releases stress. Take one hour out of your day to do a physical activity you enjoy. Go with a friend (again your personal motivator), and work it out. You’ll leave feeling relieved, relaxed and refreshed.  Let’s take a little advice from our Roman Satirists who say we must strive for “a healthy mind in a healthy body.”
 
LOTION, LOTION, LOTION

As students, we spend about a minimum of nine months in Madison per year, and we all know the damage the wind, snow and harsh cold weather can do to our skin. Our driest areas, our knees, elbows and the top of our hands, love lotion. Lotion is the best protection for your skin, as it retains and adds moisture to your skin. Hydrated skin can combat pollution and other contributions, which lead to wrinkles (never too early to start preventing wrinkles!). Popular ingredients include avocado oil, coconut oil, almond oil, aloe vera, beeswax, cocoa and rosehip oil. However, it is important to make sure your lotion is oil free, and even dermatologist recommended. We must also be aware of synthetic fragrances in lotions, which may give you a rash, headaches or dizziness. Those of you with allergies should be especially careful and stick to unscented or organic lotion products.
Special Tip: After applying body lotion, take a towel to rub your skin and properly remove any dead skin. This improves blood circulation, resulting in a healthy skin glow. This is best to do before spring break to rid excess dead skin and build a fresh new tan.
As spring break approaches, make sure to keep yourself hydrated with lots of water and your skin hydrated with lotion. Lotion even helps preserve your tan!
 
Foods to Avoid
Wherever we spend our spring breaks, many of us plan to celebrate in the sun, which most likely means bathing suit attire. We may be loading up on the veggies, protein and whole grains, yet keep in mind to not over restrict yourself and to eat everything in moderation. Although it seems obvious, avoiding foods with a lot of sodium helps your body rid excess water weight and contribute to an overall lighter feeling and less bloated appearance. Many processed foods, soups and pre-made food contain extremely high amounts of sodium. Double check the food label to avoid an unnecessary belly bulge. Even more significantly, alcohol has seven calories per gram, which is higher than carbohydrates and protein (thank you nutritional science). So to all of the of-age collegiettes, alcohol can be very fattening and definitely something to steer clear of before your bikini début.
 
Reward Yourself
Friday comes, your midterms are out of the way, papers turned in and classes do not resume until March 21. Engage in the activity that makes you most happy. Catch up on the shows you may have missed during the week, get the girls together to relax and watch a movie or walk State Street and eat out for a celebration meal. Great work must be rewarded.
 
And last but certainly not least:
PACK AND GET OUTA HERE
Put on some music, make a list of what you need to bring and start checking it off as you pack. Make packing simple; put the important things in first so they are out of the way and not forgotten. Charge up your iPod, sync Lady Gaga’s latest songs and prepare yourself for a week of RELAXATION.