Archive for March, 2012

With the end of Spring Break and symptoms of seasonal allergies- you may be reminded that vacation time is near. Spring has sprung and it is time to have some fun! The problem is work and school – and the subsequent balancing act of trying to find the ’sweet spot.’ What is the sweet spot? It is the clear part of your schedule, where crazy work deadlines don’t overlap with mid-terms or final exams…and you feel like you could take a guilt-free vacation to plop your tush in the sand on some tropical getaway.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Work hard, play hard,” but how many of us live this way? If you’re like me, you may feel it is difficult to relax. Even if you are on the beach, with a umbrella-drink in hand, do your thoughts drift to all the tasks you need to complete at work? If so, you and I need to make a promise that vacation time is just that- a time away from laptops, smart phones, iPads, televisions, and…even Facebook. Focus on the fun. You’ll come back refreshed and re-energized to take on new challenges.

So, how do we keep our promise? Do something that goes against your very nature. Be lazy!

For those of us that have a difficult finding the ‘sweet spot’ and vacation time is not in the near future, make time for yourself. Invest in yourself to take care of yourself.

Feel free to share your thoughts on vacation and relaxation on the UpperIowaUniversityMPA Facebook page. As MPA students balancing work, family, school, and everything that falls in between, we may all face this challenge.