Now that Spring Break is here, there is a few things that you should be putting on your to do list. One of them is: nothing. That's right. Nothing should be on your to do list for at least one day. Take a mental health day! Let your body rest, sit under a warm blanket with wine, tea, coffee, any drink of your choice and just relax. After you do nothing, here is a few ideas for things that will make your heart smile and your mind/body thank you.
1. See/Call family or friends from home: I know that sometimes speaking with family seems more like a chore than it does a pleasure depending on the family member, but at the end of the call you'll be happy you did it. There's nothing like checking in with mom or grandpa to make you feel like you're home is you can't make it back for the break. If you can make it home, sit down and catch up with them or with old friends. Something about reconnecting really opens your eyes to how far everyone has come and it will remind you of the good things that are happening in your life because sometimes we loose sight of the positives
2. Read!: I know that for some people reading seems boring and reminds us of homework. I am definitely one of those people. But when you find the right book it can pull you in for hours. Reading is a great alternative to being on your phone or computer all day which is known to make us feel more anxious.
3. Exercise: I know what you're all thinking, is this girl crazy?! Exercise is something that is hard to throw yourself into but even if it is yoga, stretching or just going for a nice walk around your neighborhood, you're waking up your body, shaking out the mental cob webs and filling those lungs with fresh air.
4. Spring Cleaning: Although cleaning is the epitome of a chore, there are a lot of fun ways to clean. Open the windows, turn on some music and take some food breaks in between. Cleaning isn't the most exciting thing but when you are done you'll feel like you have more space. Decluttering physically also helps you declutter mentally.
5. Write: Write as though you only have one shot at saying everything you need to say. Write in your journal about everything you're feeling about life. Write poems, write fiction. Write in crayon to remind yourself of your childhood, write pen to paper to make it more concrete, or write in your notes section of your phone when you're on the go. Whatever you do, just write. It'll help with that mental decluttering I taked about earlier.
These five things are just starting points. There are many ways to feel productive during spring break while still feeling relaxed.
