Browsing: relaxation

We live in a culture that glorifies business. A culture that says a packed schedule makes you successful. However, taking time to slow down and do nothing is not only OK — it’s necessary. Rest isn’t some guilty pleasure to be earned after pulling an all-nighter or completing a marathon study session. It’s a basic need. When was the last time you permitted yourself to just… be? No deadlines, no to-do lists, just a moment of calm where you could catch your breath.

The idea of summer being this beautiful time of year for a break is just not reality. Summer is a sweaty and preoccupied time. This is not to say that I have never had fun during the summer, because I have. I am just pointing out that it is not all it is talked up to be and that there are better seasons in the year.

America faces a fundamental issue: We lack a place to go that is neither “work” nor “home.” We define this space as the “third place” — a space for recreation where one can simply exist — and its absence is an ongoing problem in how we structure our cities, exacerbated by the rise of phone use.

In the realm of college life, where academics and extracurricular activities dominate, it is hard to think of hobbies that allow students to decompress. In a world that is perpetually on the go, shopping stands out as a sanctuary where one can simply just be.

Yes, it is relieving to relax and turn your brain off, but don’t forget you’re a guest wherever you’re staying — even if it’s home. Leaving for holiday breaks, you may be excited not to worry about a sink full of dishes or which roommate is going to take the trash out. That being said, be prepared to pitch in and help where possible.

Though many of us may believe it’s time to relax, that is not the consensus for all college students. I mean, there’s dozens of movies about the notorious week in March when college students go crazy on beaches and get in all sorts of trouble.

Saturday exams should not be allowed. The weekend is meant for rest and relaxation, not taking the most important test of the semester.

It is hard to balance relaxation and work in college. It is honestly paradoxical. I have long accepted college is just plain stressful. College is a lot of work, and it is work that is really worth it. It is good preparation for the stress that comes with working a job in the real world™, and it teaches you many valuable skills.

While you undoubtedly need to spend time with friends and family and participate in fun group activities, you weren’t made to be social 100% of the time. Indeed, a balance exists among work, rest and play, and it’s time we embrace it.