The Importance of Taking Breaks
With finals season approaching, I’ve been reflecting on my sophomore year. I’ve taken the time to relive tough assignments and difficulties I’ve had with my own personal journey. It’s helped me realize that even with all the good, some parts of this year have been hard. Frankly, living as a teenage girl has never been more difficult. As a perfectionist, I don’t do well when everything isn’t in order and perfectly ready to go. I freak out over singular sub-par grades. I can’t think straight if there are problems arising in my personal life. All of this anxiety has taken me down a few times, but it has taught me one important lesson: we all need to take breaks.
Like most of the teenage population, I have a hard time admitting defeat. In my case, this is especially apparent when it comes to schoolwork. I’ll work on projects and homework assignments for hours on end just to make sure I’m giving my best effort. This is nothing new — I’ve been obsessed with my grades and progress since the sixth grade. The need to succeed runs deep. However, I’ve recently experienced the imminent “high schooler burnout” which really conflicts with my #Girlboss coded DNA. I’ve had to start forcing myself to take breaks and it’s a whole new territory for me. These breaks, though, have helped me become a better student and a better person.
In the past, I would work for eight hours, become burnt out, lie around for two days, and then repeat the vicious cycle all over again. This routine fueled a lot of procrastination and lazy days. I would play the role of a productive student for a little while, and then I would barely leave my bed to do anything but go to school for days on end. Taking breaks has changed me. Now, I take time to read books, work out, and get anything done that I’ve been wanting to do but forgetting about because it didn’t seem important enough. My new plan has actually improved my grades. Since I’m not cramming for exams and finishing projects at the last minute, I have more time to turn in my work. By association, my work has become better quality, and I’m retaining a lot more of what I’m learning. As a former stressed-out student, the best step I took was creating space for breaks in my week.
Taking time to reflect and do the things I enjoy has also made me a better, more mentally-aware person. I’m making time for things like fitness, reading books, painting my nails, and spending time with friends. While doing this, I am keeping track of my mentality, and so far I’ve found that I’m a lot happier overall. Sitting down to do things for me instead of cramming all of my schoolwork into a few hours has led to fewer moments of pent-up stress. I feel more in tune with my thoughts and my body, and by definition, I’ve actually become a more productive person than when I was actively trying to be productive.
Resting and making space for breaks and recovery has changed my life. I’m not as stressed, my mood is lifted, and overall I’m a healthier person. Going into AP exams and finals this spring always seemed so daunting, but if I keep prioritizing myself, I know I’ll be just fine when testing comes around. For anyone stressing about end-of-the-year exams, take some breaks. Make some time for yourself, and soon the stress will be melting away. Happy finals season, and take care of yourselves!