How to Make the Most of Your Spring Break

January is gone and I'm still trying to figure out where it went. It seems as if I was headed home for the holidays just the other day and now I'm thinking about spring break! Oh, how I used to LIVE for spring break; shopping, travel, parties and lots of good times. One thing that I didn't have during those times is balance. I shopped a lot, I traveled a lot, and Lord knows I partied more than a lot. Some will say that you can't have it all, but I disagree. For me, all is about moderation, balance and a sense of accomplishment. At the end of the day, all can actually be fined as whole. Therefore, when I finish my list of things to do, whether it's full of personal or professional objectives, the completion of the list equates to "all".

Let's say for example you want to shop, travel and party during your spring break. I would suggest that being responsible is first and foremost. Next, make an attempt to shop for bargains in an effort to save money. It doesn't matter if it's your favorite store or online as you research accommodations for your trip; the key is to do more with less and experience the level of quality you're anticipating. Moderation allows you to have reasonable limits without being extreme or excessive.

Sometimes, excess occurs during spring break, intentionally and/or unintentionally. In those times, I can remember trying to act as if school didn't exist because I was truly looking forward to a break from classes. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with school, assignments or anything school related for that matter. I wasn't aware at that point that I needed to balance my priorities and still be able to have a good time. Perhaps instead of spending 5-7 days traveling during your "time off", you can shorten the vacation, save some money and meet 3 new professional contacts. In some instances, I would work during spring break (not too many instances) which can make networking convenient. If that's not the case for you, there is always an opportunity to connect professionally, even if it's online.

Lastly, consider allocating some of your time during spring break to doing something that you love. For some, it's spending time with those who are close to them, for others it could be volunteering or acquiring a new skill. Whatever your "something" is, be sure that it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Having that balance between doing what you want to do, doing what you have to do and doing what you love to do will make this a memorable spring break!