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7 Tips to Rest and Recharge in College

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Campus Life College Preparation

College can be exhausting at times. Whether you are overwhelmed by schoolwork, busy with social engagements, juggling a sport, working a job, or whatever may be going on in your life, everyone gets drained at times. When you begin to lose energy, it is important to be intentional about how you rest and recharge. While this will look different for each person, here are a few tips on intentional rest time. 

  1. Spend time alone: For extroverts, this may seem horrible, but sometimes alone time can be incredibly valuable to capitalize on rest time. When you have the ability to take a break from your friends, then you can focus fully on yourself and what you need. When you are constantly surrounded by others it can be difficult to be honest with yourself about what you are feeling and what you need. Set boundaries with your friends and family, and allow yourself to take some time to be alone. 

  2. Spend time with God: God is the ultimate source of peace and rest, which means that prayer and Scripture can make all the difference in your rest time. Even taking a few minutes to quiet your mind and pray can give you some much needed rest. In Matthew 11, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (11:28-30). Trust in the Lord and He will give you the rest and the peace that you need. 

  3. Put Down Your Phone: While it is completely normal to spend free time scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, be mindful that using your phone might be a contributing factor to your feeling drained. Sometimes you need to put down your phone and engage in an activity that allows you to slow down. Whether you go for a walk, draw, write in a journal, make a craft, read a book for fun, or go to the gym, it can be restful to turn away from your screen for a time. 

  4. Make an Effort to Sleep: When much of your time is spent working on schoolwork, sometimes you might want to stay up late doing things you enjoy so that you can feel like you have more control over your free time. However, this can result in lack of sleep, which will make you feel drained and unproductive. As much as you might want to stay up late binge-watching your favorite show, be mindful of how much sleep you are getting, and try to prioritize sleep so that you can function well during the day. 

  5. Move to a Different Space: If all of your time is spent on campus going from your dorm to your classes to the library and back to your dorm, you may begin to feel the effects of the monotony of your location. By taking a break to go to a coffee shop, or taking a trip home, or going to the mall for a shopping trip, you can take yourself out of your space and allow your mind to reframe your experience. Sometimes all you need is just an hour or two away from campus to reset your mindset. 

  6. Develop Healthy Habits: Eating healthy, exercising regularly, developing a healthy sleep schedule, attending counseling sessions, and making time for daily devotions are all healthy habits that can contribute to mental and physical health. Developing habits like these can help you to weather long days and tiring tasks. Healthy habits may look different from person to person, but developing healthy habits will have a positive influence on your mind and your body. 

  7. Be Intentional with Friends and Family: Sometimes when someone becomes exhausted they begin to push away friends and family. Pushing away the people you love is only going to make it more difficult to rebound. While it is important to set healthy boundaries, you should try to be intentional about engaging with your support system. You will likely find that by pouring into others you be refreshed and poured into as well.  

You are not alone if you feel burnt out or exhausted at times, especially when juggling the challenges of college. It is completely normal to feel tired and need space to rest and recharge. When you are intentional with how you rest and recharge, you will be able to bounce back quickly and face any challenge head on. Hopefully, some of these tips stood out to you, so that you can take control of your rest time. 

If you are struggling with the challenges of college life, whether those challenges are social, academic, mental, emotional, or spiritual, take advantage of the resources that Geneva College offers. The Student Success Center is equipped to help with academic challenges. Counseling Services is equipped to help with mental health struggles. If you are having a hard time finding friends or engaging your creative side, turn to the Center for Student Engagement. If you are looking for support with your living situation, reach out to the Student Development Office. And if you are overwhelmed by searching for a job or determining a major, reach out to the Center for Calling & Career. 

You are not alone, so take advantage of the support systems that Geneva offers so that you can thrive in your experience here. 

By Mattigan Burleigh ‘24 

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Oct 28, 2025

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