Do you ever sit down for a second to take a break, but all you can think about is the massive workload you need to return to?
Have you sat down to rest but all you can feel is restless? Spending almost 12 hours away from my house on school days has
put me into this predicament numerous times, but I think I have found the solution: rotting.

“Rotting” doesn’t mean lying in bed all weekend and doing nothing at all. I just recommend it for a short afternoon break.

When I get home, I don’t think about any of my homework or the tasks on my to-do list. I simply lie down with a blanket and an after-dinner treat to “rot.” I use this time for any form of enjoyment, whether it’s listening to my favorite podcast while playing a game of sudoku or watching an episode of a comfort show. I let all my stress and experiences of the day sink into my couch with me for a few minutes so that I’m ready to start my work again. The only rule is no scrolling on any platforms like TikTok or Instagram. According to The Learning Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, scrolling on a phone overloads the prefrontal cortex with decision-making, such as what link to click on or what video to stop and watch. A break that is full of decisions and media constantly appearing causes a feeling of negative emotions and being less in control. This perpetuates the desire to stay in the same place, searching for something to bring joy, instead of starting homework.

However, if you immerse yourself in a state of real rest without any worries or distractions, you will feel ready to get up and begin your homework. By taking all the stress out of resting, you will be ready to return to work because the load hasn’t been built
up as something to avoid; it will just be the next thing to do.

Lastly, I never exaggerate my workload to myself. I definitely have homework, don’t get me wrong, but I take the mindset that it will all get done. By constantly talking or thinking about how much you have to do, you will be continually stressed out by it. In other words, you are almost gaslighting yourself into being more stressed.

The more peaceful and stress-free my rot is, the faster I can begin to work. Rotting makes me more productive and focused during my homework session.