I am somewhat of a perfectionist, maybe even more of a perfectionist now that I’ve come to college. I worry about getting high grades, working out at the gym the perfect amount, having consistent self-care techniques, and even eating “perfect” foods, both healthy and energizing. Because of this need to be perfect, I have a lot of lists. I have one overarching “to-do” list, a more specific “to-do today” list, a “homework to-do” list, a “Thanksgiving holiday to-do” list, a “grocery store” list, and every now and then a list dedicated to each of my college courses. Some might think that these lists are a sign of control and organization, and for the most part, they do keep me organized. However, there are days when these lists overwhelm me. There are days when I don’t want to think about my next task or when I want to eat a stack of pancakes instead of a spinach and banana smoothie.

I keep thinking back to sports magazines and athletic coaches, and I always remember the big articles about game day or the pep talks during grueling practices, but I have trouble remembering anyone really discussing rest days. Rest days for me always felt like days where I simply didn’t workout, but I’ve realized that a lot more needs to be rested than just my body.

During the week, a person faces mental, physical, and emotional stressors. A student has to study for countless exams, write papers, exercise for sports teams, socialize with friends, and still manage to show up on time. While this can sometimes be easy, there are definitely more difficult weeks, and midterm season is kind of the worst. Most of my articles have become self-care focused, and while wearing a face-mask and eating a brownie can make a day better, there are definitely times when the whole day needs to be a break, instead of just an hour.

I choose Saturdays as my rest day. I make sure to do some homework on Fridays so that I don’t have to stress about being behind, and then I shut off my technology. I wake up a little later on Saturdays, sometimes not even setting an alarm, eat a warm breakfast in my pajamas, and leave campus to do something fun. Sometimes I go to a restaurant with friends; yesterday I saw a movie. Almost every Saturday I take a nap. Most importantly, I follow my mom’s advice and refrain from checking my school email for the whole day. I give myself twenty-four hours to live in the present instead of the future. My “to-do” lists are still on my phone, but I don’t look at them, and that is pretty liberating.

There’s something pretty powerful about taking a day for myself, and I honestly feel more in control and organized when I’m giving myself a break. Life goes by pretty fast, and we think about the future much more than we do the present. For me, a rest day can provide the balance and clarity that is needed to really appreciate my time on Earth.