Grind during the week, socialize on the weekends, rinse, repeat. UT perpetuates a work-hard-play-hard mindset, but where does rest come in? Hardly ever. At such a competitive university, students are expected to excel academically, but they also want a fun college experience, so rest is sacrificed to have both.
College life gets busy from intense academics, extracurricular involvement and social pressure. UT students have to overachieve in high school to get in, and that mindset carries over to college. However, this level of work requires sacrifice, and according to a 2023 Healthy Horns survey, only 52.6% of undergraduate students met sleep recommendations on weekdays.
“Rest is more holistic in terms of that idea of restoration,” said Brittany O’Malley, director for prevention and wellness in HealthyHorns. “What is helping restore your body and your mind so that you can operate in a way that feels good and functional each day.”
Getting seven to nine hours of sleep is recommended, but experts say there are other ways to rest, such as practicing mindfulness, processing your emotions or spending some time alone.
All types of rest are imperative because they directly impact academic performance and mental health. Without enough sleep and downtime, students are more likely to struggle with concentration, memory and motivation, making studying less effective. It also impacts students’ ability to be present in fun moments.
A common misconception is that to be successful and have fun, there is no time for resting. Even with downtime, there’s a feeling of guilt or pressure to do more. The reality is that rest is an integral part of success because it helps maintain brain function and mental health. By reframing rest as productive rather than lazy, students can optimize their academic goals as well as be present to enjoy the fun moments.
“If you want to succeed academically, your body needs to be able to function,” said O’Malley. “Rest, being something that you incorporate into your day, something that isn’t just a luxury, can also help counter some of the impact that lack of sleep can also have.”
The irony of this column is that while writing about the importance of rest, I too feel guilty for resting. On a campus that glorifies exhaustion, I force myself to sit down for hours and write a column after a full day of back-to-back classes, intense workouts, running errands and navigating social issues. My body is sore, and my brain is tired. During the breaks I’ve taken from writing this, a voice in the back of my mind tells me, “You should be doing more.”
I recognize this as an issue because I struggle with it, too. Just like everyone else on campus, I want academic and career success while maintaining a social life. I also sacrifice rest in order to achieve this. However, there’s a huge difference between avoiding responsibility and regulating your nervous system. When these feelings arise, it begs the question: how can I give it my all if I don’t have my all to give?
I’m not saying to skip all your social functions and not work hard. Rather, allow yourself to recharge. Your academic performance and social life will thank you.
Cintron is a journalism junior from Houston, Texas.