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How do you manage to relax on breaks when you could be working? #Fall25

As I type this, it is the first day of Thanksgiving break. I have tons of homework to do but am completely unmotivated; however, I also feel like I could be spending my time being productive whenever I'm trying to relax. Not to mention I also need to up my game on extracurriculars. What do I do? #Fall25

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Yoav’s Answer

It is incredibly relatable that you are struggling with the guilt of resting, especially when you know there are responsibilities like homework and extracurriculars waiting, and it takes real maturity to recognize that need for balance, so please know that what you are feeling is a very common part of being an ambitious, hard-working student. To truly manage your breaks, you need to recognize that rest is not the opposite of productivity; instead, it is an essential component that recharges your mind and body so you can tackle your work more effectively and efficiently when you return to it, making relaxation an investment, not a waste of time. To make your relaxation more successful, try scheduling it: look at your break, decide on one or two blocks of time that are completely dedicated to genuine rest—no studying, no checking emails, just an activity you truly enjoy—and then commit to being fully present in that downtime, knowing that you have also scheduled time for your obligations. Once you've had that dedicated, guilt-free rest, you'll find you have the renewed focus and motivation to address your homework and extracurriculars with much higher quality, ensuring you achieve a healthy and sustainable pace. Remember to treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend who needs a break, because taking care of your well-being is the most important prerequisite for all your success; good luck managing your break.
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Akshat
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Dianne’s Answer

Hi Akshat! As others mentioned, this is incredibly relatable and I think something everyone can use an answer to! This is a skill you will need not just to balance homework, but in a variety of situations during and after your school career! I posed this question to my group of teammates I'm in a meeting with right now, and here's some ideas we came up with!

- Have a pet or something you can focus on instead of work/homework
- Recognize that having breaks and down time is what enables you to do quality work later - even though you CAN work all the time, the quality of that work is going to degrade if you don't rest and reset.
- Get good night's sleep!
- Try to recognize and let go of feeling guilty for spending time with your family in situations like this where that's the purpose of the break!
- Considering the homework ahead of you, is there a possibility that you may be pressuring yourself to finish too early or return more than what is needed? Partnering with a family member or friend to thought-check you here may help.
- If you're anxious about balance, it can help if you timebox your relaxation time, and then free yourself to enjoy the relaxation time, but get back to work when it's done.
- Review Stephen Covey's time management matrix - it can help you prioritize what you should work on first.
- Give yourself permission to relax. Many times we hold ourselves accountable to unrealistic expectations and feel guilty if we lift that burden from ourselves even for a short time. Giving yourself permission to do that is really important. Grab a family member, friend or coworker to help!
- Regarding extracurriculars, be choosy about which ones you pursue, because you can't pursue all of them. Extracurriculars should spark joy and give you rejuvenation, not be another burden to carry.

I echo what the other answer has said, rest and relaxation is a critical need for you as a person, in addition to enabling you to do your best work. Now go rest and relax!
Thank you comment icon Loved reading this, thanks! Akshat
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Shannon’s Answer

Make sure you prioritize rest and taking care of yourself. Prioritizing is key, of course, but we all need to make sure we have the energy and wherewithal to continue on.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate your support, Shannon Akshat
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