7 Things to Do During a Study Break

By Kailey Walters on May 1, 2018

One of the necessary evils of being in school is studying. With quizzes and exams around every corner, studying is a constant fact of life, especially for college students who are under a lot of pressure to study a lot of material in a relatively short amount of time.

But after a while, as you probably know from experience, studying can get really tedious and boring. Whether you’ve been staring at the same material for the past few hours trying to get it into your head, or there’s just way too much information to handle at the moment, it’s probably a sign that you should take a break.

Even if you think taking a study break might be counterproductive, it’s probably exactly what you need to refuel yourself. Here are a few things you can do to get the most out of your study break.

via Pexels.com

1. Go for a walk.

You’ve probably heard this one a million times before, but there’s a reason for that — it works! There’s nothing like a brisk walk and some fresh air to make you feel a little more alive after spending hours cooped up in your room. Wherever you go and for how long you walk is entirely up to you. Perhaps spend some time strolling around your neighborhood — while taking a few laps around the block, you can take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors, which has got to be a nice change from the same old scenery of your room’s four walls.

2. Exercise.

If walking isn’t enough for you, you can also get your blood pumping by doing something a bit more physically vigorous. Jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, and any exercise that doesn’t require equipment or entail a serious workout are all good options. You can even go for a short run if you like. The goal of the exercise is to wake your body up, get that blood flowing, and hopefully help you to be more alert when you return to your studying.

3. Listen to music.

Music definitely has calming powers in many situations. If you feel that you just can’t focus on studying anymore, step back from the books and put on your favorite playlist. Jamming out to some of your favorite songs can help you to relax and maybe even release some pent-up energy you had inside that couldn’t be expended while studying. (Just make sure to not get too carried away — after all, you’re supposed to return to studying after a short break!)

girl, meditation, nature

pexels.com

4. Meditate.

Whether you’re a novice or a pro at meditating, this is a good method for clearing your mind of any distractions that might be preventing you from studying effectively.

There is no one right way to meditate, and that’s the beauty of it. Some people might prefer closing their eyes and letting themselves mentally drift away; others might prefer repeating a certain phrase to themselves to focus specifically on that. You are certainly free to meditate in whatever way you feel comfortable! If you’re not quite sure where to start, there are definitely many meditating apps you can search for on your smartphone, as well as numerous guided meditation videos on Youtube that are at your disposal.

5. Have a snack.

Maybe part of the reason you can’t concentrate on studying is your hunger. After all, you need brain food to help recharge your batteries.

If you’re going to take the time to eat something, make sure to choose wisely (i.e. preferably something healthy). Instead of making a beeline straight for the chips, cookies, or any other highly processed snack foods, opt for something like fruits, vegetables, yogurt, or granola. While you may be craving the sweet and salty snacks in the moment, making a small choice to eat something healthier can make a large, cumulative difference in the long run.

6. Get creative.

Studying is certainly not the most exciting thing in the world, often involving rote memorization of very detailed information for hours on end. Something that could help break up the tedium is a chance to set your creative juices flowing. Whatever that means to you — whether it be doodling or drawing, painting, writing poetry, sewing, playing music, or what have you — a study break is the perfect time to let loose your creativity. Not only will it allow your brain to switch tracks for a bit, but it may also be the beginning of something beautiful and wonderful that you create.

7. Talk to someone.

After staring at your notes and repeating the same things to yourself in your own mind, some friendly social interaction to break up the monotony is a good idea. Call a friend to talk on the phone, or even better yet, if there are people around you whom you can talk to (friends, family members, even your pet), talk to them face-to-face. Doing so will remind you there are other humans around, which hopefully can help you to maintain some sanity at least.

A study break is sometimes just as important as the studying itself. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed or anxious from studying, don’t hesitate to take a step back and give yourself a breather.

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