It's been more than three decades and I can't remember the way I was crushed by reality the first year I joined the working world and had to give up spring break. While my younger, college aged friends were enjoying their days loafing on the beach and partying at night, I was sitting in a cubicle, clacking on a typewriter (now I feel old).
What I now realize is that spring break is not just a week of vacation, it's a state of mind. More than anything, it's a week of carefree existence.
After having kids, I have tried to take off the week when they are on Spring Break. It hasn't always worked out and even when it has, I not the carefree girl I once was.
But that's going to change. I am allowing myself a grown up spring break and you should too, whether or not you can take time off work.
We just need to get ourselves into a Spring Break state of mind.
First step, hit the pause button at work. Next step, give ourselves permission to have fun.
Spring Break isn't just about booze-centric fun -- it's a celebration of fun of all varieties. You like to fish? Charter a boat. You like to play video games? Get your Mindcraft on. You're on a diet? Well, not this week. Treat yourself! Eat a chocolate covered Oreo or deep-fried turkey leg. That diet will be right there where you left it a week from now.
You can't take a week off? Take the afternoon. Sit on a chaise and read a good book while sipping a pina colada. Have an all night TV watching marathon of all those shows filling up the memory on your DVR. Or just drive around in your car playing calypso music and singing along to Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
If you really get a little naughty and go skinny dipping.
Sometimes work life balance is about putting reality on hold and indulging in personal enjoyment...Happy Spring Break!
