Get That Thing Done During Spring Break

Your spring break project could be to imbue Playmobil figures with souls. Photo by flickr user orangeacid. Photo licensed under CC BY 2.0.

I haven't usually been one to head south during spring break. My freshman year, Lesinski and I took an epic road trip around the states of California and Nevada. My sophomore year, I did a project on campus. Both my junior and senior year, I went to South by Southwest, where it rained. This year, I'm heading out to New York. I think I'm doing it wrong.

But times are tough. Plane tickets are expensive. Maybe it would be better to travel during the summer instead. If you're hanging around campus or just going home, spring break is a great time to get started (and perhaps finish) that one project that has been bugging you.

Here are some tips.

Plan - 1 Day

Obivously, the first thing to do will be to decide exactly what you want to do. Lifehacker has a great list of DIY weekend projects. Or maybe you would like to do something a little more electronic. Start a blog? Or a Web show? Who knows? With 5 days and not much to do, the sky's the limit.

During your first day of the project, which will probably be the first Sunday of spring break, you need to plan out exactly what you're going to do. At this point, chronology is not important. Just like in GTD, you want to break down every single task as much as possible. You should have a laundry list of things to do by the end. Let's take a look at the blog for example.

First, we start off with our goal: "I'm going to start a blog this spring break." Next we ask, "What do I need to do to get a blog online?" A few things that you might respond with would be buy a domain name, research blog hosting platforms (or just go with our favorite, Squarespace) and figure out a title for each blog. Then you'll need to write some posts. Then you'll need to reach out to other blogs. And so on and so on. Try to make a list of 100 different things to do. Reward yourself with a beer.

Execute - 5 Days

Over the next 5 days, your task will be to execute on that laundry list you've assembled for yourself. It's easy, start at the top and work towards the bottom. Who'd have thought?

Here is a great point to mention your sanity. Breaking up the work over the week does not mean that you should work 10+ hours a day on this project. Keep yourself sane. This is your spring break. Work from 10 'til 4 and then grab dinner with friends. Go out but make sure you don't knock yourself out of commission for the next day. You'll inevitably have friends sticking around campus as well, so take advantage of that. Get into a groove for the week and stick to it.

You will be surprised at how much you can get done in 5 days!

Assess - 1 Day

The second weekend of spring break will be a great time to assess your project. With the example of our blog, you'll need to decide if you enjoyed the process. Can you continue doing it week in and week out? Or was it just not that interesting to you? Or has the blogging fire been permanently placed under your buttocks? It's important to asses progress a day or two before you return to school mode. If you've just created a new hobby for yourself, it's important to stick with it!

Hell, I got plenty done on HackCollege my sophomore year during spring break!

Are you sticking close to campus for spring break? What will your project be?

Con Your Way to Free Beer this Spring Break

First thing I have to do here... I have to admit that I have a subscription to Cosmopolitan. Okay. Onward. 

So, I was reading the October issue and I came across a little thing blurb: "Drink for Free" -- I know what you're thinking because that's what I was thinking, too. Gee, Cosmo, you think I should go to the bar, pull off my skirt and put my hands down some guy's pants?! You got a slutty one-liner to accompany that?! 

But Cosmo actually owned this one by presenting us with a hack -- more like a scam -- actually, more like a con -- actually, more like stealing. Whatever. Here's what they had to say: 

Find [a half-empty beer] in a brown bottle -- like Budweiser -- and sneak into the bathroom. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with lukewarm water and saunter back to the bar. Tell the overworked bartender that the beer you got was warm ... and ask for another. 

Oh, how devilish! Of course, this is only going to work at a nuts-o bar where there's like sixteen bartenders and total chaos because people are puking everywhere. 

You know that bar. You've been there. I don't care what town you're in this month. That's a spring break bar. 

Image courtesy of acnatta

Compton, Long Beach, Inglewood - S4E3

Like a term paper, we procrastinated this episode off until the last minute. We're sorry, but Kelly just couldn't be pried away from the craps table this weekend in Vegas.

Click to read more ...

Don't Leave Spring Break without a Tan

Nobody likes bad tan lines. Image by Flickr user Raelene G, licensed under CC BY 2.0If you choose to head to the coast for your spring break, you may be able to find some time between drinking, dancing, partying, drinking, and drinking to actually enjoy the sun and sand.  It would be a shame to go all the way to the beach and not leave with some semblance of a tan... it may be the only tangible thing you manage to bring back to school with you.  Here are some tips to get a tan that will make your home-bound friends even more jealous than those pictures you don't remember taking.

1. Wear Sunscreen (!!!)

I hate to sound like your mom, but seriously.  In the short term, a severe sunburn could ruin your break.  In the long term, it could lead to skin cancer, scarring, wrinkles, and any number of other issues.  It may not seem like a big deal, or you might not think you can tan as well with it on.  Leave this kind of thinking on campus.  I'm a big wuss when it comes to sunburns, so I roll with SPF 30, but if you're really interested in tanning, something between 8 and 15 should hit the sweet spot.

2. Hydrate and Moisturize

If you read Mike's recent post, you know should already be drinking at least a gallon of water per day.  If you need another reason to do so, keeping yourself hydrated will keep your skin from drying out after your tanning sessions.  You should also consider a moisturizer.  Many sunscreens have them built right in.  Look for the ones with aloe; they make any burns feel better and even help keep your tan longer.

3. Timing is Everything

You can get a tan at any point of the day, but the sun's harmful UV rays are most dangerous between 10 AM and 2 PM.  If you manage to wake up early try to hit the beach for an hour in the morning.  If not, then try to limit your exposure until later in the afternoon.  As an added bonus, the beaches won't be nearly as crowded, and it will be easier to spread out.

