As April break is finally approaching, and with the week free of schoolwork, deciding how to spend your time might feel daunting. If this sounds familiar, here are some worthwhile ways to successfully utilize your time.
Perfect your sleeping skills:
It’s not an easy thing for everyone. A sleep deficiency is certainly not uncommon at Greylock, and spring break is a great chance to finally recharge. With the past few months of waking up at 6:30, you might be a little out of practice, but with dedication and hard work, you can reclaim the well-rested lifestyle.
Saturday: Ease into your new schedule and wake up only one or two hours later. Aim for a respectable 8:00 start to the day.
Sunday: Challenge yourself to stay in bed until 10:00, and start your day out with a late breakfast or brunch.
Monday: This is where the real technique comes in. You have to fully commit and sleep until 12:00 if you want to truly maximize the spring break experience. With this being my fifth Spring break, I know what it takes for elite-level rest.
Tuesday: At this point in the week, you should no longer be following a schedule or even know what day it is if you want maximum relaxation.
If you follow these techniques, period one on the Monday back from break should feel like a breeze.
Visit the Great Outdoors:
Spring break is a great opportunity to enjoy the April mud, sun, or snow. You could go puddle skiing or visit your local puddle for a quick dip. Maybe you’re a fan of athletic endeavors and want to go for a brutally windy bike, walk, or run. The sky really is the limit when it comes to what April showers have to offer. There truly is something to be said about the value of fresh air, so take some time to enjoy the verdant spring atmosphere.
Be productive:
They don’t call it Spring cleaning for no reason. At some point, the spring “fresh start” motivation will kick in, and it will be time to get to work. You might start an assignment or two early, and with AP season, finals approaching, spring sports in session, and the senioritis epidemic, completing some homework is never a bad idea. We are very fortunate to attend a high school located in a town with such a robust study culture, such as the Sawyer Library, cafes like Tunnel City, the Milne Public Library, the Williams Bookstore, or even some hidden gems like the Clark Art Institute cafe.
If you finish your homework for the day, you can also tidy up your room and move your warm clothes to the back of your closet, or maybe move them back to the front after certain changes in weather. Anything you can do to try to prepare yourself for the final stretch of the academic year is a smart move.
Discover a New Hobby:
There are so many ways you can really make the most of your time. Take this next break as an opportunity to engage in activities you really enjoy, and might not normally have time for. April is a great month to pick up gardening, as the soil is warming up and there is lots of rain to water plants. It is also a great opportunity to expand your cooking skills, as with the unpredictable weather, you can learn to make a warm tomato soup or possibly a summer gazpacho to cool off. You could tap into your musical side and try singing. And, who knows? Maybe you won’t have to go to school on Monday. There are endless ways that April Break is an opportunity to enrich your lifestyle.
Ultimately, April break allows you to reset, refresh, and prepare yourself for the months to come. Whether it may be spending time outside, inside, alone, with friends, busy, or relaxing, make sure to do enough of it that you can refocus and lock back in for a couple more months of school. Enjoy your week off!
