The guilt of taking breaks when everyone is busy

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Theodore Roosevelt

You have been on your laptop studying for the past few hours and finally decided to take a short break. A minute in and then all of a sudden *Ping!* you hear your phone go off. Your friend just posted, “Just had my third coffee, all set for an all-nighter.”

You feel a little voice in your head say, “Shouldn’t I be doing that too? Why am I not pulling an all-nighter as well? Am I not working hard enough?” making you feel demotivated… almost guilty for taking a break.

This is what we call the silent effects of the hustle culture. An issue faced not alone but by many, yet never really seen.

The hustle mindset we didn’t sign up for

Woman in red long sleeve holding a white and orange book — *Photo by Sumeet B via Unsplash.*

In a world that glorifies grind, productivity and well…“locking in,” many students feel the pressure to constantly do more. To the point that if they are not exhausted, it means they haven’t done enough. We wear exhaustion like a badge of honour, as if the more we stay up, the better we are than others.

Even when our bodies beg for rest, the guilt slowly creeps in. You sit on your bed scrolling through TikTok to unwind, but halfway through, your mind starts to spiral. “If everyone else is studying right now. Why am I wasting time?”

This quiet guilt isn’t just an emotional struggle, but rather embedded in the environment we are exposed to. We’ve been trained to believe that being busy equals being successful, and anything less means you’re lazy.

You are resting, not wasting time

Woman walking on a path during daytime — *Photo by Emma Simpson via Unsplash.*

We often forget that resting is also productive. Your mind is like any other muscle and needs its recovery day. Studies have shown that focus and performance improve when breaks are embedded into the routine.

Then why do students resist it? It’s because it doesn’t “look” productive and we don’t see it as a necessity.

But think about it. If you never give yourself space to breathe, when do you recharge? When do you reflect, reset or even celebrate and enjoy the progress you’ve made?

Resting is an important pause; taking a walk, watching your favourite show or winding down in the Zen Zone can help you recharge and boost your energy.

The comparison trap

a man covering his ears around a crowd — *Via GIPHY*

One of the biggest culprits behind guilt is comparison. On campus, we’re often surrounded by classmates and friends landing jobs and internships, joining clubs, volunteering, all while maintaining perfect grades.

But here’s a secret no one admits — everyone has a different capacity.

Productivity doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all formula. You might need more downtime than your friend, and that’s OK. What matters isn’t how much you do, but how intentionally you do it.

“A happy runner compares himself to his previous races, not the others who are faster”, Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor at the University of California, Riverside, wrote in her book The How of Happiness.

The social dilemma

A man using his laptop has his hand on his head, looking worried. — *Photo by Tim Gouw via Unsplash.*

Social media also plays a vital role in the comparison trap. Watching people over the internet constantly doing something productive and moving forward can make you feel tired and mentally exhausted.

But it is important to realize that not everything posted online is real.

To avoid the guilt, indulge in hobbies that don’t require social media during your break time. Try painting, hiking or even going for a run, anything that reminds you that you are progressing at your own pace.

Redefining success: Doing things at your own pace

silhouette photo of man on a cliff during a sunset — *Photo by Zac Durant via Unsplash.*

It’s time to rethink success. Instead of glorifying intense schedules, we can celebrate the ability to balance hard work and good rest.

If you find yourself struggling with guilt during breaks, try this:

Redefine your rest: Replace “I’m wasting time” with “I’m recharging to improve my focus and do my best.”
Set clear boundaries: Schedule breaks into your daily routine like any other task and treat it as a non-negotiable.
Notice your wins: The best trick to do this is by keeping a journal, noting every win to have a visual reminder that you are doing better than you think. (Because you are!)
Compare yourself to yourself: Avoid comparing yourself to someone else; compare yourself to your progress and previous accomplishments.

Reset and recharge

a girl napping at her work desk with a desktop and a mouse hanging by its cord — *Via GIPHY*

Taking a break isn’t an act of laziness. It’s your way of breaking out against potential burnouts, comparison traps and the idea that your worth is tied to your productivity (It isn’t, you are worth far more than that!).

So the next time you feel guilty for resting, remember you’re not falling behind, you’re simply catching your breath.

And that’s exactly what you need to keep doing.

Feature image courtesy of l ch via Unsplash

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