By J.D. Eddy, Editorial Editor
Take some time for yourself. Take a break. Get away from this routine you have yourself in.
As a collegiate athlete and someone who works, my day is full of workouts, practices, photography, being at the vet’s office and doing homework for my master’s course.
Doing all of these things means that I get home late, and I do not have much time for myself or self-reflection. Even a week-long break can help to alleviate some of this stress, allowing me to mentally recharge.
With all of these activities, it is difficult to maintain my schedule, but somehow I get it done. No matter how hard I try, even the best scheduling cannot account for mental fatigue. The thing is figuring out how to manage it.
That can include going out on the weekends, taking naps if you have time or finding a hobby to help take your mind off things.
There are several benefits to taking vacations from your regular life. One is better sleep, and if you’re a college student, that is something we all love. Better heart health is another benefit, and that leads to more energy that accumulates throughout the day.
Taking a break can increase your productivity and lead to better performance in sports, work, school and anything in everyday life. Something else that is beneficial for most college students is reducing stress.
College students today are exposed to more stress than any other time in history.
According to the American Psychological Association, eight in 10 college students experience stress bouts on a regular basis. For clarification, this is 80% of students who attend universities, but most of these cases are not what you would consider major.
Reducing stress ties in to better heart health, better sleep schedules and greater productivity.
I have talked about taking short breaks before, but today, I am talking about the need to take a real vacation. It is good to get away from the environment that you are constantly around.
For me, that is Alva. I love this place; the people are amazing and create such a healthy environment for us to flourish. But there is not a lot to do. We are in the same cycle almost every single day. It becomes mentally draining on an individual, leading to them not wanting to be here anymore.
You need a break, some time away, and that is why I think spring break is one of the best holidays away from school. Students get a week off to have a great time with friends. It is easily one of the best breaks besides summer.
As always, if you agree or disagree with some of the things that we write about here at Northwestern News, write a letter to the editor. We’d love to hear your feedback or opinions.