By: Daniel Manetin

Long breaks off from school often sound great on paper, but they can actually hit harder than students expect once school starts up again. In fact, staff who work closely with students often see the same patterns per year, and according to Graduation Coach Melissa Balser, “students that are going to struggle the most over break are students who are behind and set unrealistic expectations for themselves.” Oftentimes, the people who need the break the most end up struggling the most during it.

A lot of pressure students can accumulate over breaks comes from trying to rest and catch up at the same time. It’s a standard conflict of opposite mindsets, with the brain telling itself it’ll knock out those missing assignments, but breaking the moment the legs kick up. Ms. Balser also explained how students often say, “‘I’m gonna complete these two missing majors… or I’m gonna get to these 10 missing assignments,’ but they actually don’t.” By the time the end of the break rolls around, those assignments will likely remain missing, and the ever-present guilt sets in.

This is one of the most common appearances among students, especially when it comes to those who can easily lose routines or don’t love being at home for long stretches. As counselor Lauren Butler mentioned, “the ones who are affected the most negatively… are the ones who are having that idle time at home impact them negatively, either getting off a routine, or maybe if home life is something that isn’t as pleasant for them.” Of course, school can seem like a nuisance to most students, but it can often provide a structure or even a calm place and pace to work with, and stepping away from that for too long can tip the balance and send the workflow spiraling.

Additionally, sleep factors into this dilemma even more, even though it’s often forgotten. Breaks can quickly destroy sleep schedules with startling efficiency. Ms. Balser pointed out that “the biggest issue is the changes in sleep… staying up till two or three in the morning, playing video games,” and then trying to reset the schedule the night before school starts again. Combining the many hours spent sleeping in with the many more hours spent staying up in front of a screen is a recipe for ruin, and students will often struggle the whole week back. Even if it can be unpleasant with waking up early, the rhythm school sets, if cut off, can mess up a whole school routine in an instant.

Generally, breaks are a good tool to have, whether it’s an unexpected intermission to rest the mind or a beacon to look up to, but if not handled properly and with responsibility, they can quickly end up doing more harm than good. Resting is important for the brain and the body, but keeping a bit of structure, whether it’s a sleep schedule or some routine tasks, can keep the mind from falling out of a rhythm, making the first week back a lot less painful.