Image Credit: Ben Mullins, Unsplash

“As important as it is to have a plan for doing work, it is perhaps more important to have a plan for rest, relaxation, self-care, and sleep.” After starting Year 11, I knew that I would have to do some work over the school holidays. I expected that maybe one or two assessments would have to be done during the holidays, but the reality turned out to be quite different.

In the first two weeks of Term 3, I have four assessments due, along with a book to read. This workload feels overwhelming. Maybe it’s just me, but without completing all my work, I feel unable to rest fully. It’s not the teachers’ fault, but the pressure makes it feel like there’s no chance to catch up or take a breather.

Initially, I thought I was being overly dramatic. However, after talking to my friends who were in the same boat, I realized that we all felt the same. The majority of Year 11 students felt that because of these assessments, they didn’t get a proper break. Choosing to study and do a bit of homework is manageable, but being required to complete and finish several assessments over the break leaves students burnt out before the new term has even begun.

This constant pressure impacts more than just students’ grades; it affects their attitudes towards school. Many students start to resent school more and more, which in turn makes them resent the work they have to do. This resentment negatively impacts their mindset.

When you’re constantly working without adequate time to rest and recuperate, it’s easy to see how burnout can occur. The transition from holidays back to school should be a time for students to feel refreshed and ready to learn, but instead, it feels like we are just continuing a relentless cycle of stress and work. This lack of a true break makes it difficult to maintain a healthy balance between academic responsibilities and personal well-being.

The expectation to complete multiple assessments during what is supposed to be a holiday can lead to anxiety and a sense of helplessness among students. Without proper rest, students may struggle to focus and perform at their best, which can result in lower quality work and poorer grades. This cycle of stress and underperformance can be incredibly demotivating.

When it come to assessments over holiday breaks we should all learn how to balance work and stress and rest, relaxation and selfcare. Students need time to unwind and relax before school starts up.