Whether you're a student or just someone looking to be more productive at work, study breaks are an important part of staying focused and being able to sustain that focus. In fact, research has shown that taking short breaks from studying can actually boost your ability to solve difficult problems by 25 percent! That said, not every break is created equal: some are better than others for keeping you on track with your goals, whether it's finishing off a project or getting through a school assignment. Here are some tips for having a productive study break:
When you're working at your desk, it can be hard to remember that there are other places in the world. But getting up from your computer and taking a break is crucial for staying productive.
There are lots of things you can do during these breaks: get some water, take a walk around campus, or even just sit down somewhere different than where you usually study (if that's possible). The key is to do something that gets away from your desk for at least five minutes--even if it's only temporarily.
When you have a study break, don't do anything that's not productive. If you're trying to stay on track with your studies, don't watch TV or play video games. If you want to take a break from studying but stay focused on your goals and ambitions, then avoid going on social media and the internet altogether.
If all else fails and there are still some hours left in your day (or even just one hour), then read something related to school or work that will help motivate and inspire!
Go outside, even if it's just for five minutes. Get some exercise and breathe in some fresh air by walking around your campus or going to a nearby park. You can even bring along some reading materials if you like!
Do something creative or artistic. Whether it's drawing, painting or writing poetry--or even just listening to music--finding time for yourself when studying can be very beneficial for keeping motivated throughout the day and avoiding academic burnout.
Don't just grab a bag of chips or cupcake on your way to the library, as tempting as that may be. Instead, pack yourself a healthy snack (nuts are great). Bring along some fruit if you know you'll have time to eat it later in the day or week. If you're feeling really ambitious, try making your own trail mix with nuts and dried fruit (or even better: chocolate covered almonds). If you're going out for lunch, try packing your own meal so that you can enjoy a healthier lunch.
Listening to music is a great way to relax and unwind. Whether you're listening with headphones or just playing it through speakers, the right music can help improve your mood and focus while studying, making it easier for you to get through all those hours at the library.
Listening to music helps us sleep better, too! After a long day of studying (or work), sometimes all we want is silence so we can fall asleep easily.
Music is the perfect thing to help us fall asleep, especially if we’re listening to soft and relaxing tunes. If you're having trouble sleeping, try putting on some headphones or playing your favorite songs through speakers instead of turning on the TV or reading a book.
There is nothing wrong with taking a break from your studies to check social media, text friends or play video games. But it's important to be aware of how much time you spend doing these things and set aside some time during the day when they are off-limits.
In order to help you stay focused on studying, set a timer for every hour or half hour that you study so that you know when it's time to take a break. You could also try turning off notifications on your phone so that they don't distract you while trying to work on something else (though this may not work if there's an emergency). If possible, try getting away from technology completely by going for a walk outside or reading an actual book. This will give both your mind and body some much needed rest before returning back into studying mode again.
When it comes right down to it, sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being. Sleep helps you stay alert and productive during the day, as well as being creative and energized. If you're not getting enough sleep at night, your productivity will suffer in all areas of life--not just in school or work!
It can be hard sometimes to make time for self-care when there are so many other demands on our schedules (homework assignments, extracurricular activities). But if we want to be able to stay focused on our studies without getting burnt out or exhausted by them, then taking care of ourselves needs to be a priority too!
Study breaks are a great way to refresh and come back to studying feeling refreshed and ready to focus. Studying is hard work, so it's important to take a break every hour or so. If you don't, you'll find yourself getting burnt out and unable to focus on anything for very long.
If you're trying to read through an entire textbook or study guide in one sitting, then taking breaks isn't necessary (but still encouraged). However if your goal is simply understanding what the material says without memorizing everything word-for-word or regurgitating it back onto paper in an essay format, then taking regular breaks will help keep things fresh in your mind when returning after each one
Studying is a lot of work, and it can be easy to get bogged down in all the things you have to do. But taking breaks is an important part of your study routine that will help you stay focused and productive throughout the semester. The best thing about study breaks? They don't take long--you can fit one into your day at any time! So next time you feel like taking a break from studying, try out some of these tips for yourself!