The Importance of a Break

Recently, I've been feeling like it is impossible to go onto any social media and not hear about Alysa Liu. In short, Alysa Liu is a 20-year-old figure skater who recently won gold for the U.S. at the Winter Olympics. She holds many other titles, awards, and championships, including becoming the youngest U.S. women's champion in history at just 13. While this is all very impressive, I would argue that this is not the only thing making her stand out. What makes Liu particularly interesting is her attitude. In many interviews, we see her having this very easygoing attitude. She does not take anything too seriously, and she is simply there to have fun. Her pure love of ice skating got her to the Olympics. Another thing that sticks out about Liu is her past. Back in 2016, after winning bronze at the Beijing Olympics, she announced her retirement at just 16. 

Photo Creds: People

This is a critical point in her career, and I feel that without it, she wouldn't be the Alysa Liu we know today. She chose to take a break due to burnout and fatigue from years of intense training. This type of burnout is very common in athletics and is particularly strong among younger athletes. However, she returned to training in 2024 and continues to dominate in figure skating. In an interview with 60 mins Liu discusses how she would get to be in charge, “I get to pick my own program music, I get to help with the creative process of the program, If I feel like I'm skating too much ill back down, If I feel like I'm not skating enough ill ramp it up, no one's going to starve me, tell me what I can and can't eat.” By taking a break and setting these conditions, Liu was able to thrive. 

Taking a break is not as common as it should be in sports, but we have seen a similar example with another Olympian, Simone Biles. In 2021, Biles took a break from gymnastics to better care for her mental health. She returned to gymnastics in 2023 and continues to dominate the sport. This break was controversial, as many saw her as just giving up on the Olympics, but she demonstrated the importance of taking care of yourself and being human.

Photo Creds: Olympics

We live in a culture that glorifies being busy. If you are not doing something productive, you aren't doing anything. Exhaustion is extremely common, and taking a break can feel as though you are falling behind or weak. But I think knowing when to step away is one of the most powerful decisions we could make for ourselves. Ignoring burnout and stress can lead to further issues, physically and mentally. 

Now I know we are not all Olympic medalists, but breaks are just as important and can look different for everyone. As we approach the halfway point of the semester and are in the depths of midterms, I know I have already found myself to be so tired. Some things I have done to try and give myself that break are pausing my work and breaking it into smaller chunks, so I have time in between, logging off social media for a while, and really just making sure I have that relaxation time to either listen to music, watch a movie, or be with friends.

Photo Cred: Pinterest

Breaks give the body time to recover and the mind a space to rest. I also feel like that helps our passions return naturally, rather than being forced, which can cause that extreme exhaustion. Things like creativity and motivation often return after that distance and release of pressure.

Take care of yourself during this midterm season, and I hope you remember that rest is not the opposite of ambition, but rather a key supporting factor.

See you guys next week!

-Return Address