Western students have a tendency to be perfectionists, meaning we strive to be the best at everything we do. This hunger for success is part of why I love our student population—we get sh*t done. But, it is also why I am concerned for us.
Students (myself included) often put enormous pressure on themselves to succeed academically. I often witness peers bragging about pulling all-nighters, spending copious amount of time in Weldon Library, and talking about how little sleep they can survive on. This only intensifies as school progresses with midterm season, sometimes yet another midterm season (ugh), and then finals. This can culminate in four months of limited sleep and high stress. Then, we do it all again come January. This is a completely unsustainable practice that brings severe consequences. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that routine, sustained stress “may contribute to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses, as well as mental disorders like depression or anxiety.” The National Sleep Foundation suggests that there is “some evidence of a link between insufficient sleep and the risk of cancer.” While some of these effects can be immediately obvious, other illnesses and diseases develop over time, only becoming apparent years later. A culmination of four years of unhealthy practices seems like plenty of time for the beginning of serious health concerns.
Humans are impressionable. We naturally adopt the behaviours of those around us. In this case, when our peers engage in pushing beyond healthy limits and falsely label their burnout an accomplishment, we follow suit. For example, spending an all-nighter at Weldon should not be on anyone’s school year bucket list, yet hoards of students bring pillows and blankets, and Snapchat themselves spending the night each exam season. People external to the student “grind” culture understand the negative effects of these practices, but it can be difficult to recognize these patterns within yourself.
Another reason why these issues continue unabated is because non-productive time is viewed as wasted time. Have you or a friend ever bragged about giving yourself an opportunity to unwind and recharge? Probably not, because our student culture does not encourage this. In fact, we find ourselves struggling to justify this time by comparing it to our studies. For example, students will say, “I spent ten hours in the library today, so I earned my break.” Actually, Inc.com reports that research supports taking a break “every 50 to 90 minutes” for optimal mental stamina. In our quest for excellence, we inadvertently get in our own way. Let’s end the idea of “earning” your rest, as it’s a prerequisite for success in our work as opposed to a reward for doing work. We are all busy people who feel like sometimes we just can’t catch a break, but the reason may be because we refuse to give ourselves one.
As you strive for excellence this year, I encourage you to ensure that doing your best comes from a comprehensive and wholesome place. Academics and extracurriculars should not come at the price of your health or sanity. Do yourself a kindness by having a social life, taking time for yourself, sleeping adequately, and rejecting harmful student practices. Our campus is student-led, so this cultural shift begins with you. Take care of each other this year, but most importantly, take care of you.
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