In a culture that is constantly urging young people to do more, achieve more, and be more, rest can begin to feel like failure. For many of us, especially students, free time is not relaxing and is often beseiged by feelings of guilt.
Stress has a way of pursuing us, even into moments that are meant to be times of relief. Whether you are sitting down to watch a show, scrolling on your phone, or reading something for enjoyment, you may find your mind wandering towards everything you “should” be doing. That paper. That email. Any responsibility you haven’t gotten to yet. Instead of enjoying the time you have set aside to recharge, you are riddled with anxiety. You may even convince yourself that you are falling behind simply by taking a break.
I have felt this deeply, especially during my last semester at UMass. There are times when I am not working but not relaxing either. It feels as though I am stuck between two modes, too overwhelmed to work, but too guilty to rest. Personally, it has been exhausting for me to exist in this space day in and day out.
But here is the truth that we do not hear nearly enough: rest is not the opposite of productivity, but rather, an important part of it.
Taking care of yourself is not a waste of time. It is necessary maintenance that is often neglected or rushed. You would not expect your phone to last on 1% of battery, so you cannot expect yourself to function without giving your mind and body time to recover. I notice a difference when I go throughout my day with little to no rest, versus when I allow myself time for self-care. Rest allows me to return to my work with a clear head, which enables me to put in my best effort.
Most importantly, rest is an act of self-respect and self-love. When you allow yourself to pause without guilt, you are acknowledging that your worth is not dependent on how much you get done in a day. You are not a machine. You are a person who deserves compassion and relaxation.
Relearning how to relax is by no means an easy feat. It takes practice to sit still without self-judgement. Personally, I still struggle with relaxing and allowing my body to productively recharge. When I am not doing my work, I get anxiety over the compounding list of things I have to do. When I get this anxiety, I tend to freeze and avoid my work. This cycle has ruled my life for many years, and it has made enjoying things difficult.
I have been practicing mindful relaxation recently, and it has given me a new outlook on what taking a break can look like. Most of the time when I wasn’t working, I was on my phone, watching short-form content for hours. There is no denying that this type of content is not the healthiest, especially for young women. We are bombarded with constantly evolving beauty standards and people telling us that every waking moment has to be planned and followed to a tee.
Relaxation is productive. I cannot say it enough. Instead of scrolling on your phone before bed, watch a show or turn on some music, and actually try to sleep. It sounds simple, but I know I struggle to fall asleep when I am on my phone, and it usually happens only because I am exhausted.
Another thing I have been doing is setting aside time specifically to rest. Whether I am watching a movie, reading, or using my phone during this time, it makes me feel better to have the time to do so.
The next time you feel guilty about taking a break, try reframing it. You’re not being lazy or unproductive. You’re investing in your well-being, and that is one of the most productive things you can do.
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