By Sayuri Vargas-Hernandez, Staff Writer
On campus, the pressure to stay busy never sleeps. If you’re not doing something, are you falling behind as a student?
Even when there are no homework or projects due, there is always a feeling of pressure to stay busy.
Weekends, which should be a time to relax, often turn into catch-up days. The question arises: Why does resting make students feel guilty?
“Guilt about resting can have several effects on a student’s mental health. For example, they might feel anxious, which could make them have a difficult time resting or sleeping. They might be more likely to have decreased academic performance and lower self-esteem,” said Dr. Tammy Zacchilli, professor of psychology and associate editor of Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research.
One of the main reasons is the pressure always to succeed. On campus and online, students often see their peers doing a lot of work, working jobs, joining clubs, and getting good grades. It can make them feel as if they’re not busy and falling behind.
Social media can make this even worse as only the best parts of people’s lives are usually shown. This makes students start to believe that being busy means being successful.
It makes it even harder for students who work to help their families or worry about money. They feel like they don’t have enough time to rest.
Taking a break can feel wrong and like a waste of time. This kind of thinking can lead to stress and burnout.
“Burnout happens when someone has high levels of stress over time. Students might push themselves to do more and more rather than taking a break. Then they get to a point of exhaustion where they might not do their best work,” said Dr. Zacchilli.
When students don’t rest, they get tired and lose focus. They may even stop enjoying school.
To fix this, students need to change how they think about success. Success is not just about grades or achievements. It’s also about health, happiness, and having a balance.
Rest does not mean laziness, as it’s important for the body and mind. It helps students feel better, think clearly, and do their best work.
Students deserve time to relax, breathe, and enjoy life. Success is not only about what you do, it’s also about how you feel while doing it.
It’s important to remind students that they are more than their to-do lists. They are students who deserve peace, joy, and time to recharge. Rest is not a weakness; it’s a strength because you are recharging for the week.
