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Tuition-free week is here, and while it might be tempting to treat it like a catch-up sprint, there’s something else you should consider: rest. Real rest. Not just closing your laptop for five minutes between tasks, but intentionally stepping away from the pressure to always be ‘on.’
University life runs at a fast pace. Between classes, assignments, part-time work and social commitments, it’s easy to feel like if you stop for a moment, you’ll fall behind. But rest isn’t falling behind—it’s necessary for keeping up in the long run. This tuition-free week is a chance to reset, not just re-organise.
Why rest matters—especially now
Tuition-free week is built into the academic calendar for a reason. It’s not just a buffer for assessments or a quiet week before exams ramp up. It’s a chance to pause. When you don’t give yourself space to slow down, stress piles up. Sleep gets shorter, focus gets worse and motivation starts to drop. You might still get things done, but it takes more energy and feels less satisfying.
This break is your opportunity to step out of survival mode and let your body and mind recover. That’s not laziness. It’s maintenance.
Rest makes you smarter, not slower
Taking breaks actually improves how you learn. When you rest, your brain processes and stores the information you’ve already taken in. That’s why ideas suddenly click when you’re out for a walk or zoning out in the shower. Constant input without downtime just creates mental noise.
If you use this week to rest, you’ll come back sharper. Essays will feel less overwhelming. Studying will take less time. Your brain will actually be able to do what it’s supposed to.
You don’t need to “earn” rest
Some students feel guilty resting unless they’ve ticked off every item on their to-do list. But here’s the thing: there will always be more to do. If you wait until you’ve earned rest, you’ll never take it. Tuition-free week doesn’t need to be packed with productivity. It’s okay if you don’t finish everything. It’s okay if you spend a day doing nothing that would look “productive” on paper.
You’re not a machine. You don’t need to justify taking care of yourself.
Rest looks different for everyone
For some people, rest is a full day in bed with a show and snacks. For others, it’s going outside, seeing friends or doing something creative. It doesn’t need to be fancy or perfectly planned. It just needs to give your brain and body a break from pressure.
This tuition-free week, don’t just ask yourself what you should be doing. Ask yourself what you need. Maybe that’s a study session. Maybe it’s sleep. Maybe it’s just breathing space. Take it. Use the break. Not just to catch up—but to come back better.
