Have you been struggling with ways to make the most out of your study break and still maintain the effectiveness of your learning? This article constitutes of several effective study breaks guides that will help enhance and elevate your studying experience.
These are proven ways that will help, improve both your concentration and retention levels. People may view breaks as distractions but effective distractions can be vital in giving your mind a break and help your learning become more successful.
How to take Breaks Effectively?
To take effective study breaks, the following steps can be important:
Step 1: Space them Well
How you space your study breaks and the time they should take depends on the duration of your study session. Long study session should have longer but few breaks.
For example, if you have planned to study for six hours with each session taking 3 hours each then you can have one break that should last for at least 30-45 minutes.
Also, you can study the same six hours with one hour sessions that should have 5-10 minutes breaks in between. Sticking to such study plans can help make your learning sessions more productive.
Step 2: Take a Walk
If you have been studying for long, taking a walk outside will give you a much needed break from books. To make it more exiting you can grab your headphones and listen along to your favourite music, audio books, and podcasts.
Walking will not only help improve your cognitive function but also gets your heart pumping. If you live in an urban area avoid the crowded city places.
Go to a park where you can stroll peacefully without a lot of distractions.
Step 3: Change Your Study Location
If you have studied at a particular spot for long, it is advisable that you change it up during your break.
Even if it is your favourite spot, taking too long there will lead to some kind of frustration. You can move to another room, the library, or your friends place to change your study environment.
Step 4: Tidy and Clean up
A clean and tidy study room or place will help increase your concentration. If your study desk is filled with your favourite magazines, gaming pads, money, and Rubik’s cube, it will be hard to keep your concentration up as you study.
Therefore, cleaning the desk up will help keep your mind clear of different distractions. Cleanliness is also important to even if it is not studies related.
Step 5: Spend Time with a Friend
Taking a break in company of a friend will help clear your mind and eventually reach the study target hours you intended. Interacting with a friend will help you relax and focus on your favourite activities.
Also, you will be able to break your internal monologue. It is always important to control your break time and not let your friends lead you to taking a longer one than you expected.
Activities to do While on a Study Break
As you try to be organized and stay motivated as you study, you can take up the following activities during your study break:
Grab coffee
If you are feeling that your productivity is lagging, you can grab a cup of coffee on your study break. The caffeine will help give you renewed jolt of energy that you will need to continue with your studies.
Also, it keeps your brain active for long hence enhancing extended hours of study.
Bake or Cook Something
After studying for long hours, you will probably be hungry and you can use this time to bake or cook something for yourself. It can be something you enjoy eating so that you are motivated to cook it.
This will help relax your mind and avoid wasting time on thing such as YouTube and social media platforms during the break. Also, the end product is your favourite meal.
Meditate
Meditating during your study break can help reduce stress and anxiety. Meditation is easy and effective because it does not require any special treatment.
You can do it at home, coffee shop, or in the library. Meditation also helps you achieve mental clarity and emotional calmness after long hours of study
Exercise
If you aim to improve your memory and concentration after a study session, then exercising can be very important.
Exercise prompts the creation of new neurons in the brain memory centre. As a result, the new cells mature and integrate into the brain neural network where they help in thinking and remembering.
Walk your Dog
On a busy day, you can use your study break time to walk your dog. Not only is the walk vital for your pet’s health, but also improves your cardiovascular fitness, decreases stress, and helps lower blood pressure.
You also get some freshness before going back to your studies.
Study Break Ideas
If you are having trouble figuring out what you will do during your study breaks, here are some of ideas that you can try out:
Listen to your Favourite Music or Podcast
When you want to relax after a study session before going back for another one you can easily grab your headphones and listen to your favourite tunes and podcasts.
This helps you get refreshed and be mentally ready for the next study session.
Take a Nap
When you are exhausted, sleep can help you relax and get ready for another study session. However, it is important that you set the alarm to make sure that you do not oversleep past your intended break time.
Also, science proves that a quick nap can help improve your memory and cognitive performance.
Move your Muscles
If your study break is long, you can ride a bike, go for a run or hit the gym. These are some of the best ways to release stress and get yourself ready for even a longer study session.
Also, moving your muscles can help improve your mood through the release of endorphins.
Importance of Taking Study Breaks
The following are reasons why taking study breaks are important:
They Help Avoid Burnouts
Studying for long hours can cause mental and physical exhaustion which can lead to issues such as stress. Study fatigue is a real problem that you should not ignore.
Burnout signs can include inability to concentrate, feeling bored, and zero motivation. To stop this, you need to take a break and regroup yourself.
Refresh your Mind
Studying too long can exhaust your mind. Taking beaks will help relax your mind and increase creativity.
You can also maintain your concentration levels and regain motivation with a fresh mind.
Break the Monotony
Studying for long hours without breaks can be monotonous and boring. Fixing up breaks between study sessions helps you study for long hours productively.
It also helps you plan your studies better.
Precautions not to Overdo Taking Study Breaks
When taking study breaks there are some things that you do make to avoid making them less effective. Even your well-earned breaks can be a cause of distraction if you do not manage them well.
Not taking too Many
Too many breaks are a cause of distraction. If you are taking too many breaks during your study hours, it means that you are not serious and deeply invested in them.
Many breaks will affect your study flow and level of concentration which are vital in having an effective session
Not Overstaying
Extending your break is a sign of procrastination. Extending your break will minimize your study hours and make the session not productive as you thought it would be.
Also, the more you extend your breaks, the more the chances of distractions increase which can even extend the break more.
Not Doing Activities you are Addicted to
You know your preferences very well. If you use your break time to watch your favourite TV show or YouTube channel, chances are huge that you will find it hard to leave the couch and go back to study.
If you are also a social media addict, you are also likely to experience the same.
Not Involving in Things that may Weigh Off your Mind
Your aim for a break is to relax and not weigh off your mind. Therefore, do not watch a thriller or horror show.
Also, avoid tuning on the news because you might see a broadcast of upsetting events that may put you off and affect your study morale
How to Refresh your Mind During Study Breaks?
To quickly refresh your mind during a study break you can do the following:
Take a Glass of Water
After a long study session especially in a hot day you are likely to be dehydrated. Dehydration can slow down brain function. When you find out that you are losing focus, take a break and drink a glass of cold water.
You can add up pieces of lemon or oranges to spice it up if bored by the plain taste.
Eat Healthy Snacks
Not only can a healthy snack stave off hunger pangs and stabilize blood sugar but also assist with healthy brain function. Snacks should have carbohydrates and protein.
They include nuts, dried fruits and seeds, and whole grain toast with avocado or nut butter.
Breath in Lemon Essential Oil
Inhaling lemon essential oil will help to naturally refocus your mind. The scents can help stimulate your nervous system and reenergize you.
Rosemary and eucalyptus scents can also have a similar scent.
