The week we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Spring break ‘26 is upon us, and at The Cuestonian, we have decided to honor it this year by going dark.

This might seem like a “well of course” kind of moment that we will not be publishing articles over the week, but in an increasingly online world, the concept of taking a week off from tending to one’s online presence can feel quite radical. 

Research shows that excessive screen time can have negative effects on both your physical and mental health. A 2022 study by the National Center for Biotechnological Information found that dependency on digital devices increases stress and anxiety, leads to depression, sleep issues and increases risk factors for obesity, heart disease and insulin resistance. 

Research like this is no longer shocking. We all seem to understand that constantly being plugged into the online world is not good for us, but then why can it feel so hard to truly take a break? One that does not include doom scrolling, or listening to a podcast to fill the silence, or “watching tv” which really means you have three screens open and are online shopping for an Owala water bottle that you just truly do not need. 

Excessive screen time doesn’t just negatively impact students. As the education system continues to become more technologically dependent, faculty are also being asked to spend significant amounts of their time staring at screens, which can increase the rate of mental health issues for a population that is already overworked and often undervalued. In a 2024-2025 study done by Healthy Minds,  27% of faculty said they feel a high degree of burnout and 30% said they somewhat experience burnout that is directly correlated to their jobs. So, maybe the next time you are annoyed with your professor for taking that extra day to grade, remember that they are equally, if not more, in need of a break too. 

If the thought of unplugging feels scary to you, you are not alone. Nomophobia is the fear of being without your phone, and according to a 2023 study, 33% of Americans say they have it. 

Now, I am not telling you all of this to scare you into abandoning your phone over spring break. I am here to encourage you to enjoy yourself and take some time off, even if that looks like a week straight of TikTok, which for humanity’s sake, I hope it doesn’t. But truly, spring break is about you getting some time back, so I hope that you fill it with things that bring you joy.

If you need some ideas for ways to maximize the potential mental health benefits of spring break, here you go:

1. Have fun: This is a bit of a confusing one to recommend to college students as the definition of “fun” could be dangerous, and I do not want legal ramifications. Just be safe, and laugh hard with people you love; you deserve it. 
2. Take care of yourself: Re-hydrate from your potential flavor of “fun,” sleep in if you need it, cook yourself that recipe you’ve felt like you didn’t have time for, or read that strange fantasy fiction book you’ve been staring at on your nightstand. Are face masks still in?
3. Unplug and disconnect: I know I’m a bit of a broken record at this point, but even going 30 minutes without your phone could greatly improve your mood and spark inspiration. Pick up a paintbrush with friends. Dance hard to music that makes you feel alive. Remember the world.
4. Get outside: We live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The sun is shining, and the ocean is calling, and so is that sunscreen bottle that your mom gave you that you keep “forgetting.”
5. Catch up on life: Find the friends you haven’t had time for and get coffee. The closet clean out you’ve been wanting to do, that one creative project, even homework you’ve been putting off – do whatever has been on the back burner so you can come back feeling organized and proud of yourself. 

For anyone who needs support or is feeling burnt out, Cuesta has resources to help you, even over break. You have access to free therapy, life coaching, and health services through the Student Health Center. 

The Cuestonian will be back to its regularly scheduled programming after the break. We look forward to continuing to uplift the student voices of Cuesta College with the new energy and inspiration gained from a week of rest.