How important are school breaks for teachers’ and students’ mental health? Some people might not think school breaks are necessary or that teachers and students have enough time off, but the truth is, students and teachers need these periods to process what they have learned, and return to the classroom better prepared for what’s coming up next.
Having school breaks is important for teachers and students so they can reduce stress and allow for academic pauses and mindset resets. Time away gives them a chance to disconnect from school and focus on other important things, such as time with their families and doing hobbies or other things they enjoy. Like any other job, time off from school helps students and teachers prevent getting burned out.
Teachers, including Paint Branch English teacher Mrs. Bloom, know how important breaks are to give teachers time to focus on other parts of their lives. “What a lot of people don’t realize about teaching is that teachers, who have their own families and priorities outside of school, spend most of their time focused on their students’ needs and priorities instead of their own,” she says.
One reason for needing breaks is that during the school year, teachers usually go home and complete lesson plans and grade work, so in reality they don’t really take time for themselves until breaks occur, something Mrs. Bloom knows well. “Breaks give a chance to rest our minds and bodies so that we can come back to school after break and be the best version of ourselves,” she notes.
Fellow PB English teacher Ms. Kim-Miles also knows how important breaks are for teachers’ mental health. She says, “While you should always make a little time each day for your hobbies and interests, winter and spring break allow teachers and students to step away from the daily stresses of work and school.”
While teachers make it clear that breaks are important, students also understand the need for time off from school. Students need breaks in order to take time for themselves and reflect. They also need breaks to hang out with their friends, so they have bonding time outside of school. PB freshman Peo Motswiri knows how important breaks are for student mental health. She says, “School breaks can help prevent students from being drained or burnt out and being around a lot of people such as bad influences.”
Adam Granados, a freshman at James Hubert Blake High School, also understands the importance of school breaks for students. He says, “Sometimes school can be overwhelming and stressful, which isn’t ideal for our brains which are still developing. The breaks help us reorganize and focus on our lives outside of school.”
Paint Branch junior Seina Asgedom agrees with this, adding, “School breaks are good for students’ mental health by allowing them to rest and have time to themselves without having to stress about schoolwork.” She also notes that school forces “students to work non-stop and eventually burn out.”
Having time for ourselves to de-stress helps shift our mindset from feeling overwhelmed to feeling capable of doing things. Prioritizing school breaks helps with relaxation and building a healthier mindset. So that when school starts back up again, we can focus and learn more.
