“I just need a break!” is something I hear over and over, no matter where I am. I hear it at school, at work, or just with friends. Robert Tew said, “Sometimes you need to take a break from everyone and spend time alone to experience, appreciate, and love yourself.” But what about arranging your entire life so that you wouldn’t constantly need these breaks?
Sometimes our statement comes after an overloaded week of homework and tests, or stressful situations at work or in personal lives that never seem to go away. Sometimes we mean a day off, a drive to the park, or just to get some lunch. Other times we mean a week or month spent away from daily routines and responsibilities in some far-off state or country. As I did a little research, it seems that many people agree with this concept of taking breaks from your life just to focus on yourself. Maya Angelou said:
“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separated the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist for one day without any of us…each person deserves a day in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”
But what is it that's so unsatisfactory about routines that we constantly desire a break, and yet, what's so comfortable or fulfilling enough about them that we never actually change our way of living?
1. We don’t make enough time for simple things that make us happy
This simple thing may be reading a book, hiking with friends, going out, or my personal favorite, painting. Sometimes it can be found in spending quality time with ourselves. I asked one of my friends if she’d like to come home with me this weekend, and her response was “I just need some me time, this week has been tough.” Although I may have been disappointed, I know how important it is to set aside time for yourself when you know you need it. It’s important to make time to enjoy ourselves to give ourselves peace.
2. Packed schedules
Often, we sit down and fill up every minute of the day with things that we have to do, things that we should do, and things that we want to do. Oh, I have two hours of free time tomorrow? I'll go to the gym. We continually keep ourselves on the move so we barely even have time to stop.
3. We rush
Even when my friends and I are just going to the store for groceries or getting together for a movie night, there always seems to be a reason to rush to make it happen. Of course, when something starts at a specific time there can be reason to rush, but I never understood why people get so antsy when they aren’t running around like a chicken.
4. Not enough money
This is certainly a more significant issue than most others, as much of what people like to do nowadays is requires some kind of funds from somewhere. It still, however, remains an excuse when we could easily just Google ideas for what to do with minimal funds.
5. We’re used to it
This is just what we know how to do. This is what we do each day, each week, each month, and each year. Whether or not we enjoy it, we're so comfortable that we sometimes do things we hate just because we know how it’s done.
6. We let things go too much
We don’t stand up for what we want. We just let things happen, and figure they’ll eventually change on their own. This creates tension, not only in workplaces but also in friendships, where we figure that speaking our minds will only damage the relationship.
7. It seems like we're where we're supposed to be
Finding a job or a spouse or a cat or whatever it is that keeps us put in one place doesn't always mean that we have to stay there forever. We just so quickly become complacent in where we are, rather than counting up reasons to love her.
8. We don’t enjoy little things
Those flowers you saw growing next to the sidewalk? That compliment a stranger gave you when you were having a bad day? That time your co-worker brought you coffee without even asking? Maybe all of these seem insignificant, but they're each little things that, when appreciated, could turn your entire day around.
9. We're ungrateful
Altogether, we spend too much time dreaming, “if I just had this…” and not enough time saying, “I’m thankful for…” We think that one thing will change us so completely that we will finally be happy for real, until the next thing comes up and we continue complaining about how our lives would be better.
10. High expectations for breaks, but low expectations for daily life
When we have that vacation planned, we put so much into it. We want to see sights, eat new foods, see old friends, or do daring things we never thought we could accomplish. We put a lot of pressure on breaks because of how much we depend on them as a means of getting through the next few months. Yet, we don’t ever think to plan these sorts of things into our everyday routines.
11. “That’s just life.”
This is just how things are supposed to be, we tell ourselves. There's no point in trying to change, because life isn’t always fun. It’s life.
Now I’m not saying that new, exciting experiences aren’t worthwhile. They're actually something I welcome with eagerness! But I wonder, how much more fulfilling would they be if I wasn’t dreading going back to my routine? My goal now, as I work through my college career, should be to create a life for myself that I won’t have to “take a break” from. A life that I enjoy so much, it's my break from the hopeless reality of those surrounding me.
