Vacation, a holiday, time off. For me, it used to mean travel. A complete disruption of routine. An opportunity to explore something new.

What does it mean when I’m stuck at home? There’s no travel. The routine persists. Exploration is limited — so is the new and novel.

As a teacher, I tend to have a lot of opportunities for time off. This year, I’ve greeted most of them with, “May as well get some work done.” There’s been so much to do and so little energy for accomplishing it, so the extra time has been helpful.

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Millions of American schoolchildren are returning to their routine today after the Thanksgiving holiday, along with the many workers who were fortunate enough to have a bit of time off.

Usually, the return to school and work is a pleasant one. Having had a break, we feel refreshed and relaxed and eager to reconnect with classmates or coworkers.

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A teenage friend revealed — in front of his mother! — that sometimes, he doesn’t want to play video games.

I suppose three months of being on lockdown will do that to even the most devoted gamer.

“Sometimes, I just feel like…why am I playing?” And when this thought occurs to him, he might get up to eat or use the bathroom. Maybe he’ll even go outside.

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It’s difficult for many of us to make behavior changes that will benefit us in the long term.

From sticking to an exercise routine to keeping a healthy diet to saving money, we must prioritize the future ahead of our immediate circumstances in order to follow through. This can be very uncomfortable and unnatural, but the payoff becomes evident down the line.

After awhile, we’ve built a new habit and gotten used to this cycle. We learn to associate eating healthy food with feeling good. We come to enjoy the feeling of virtue that comes with following our budget or our exercise plan.

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I was hanging out in a bus station (as one does), eavesdropping (as one does) as an an older man made conversation with the slightly younger one behind the counter.

“So…do you get free travel?”

“Yes.”

“Year round, or just two weeks a year?”

“Year round.”

“Ahhh…but you don’t have year round vacation,” said the older man with a note of regret in his voice.

“I’m working on that,” said the man behind the counter.

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