March 29, 2021 by

My name is Hannah Salyer. I’m from Jonesborough, Tennessee, and this is my junior year here at Cedarville. I guess you could say that I’m nerdy since I love words and writing so much that I decided to major in professional writing and information design.

As a junior, I know firsthand that college life can go from zero to a hundred much quicker than expected. I learned that I had much less free time in college than in high school very early in my first semester at Cedarville. It is so easy to become overwhelmed and burnt out by all the many responsibilities we have as college students. Rest is necessary for our bodies and souls, but finding the time to rest in college can be challenging; however, it is not impossible. As you consider Cedarville, start thinking of ways that you can work to balance school work and rest. Here are some practical ways that I have found to make sure that I give my mind, soul, and body the rest it needs!:

 

Plan Well and Avoid Procrastinating

Procrastinating is quite simply one of the strongest temptations college students face. Have you experienced this in high school yet? Not only is it not good for your academic performance, but it hinders your rest. Staying up all night to study for an exam or finish a paper can affect your sleep cycle for the rest of the week. It sure makes for a long week waiting for Friday.

Procrastination is usually accompanied by poor planning. It is important to look ahead and see what assignments you have coming up that you may be able to get a head start on. Starting an assignment early and spending small amounts of time working on it each day allows you to take more time to rest throughout the week. By not procrastinating and planning ahead on homework, nothing will catch you by surprise and prevent you from getting a good night’s rest or hanging out with friends to refresh your body and mind.

 

Learn What Makes You Feel Refreshed

Everyone’s personality is different, and everyone finds different ways to rest. There are typically two types of people when it comes to feeling energized and refreshed: those who need alone time and those who need to be around people. Some, like myself, feel the most refreshed after coffee or dinner with a friend and start to feel the most exhausted when they spend time alone. Others find social gatherings tiring and need to be alone in their room watching their favorite TV show to feel refreshed. 

Take time to do whatever leaves you feeling rested. Whether it is hanging out with friends, watching a movie, spending time outdoors, or just getting a good night’s sleep, take the time to practice these things regularly.  

 

Avoid Overcommitting Yourself

I get it. You are standing in a sea of tables promoting different organizations and ministries at the Involvement Fair and you just want to participate in them all. While it is so tempting and fun to be involved in many different areas of campus, it is not always wise. There is such a thing as being too busy. You may feel that you can handle a heavy workload, but eventually you will become overwhelmed and exhausted. When you stretch yourself thin, you are not able to give each of your responsibilities the attention they deserve or need to be done well.

As you consider what you want to be involved in, make sure that you are prioritizing your school work and what is important to you. When you let yourself go crazy, you will experience burn out. Trust me, you can talk to a lot of students that have experienced this. Feel free to consider the organizations we have before you come to Cedarville to think through what you may want to get involved in! Consider how your schedule will affect your ability to rest when joining different activities on campus. 

 

Observe the Sabbath

 

God created the Sabbath for a reason; we need to rest. It is not only essential to our physical health, but our mental and spiritual health as well. Setting a specific time every week to rest physically while also meditating on Scripture is good for your soul. 

We see in Genesis 2:3 that God “blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” God later commanded Israel to keep the Sabbath when He gave them the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:8-11). Because He had declared this day holy and had rested from His work, God commanded Israel to do the same after a week full of work so that they may be refreshed (Ex. 23:12). 

I spend most of my Saturdays doing homework so that I can spend Sunday resting, spending time in the Word of God, and fellowshipping with other believers. Starting my week refreshed mind, body, and soul sets my week on a trajectory toward productivity and effective service of others. Your Sabbath does not have to be Sunday. The day of the week is not important as long as you take intentional time out of your week to seek rest in the Lord. 

It is important to take time to rest in college, not just for your physical wellbeing, but your spiritual and mental health as well. Resting will allow you to perform better in school, but it will also allow you to serve and minister to others to your fullest capacity. Consider finding ways to fit rest into your schedule now so that you can feel prepared as you start your exciting journey as a Yellow Jacket!

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