As high school students have come to know very well, school as well as life can be extremely stressful and exhausting. Between being trapped in school and diligently working for the entirety of eight hours, then attending sports practices or other extracurriculars immediately after school, and later finishing up homework and repeating this routine five days a week, it is easy to see how this alone can be overwhelming.

Then on top of all of that, trying to balance a job and a social life adds to the pressure. So, surprisingly to some, teenagers actually do get tired sometimes.

Personal days are the perfect anecdote for this problem. They allow for a break in the hectic life of a high school student. Though I believe achieving good grades and learning new things are incredibly important, I also believe that they should never come before one’s overall health. Sometimes taking a step back for a day and just focusing on yourself and taking a break is exactly what you need to stay motivated.

However, in order for personal days to be effective, they should not be overused. For example, they should not be used because you are nervous about giving a presentation or you didn’t study for your Honors Biology test.

School, like life, is not easy and there is value in the struggles we face in that when we overcome them, we prove to ourselves that we are stronger than we may think.

In addition, many high school students actually fear taking personal days because they are afraid they will miss something in class. Also, it can be very difficult to catch up, especially if you have eight different classes. This can cause a burnout and stress which can be easily avoided by taking an occasional personal day.

Now, many people may see this as coddling and being soft on students, but our society seems to center life around work and therefore puts self-care on the backburner.

I believe it is so important to work hard and strive for success, but it can not get to the point where it is taking over our lives and ruining our mental as well as our physical health. It is okay to take a break from the“daily grind” once in a while and take a moment to reflect and remind yourself what you are working towards and what you are even working so hard for.