The last day before spring break in elementary school, I vaguely remember coming home after school and immediately opening my dad’s computer to play video games. To me, being on break meant fully taking a break from school — no homework and no studying.
Fast forward seven years, as a high school student, and breaks do not feel the same at all.
Time off has started to imply participating in summer program applications, doing extensive extra homework and studying for AP exams. Especially during breaks that span for a week or more, I spend most of my time working on academics, feeling even more burned out once I return to school.
So what is the right balance?
While academic enrichment is important, I find it useful to take the first day of break to completely disconnect from work; one’s productivity is boosted through spending some time away from school entirely to regain energy. Resting for a full day provides mental clarity and helps you get things done afterward.
During this day, I like to go outside and play soccer or run on the track with my friends, just for fun. Sports help me clear my mind more than anything else — personally, it’s the easiest way to reset and feel relaxed.
Another simple way I like to recharge is by cleaning my room. After weeks of being busy with school, I have usually left my clothes lying around everywhere and papers are scattered all over my desk. So I put on my AirPods, play some music and start cleaning everything — it always feels more peaceful to relax in a tidy space.
Then there is the magical power of spending time with family and friends. I typically spend the day with my sister when she comes home from college. We usually go to the mall and eat at Popeyes or Potato Corner until we’re stuffed, then browse through a variety of stores and shops, sometimes for ourselves or for others; the last two times we went shopping, we bought our mom’s birthday gift and Christmas presents for our cousins.
Later in the day, especially at night, I usually wind down by playing video games with my friends. After dinner, I’ll often grab a snack or make a small dessert to enjoy while we play one game or another. I even let myself stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning. Playing video games with my friends makes me feel like I’m back in elementary or middle school — completely free from academic stress.
After a late night, I like to sleep in and eat a heavy breakfast the next morning. Personally, the following days usually aren’t that active either, usually consisting of making breakfast and watching Premier League Soccer.
These activities on the first days of break are ways that always help me recharge, and I believe everyone should incorporate them into any break. During longer breaks, especially over the summer, a recharge can and should extend for multiple days. In my opinion, a proper recharging period is necessary for being able to launch into a productive schedule again, including sports practice, getting ahead on homework and doing any other things you wish to get done.
