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Making Study Breaks Effective for Your Preparation: Know How to Do It

By Swagata SarkarAugust 09, 2022
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Learn How to Make Study Breaks Work with These Steps

Attending classes, doing homework, preparing for exams, and completing a huge syllabus can take a toll on your mental health. Working hard nonstop can be harmful. It will also not be productive when you do not give your brain ample to refresh and revive. This is where study breaks can be applied exceptionally for better outcomes.


Taking a break at the right intervals will help you focus more and make study sessions more productive. The outcomes will be extraordinary and you will observe yourself growing personally every day.


What Are Study Breaks?

To understand the importance of study breaks, we need to define them first. A break between two study sessions is called a study break. Its span depends on the time considered by an individual. It is a way to provide time to your brain to process the information you just imbibed during study sessions.


These breaks can be segmented and distributed throughout a day’s timetable. It is an important part of the learning process. A very small percentage of students take shorter or no breaks and study for hours. Not everyone’s brain is wired in the same way.


Breaks between Study Session are Beneficial


Breaks between Study Session are Beneficial


Ways to Utilise Study Breaks

Here is a list of tips you can follow to understand what to do in study breaks along with what not to.

  1. Segregate Your Timetable into Smaller Breaks

When you have made a timetable that includes hours of studying make sure you have incorporated smaller sessions to take a break. In this aspect, following the Pomodoro Method can be the best bet.

Study for 25-30 minutes at a stretch. Take a 5-minute break and continue studying again. We will discuss what you can do during this break time later.

Continue studying in this way for 4 cycles. Then, take a bigger break of 30 to 40 minutes and indulge in something other than reading books. In this break, you will need to remain free from the thoughts of studying for a while.


  1. Take a Stroll in Your Neighbourhood

One of the best ways to utilise your study breaks is by taking a stroll in your neighbourhood. Get some fresh air and walk in the streets for a while. Make sure the time you spend is not more than the assigned period.

Things you should not do is call someone to hang out or go someplace with a lot of distractions. Such distractions can detach you from your studying spree. You will get easily distracted from your goal.


  1. Stretching Can Do Great

Sitting in the same position and involving your brain to think of a particular topic needs a break. Do stretching sitting on your chair. Stand up, walk around a little, or lie down for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and breathe rhythmically. Concentrate on your breathing and be calm.

Stretching will make your body loosen up and dissolve tension. Your mind will also get some time to refresh. Even if you lie down a bit, don’t fall asleep. If you are tired and cannot register anything properly, end the day. Don’t overstretch it.


  1. Cleaning Your Room

Once a marine said that successful people have one thing in common. They tidy their bed and room every day. It is a great way to start. If you think you want to do it later, use your study breaks to do it in intervals.

Tidying your room will give your brain something different to work on. You will think of arranging your books, clothes, bed sheet, pillows, etc. in an organised manner. This is how you can unwind your brain and work on the topics. This is how taking breaks can be useful in different ways.


  1. Run an Errand

There will be loads of household chores to do. Look around and you will find something to work on without taking a hint from your parents. When you need a break, run an errand. Bring things from the market by taking a list from your mother. Iron washed clothes, stack books, clean the entertainment unit, or do something apart from studying. Make it short and useful.


  1. Find Break Friends

Our brain works on a reward system. The better you can reward it, the better it works. A mind break can be very useful when you have a friend in the neighbourhood to apply the same. Study in the same pattern and become ‘break friends’.

Call him/her up to spend half an hour in the neighbourhood and rejuvenate your brain’s cognitive and retention power. Talking about some different topics other than studies will help you revive. Don’t stretch it or start playing games on your phone. Use it for conversations and stay away from distractions.


How to Start Studying After a Long Break?

If you have taken an unprecedented long break, learn how to get back on track. Practise becoming efficient to start studying from where you have left off. This is how you can become more efficient in making your study breaks work.


There might be a break bigger than you expected. Your attempt to revive your studying pace will depend on your intention and focus. In this aspect, learn how to meditate and practise mindfulness. It will help you to resume your studies after a long break.


Find Your Own Study Break Ideas

Introducing a small break in between two fruitful sessions will make your brain more efficient in registering information and retaining them for a longer period. Find out what you like to do and it should not be a distraction.


You will also need to control your indulgence in doing something more fun on a break. Personalise an efficient idea to utilise study breaks better and accomplish your goals daily.