Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know that life is busy. I know you only have so many vacation hours. And your school work is just too demanding. Yeah, I get all that. But when was the last time you just took a break? I don't mean break as in a 30-minute nap in between your bio lab and your English class. I mean like a break from everything. Like a pack up your bags and get out of your stuffy dorm room for a day, or two... or however long you need!
I know from personal experience that sometimes we get so sucked up into our jobs or school work we forget that there is actually a world out there. There are places to be seen, people to meet, food to be tasted and money to be spent. And time is indeed of the essence! There is no time like the now; as redundant as that is, it's the truth. Right now, the sun is either rising or falling, and either way, you won't get those moments back. It's pretty evident that you will not remember every minute of your life, but why waste a single one? Don't let your days line up in simple patterns, learn to break away, relax and soak in your existence.
One Friday, around 11 p.m., I was in bed when I got a text from my older sister. She was inviting my boyfriend and I to go to New York City for the weekend, with her and her boyfriend, bright and early the next morning. I knew that even though I had a ton of homework to do, I couldn't miss out on an opportunity like this. Stressed out with school and work, with all my obligations and just plain tired of the dorm, I quickly responded with a "YES!" Leaving all my worries behind me, we set out for the city that never sleeps. While I was in New York City, I forgot about all the craziness of school and just enjoyed myself.
If I had said "no" to the trip, I would have missed out on a lot of amazing moments. If I had said "no" to the trip, I probably would have just laid in my bed procrastinating on my school work, until stress levels were completely sky rocketed. Saying "yes" to the trip allowed me to remember that there is actually a bigger picture to life. Life is so infinite. Life is not just going to class, working a day job or getting to bed on time. Life is so extensive, flexible and exciting. All of which are things that are easily forgotten if you don't take a moment to step back and breathe.
While we were in the city, I got to see Ground Zero for the first time. We hiked around Central Park at night. We waited an hour and a half in a line for the most outrageously amazing craft burgers and milkshakes at Black Tap. We bonded over memorable conversations and made connections. We found out that the men are the real shoppers in the group. We took a lot of pictures. We engaged with the world around us. We even saluted Mac Miller strolling along in SoHo (probably heading to Fifth Ave.) In those moments, I realized I was happy. I realized that it is worth it to take time off and live. It's OK to sometimes let go and just give yourself a break. As people, we work really hard every day. Keeping up with the demands of work and classes can be very stressful.
On the way home from New York City, reality started kicking in. I remembered all of the assignments that I left behind to do when I would get back. While I was on the trip, I wasn't worried or anxious about a single thing. It was a great feeling that is hard to have when we get so caught up in our work. It taught me that no matter how much is due in a couple of days, I always have time to take a moment for myself. I'm not saying that every time you get stressed out you need to pack a bag and get away from your daily norms. But, I am encouraging you to be able to know when you need a break. The break or rest period should take your mind off of all the things you are stressing about. Maybe catch a movie with some friends. Go on a hike down main street and stop in some of the local shops. Be productive with your break and catch up on last weeks episode of "The Bachelor."
Two things that you should always remember are: don't miss out on opportunities, activities or events that interest you because you're worried about falling behind. You're most likely thinking about all the work you have to do out of proportion...which brings me to my second word of advice: keep everything in perspective. Keeping things in perspective will help you out in the long run. While it's certainly not smart to take breaks every five minutes into your work, it is smart to take one every half to every full hour. Allow yourself room to breathe, explore and experience all that the world has to offer. Always take up every chance you get to do you. Don't get too caught up in all the stress. And, most importantly, always remember to give yourself a break, because you deserve it!
