By Staff Writer: Trinidad Carrasco
College isn’t nonstop work, and it shouldn’t be. Taking a break after studying or finishing part of an assignment is normal. Stepping away for a few minutes can actually help you come back clearer. The issue is not the break itself. It’s when the break slowly becomes avoidance.
Most students know the difference. A real break has a stopping point. Avoidance doesn’t. You tell yourself you’ll scroll for five minutes, and suddenly it’s been thirty. The assignment is still open, and now there’s less time to complete it. Phones aren’t the enemy. They’re part of daily life in college. The real challenge is recognizing when you’re resting and when you’re delaying something that needs to get done.
College already comes with enough pressure. Turning short breaks into longer delays only adds to it. The goal isn’t to remove distractions completely. It’s to be honest about them. You’re not alone. I struggle with this too. To help, I set alarms on my laptop, so they go off and force me to get up and look at what needs to be done. I also put my phone to charge across the room so I can’t reach for it when I get bored. Don’t give up. It’s not too much longer before summer break hits.