This weekend, I ended up doing very little substantive work on class assignments or other tasks I had on my to-do list. Part of this was by circumstance, as my to-do list right now isn’t the longest it’s been for some time – although, don’t get me wrong, there’s still lots to do that I could’ve gotten a head start on. But I think the main part of it was by choice: I wanted to reward myself.
Earlier in the week, I submitted an interim report for my senior research—a major endeavor—finished applying for some additional summer research programs I was interested in (for those who liked the app sampler articles, don’t worry, another one is hopefully on its way in the next few months). I’m awaiting feedback on my report and will see if I hear back from the research programs, but in any case, I was proud of my work and felt it fair to give myself some small rewards during the weekend.
These consisted of traveling to my aunt and uncle’s for a fun Saturday night dinner, playing dungeons and dragons with some of my friends from high school, trying my hand at the full New York Times Sunday crossword (I got about 10% of the clues – it’s a hard puzzle!), trying some muffins another friend home-made, and taking a walk around Hoboken with my girlfriend before SGA meetings Sunday evening. I give many thanks to those people referenced above (especially Will Shortz) for providing me with a great weekend of breaks and rewards.
I always get a little concerned when taking breaks. I love to be active, and sometimes feel guilty when I take a weekend off – I tell myself, “you could be getting so much more done right now!” This has been reinforced in some ways by the intense pace of work I witness in my own life and the lives of many around me balancing the many responsibilities they have at college and/or work with time to get at least some rest and sustenance.
But at the end of my break/reward periods, I feel as restored and invigorated as ever to tackle the things I let stay on my to-do list the past few days. Spending some time away from the work I do so often always reminds me of my deep love and enthusiasm for that work. Moreover, that time to rest gives me a new reserve of energy and a fresh perspective on the tasks at hand, which results in a huge boost of productivity and creativity.
So, if you are in need of a break, or a reward for the hard work you’re putting in, don’t hesitate! This month has some great opportunities to take some more time off on the weekend: it seems like everyone watches the Super Bowl, so there’s an excuse to chill this Sunday night whether you’re a football fan or not, and we have off on Presidents’ Day two Mondays from now. It’s even fair to take a small break from work on a day when you may not have as many commitments—rewarding yourself every once in a while is a justifiable and sustainable practice. So enjoy the time off, and take advantage of the new energy and motivation you gain from it.
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