Whether you’re a fresher or a finalist, all uni students feel the stress that comes with exams. It can be hard to find time to take a breather from revision. These study breaks might be more beneficial for you than you think.
A study by Cornell University found that taking purposeful study breaks between five minutes to an hour can help to increase productivity, concentration and energy. It may be tempting to hop onto social media during these study breaks. However, they highlight that social media does not actually give you the mental break you need.
Now you may be wondering, if social media isn’t helpful, what else is there to do during a study break? Well, here are some suggestions for increasing the purposefulness of your study breaks to help you energise and, hopefully, see more productive results from your revision.
Take a walk
Walking isn’t everyone’s go-to thing to do to reenergise, but the benefits of walking in between studying are immense. These benefits include increased creativity, boosted energy, and decreased stress hormones in the brain.
The benefits of walking may be even more effective if you take walks surrounded by nature, rather than industrial areas. If you live near any form of a natural setting, you may find going on a walk there to help you increase your studying productivity.
Common natural settings could include woods, a river, a lake, a canal, or even a park with green grass and trees.
Listen to music
Music can be a great way to relieve some stress during study breaks. We all have our different music tastes, but playing music of more upbeat and happy-sounding genres might help you to feel more energised. Try making a playlist specifically for playing during your study breaks. Fill this playlist with your favourite upbeat songs that will get you ready to start studying again.
Dance break!
Following on from the last point, you might find that upbeat music makes you want to stand up and dance around. If you feel that urge, do it!
Dancing has excellent health benefits, including boosting mood and improving confidence and self-esteem. It has even been linked to increasing memory and information processing. So, whether you’re an experienced dancer or you’re completely uncoordinated, clear a space in your room and throw yourself a dance party!
Have a conversation
Call someone you enjoy talking to and have a conversation! This can be about anything, but socialisation is important for your mental health during such a stressful time. Try to stay connected, even if its just saying ‘hi’ to someone for a few minutes.
A mindful study break
Practicing mindfulness can be a helpful way of destressing. The purpose of mindfulness is to bring you back to the here and now, helping you focus on your surroundings. Good ways of practicing mindfulness include meditation, breathing exercises, or the five senses exercise, which can also be useful for grounding yourself during a panic attack.
Switch to another task
During your study break, you could switch to another task that you need to do around the house, like taking out the bins or washing up the dishes. This way, you’re still being productive but giving yourself the mental break away from your studies.
Do something you enjoy!
Remember, you are still human. You can’t work 24/7; you, your brain and your body deserve breaks. Whatever it is that you need to do to recharge your batteries, it is ok to take some time to do that.
Doing something you enjoy during exams is not a crime. So, if you want to watch Netflix or YouTube, or you want to do some art, or play a videogame, that is ok. As long as you remember to set a timer during your study break if you know you easily get sucked into the rabbit hole of procrastination, you’ll be ok.
The takeaway message
Exam season can be a stressful and busy time, and finding time to breathe and relax can be difficult. Hopefully, this article has provided you with some ideas of different ways you can take study breaks to increase your productivity and focus. I wish you good luck for your exams, you have got this!