As my week of summer vacation comes to a close, I reflect on how I spent it and if I spent my time wisely and fairly.
Summer vacation is always so sought after and as the semester came to an end, everyone was dreaming of those long summer nights on the beach and fun times with friends. However, summer isn't always what you expect it to be. It can be a lot of sitting around waiting to be invited to something and that's why you have to make the most of it!
I knew, after this week, that I would have very little free time with my two jobs going on simultaneously, so on my first weekend off of school, I went to the redwoods way up north with some friends. I decided I needed a little more time with nature, as I had spent the previous weeks buried in textbooks. Might as well go see where those glorious textbooks were made from.
Through the pouring rain and mud caked up to my knees, I found myself finally being able to breathe and relax after such a roller coaster of a semester. I learned that it's important to take time for yourself and give yourself some praise for what you accomplished.
As I drove south down highway 101, back home to my parents, I started to plan out my week in my head. I had a few top priorities: sleep lots in my bed, cuddle with my cats, eat real food cooked by my amazing mother, and see my sister's second-grade students. After my first official day home, I accomplished all those things -- so now what?
Most of my friends from back home were either still in school, had finals, or were studying abroad. I saw a few of my friends, but I mainly wanted to see my family and catch up with them. Sometimes, life can get pretty wild and knowing I'm not the best at communicating, I knew it was important for me to spend quality time with them.
This week of relaxation taught me that everyone needs a break, now and then, and to not forget to take time for yourself. Even if you only have one day, or 100 days off, keeping yourself happy and healthy is the first step to anything. Thank you to my week off for being exactly what I needed after a stressful six months.
