Rest and relaxation are important mental health aspects, not just during summer break but all year long. 

As a student just starting my senior year of high school–my last year as a high schooler–I have to admit I’m excited about getting back to class. 

Over the summer, I had more time to relax, which was great. Relaxation or downtime is important and it’s essential for our health. With the start of the new school year, I have to remember the importance of down time and to be sure to work it in, between classes, applying to college, and all the other activities that make up my week. 

We all know about the “summer slide,” where students lose academic skills and knowledge over summer break. Other than knowing that we must stay focused on our education, we also must stay focused on our mental health. 

Keep your mind active. It’s not like we’re Olympic athletes who need to train 24/7, but it’s important for students, including myself, to stay motivated and focused on our goals. Outside of school, it is good to keep our minds moving. This doesn’t have to be much, but even something simple, like a hobby, can keep our minds sharp. 

This past summer, I volunteered at a hospital where I cared for special needs kids, stayed involved with organizations like Learning First Alliance, and even read a book. Okay the last one was required reading, but hey, it’s something. 

Having some time to relax and recharge, either at a camp, at work, or just hanging with friends, is still important so that we can prepare our brains for what’s ahead of us. Engaging in new activities can also help us explore new interests and expand our knowledge beyond what we’ve learned in the classroom.

Rest and staying academically active are good for our academic performance, mental health, and well-being. Taking time to relax and recharge helps reduce stress and prevent burnout. It also keeps our minds engaged and gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment, boosting our confidence and overall health. These experiences will hopefully carry through in the new school year.

There are many different educational activities we can engage in, such as reading books on topics of interest, playing educational games, conducting fun science experiments, preparing for college, and diving deeper into our hobbies. While not all of these activities may sound intriguing, choosing something you enjoy will help keep your mind active and continuing to learn all year round. This, in turn, will keep our minds awake and prepared for the school year, as well as energized for the new year to avoid the summer slump and get a break from school overload!

Our free time is ours to shape, and we choose what we do with it. This means we can also choose how we recharge, and how and what we learn.

–written by Olivia Kanterman. Olivia is a high school senior from New Jersey and student health advocate. She is a member of the Unity Consortium’s Teen Advisory Board and serves as Student National Health Ambassador for the Learning First Alliance.