I don’t know how this semester is whizzing by so fast, but the long-awaited blank space on my calendar joyously labeled “Spring Break” is finally here. There’s a whole week ahead that is devoid of research papers and essays and classes. All that blank space leads to one critical question: what do I do with it?!?!
We all have periods of rest: weekends, afternoons, holidays, summers, vacations, sick days. But if we’re not careful, the potential of those breaks can seep away down rabbit holes of Pinterest or scrolling aimlessly through YouTube videos. We reach the end of our holiday wondering where the time went.
Let’s avoid that, shall we? Instead, let’s use our time off to its full potential and finish our break feeling refreshed and excited to tackle that next big project in life.
Plan Ahead
At the start of your break, there will be a lot of things flashing through your mind. You’ll be waiting for your toast to pop up from the toaster and remember suddenly how you needed to return those library books that were overdue three weeks ago. You’ll be driving home from work and suddenly realize that you never sent an email asking if your friend wants to hang out next weekend.
When we actually do sit down to write out a to-do list, we don’t remember all of those little to-do’s, do we? When this happens, as it inevitably will, I’ve found that the notes app on your phone is the niftiest thing since sliced bread.
On the first morning of your break – or at the earliest possible hour – brew yourself a cup of coffee and sit down at the table. Get out the planner, the colorful highlighters, the notebook so you can scribble out lists about movies you want to see or foods you want to try.
Turn to a fresh sheet of paper and scribble down all those irritating little tasks that should be done, referring to your notes app or your email if necessary. Make a list of all the things you want to accomplish — how do you want to feel at the end of the week? What steps do you need to take to get there? First visualize the end, then connect the dots.
Once you have your list of tasks, break them into day-by-day to-do’s and make a plan.
Tackle It
It is a truth universally known and seldom acknowledged that once you tackle those little tasks, you’ll feel better. Most of us know this but we don’t like to admit it — if we did, that would mean we might actually had to do them.
I know – and so do you – that if you just do it, then you’ll feel better. So why let those things hang over your head any longer? Get rid of them. Take one afternoon and lump all those irritating tasks together: drop off a package at the post office, drop off your library books, go grocery shopping. The trick is to make it fun by bringing along little pleasures like music, good company, or getting a cup of coffee.
You might be wondering: what about tasks that need to be done around the house? The secret here is simple. Set a timer. It’s incredible how much you can get done in thirty minutes of uninterrupted time. Turn on some sunshine music and clean your dorm room from top to bottom. Spend thirty minutes catching up on emails or reading those articles you bookmarked. This one works, trust me.
Space for Rest
Don’t forget to be gentle with yourself. Take a deep breath. Are you tired? Let yourself sleep in until your body feels rested. Are you craving down time? By all means, make a cup of tea and read a book. Make it a point of creating little rituals to refresh yourself: a face mask and tea before bed, apply some deliciously scented hand lotion, play piano music off your phone and stretch, paint your nails a serene dusty pink.
What is the point of a break if you don’t give yourself a break? Make sure that you have time to just be. Enjoy the moment. If it helps, make a list of things that refresh your soul and begin to do more and more of them throughout the week. These might end up being the anchors of your week where you can ground yourself and be present in the moment.
Do What You Love
Remember all those times you’ve thought to yourself, “I wish I had time for [insert fun activity here].” Well, dear friend, this is your week. Reorganize that room and rearrange the twinkly lights. Sit down and spend your entire Saturday afternoon doing nothing but writing that story that is coloring your mind. Go to a dance class at the gym that you’ve always wanted to try.
Do you love reading? Go to your local bookstore or library and spend a few hours just perusing stories that you want to add to your “to read” list. Or pick up one of those paperbacks that has been sitting on your nightstand for weeks and do nothing but lose yourself in the story.
It doesn’t matter who you are: you are brimming with untapped creativity. Figure out what it is that makes hours melt away in a pleasant blur of bliss (and no, this doesn’t include anything electronic). Scribble poetry or quotes or scripture verses on your planner and start to memorize them. Go ahead and accidentally spend three hours designing your bullet journal. Whatever makes you lose yourself in that “flow” state — do that.
“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” – Marthe Troly-Curtin
Plan out your break, tackle those irritating tasks, give yourself space for rest, and above all spend a lot of time doing the things you love to do. When you come to the end of your break, you will feel brimming with joy. You will be so refreshed that you’ll be ready to dive right back into the swing of life.
Remember to give yourself a break once in a while … and don’t forget to love every minute of it.
<3 Olivia Grace
