You tell yourself you’ll start at 4 p.m. Then it becomes 5. Then… tomorrow. Before you know it, it’s 11:47 p.m., and instead of sleeping, you’re lying in bed replaying the day in your head, feeling that familiar knot in your stomach. “Why didn’t I study? What’s wrong with me?” That, right there, is study guilt. It’s a quiet, heavy feeling so many of us carry - but rarely talk about. Maybe you were tired. Maybe your brain was foggy, your energy low. Maybe you needed a real break, not just more screen time or scrolling. But instead of giving yourself permission to rest, you sat with the weight of unfinished tasks and unmet goals. Now, instead of feeling restored, you feel even more behind.

Let’s get something clear: you’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re overwhelmed - and you’re human. In a world that constantly glorifies productivity, it’s easy to feel like you have to be “on” all the time. But the truth is, you’re allowed to have off days. You’re allowed to rest. And rest is not a reward - it’s a necessity. Taking a break doesn’t make you undisciplined. It makes you sustainable. So how do you deal with that creeping guilt? The first step is to stop the self-blame. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a close friend. If they were exhausted and needed rest, would you shame them? Or would you remind them they’re doing their best? Be gentle with yourself. You’re not a failure for needing a pause.

Second, start small. Guilt often comes with an urge to overcompensate. But trying to cram five hours of work into one night rarely ends well. Instead, aim for one page, one concept, just 15 minutes. These tiny wins can spark momentum and shift your mindset from guilt to growth. Next, romanticize your restart. Clean your desk. Make a new playlist. Light a candle. Choose a cozy corner. Let your comeback feel like a soft reset, not a punishment. A fresh start isn’t about making up for lost time - it’s about moving forward with intention.

And most importantly, celebrate effort, not perfection. You won’t be 100% every single day. But showing up, even a little, still counts. Progress is not about being flawless. It’s about being consistent, being kind to yourself, and learning what works for you. The truth is, you’re not falling behind. You’re learning your rhythm. You're figuring out how to balance life, learning, and rest. And that’s not a setback - that’s a skill. So next time you feel that knot of study guilt tightens in your chest, take a breath and remind yourself: you’re doing your best, and that is always enough.

- Chirag Singhal, BBA (2023-2027)