When are you supposed to have time to catch your breath during an education? 

Thank you for your important question! 

To give a concrete answer, studies are often compared to work — meaning that about 40 hours of work per week corresponds to full‑time studies, and weekends should ideally be free. It can be wise to try to mirror a work situation in order to protect your health. 

That said, it sounds like the pace in your study routine is high and that you’re struggling to find both short moments and longer periods of calm and recovery. There may be different reasons for this. Some programs are much more demanding than average. Another factor that may influence the experience of stress during studies is that we differ when it comes to factors affecting study ability, such as concentration and processing speed. We also differ in what stresses us, how perfectionistic we are (which affects how much time and energy we put into each assignment), and how we manage worry and uncertainty — which may be present like a thread running through all the different assessments and exams that need to be completed during an education. 

Without knowing more about what is contributing to your stressful situation, it’s important that you’re able to find both shorter breaks and more continuous time where you can catch your breath between tasks. If the pace of your program is too high — meaning that the time needed to get through assignments cuts into your recovery time regardless of the reason — it may sometimes be necessary to create more space by contacting a study advisor to see if it’s possible to, for example, postpone a course so you can temporarily reduce your study load. There may be drawbacks, such as your education taking longer or potential effects on student financial aid (CSN), and you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of such a solution in your case. 

If you find it difficult to unwind on a daily basis, after you have finished studying and are supposed to be “off” for the rest of the evening — maybe because of thoughts about everything that remains to be done or worries about how you will manage — you may need to practice your ability to let go of worry thoughts and calm your body. It is often helpful then to do something active that you enjoy, something that captures your attention and helps you stay more present in what you’re doing instead of getting stuck in your thoughts. 

Sometimes there is also an opportunity to refine your study techniques so that learning becomes more efficient. Look into what study support is offered at your university if you are interested. If you think you might benefit from strategies for stress management, you can contact your student health services and ask what kind of support is available. 

But if the demands and pace of your program are so high that it constitutes a poor work environment, this is not something that can be fixed with study techniques, meditation, or breaks. In that case, it is important to point out these issues and try to act for change. If so, you can seek help from your student union. 

Take care of yourself!