Blog: 'Tis the Season to be Restful

How to get the most out of your time off from school.

It’s the holiday season, where families and friends gather, memories are shared, and sentiment abounds. It also means an extended break from school for most students (like myself).

At Liberty, we get more than four weeks off from school. When I was younger, I remember being confused how anyone could go for such a long break with no responsibilities without being bored to tears. Suffice it to say, my perspective has changed a bit since going to college, I have now joined the ranks of college students everywhere who look forward to this respite in between semesters, where there are no papers to write nor exam materials to study.

Many of us when returning home for the holidays have a vague understanding of how we’ll spend our break: sleeping, eating home-cooked meals, finally catching up on that TV show, and did I mention sleeping? Above all, rest is the mantra.

However, I think we often leave our winter breaks behind with some sense of dissatisfaction. We chalk it up to disappointment with being back at school and the dread of homework once more, but really I think it’s because most of us aren’t intentional with our rest when we’re on break.

In the book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, he says that “the solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.” Simply put, not working does not necessarily mean resting. Restorative rest does not come naturally in a culture moving at such a fast pace—it requires intentionality.

So how do we intentionally seek rest this holiday season? Here are a few tips from my own experience and from across the web:

1. Remember you require holistic rest. Humans are multi-faceted, and all of those facets need their fair share of attention and care. Dedicate specific times during your break to rest physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. (Need help identifying where you need rest? Try going through this self-care checklist!)

2. Prepare. If you’re anything like me, it might not be a bad idea to make a rough plan of what you might want to do with your time off. Having a loose schedule can help you remember your priorities, but the key is to keep is loose—try to hold to it, but don’t sweat it if it flies out the window. Jot down some of the things you might want to do and prioritize which ones are most important to you.

3. Consider having a (flexible) routine. Many of us shy away from making a set routine for our time off, but then end up falling into one without even realizing it. Instead of allowing your break to be governed by bad habits, try choosing a few good habits to make into a routine. This can provide structure and ultimately help you have a more restful break.

4. Don’t expect no expectations. Just like you have expectations for how you want to spend your break, the people you’re spending it with have expectations, too, especially if you’re spending break at home. Don’t let it catch you off guard and put you on the defensive; instead, ask people what their expectations of you are while you’re there. You’re not required to fulfill that person’s expectations, but having this conversation sets you both up for a better time together.

More suggestions:

• Stay physically active to keep endorphins & blood flowing

• Try not to media multitask (consuming multiple media forms at once), since it has a tendency to be overstimulating

• Do something out of the ordinary—who knows? You might just end up starting a new tradition!

• Read a book for fun—try some of these sites for recommendations (Goodreads is my personal favorite)

• End-of-year journal—look back over your year & record some of the highs & lows. This can be helpful in processing things that might be hindering your mental or emotional rest.

• Build a blanket or pillow fort

• Call a friend to catch up or talk with family members about favorite memories

• Set screen time limits

• Get creative!

You unfortunately can’t control all the variables at play to guarantee a restful winter break. Some situations will be out of your control; however, by intentionally pursuing rest in your free moments and implementing some of these practices, you can set yourself up to have a more refreshing and restful break, regardless of your circumstances.