As a freshman newly acquitted to campus, days can often feel exhausting. Constantly chasing one thing after another whether it’s going to the next class, trying to change the laundry before someone else takes it out, or turning in assignments on time, college life creates an expectation that everything immediately needs to be figured out. The common consensus with college students is that time always needs to be filled, whether it’s working out, hanging out with friends, studying or going out. The pressure to be active is very present. But sometimes, especially on a bad day, the best thing to do is nothing at all.
Benefits to Taking a Break
Everyone deserves a reset. Society constantly tells college students to make the most out of their time, but that doesn’t mean that every free moment needs to be filled with something. Whether it’s between classes or before hanging out with friends, schedule time out of the day to take a break. Oftentimes when exhausted from the day, forcing to keep going doesn’t make productivity but in reality creates frustration. Clearing the mind makes it easier to focus when the rest of the tasks for the day need to be completed.
Taking a Break Can…
● Prevents burnouts
● Improve focus (stepping away from assignments for awhile can make it easier to concentrate when returning)
● Improves mood – especially when breaks are needed while doing something genuinely enjoyable!
● Helps to be more present
● Reminds students that their worth isn’t based on their productivity – their value is not correlated to the amount of things they can get done in the day!
Relaxing Can be Productive; It Doesn’t Need to Feel Guilty
Taking a break can oftentimes feel scary for people who feel guilty when they aren’t doing something productive. Having an assignment or task in the back of students’ minds makes it hard to enjoy their well deserved break. It can also often feel like they are falling behind or wasting time, especially in college when everyone around them seems to be busy and have the same mindset that every single hour should be used for something “worthwhile” – studying, socializing, exercising, etc.
However, relaxing is oftentimes the best way to wind down and recharge to make the most out of the next activity ahead. Without time to decompress, even the smallest responsibilities can start to feel exhausting.
How Doing Nothing has Helped Me
After a long day of classes and studying, watching tv, taking a walk alone, or reading a book can help students unwind and make college feel more manageable. So, next time students have nothing on their schedule or to-do list for the day, deter those negative thoughts from thinking about what should be done. Because the truth is, they are never going to be checking off the last thing on their list or writing down the last assignment in their calendar. Something will always need to be finished. Instead, take time to relax without feeling guilty or feeling unproductive. Don’t put so much pressure to always be productive, social, or have everything figured out. Sometimes, taking a break is exactly what is needed to move forward.