It just dawned on me — I miss my spring break.
It’s not so much that I always took extravagant trips when I was afforded a week off in mid-spring.
I did, in fact, have a few. However, I primarily used my spring breaks as a chance to take a step back from the daily grind and rest. In college, I knew I could count on my spring breaks as a chance to catch up on any projects or errands I had shelved.
Looking at the big picture, spring breaks coupled with time off around holidays, and an extended summer break left me plenty of time to retreat from my daily obligations during my college years.
But, since I’ve entered the “real world,” weeks off aren’t easily found. So, instead of being able to rely on my spring break and my summer vacation as opportunities to escape, I’ve opted to employ some careful planning.
But just because I don’t have an overabundance of time off. I can use for a break doesn’t mean I don’t take opportunities to escape. Granted, I’m not taking extended vacations to exotic destinations.
However, I am using every opportunity I can to travel — long weekends, holidays and carefully planned vacation time.
Luckily for me, I live close to many of my friends. In fact, most are within a few hours’ drive. And considering my affinity for a nice drive, that works to my benefit.
But sometimes you need more. Case in point, last September, I met up with some friends in Las Vegas for some good times and quick gambling action. Now, that’s not a vacation; it’s a weekend getaway — at least, it is in my book.
A co-worker of mine was accustomed to more vacation time. Since she’s had to adjust to less time off, she’s created a plan so as not to lose her spring break.
“This year, I’m taking my spring break with my children,” she says. “It’ll be an adventure, but it still won’t be the same as having the summer off. As a professor, I used to have about 11 weeks off each summer. Now I don’t even have 11 days.”
The key, at least as far as I’ve found, to keeping relaxed is taking more short trips rather than one or a few longer trips. Big trips are sometimes more work than they’re worth, but a spontaneous weekend getaway works to keep everything more interesting.
