Treat Yourself: Take A Real Break
We made it!
After a – far from normal – semester, it has finally come to an end. As a grad student, I know how hard we all have worked day in and day out and just don’t know how we are going to tell your brain to slowwwww downnnn. Me either, but I feel like this time we all need this and it is a well needed break.
Is there some way that as a grad student we can take full advantage of this break but without feeling guilty of not doing work?
I looked up the definition of guilty on Oxford Languages. Here are the first two results:
adjective
culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing.
-
- justly chargeable with a particular fault or error.
- conscious of or affected by a feeling of guilt.
We are not committing any wrongdoing. If we don’t utilize this break as a “ real break” then we may be doing more wrong to yourself. Guilt shouldn’t feel like a moral issue. And taking a break should not make you feel guilty, when at times it is necessary. Like now. As the few weeks of the break go by, you may start to worry how many emails you will return to. How many meetings you will have missed. And you feel guilty for ever taking this break literal, in the first place.
The hustle culture has gotten into our heads. The word hustle made us think we can’t eat, breathe or sleep unless it’s benefiting our goals. If you indulge in any of those things, you obviously don’t want to be successful, right? WRONG.
We’re taught to study hard at school, so you can go get a job. Then work even harder so you can finally start living your life. Use this break to live your life. Think of it like this: you’re not slacking, your’re recharging. Recharging your brain, your body, and keeping your mental health sane. When you have a certain goal you’re trying to reach, it’s hard to take those off days but they are valuable.
Give yourself permission to relax, and decide now what things you want to do – here’s a few ideas:
-Sleep
-Walk
-Read a new book
-Mediate
-Spend time with family
With the holidays coming up, make the most of those holiday traditions. This holiday season of course will look a little different size wise, but still make the best of it.
“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.”
Parker Palmer
Sleep and recovery are just as good as getting your work done. Everyone needs a break from work from time to time, to stay sane. You’ve gone hard for the past three months, and most of us at this point have been running on empty. The point is you’re not slacking when you take this break, your’re being smart and recharging. So please, don’t throw away your precious days working, then feeling guilty on the rare occasions when you’re not.
