Spring break always comes at the perfect time. It’s a moment to relax and give our minds a breather. Our brains and bodies feel rejuvenated, so as soon as Monday hits we all go right back to studying and working just as hard as we did two weeks before.
While there are certainly times it’s important to push our brains, studies show that brain productivity, energy and focus increase tremendously when we learn how to incorporate breaks into our study habits.
Students should take a lesson from spring break, and learn how to incorporate breaks into their study habits to better improve both quality of work and overall happiness.
Even I used to be guilty of the weekend study cram. I would feel so overwhelmed that I’d push myself for hours until everything was finished. If I caught myself staring off for a few minutes or checking my phone, I would feel lazy and force myself to regain focus. Sometimes, even that little voice in my head would berate me about how “I’ll do horribly on this assignment if I don’t work harder,” or “I’ll never get into law school if I keep working like this.’” It made me resent my classes, and I felt more and more frustrated as it felt like all I did was work.
It never occurred to me that maybe part of the reason I was having to work so long was because I never gave my brain a moment to breathe. Just like any other muscle, our brains can get fatigued and need a moment of rest, even if that is just for the occasional few minutes.
“Our attention spans and the ability to focus for sustained periods of time is pretty limited. So after about 30, 45 minutes, our minds need a break,” said associate professor of psychology
Jarrod Lewis-Peacock. “There’s an accumulation of information that’s loaded up into our head and it can actually get to a point of being counterproductive if we don’t take a break.”
This counterproductivity can emerge in various ways, from reducing productivity and increasing the needed study time to heightening frustration and exhaustion. All of these things together can also worsen mental health. By learning when our individual brains need to be given a breather, we can start to produce our best work without overworking ourselves.
“Being mindful of the energy budget you have mentally and physically, and building in mental and physical brakes like going for a walk for 15 minutes, can disrupt the sort of monolithic chunks of time,” said Lewis-Peacock. “(It could even) make the experience more pleasant and allow you to work longer and more effectively.”
These small breaks don’t have to be focus ruining to be effective. They can be anything from standing up to stretch, walking to get a snack or even going outside. Just doing something you enjoy for a few minutes can give your brain the love it needs to continue working hard for you.
More importantly, practicing breaks amidst such high intensity academic and work environments allows us to preventatively care for our brains while we’re still young.
“If you incorporate what we know about healthspan and in making the brain healthier for later, it absolutely applies to young folks as well. Sleeping well, eating right and exercising would improve your ability to do well cognitively,” said Andreana Haley, professor and director of clinical training in the department of psychology.
Specifically, Haley explains that maintaining a healthy body and mind can work to combat issues later in life like dementia and cardiovascular disease. By learning to do so young, we can better our habits and improve our cognitive function both now and in 60 years.
“We’re not talking only about things that people in their 20s think will never happen to them. We’re talking about how this is going to be good for you now too,” said Haley. “It’s going to be better for your mental health and the cognitive outcomes for your test performance if you do these simple things: Stand up, take a break, have a snack or go see your friends.”
By learning to incorporate breaks into our study sessions, we can better care for our brains both now and later in life. By simply practicing healthy study habits, and giving our minds a moment to breathe, we truly can begin to work smarter, not harder.
Lack is a dance and Plan II sophomore from San Angelo, Texas.
