WHY YOU NEED TO REST AND RECHARGE. (BY NILE FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND)
In college, being busy is normal. Between taking a full load of classes, leading organizations, interning and having a social life, it can be difficult to take out time for yourself.
Personally, throughout my entire life, I've seen my mom work super hard because she is a businesswoman. Seeing her work hard makes me push myself, but I am constantly reminded that taking time off is essential.
Also, as someone who deals with anxiety, it is even more crucial that I take time to rest. I am constantly working, whether it be studying for an exam, or creating a presentation for my internship that I can use for my professional portfolio. Sometimes I feel like if I stop for even a minute, I'm going to miss something.
I would feel guilty about watching an episode of my favorite show on Netflix instead of starting my homework. I would feel guilty about taking a nap in the middle of the day (if I COULD). I would feel guilty about sitting down to sip a cup of tea instead of walking quickly around campus with my infamous cup of iced coffee.
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I hit a point at the end of the semester where I just felt burnt out. According to an article from Forbes, burnout is described as "an extended period of time where someone experiences exhaustion and a lack of interest in things." I was working so hard to the point where the work stressed me out.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my studies and everything that I am involved in on campus, but I have a habit of pushing myself so hard that it sometimes gets in the way of my own well-being.
When the semester finally came to an end, I spent the entire day sleeping, and I put my phone on Do Not Disturb. I did not even understand how tired I was until I finally had the time to sleep without having to wake up to go to class, work or an event. Having "Me Day" is so essential.
Also, as I have mentioned in my past articles, I have been learning how to say "No," and not to feel bad about it. Sometimes it's okay to say that you cannot commit to something, or that you simply do not feel like doing something because you need that time for yourself.
After taking the time to rest, I found myself more relaxed, and actually ready to take on the world. You cannot give your 100 percent to tasks when you're tired.
Rest also exists in different forms. Sleeping is the most common form of rest, but there are some other things you can do! I personally consider rest as anything that does not involve mental or emotional stress. Rest can also be:
- Eating a good meal.
- Drinking a hot cup of coffee/tea.
- Relaxing/doing something with friends.
- Taking a walk in the park.
- Doing your nails.
- Going to the museum or another quiet space.
- Painting/drawing.
I personally enjoy sleeping, drinking hot tea or hanging out with my friends, but resting is different for different people.
Sometimes you have to take a step back from everything, and take of yourself and enjoy the things that around you. What do you do to recharge? Let me know by tweeting me @NaturallyNi!
Nile is the Founder of Nerdy Naturals. She is a senior Communication major with minors in Chinese and Tech Entrepreneurship. In her free time she enjoys dancing, drinking coffee, jogging and reading. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and email nerdynaturals@gmail.com to be a Nerdy Naturals contributor.
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