Remember to call your boss and let him know that you need to take Monday off because you have a doctor's appointment. Remember to take the quiz due tonight and do the homework beforehand so you understand the material. Remember that there is an online test due Sunday night. Remember to start the lab report that is due next week. Remember to tell her "Happy Birthday" on Thursday and to send a card in the mail. Remember to bring something to work on Wednesday for the get together. In the mean time, find time to eat, sleep, exercise, catch up with friends, spend time with your boyfriend and do any small tasks that come up in the meantime. You think that's busy? That isn't even including the addition of social media or binge-watching Netflix.
College students are constantly busy—it's just a part of college life. There are always so many things to do and never a sufficient amount of time. Every day it's go, go, go until we hit the sheets to rest for the few hours of sleep we fit into our schedule. This type of lifestyle is one of the reasons college it so difficult for many people. Sometimes the fast-paced life catches up with us and we react by giving up, putting off assignments, alienating ourselves from our friends, overeating, breaking down or many other reactions triggered by being overwhelmed with stress.
When you are constantly requiring yourself to move and keep going without rest, your brain never gets a chance to breathe. Add that to the fact that in college you are trying to feed your brain an immense amount of information that is difficult to process. Our brains need rest, and not just in the form of sleeping. According to Psychology Today, you are unable to think creatively and strategically if you do not allow your brain to rest. Additionally, they also say that being under stress causes your brain to release the stress hormone cortisol, which is known to damage the part of your brain responsible for learning and memory. From these statements, it can be seen that stressing about all of the tasks involved in a college life, added to the lack of mental rest, can cause a college student to perform at a lower level as their learning capabilities are lessened.
What are we to do then? Many college students treat themselves to a "break" by watching YouTube videos, playing on their favorite app or some type of entertainment related to electronics. Unfortunately, this does not actually give your brain a true rest, especially if you are multitasking. Psychology Today also found that multitasking limits thinking abilities and spending an excessive amount of time online can lead to anxiety and depression. It may not seem like you spend that much time on electronics or social media, but if you really counted up every time you simply check your phone during the day, that alone would shock you.
I have found that allowing myself about thirty minutes each day to sit and give my mind a chance to wander and attempt to and control my thoughts, keeping them away from tasks and to-do lists, helps me recharge and think deeply. It alleviates stress and gives me time to focus on my mental health. I can examine the root of stress in my life and things I am holding on to that instead I could let go of and forget about. Your brain really does need a break, so give it a rest.
