Seton Magazine Catholic Homeschool Articles, Advice & Resources
College life can be hectic, even frantic at times. Collegiate studies demand a great deal of time and energy. Sometimes the round of research papers, cramming for exams and endless reading lists can seem overwhelming. Burning the candle at both ends can easily result in a severe case of academic burn-out. The danger must be minimized, even if it cannot be eliminated entirely. A student must take some time to step back, take a deep breath and just simply relax.
A good notion to keep in mind is the fact that God ordained one day a week for rest and recuperation. A student would be well-advised to keep that day holy and reserved as much as possible for personal refreshment. So, what to do?
Obviously there will be times when a particular dreaded exam will take place on early Monday morning. Some study is often necessary on a Sunday. But, as much as possible, a student should attempt to step back from the “job” of education and do something a bit different. The term “recreation” should be taken to mean just what it says: on Sunday after Mass a student should get back to the real person behind the books and re-create the self.
A student is not a “studying machine” but a beloved child of God, and time should be taken to think about that on a regular basis. Sunday should find a student getting out of the rut a bit and doing some very human, relaxing things, throwing a ball around for a while, or taking a hike, or sharing a pizza and chatting about things other than school.
Keeping one day a week to enjoy being God’s own child and acting like one is a great help for remaining sane in an intellectual hot-house!
