Don’t Waste Your Break

Finals are over.

The ink dries up and the papers settle and then reality sets in. Christmas break is here!

Without the daily pressures of school, I am looking forward to the rest that my body very much needs over these few weeks.

Rest is important, essential, and good.

But being students on break does not give us a free pass to be lazy.

I want to strive for balance this Christmas. I want to balance much needed rest with spending my time mindfully. I want to be thoughtful in how I use my uncommon free time. I want to be intentional about spending my time doing things that matter.

Here are four things that I want to specifically be mindful of this Christmas break.

1. Don’t waste time

Free time is not something I get very often. When I do have free time, I have a tendency to be lazy. I scroll social media for hours or binge watch T.V. shows.

There is nothing wrong with that inherently, but I want to spend my time doing productive things this Christmas. For me, that means writing intentionally, playing piano, and reading good books, and prioritizing my physical health through exercise.

What might this look like for you?

2. Don’t waste relationships

Relationships are so important. I want to use my Christmas break to intentionally build up my relationships with my family, my home church, and my Savior. These are important at any time of the year, but I don’t want to waste a second of the precious time I have.

I don’t want to waste time with my family. I want to look back on break and remember being present and enjoying the people front of me. The time I get to spend at home is some of the most precious.

I also want to spend my time getting to know God better. While choosing to read secular books or enjoy activities that aren’t intrinsically spiritual is 100% okay, I want to specifically devote time to growing closer to my Savior. If I don’t make time for Him on break, why would I make time for Him in the mundane? I need to be continually seeking God even when schedules change.

3. Don’t waste rest

It’s tempting to want to cram my “free time” completely full of mindless activities. The truth is that I need to balance activity with rest.

College is hard. College with chronic pain is harder.

I need to take care of my body, my brain, and my heart by allowing them rest.

Not staying up until 3am, eating well, and minimizing unnecessary stress will push me towards a restful and refreshing break that my body is very much in need of.

4. Don’t waste little things

I want to mindfully enjoy the little things this Christmas.

I want to enjoy the nostalgic Christmas CDs my mom plays in the kitchen. I want to enjoy screaming lyrics from musicals with my older brother. I want to enjoy playing my old, slightly out of tune piano. I want to enjoy my own bed and the pink comforter that I’ve had since I was 12. I want to enjoy my little sister’s newfound love for her recorder (that one is a bit harder, admittedly). The list of things could go on and on.

Little things are what make memories sweet. I don’t want to miss a second of it.

These are just a few ways that I want to be intentional in stewarding my time while I am on break.

I hope this encourages you to think about how you can spend your time wisely this Christmas.

-Alathia