By: Mia Andrade, Kennedy College of Sciences Well-being Leader
As the semester is approaching an end, it is important to keep up with assignments and all that comes your way. Breaks are essential in keeping you refreshed and maintaining that momentum to finish your semester off strong. When deciding to take a break from studying, it can help to start by asking yourself, “What do I want out of my break?” Does it help you relax? Does it excite or challenge you? Effective breaks are important and will leave you feeling revitalized and motivated to study.
There are four different types of breaks that may help when you need to take your mind off studying:
- Get creative.
Creative activities come with many potential benefits. They can help you improve your memory, exercise your right brain, give your prefrontal cortex a break, and help your brain produce dopamine. Some suggestions may be:
- Setting a new goal
- Learning something new
- Allowing yourself to daydream
- Move.
All types of movement are a great way to take a break. Moving around and completing a small task helps build productivity and motivation to continue studying. Moving around also improves alertness and attention span. Sometimes changing the setting you are in during a study session can help avoid boredom and produce calming effects. Some activities you can try are:
- Changing your environment
- Completing a small chore
- Going for a walk
- Nourish your body and mind.
Taking care of your body and mind is essential to foster a productive study session. Its many benefits include stress relief, increased productivity, and increased attentivity. This is my favorite type of break to take! As a pre-med student, most of my time is devoted to studying and completing assignments. I find the nourishment of my body and mind crucial to helping me excel in my academics. Naps have to be my favorite. Some ways I would suggest accomplishing this type of rest may be:
- Meditating
- Taking a power nap
- Listening to music
- Having a snack
- Socialize. By socializing with other people, you create a positive emotional state for yourself. You feel socially connected to others and can take your mind off studying for some time before getting back into the game. Some ways you can utilize your break to socialize may be:
- Calling a friend or family member to catch up
- Going to the dining hall to meet up with friends
Overall, taking breaks in between studying is important in maintaining your well-being. As students, we need to prioritize breaks between studying and classes to allow our bodies and brains to reset and avoid burnout. Taking care of yourself is top priority!