Spring Break

As college kids, Spring Break is the light at the end of the tunnel. For me personally, the week leading up to Spring Break has been the worst week of my college experience so far. I was swamped with group projects, exams, reflection essays, the list goes on and on. The worst part it, this week is not even over yet (sigh).

I am a major proponent of making lists to keep myself on track. I have a list for homework, for workouts, for eating, I schedule my nap time... (I may be a bit too organized). However, the satisfaction of crossing task after task off my list is the greatest feeling in the world. This week, I have one more exam, one more group project presentation, and one more reflection essay. Then I am D.O.N.E.

Taking a step back to the beginning of the semester, I had this serene picture of Spring Break in my head. I would go home, just as I did over Christmas break, lay on my couch and finish the four seasons of Grey's Anatomy I have left (I watched seven seasons during Christmas break so I figured this was quite the achievable goal).

Post-Christmas break me - photo credit Her Campus

Well, looking back on my decision, this was a terrible idea. Who wants to watch 50 hours of TV when they could be out doing things? Real things that would prevent me from becoming a couch potato.

Luckily for me, my roommate Amy came to the rescue (this seems to be a recurring scene in my life story).  She was planning on going to the Bahamas with her mom on some business trip. Honestly, the details slipped my mind because I was jealous of that trip. BUT! Those plans fell through and Amy and her mom decided they would go to Florida to visit my Amy's grandparents. Hear me out for the best part...

THEY INVITED ME ALONG. I AM SO EXCITED. THE BEACH IS MY FAVORITE PLACE EVER. Needless to say, I AM EXCITED.

Just a few weeks ago, we purchased our plane tickets, and we leave on Saturday. Amy and I have been counting down the days until our flight leaves for the past two weeks. Just a few days ago a checked the ten day forecast... 10 days of sunny and 75 degrees. I am not even joking, guys. It's like that song by Joe Nichols, "A yellow two piece, black ray bans. Bare feet, covered in sand. White jet trails across the blue sky." I can see it now...

Sunny and 75 - photo credit the Huffington Post

All of this sounds like my silver lining. Yet, every good thing comes with some drawbacks. I am a sad that I won't be spending a lot of time with my own family. I know that my mom has been missing me for quite some time. I have spent a lot more weekends on campus this semester compared to the Fall. Additionally, there was a hefty cost to those plane tickets. 

However, this act of kindness was about me. Sometimes you have to take a step back and realize how hard you have worked. You have to be able to recognize that it is okay to make selfish decisions. It is okay to treat yourself, to give yourself a break when you need one. This break was well-deserved and I am putting my humility aside to say that. This past week and the rest of this semester I have worked my butt off to improve my grades in all my classes and I have made a conscious effort to put work in everyday to improve my own personal fitness. 

It's okay to be a little selfish and treat yourself to your own random act of kindness. Even if it's not a plane ticket to Florida and a week of sunshine and fruit smoothies, every mental break and self-care habit is important. In today's society, it is easy to get caught up in the rush of always adapting to higher standards, but self-care is important, and it's time that we all stand up for ourselves, become a little selfish, and treat ourselves. Here's to you guys and here's to a wonderful Spring Break.