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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UVA chapter.

With only two weeks standing between us and a glorious Spring Break, it is the ideal time to get excited about a whole week off from class. Having Spring Break on the horizon is carrying me through these cold days of the semester marked by an ever-increasing workload. While planning a trip for Spring Break is exciting, it is not always feasible. Fear not — a Spring Break Staycation is a highly underrated artform. Here are my suggestions for making a staycation — whether that is in Charlottesville or in your hometown — a fabulous Spring Break.

  1. Fully embrace not having a schedule.

I believe there are few feelings better than going to bed without setting an alarm. With no 9:00 A.M. classes dragging you out of bed, lean into the freedom of not being bound to the terrifying ring of your phone waking you up each morning. Instead, try waking up naturally and with no pressure to hit the ground running — hit snooze and then make a delicious breakfast that you normally would not have time to prepare.

  1. Carve out time for a movie marathon.

With the Oscars landing on the last day of Spring Break, use the time off to be ready to watch the ceremony. It is no fun to watch the Oscars when you do not know the films nominated, so start working through some of the nominations. American Fiction and Poor Things are at the top of my list.

  1. Going out to lunch on a weekday? Sign me up!

Being out and about when you are normally stuck in a class or doing homework is a rush that rivals the feeling of not having to set an alarm. There is something so liberating about knowing other people are at school or work, but you have the freedom to do anything. Indulge in this freedom by taking yourself out to lunch — it is the perfect opportunity to finally check out that restaurant or cafe you have never been to.

  1. Pick one day to be your “favorite things” day.

While I am fully supportive of having as little plans as possible during a staycation, I think scheduling a “favorite things” day is a plan worth making. This can take many forms, but the overall idea is to treat yourself to a day full of your favorite things. For me, this would certainly include an almond milk latte, browsing Barnes & Noble, picking out a new lip product, taking a long shower, and ending the day with takeout and catching up on my favorite shows — currently, I am working on catching up with this season of The Bachelor.

Wherever you find yourself this Spring Break, I am wishing you a week full of well-deserved rest!

Elizabeth Parsons is a staff writer at the University of Virginia’s Her Campus chapter. She joined the team during the 2022-2023 academic year. Elizabeth is from Virginia Beach, VA. As a fourth-year student with a passion for reading and writing, she is studying both English and French. She is also a Senior Associate of The Cavalier Daily’s Life Desk, which focuses on content specific to student life at UVA — including features of student events and organizations, food-related articles, student columns, and top 10 lists. Beyond Her Campus at UVA, Elizabeth loves sipping oat milk lattes, strolling through bookstores, reading the latest issue of The New Yorker, playing Wordle, and watching reality TV. She is always looking for book recommendations, and she loves talking about her latest reads. After spending the summer after her second-year in London, she dreams of moving to London one day. She is looking forward to another year with Her Campus and to sharing a mix of all her passions with readers. From the best lip gloss to her tips for studying abroad, Elizabeth is excited to share about all the things that matter to her.