By: Sharron Reed-Davis, W*SS Program Coordinator
December..
…a time of both great joy and great stress. The final stretch of the fall semester, and countdown to Winter Break. During my time as a student I thought that this type of stress only applied to students. However now as a staff member I am still feeling it, just in a different way. The hustle and bustle of supporting students, planning events, and preparing for the end of the semester; all the while trying not to catch whatever cold is going around at the time, can take a major toll.
I want to talk about ways to navigate this stressful time. For starters let’s look critically at the events. Being a member of the MSU community, you know about the many events that take place on the daily. Attending some of these events can help to relieve stress and catch your breath during the busy time… but there's also FOMO and sometimes we need to not attend to take care of oneself. Whether you’re a student preparing for finals, or faculty/staff wrapping the semester up it is always good to prioritize a break. And what would be a better break than petting some cute therapy dogs or making your own stress ball? I even heard that there are some events that have massages *wink wink*. Mental health breaks are essential to living a healthy life.
If you didn't know, I am new to Women*s Student Services. While this position has been super fulfilling and I am really enjoying it, I am also at the point in the semester where things can get a tad overwhelming. Being a recent grad of MSU and fairly new to “real adulting”, life in general can sometimes be overwhelming. Am I the only one that has ever felt overwhelmed in literally every area of life? When you have so many things on your to-do list that all you can do is ignore it and sleep… Yeah, that was me yesterday. One thing I am re-learning is Self Care, but in a Professional setting. This is gonna look different for everyone of course, but for me the main things are communication, balance, and rest.
The topic Rest as Resistance comes from the New York Times Best Seller by the founder and creator of The Nap Ministry, Tricia Hersey. As a Black woman and an avid napper myself, this philosophy caught my attention. In her manifesto, Tricia talks about what it means to be a “Black woman in America suffering from generational exhaustion and racial trauma”, and how she used rest and naps as a way to save her life and resist against the system. This book is at the top of my reading list. I highly recommend you check it out!
We live in a society that tells women, especially Black women, that we have to work harder and be better to get the same benefits as our male and white counterparts. Rest as Resistance combats this toxic societal norm and makes it okay for Black women to stop, take breaks, nap, and most importantly dream. Rest as Resistance “is about a deep unraveling from white supremacy and capitalism.” (The Nap Ministry. (2023, February 18). The NAP Ministry. https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/)
What I get from the Nap Ministry and the Rest as Resistance manifesto is that IT IS ABSOLUTELY OKAY TO REST, and don't let society tell you otherwise! Regardless of your role or position, rest is essential for the soul. When you take care of your body your body will take care of you.
I'm lucky to have a super flexible and understanding boss, as well as people around me who want me to succeed. I am able to communicate when I need breaks, what my boundaries are, and when I am a little too in over my head. I have always been a person who stretched myself way too thin, so learning to set (firm) boundaries is a difficult but rewarding thing.
So as we end the semester off strong be sure to work hard, and rest even harder this break! We’ll see you in 2024!
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This is also the time of year where extreme stress and feelings of overwhelm can increase anxiety and depression. If that is the case for you and you don’t already see a therapist, we urge you to reach out to MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS). CAPS offers a wide range of services including Drop in Crisis Counseling. For more information go to https://caps.msu.edu/
Need someone to talk to right now? Crisis services are available 24/7.
Call (517) 355-8270 and press “1” at the prompt to speak with a crisis counselor. If you think you or someone around you is in danger, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room.