For many students, winter break is a much-necessary respite from the school stress. After months of assignments, homework, tests, and early mornings, the break offers a chance to step away from school stress and focus on rest, family, and personal time. Although winter break may feel short and brief, its impact on students’ mental health and motivation is meaningful.
For junior Joseph Chiposi, the first sign that winter break had begun was a conversion in his sleeping schedule.
“When winter break started, I slept way longer than I usually do at school,” Chiposi said.
Outside the pressure of waking up in the early morning and rushing to class, Chiposi considered that his daily schedule became peaceful and motionless. He also explained that not constantly thinking about homework or upcoming tests helped his condition.
“Not constantly thinking about homework, quizzes, or tests made me feel more positive,” Chiposi said.
Freshman Sahar Farid narrated that winter break plays an important role regardless of supporting students mentally reset. According to her, the break allows students to refresh their minds and have the opportunity to recover energy by spending time with family and friends. Returning to school after break might feel difficult, however the students believe the benefits outweigh the struggle.
“Coming back to school can feel tough, but studying after a break feels easier because your mind is refreshed,” Farid said.
Sophomore Ibrahim Brown also noticed a major difference in regard to how he felt once the winter break began. He explained that his mood changed almost immediately.
“My mood went from stressed to calm as soon as winter break started because I finally had time to relax,” Brown said.
He expressed winter break as feeling fast and slow at the same time. During the break, the days felt long, however once it ended, it felt like it went by quickly. Brown also added that if someone would have followed him around during the winter break, they would probably be surprised by how relaxed and chill he is.
Although the winter break would eventually come to an end, despite this, many students agree that the time away from school helps them return with a clearer mindset, by giving the students a chance to rest, reflect, and recharge.
