You've got a big test or a paper. You've got to take some time and get. to. work. No friends. No social media. No breaks.
No breaks? That doesn't sound productive. If you're taking a huge chunk of your day (or night) for this project then you will need to schedule in some break time.
Yeah, this sounds about right. So schedule in those breaks.
But if you go out and socialize, there's the risk of having a little too much fun and won't get back to your work. And the internet? I think we all know that if you take even a second to stop working on that important paper to check Facebook or Instagram, then you're opening a vortex that might just suck you in and never let you out. So what are you to do to give your mind and body a much-needed break from studying and still be refreshed and willing to get back to work? Here are some study break tips I recommend:
1. Cook Something to Eat
Nothing complements studying like a study snack right? But don't grab a bag of chips or candy for your brain food. Use your study break to actually put together a culinary creation of your own. To me, cooking is very relaxing and gives me a sense of accomplishment when I've made something that looks, smells, and tastes delicious for myself and my friends. Fuel up and use that sense of accomplishment to get you through your next hour of work.
2. Clean up.
That's right.
Make your bed. Organize your junk drawer. Finish your laundry and FOLD everything. Who says you can't be productive during your break? In a clean space, you should be able to focus more on your work anyway, or at least, be ale to find your textbooks now that all your dirty clothes on top of them have been put away. Besides, when you are all done with studying for the night, nothing will be more satisfying than unmaking your bed and piling into all the clean, fluffed up sheets and blankets.
3. Craft
Give your brain a break from focusing on high-stress work and focus on some low-stress work. You don't have to paint a masterpiece. Make a thank you card for someone, make a paper airplane out of some old notes you don't need anymore. Draw beautiful patterns and swirls all over your study checklist. Just make the switch from the logical side of your brain to the creative side for the few sweet minutes of your break time. Let that logical half recharge while you craft away!
4. Exercise
Sitting and studying or typing for a long period of time can be monotonous and tiring; without the aid of caffeine, it can be easy to let your work drag you to sleep. Get your blood flowing and heart pumping with some aerobic activity or strength training during your study breaks! You don't have a to be at the gym or have the equipment to get a good workout in.
Use a timer online or on your phone to do a high-intensity interval training (H.I.I.T) workout for as long or as short as you need it to be. Pop in a workout DVD or check out the hundreds of workout video on YouTube. If you know YouTube is a place where you will get distracted by cat videos or channel updates, then places like Pinterest have short workouts designed for study breaks, commercials, specific songs, desk workers, or people who live in dorms or apartments, like this one:
5. Relax
While exercise can pump you up and energize you to fight academic exhaustion, it's also important to re-energize your body, mind, and spirit. If your work is draining you in a way that not only physically makes you tired, but also very mentally and spiritually through negative thoughts and stress, then you need to take your break time to unwind and RELAX.
The great thing about relaxation is that
If you are stumped on what to do there are plenty of apps and books that focus on relaxation techniques. Who knows? You might learn something new about the subject or yourself. I highly recommend visiting Michelle Phan's website and YouTube channel, as she has videos and articles on several different ideas for de-stressing and relaxation.
Work can be tough and distractions like friends or social media can make being productive even harder. So schedule out a plan and incorporate these activities into your study breaks. Maybe that final paper won't be as hard to get through as you think!
