We all know that loathsome feeling of returning to school after an insufficient break. It felt far too short and failed to meet our expectations, producing an emotional grogginess that flings us into our next quarter in a state of fatigue and frustration. We didn't work out every day or catch up on reading or fix our sleep schedules like we said we would. It should have been our time to arm for the battle of next quarter, but instead, we find ourselves getting catapulted into the chaos of school with no armor, no weapon, and no energy. All our plans to reorganize our lives vanished in light of the new Netflix series and SnapChat stories and all other distractions that suck the hours out of each day until we're left with twelve hours until our next 8 a.m. and a sickening feeling of regret. We wonder if we'll ever get our lives together or learn to manage our time well. The fundamental mistake we make with breaks is believing that we have more time than we do. We think "This is my first day of break, I just finished finals, therefore I need to celebrate by becoming a sloth for the next twenty-four hours." But somehow, we never really snap out of our slothful state. "I have five more days of break to get that done. I have four more days to get it done... I have two more... one more..." Then slowly, day by day, moment by moment, this sanctified week of leisure slips through our fingers.
In order to combat a landslide of unproductivity, we need to be assertive. Simply telling ourselves we're going to get something done is never enough. Our break is our time to catch up with family, friends, pets, or significant others, and these tend to consume a greater portion of our schedules than we anticipate, leaving little time to tend to ourselves. Take control over your break this spring by following these five crucial steps. They'll send you back to school feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to conquer whatever the quarter may hurl at you.
1. Don't ditch the planner.
Before your break begins, map out every day and how it will be spent. Forego the impromptu hangouts and write your friends into your schedule in advance. Forego the spontaneous adventures and plan them beforehand. They'll be just as fun without the spontaneity. After you've scheduled all activities involving your obligations to others, fill in the gaps with plans for your personal refreshment. Map out each day by the hour or half hour, the same way you would for a busy day of classes, club meetings, and essay writing. Instead, fill it in with things like "hike with squad," "run five miles," and "read three chapters of 'Think and Grow Rich.'" Give yourself a tight schedule, and stick to it.
2. Get inspired.
Only you know what inspires you, so spend time indulging in whatever that may be. For me, one of the easiest ways to get inspired is through powerful reading. Over the course of this break, I plan on finishing "Getting Real," an inspiring autobiography by Gretchen Carlson, as well as "The Great Little Book of Afformations," a short self-improvement book by Noah St. John. Such inspirational reading will leave you with valuable success strategies and nuggets of knowledge that will make you eager to dive back into your hectic college lifestyle and apply them. You'll feel empowered knowing that you have new life-handling methods under your belt.
3. Boost confidence.
One of the quickest ways to gain confidence is by nutrition and exercise. Energized, robust bodies embolden us to believe we can conquer anything, whether it be a three-hour lecture, a daunting job interview, or a zombie apocalypse. Returning to school after a week of salad grazing and interval training beats returning from a week of ice cream scarfing and Netflix binging. Choose wisely.
4. Set goals.
Setting goals for the upcoming quarter and writing them down will spur your excitement to go back and achieve them. Take time over break to figure out what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it. But don't limit yourself to "get straight A's." Set different goals for your academics, extracurricular involvements, health, and wherever else you need them. Don't let your healthy lifestyle fall apart as soon as you set foot on campus. Establish fitness goals, and allow your physical verve to permeate every area of life including scholastic success, job performance, and social interaction.
5. Relax.
Yoga. Meditation. Deep breathing. Too cheesy for you? Then watch a movie with your family, sip your coffee or tea, run a hot bath, and pet your dog. While you shouldn't allow slothfulness to consume your entire break, it's important to give yourself some time to recharge. God knows there will be no time for that once school starts.
I hope you can use these guidelines and tailor them to your own needs, interests, and goals in order to ensure your most productive spring break yet. Remember that the best break is one that sets you up for an amazing quarter. So refresh, recharge, and catapult into the upcoming quarter with the tools you need to conquer.
