Sunshine, Studying, and Spring Break

By Luci Farrell

February is a month of snow, slush, and chocolate sales. Those with a sweet tooth make out like bandits on the 15th when all candy goes on clearance. Another beautiful part of February is staring at the calendar. February is the transfer month. While March is still thought of as winter, it holds the promise of spring breaks and sunshine. Here at SXU our spring break is the last week of February so that transfer into March is a beautiful one. The question is, what to do during Spring Break?

Many use this opportunity as a chance to sleep, see friends, or just slack off as much as possible. Then there are those of us that see spring break as a time to work. Of course, one must remember that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The same goes for Jane, she gets pretty irritable. Asking around with some of my friends that are also seniors, it’s fun to see where spring break leads. Some are going on service trips, some are seeing significant others, some are staying home, and a few of us are going on a real vacation.One of my friends is going to Jamaica
with the school for a class credit. I have to say, sometimes I’m jealous of business majors. I will be in sunny Florida and hopefully avoiding bursting into flames when the sun touches my skin. What my Jamaica vacationing friend and I both agreed on is we will be busy…working.

Many of us face the horror of homework before Spring Break and hope to avoid it until the end. Then there are those of us with Senior Project. It’s a bit hard to avoid that. Deadlines are
quickly approaching and Spring Break is the excuse to throw yourself into work without worrying about other homework. The real question is how to stay focused when the allure of slacking off is right in front of you?

1. Don’t Be A Hermit. Allow yourself time for fun. If you view this as a time to lock yourself in the Batcave (the nickname for my room) and don’t interact with others, you’ll be miserable and unmotivated. See friends, see family, talk on the phone, and get out for fresh air. Don’t constantly keep people out, but when you’re on a roll stick with it.

2. Get An Early Start. I’m not saying you need to wake up at 6 am and get a move on. Please, that would be a horrible thing to say. We all need a day or two to recuperate from the hectic life of school and need to catch up on sleep. One should remember, however, how we feel when we wake up around noon or after. Personally I can’t sleep that late because I feel like I’ve wasted my
day and stay unmotivated. Plus my body is evil and I’m lucky on the days I can sleep until 9:30. Getting an early start gives you more time to work with. Get up early, have a good breakfast, and knock out some homework first thing. Type up notes, create and outline for a paper, or just do some reading. Make a list of everything you need to accomplish over break and watch to see how quickly the list shortens when you start off early in the morning. Plus knocking out some reading or part of a paper frees up your day for some much needed slacking off.

3. Map It Out. Okay, this is something I reiterate to the point I’m sure many of you want to reach through the computer screen and shake me, but my point stands. Lists are awesome. My whiteboard is in a constant state of lists, charts, and creepy little doodles. Last year in my blog I even talked about how in a zombie sleep mode I somehow created cartoons explaining philosophy points. Still unsure how that actually came about. The day before spring break begins
when you’re still packing, sit down and make a list. Write down everything you need to get done and things you know you’ll end up doing (movie night with friends and family obligations). Seeing these things written down puts everything in perspective. It helps you map out time and seeing what projects need more time and which ones you can knock out earlier in the day so you can soak up some rays or go snowboarding.

Florida will be fantastic, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. Nothing like being in the most magical place on earth and having a hard drive filled with research and a website half constructed. Spring Break is a beautiful time to master the deadlines that frighten us all. So give me a sundress, balcony, and ten pounds of research. I’ve got my vacation plans down.

Keep Calm and Sunscreen On

Luci Farrell is a senior from New Haven, CT. She is an Organizational Communication major with a minor in Anthropology. Luci is a Resident Peer Minister on campus and chair of the Honors Program Advisory Council at Saint Xavier University.