March Break officially started Friday at 3:25. Not that I was counting. (I was counting.) Today is officially day two of nine, and I am in the middle of the day-two blues.
Friday night we ordered takeout and didn’t tell the children to get off the internet and stayed up too late reading our books. Yesterday I was all, “yay for March Break” and “I slept in” and “let’s just sit around and do puzzles all morning” and “sure, I’d love to take a long walk” and “everyone can forage for dinner.” We watched a movie on Netflix; then we watched several episodes of a show we enjoy because why not?
Today is day two. I woke early and was thrown off by the time change, even though I knew it was coming. All day, I’ve been less certain of my sloth. I’m not sure if I like the book I started yesterday, I couldn’t quite decide if I should take a nap for so long that it got too late for a nap. I’ve been hemming and hawing about whether today should be a “get it done” day (so things aren’t hanging over me for the rest of break) or a “just kick back” day (because it’s day two). It’s 5:45 now, so it’s actually been a “talk about doing things but don’t do them” sort of day. Not my favourite.
Today, social media is full of photos of friends who’ve arrived at their beach vacations and friends who’ve already hit the ski slopes. Around here, Andre managed to shovel a path to the back shed and I went wild and crazy by taking *two* walks and folding the laundry. No, we did not post pictures.
Today I’ve been staring down the list of things I thought I’d get done during this break and realizing, as I often do, that I may have been a little overly ambitious. Today I’m feeling the full fatigue of the last few weeks. I’m fizzling out. Today, I’ve got the day-two blues.
So I’ve set out a puzzle and pulled out my knitting. I’ve snuggled into the couch and stayed in my sweats. I’m choosing some movies and chatting with friends. I’m letting go of (some of the) lists and allowing myself to feel at loose ends. Tomorrow is day three, and there’s no such thing as the day-three blues because it doesn’t rhyme. I can live with that.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
I get this. Especially this, “I’ve been hemming and hawing about whether today should be a “get it done” day (so things aren’t hanging over me for the rest of break) or a “just kick back” day (because it’s day two). It’s 5:45 now, so it’s actually been a “talk about doing things but don’t do them” sort of day. Not my favourite.”
I hate this feeling and I feel like I’m constantly trapped in the space. So I emphasize. I think at this point, you just go with the lazy day vibe. Do something tomorrow.
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I appreciated the mood that you develop using the repetition, the listing, and the conversation directly with the reader – very effective story telling and because this sentiment has no singular word, but is incredibly familiar, I was following the whole time, nodding, yup, same here. But, “Today I’m feeling the full fatigue of the last few weeks. I’m fizzling out.” I am feeling the fatigue of the last few years. This is relatable as a momentary feeling that changes after rest, but for me, at least, this runs deep. Great slice!
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Why do we do this to ourselves? A break means a break. Don’t feel guilty about a “do nothing” day. Everything you did was good for your soul!
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I agree with Rita, don’t feel guilty! Breaks are a time for rejuvenation, and it sounds like you may just need a little bit of that. Take the time to enjoy the downtime. YOU deserve it!
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Amanda,
Thanks for foregoing the laundry photos! TMI! Spring break w/ out spring while watching others fly off to the beach always depresses me, so I’m feeling these blues for and with you. I keep thinking, “Maybe we should take an impromptu trip to Vegas, or Portland, or Denver, all a nine-hour drive away, and then I remember I’m going g to Boise. Boise. Yes, I’ll see my grandson, but it’s Boise, and it will be cold. And I’m so tired of cold. 😔
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I always get a little blue seeing photos of people in fabulous places. But vacations can be exhausting too. I love a good staycation with low expectations. I hope this breaks reenergized you.
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I had to laugh at “and there’s no such thing as the day-three blues because it doesn’t rhyme.” I could relate to oh so much of this post and recently for me, it’s cycled into weekends, too. I’m all for restful vacations, but I also can’t stand the days that evaporate into ““talk about doing things but don’t do them” sort of day”s. Ick. Enjoy your break however you decide to do so!
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Go girl!!!
You will figure this out
Or not
Just keep up the good work
Xxooo
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“…there’s no such thing as the day-three blues because it doesn’t rhyme.” lol, that’s a good line!
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Hi Nadiya! It even made me laugh when I wrote it.
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hahaha as it should 🙂
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So much rings true in this slice, showing vacation’s many sides: none bad, per se, though not all good either. Watch out for day *nine* because for me it’s always (slant rhyme!), panic time 😱
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😂🤣
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Oh, how this is real. I mean, in the summer, it’s kind of like “week two blues” and it’s ok because there’s time for the blues and the “to-do lists”. The shorter breaks feel like pressure, and I hate it. And this, this: “I may have been a little overly ambitious.” This is me on every break. I also love this line, even though it just makes me feel empathetic and blue too: “All day, I’ve been less certain of my sloth.” Sigh. I’m sure you’ll find your Spring Break groove soon.
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I’m not jealous of other people’s vacations any more. I need the break to rest and catch up on TV and make sure my couch is still comfortable. I need to rest and travel to big destinations is not as relaxing for moms of young children as it is for some other people. Maybe when my children are older it will feel easier and worth it. For now, I enjoy a day trip or two and then back home to organize a closet!
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Thank you for helping me to mount an offensive against the day 2 blues.
Day three: glee? spree? free? flee?
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Totally 100% feel this. And when I woke up to more snow, it only added to the feelings. I worry by the time this break is over I won’t feel rested. 😦
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So utterly understood. And thanks for naming it.
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