Post Spring Break: Getting Back Into the Groove
It was amazing, but what happens when it is over.
Many college kids are just now kicking off their spring break. But, if you’re like me and had a really early week off (thanks, USF), you’ve already experienced that worst Monday of your life.
Your dose of reality hit you the moment you woke up, but it was Spring Break. That means that you were supposed to let loose, right?
But even if you did complete Spring Break successfully, sometimes you may still feel as if you completely fell off track with your goals. In fact, getting back into the groove may seem harder than ever.
This is the moment where you need to sit yourself down, give yourself a hefty pep talk, and get your booty back into routine.
Reflect On It
If you are going to look back on your week away from reality, bask in it. Focus on the fact that you had an awesome time doing what ever it is that you did. Don’t beat yourself up for drinking more than you planned; focus on the memories that were made. Stop getting mad about how much you slept; be thankful that you had all the time you wanted to rest.
It’s totally cool to make a couple choices that don’t coincide with your long-term goals, and it’s okay to give your body a break. As long as you don’t maintain these choices and turn them into bad habits, then all you can say is that you had a refreshing break.
Accept It
You went a little crazy. You slept in, ate way too much, drank way too much, and didn’t hit the gym every day like you intended to. But guess what? That’s what can happen on a break. You’re supposed to get off track, and you can’t undo the decisions you’ve made.
Repetitively harping on how much dessert you indulged in or how little you exercised isn’t going to anything but upset you. Instead of walking into the next week full of regrets and shame for the “mistakes,” accept the fact that you slipped (and had a good time doing so). Focus on the next step ahead of you in order to get yourself back into routine.
Map Out What’s Ahead
After coming to terms with your not-so-regrettable spring break decisions and taking a moment to appreciate the necessity of them, you must help yourself come out of that vacation mindset; however, this is much easier said than done. No matter how short, any break from responsibilities will put you into a temporary lifestyle that is far more pleasurable than running errands, doing homework, and cleaning.
But, in order to get back in the swing of things, you must plan out how to do so. Force yourself to write a to-do list, fill your planner with a schedule for the upcoming week, and start setting your alarms.
Even simple adjustments like buying your groceries or unpacking your bags can help you feel prepared for the week and back into your normal groove of things. Nothing sucks more than tripping over your half-unpacked bags and scavenging for food because you didn’t give yourself enough time to adjust back into your normal life.
So spring break is gone, and the days of carefree living are gone. Maybe you let loose a little more than you planned, and maybe that was exactly what you needed. Hold onto that week of freedom, appreciate that time awarded to you. Step into the next week with more stride and confidence then before. You’ve got this.
