After spending almost four years in college, it goes without saying that I have learned a lot. At this point, I can decipher complex legal proceedings, explain the intricacies of many mental disorders, and even name all of the bones and muscles in the body.
However, the most important thing I have learned in college was not found in a lecture or textbook (even though it should be). The most pertinent (and hardest) lesson I have learned thus far is that rest is not a reward, and self care is not optional.
In a college environment where all-nighters and marathon study sessions are the norm, this can be something that is very difficult to grasp. For a long time, I equated working hard with being sleep deprived, caffeine ridden and spending hours indoors studying. Being painfully and consistently busy meant that I was committed and successful.
And I was, if you look at it from a purely academic standpoint. My grades were great! But my mental state? Not so much.
In times where I was absolutely swamped with work, I found myself feeling overwhelmed, anxious and frustrated all the time. I felt irritable and tired, and oftentimes my stress became psychosomatic. A lot of people might just brush this off as things you’re supposed to feel around finals, but it should not be normalized. While these can be symptoms of stress, they are also symptoms of exhaustion and burn out.
I happen to be a very hard headed person, so the easiest way to convince me of something is with scientific evidence and data. As it turns out, there is an incredible amount of research that shows how important self care is (especially sleep).
A study done at the University of Minnesota found a significant correlation between average amount of sleep in a week and GPA- they found that students who were getting less sleep tended to have lower GPAs. Another study, this time done at Brigham and Women's Hospital, found that female college students who had sleep debt greater than 2 hours had a higher risk of reporting depressive symptoms than those who slept an adequate amount. This article, written by Boise State student Robert Palmer, does a great job explaining why it is so important for college students to meet basic needs and recognize sources of stress. Finally, this article from American Intercontinental University discusses how exercising, drinking water and eating nutritious food improve brain function and memory, both of which are essential in college. Statistically speaking, we are better in every regard if we are rested.
One quote that comes up frequently in the realm of self-care is "you can't pour from an empty cup.", meaning that you can't give to others or other responsibilities before you give to yourself first. It is in our best interest to sleep, eat well, and socialize, not only for academic performance but for our mental health as well. Success doesn't matter if you aren't happy in the end.
And frankly, it is high time we teach this to our students before we teach them things that are significantly less relevant and important, such as square dancing or the Pythagorean theorem. Still haven't used either.
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