Harvard Needs Recess

It’s time to give Harvard students a break — a lunch break, to be precise.

This semester I have class from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Mondays, leaving no time for a sit-down meal. Of course this lamentable schedule is my own doing, but it is not unique: many Harvard students resort to taking back-to-back classes in order to take courses which interest them or are required.

But they shouldn’t have to. I propose a thirty minute slot during the day in which no classes are offered. A dedicated “recess” would ensure students aren’t forced to skip lunch and would promote healthy habits amongst the student body.

Lunch is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in all dining halls, preventing students with classes during these times from eating. Those with short breaks during that window can brave the long FlyBy line for a sandwich from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but this option is only available at Memorial Hall and the Science and Engineering Complex and is intended for takeout.

The Faculty of the Arts and Sciences has successfully made schedule changes before, most notably standardizing course start times. As such, they could surely amend the schedule to include a lunch slot. Indeed, Harvard Law School classes don’t seem to typically meet between 12:30-1:30, so there is precedent for a similar policy at Harvard.

I am far from the first to note that Harvard students often fail to prioritize socialization. Between everyone’s never-ending commitments, finding time to share a meal is often difficult. A standard lunch break would ensure that students have a time during the day when their friends are also guaranteed to be free.

Since arriving at Harvard in the fall, many of the moments I have appreciated most are conversations with peers during meal times, engrossed in conversation and wishing I did not have to rush off to class. I love hearing from students with different academic interests and who grew up in communities very different from my own. One of the greatest resources we have at Harvard are our classmates. The University should recognize this reality by including increased opportunities for socialization in our schedules.

Additionally, part of Harvard’s role as an institution for higher education is to help its students create lifelong healthy habits. Students should not only graduate with substantially more knowledge, but also with the ability to balance their social opportunities and academic responsibilities. Having a built in time during the day to unwind with friends would help promote this practice.

On a more practical note, Harvard should be encouraging students to eat three meals a day. Whether skipping meals or skipping sleep, college students don’t always develop perfectly healthy habits. Harvard has a responsibility to push them in the right direction.

Breaks aren’t just good for our health. A Harvard Business Review analysis found that pausing work during the day can actually increase productivity. Although this research examined work in a professional setting, it remains relevant for college students. When people are lethargic and have little energy, their focus wanes and productivity stagnates. Having a lunch break in the day would allow Harvard students to be more focused in their studies and daily responsibilities.

To be clear: the schedule change I propose would not force all students to eat lunch during this time period. Students could still build their schedule in whatever way they prefer, having class earlier or later in the day. The change would just involve a short, thirty minute window of time in the middle of the day when classes wouldn’t meet.

Any potential drawbacks of these proposed changes would be far outweighed by the social, emotional, and health benefits.

So who said recess needs to end in college? And why should students go hungry? A thirty minute lunch break is workplace standard — it should be the same at Harvard.

Miriam E. Goldberger ’28, a Crimson Editorial Editor, lives in Thayer Hall.