It is that time of the year where college students begin to feel drained and burnt out. 

Through the gloomy winter days and many midterms, students begin to experience feelings of procrastination and laziness. The one thing that most look forward to is spring break. 

This week off of school signifies we are halfway through the semester, and it is a break from the chaos that university life has to offer. However, is a week truly a long enough break? For me, I don’t think so.

College is difficult enough as is. Depending on your major, how many classes you’re taking, if you’re working, etc., it may be harder on some more than others. 

I felt myself having to push myself more and more as the semester continued to stay on top of my schoolwork. Finally, the break has come and I don’t feel like it was long enough to recoup from the workload of the last two months. 

Studies show that longer vacations can improve mental health and increase brain power. This is especially important for college students. 

We are in a constant loop of assignments, studying and work. The repetitive cycle becomes more exhausting as the semester goes on, so having a longer break is imperative in breaking up this pattern. 

In addition to this, we have to consider the students who do not live near campus. NIU is known for being a commuter school, meaning many students live within an hour radius. 

Yet, there are still many other students who live much farther and have to drive a greater distance. Traveling back and forth takes away time and fun from one’s break, which defeats the purpose of having one.

Burnout can also lead to students skipping more classes as the semester goes on. The closer summer gets, the less motivation I have. 

This feeling is especially prominent when I am continuously doing assignments and studying every single day for weeks on end. Alonger spring break could have given me more time to relax and re-energize myself.

Bottom-line: Spring break should be longer. 

Succeeding in any environment requires optimism and enhanced mental well-being. If one is so burned out because they aren’t receiving the break they deserve, then it is hard to want to put in the work to succeed. 

Breaks aren’t taking away from time in the classroom, but ensuring that the time in the classroom is beneficial and well-spent.