4. Multitask

There is no rule against drinking while you tan. There is also no rule against napping.  You'll likely be doing plenty of both during your week away.  If you drink, do so in moderation.  The alcohol and the sun will team up to dehydrate you very quickly.  If you nap, be sure to use your phone's alarm clock to limit your exposure. Laying in one position for more than half an hour or so is just begging for a sunburn.

Make the Most of Your Spring Break

Just because you’re planning on laying low for Spring Break, doesn’t mean your week has to be a total bore. There’s tons of cool things you can do with a weeks time and very little money. To be honest, I don’t have the time or patience to write a list of 100 things, so here’s my top 3 list of sweet things you can do over Spring BreakQuincy hut my room mates and I made over Spring Break without flying to Daytona. 

Road Trip

A few of my friends took on the challenge of driving as far South as possible in 3 days before turning around last year. When they first told me their idea, I thought they were crazy. I mean, it’s dumb right? 5 people, 1 minivan, no clear destination... Turns out they had the time of their lives. I’m from Toronto, that place with the igloos and what not, so South was the most desired destination. Ultimately, the rules are up to you. Don’t be afraid of the uncertainty of where you’re going, things will work themselves out in the end.

Requirements:

• Mom’s minivan
• Cash
• Several cheesy mix tapes (Backstreet Boys is a must)
• Camera
• Parka
• Swimsuit
• A sense of adventure

Ridiculous Project

Later this week Kelly will be showing you a pretty awesome DIY project, Spring Break is the perfect time to take on a ridiculous project that you would otherwise never have the time or motivation to complete. Ridiculous projects can be anything; igloo construction, hilarious video for YouTube, DIY kegerator. But they don’t need to be so ridiculous either, what about making a push to learn a programming language in 7 days? Okay, maybe that last one wasn't so cool. You get the idea though, choose something you’ve been dreaming of making and get’r done. 

5 Days of Events

In the days leading up to Spring Break, brainstorm with some buddies 5-7 awesome day trips you’d like to go on. The details are up to you, but if you leave your decision making until the day of, chances are your friends will already have made plans and 3-4 days will have gone by before you’ve even left the house. This year, my schedule looked like this (Canadian “reading week” was 2 weeks ago):

Monday: Photography at Niagara Falls with friend

Tuesday: 24 challenge (2 beers per hour for 12 hours with my 10 high school classmates)

Wednesday: Skiing with little brother at local ski hill

Thursday: Museum viewing and shopping downtown with friend

Friday: Hiking and photography with friend

By setting up these days well in advance, I was able to co-ordinate a week packed full of fun things and I didn’t break the bank.

Whatever you decide to do this Spring Break, whether it be a wild beach party or week full of long drives and crazy adventures, make the the most of it. We all go back to grind afterwards...

How To Party for Seven Days Straight

You can recover from this! Image via Flickr User oooh.oooh. Licensed under CC 2.0Spring Break is upon us and for the lucky ones, that means trips to warmer climates and indulging in lots of cervesas. Trying to drink for a week straight at any time during the year is a bad idea. Most people tend to do it now, so here are some tips to help your alcoholic endurance.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but it's really important that you supplement any alcohol abuse with some water abuse. If you are going to Mexico, you will need to stock up on some bottled water upon arriving at your hotel/resort/shack.

When you're not drinking, only drink water. This will not only save you money on checks at restaurants but it will prepare your body for battle later that night.

Get Decent Stuff and Pace

Time doesn't matter when you're in Cabo, Cancun, Daytona or Panama City. You can drink all day and keep a good buzz, because it's not like you have to go to work or anything. The idea isn't to binge. The idea is to feel like you can talk to that girl or guy on the other side of the bar. So, go top shelf half as much as you would for well drinks, and you'll be happy.

Hangover Cure

Heh, there really isn't one. There are three items I like to buy from my local convenience after a rough night. Numero uno, is a breakfast sandwich. The greasier it is, the better. Numero dos, if I have to do anything that day I purchase a sugar-free Red Bull. In your case, it will probably be more drinking. Third, I get a huge bottle of water to slowly sip at throughout the day. This tends to be my refresh button when after most nights.

Don't Hold Back A Yack

It's going to get real here for a few sentences. If you feel something isn't right in your stomach after waking up, don't try and hold it back. Your body is saying, "Hey, dumbass, all this booze isn't supposed to be here, I need to get rid of it."

What are you doing this spring break? Comment below to share! Let me know if these tips work through Twitter.

This Week is Spring Break Week on HackCollege

Spring Break is just a few weeks away, are you excited yet? Whether you're flying away to sandy beaches and blue waters or staying home to plow through 9 seasons of Seinfeld, keep on eye on HackCollege this week for tips to make the most of your Spring Break. Stay Tuned!

This Week's Best Questions on Discuss Campus - February 26, 2010

Friendly reminder: you are not required to attend class on the weekends. Photo via flickr user umjanedoan. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Boy oh boy! Here are this week's best questions:

Dealing with Diversity?

Next year, I am moving to a college with about 55% of the Freshman class being that, while my class is originating from at least 40+ other countries.

So, in essence, on top of the shock of meeting new people/making new friends/etc., I am pretty new to social diversity. I am totally not a racist, nor have a history of any social bigotry, or anything like that. I just would like to know some tips on meeting and making friends with people from around the world.

What websites are great for students?

By my question I mean what websites have you come across that offer unique and/or relatively useful information/features for students?

What is a good car choice for college students?

What is a good car choice for college students? Should I go with a cheap, reliable car? What type (SUV, sedan, coupe, etc.)? What brand(s) stand out?

Got the answer? Head over to Discuss Campus and start earning points. (If you haven't figured it out already, it's free!)