My students are on spring break this week. They care for kids either before or after school, so during school vacations, they either are off work altogether or they work twice as hard as usual because they care for kids all day long. Our classes - to prepare students to earn their School-Age Care Credential - are scheduled in the late morning between before- and after-school care. When school's not in session, my students would either have to take time off work or time off their vacation to attend class, and neither would be fair. So we schedule a break then too.
And I'm dancing for joy just as much as my students, I can tell you! Not only am I not teaching three different classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, I'm not preparing for those classes or giving them any thought whatsoever! I am loving the break - even though I also love teaching the classes!
Now on this spring break, you won't find me on the road to someplace warmer. I'm still working in my home office as I do when I'm not on break. But with such a different attitude!
I'm attending to details that have been put off for weeks. I'm getting a good start on a new professional endeavor. I may even go so far as to sort, and clear, and file the swarm of paper that settles around my life and my office. I'll swim more often this week, and I'll go out to lunch with a friend. I'm practically giddy with all I'm doing this week that it doesn't feel like I have energy for on weeks when I teach!
As I noticed this vacation attitude creeping over me - while I'm pounding out work - I started reflecting on how healthy it is to take a break. A break helps us look at our work and our lives in a different, fresher, re-created way.
And while I fully recommend a week or two in the tropics, just about any kind of break is good for our souls. I frequently take "head vacation" breaks to imagine myself in the tropics, and those mini-breaks of just a few minutes are also good for my soul. At this time of year, I like to take "garden breaks" where I saunter around the garden marveling at what has sprouted today. I've even read where time or stress experts support just staring into space for five minutes at a time. I can do that!
However we take a break, we ought to remember just how good it feels and how much it helps. So we ought to do it more often! While I'm not a fan of MacDonald's they were definitely onto something when they said, "You deserve a break today!" You do! I hope you'll savor it as I'm savoring my break this week!
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