By: Colin Bulger | Health and Wellness Editor |
After spending a week away from reality, our sunburns from the beach already seem to be slowly wearing off. We’ve been catapulted back into the rigors of academic life after a week of fun and relaxation.
The contrast between the carefree and relaxed atmosphere to the more structured and demanding routine of day-to-day life is commonly known as the “Post Spring Break Blues”. Symptoms of the post spring break blues include but are not limited to sadness, lethargy, hunger, and an urgent thirst for another beachside refreshment.
While the post spring break blues affect everyone differently, I like to use these symptoms as fuel to propel me forward and finish the year strong.
Visualize Relaxation
Close your eyes for a moment and go back to that week of spring break. Get a picture in your mind of what you were doing while you were not experiencing the blues. You’re relaxing, you’re at ease, you’re laughing, and most importantly, you’re at peace.
Be with that thought and explore the feeling for a moment. It probably feels pretty good, right? Every time you feel the blues creeping up, know that they are not permanent and that there are good times to look forward to.
Take Care of Yourself
While it may be difficult to incorporate proper sleep, diet, and exercise routines, especially after the break, it is nowhere near impossible. Take the 24 equal hours we all are gifted, and make it superior to the 24 you’ve used before.
Developing healthy habits after spring break can make you feel like a different person. Find your optimal hours of sleep, and stick to it. Take a walk in nature and enjoy it. Lift weights and feel accomplished. Cook yourself your favorite meal. Light a candle and read a book. These are all simple tasks, but by no means easy. Take the responsibility for yourself, and squander those blues. You’re stronger than you think.
Caution. Don’t Slip.
This may be an easy time to want to throw it on autopilot and coast until finals. Let me tell you, it’s not. You really have to grind out this last month and some odd days. Yes, you read that right: LAST MONTH. That’s all we’ve got left of this school year, and it’ll go quick. Stay on top of your grades, get help if you need it, and finish strong. Summer vacation is so close, you can almost taste it and forget about the stresses we face from this semester.
10-Year Visions
Will the blues you face now matter 10 years down the road? Likely not, so don’t be too worried about what you’re stumbling over today. Instead, make decisions that will benefit you the most in the future. Start planning now. Start budgeting. Start investing. It’ll help shake your blues and prepare you for the good that is to come.
The post-spring-break blues may seem like a daunting mindset to overcome, but with the right attitude, you can use it to your advantage. Visualize relaxation, take care of yourself, stay focused, and plan ahead for the future. By doing so, you can turn the obstacle into an opportunity for personal growth, productivity, and success. Remember, the end of the school year is just around the corner, so don’t let the blues hold you back. Take control and finish strong!
Jag Media 