Quick and Effective Study Break Activities

by RUkia saleem laghari | 1 Oct 2023

With there always being tests, quizzes, and exams to prepare for, and amidst hectic study schedules, taking regular breaks is an essential habit to be maintained for managing stress and enhancing efficiency. A few brief respites provide an opportunity to rest, rejuvenate, and recharge but only if used productively and positively. There are countless quick and effective study break activities that can stimulate the mind and help maintain focus while also being enjoyable. Therefore, explore the following delightful study break activity options that will hopefully leave you feeling refreshed enough to tackle the next academic challenge.

In my opinion, taking breaks can be a risky endeavour, potentially leading to dangerous consequences. Many individuals encounter specific situations during study breaks, such as getting distracted and finding themselves engrossed in hours of mindless scrolling through TikTok. And I assure you, spending hours scrolling through academic TikToks does not qualify as productive. To maintain productivity, the key is to keep your study breaks short and purposeful, aiming for 10 to 20 minutes every hour to keep a balance between rest and productivity.

Movement and Health-based Activities:

Sitting for long durations, studying at a desk or even in bed, can lead to physical discomfort, reduced blood circulation, and decreased alertness. Incorporating movement in study breaks involves stretching and re-energizing the body, which helps to counter the sedentary nature of studying. The following activities support cognitive function, reduce mental fatigue, increase blood flow to the mind, improve focus and memory, and help combat the downsides that studying can have on our body. Such small exercises can easily shift our attention and permit emotional breaks as well. Additionally, these activities reduce stress levels and enhance motivation.

1. Yoga:

Yoga, the ultimate stress-buster! It’s like a gentle, relaxing superhero that kicks tension and tightness to the curb. With its magical powers of stretching, meditation, and relaxation, yoga transforms your body into a zen paradise, leaving stress in the dust. Say goodbye to the shoulder and neck tightness that’s been haunting you. And those pesky “fight or flight” responses? Breathe them away like a yoga master, and let tranquility be your new superpower. For more insights on how yoga is beneficial for students, you can read this blog on the importance of yoga for students.

2. Meditation:

Meditation can train the mind to stay focused on the important matter at hand without getting sidetracked. It fosters emotional well-being by promoting emotional resilience. It reduces symptoms of stress and depression, encouraging a positive mental state for the next study session. It is also linked with bettering our physical health which is affected by sitting for extended periods, as it lowers blood pressure.

3. Stretching:

Spending long hours hunched over books or a computer can lead to poor posture and related discomfort. Stretching helps counteract the effects of prolonged sitting by lengthening and elongating the muscles, improving posture, and reducing muscular imbalances. Stretching is nearly a mental reset because it means temporarily disengaging from academic material and rejuvenating our minds.

4. Walks:

Walking allows you to break away from your usual environment and experience a change of scenery. Being in a different setting can help shift your perspective and open your mind to new ideas and possibilities. Nature walks, in particular, can be especially beneficial as the beauty and tranquility of natural surroundings can inspire fresh thoughts and creativity.

5. Eating/Drinking:

Let’s spill the truth about study breaks: eating is the secret weapon to fuel your productivity. Imagine this: buried in books, a growling stomach becomes your arch-nemesis. But fear not, with a well-timed snack break, you can satisfy your cravings, sharpen your focus, and bid farewell to distractions. So, embrace the art of snacking and studying!

6. Showers:

A shower can be a mental reset, allowing you to temporarily shift your focus away from studying. It provides a brief escape from the demands of academic work and can help you come back to your study materials with a renewed perspective and increased mental clarity.

Learning:

Studying for long stretches without breaks can lead to diminishing returns. Incorporating short learning activities in study breaks helps you manage your time effectively. It provides structure to your breaks, ensuring you make the most of them without getting too carried away and losing track of time.

7. Read:

Reading engages your mind in a different way than studying. It’s like giving your brain a much-needed vacation from the boring lecture halls and never-ending textbooks. When you read, your mind goes on a wild adventure. You can be a swashbuckling pirate; a time-travelling wizard; or even a detective, solving crimes in a wacky small town. Thus, you choose the destination and you don’t even need to pack a bag. Curling up with a good book and a cozy blanket is the ultimate stress-buster. It’s like having your own personal therapist, except you don’t have to pay exorbitant fees.

Moreover, our comprehensive blog on How to build a reading habit (mojza.org) offers valuable tips on how to cultivate a reading habit. So, don’t forget to check out this blog for more reading tips.

8. Paint:

Mixing colours and figuring out brush strokes can feel like solving a mysterious puzzle. It’s like The Da Vinci Code but with more paint and fewer secret societies. Additionally, concentrating on tiny details while painting can be a great exercise for your study stamina. Think of it as a warm-up for tackling those mind-boggling equations later.

9. Draw:

Studying is all about logic and critical thinking, but adding creativity through drawing and sketching lets you express yourself in a wacky way. It’s like battling equations with a pencil sword while creating art during your breaks. Get ready to be a brainy Picasso!

10. Journal:

You can pour out your academic frustrations and confusion onto these pages, which could make it easier to understand what it is that you do not comprehend while studying. Additionally, a journal won’t judge you for doodling a stick figure professor with a comically large head. It also grants the power of hindsight as you can go back and read old entries. So, when studying becomes too much to handle, grab that journal and unleash your inner comedian.

11. Instruments:

Playing or learning to play an instrument during study break activities is an equivalent of meditation and stretching. And here’s the best part: serenading your study materials with questionable renditions of popular songs. Forget about the original lyrics and melodies – it’s all about improvisation. Your chemistry notes might just come to life with a touch of jazz or a dash of heavy metal. Who knew that studying could have its very own soundtrack, complete with questionable harmonies and off-key solos?Playing or learning to play an instrument during study break activities is an equivalent of meditation and stretching. And here’s the best part: serenading your study materials with questionable renditions of popular songs. Forget about the original lyrics and melodies – it’s all about improvisation. Your chemistry notes might just come to life with a touch of jazz or a dash of heavy metal. Who knew that studying could have its very own soundtrack, complete with questionable harmonies and off-key solos?

12. Crosswords:

First off, crosswords are like mental gymnastics. You can flex those brain muscles and feel like an intellectual superhero. Who needs to learn about calculus when you can spend hours deciphering the five-letter word for “tropical fruit”? You’ll also find yourself casually dropping words like “quixotic” or “sesquipedalian” into everyday conversations, leaving everyone around you baffled and slightly amused.

13. Organizing notes:

This one is for the brave and mighty. If you are capable of looking at your notes even during a study break, this activity can be incredibly productive and helpful for later. Organizing your notes can bring a sense of mental order and clarity. By arranging your thoughts and materials in a structured manner, you create a more coherent framework for understanding and retaining information. It’s like tidying up the chaos in your mind!

To further enhance your note-taking skills, be sure to explore our blog on how to make effective and concise notes – Mojza.

14. Clean:

The ultimate productive activity which can even earn you brownie points from your parents. Engaging in cleaning tasks during a study break allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment. As you see your physical surroundings becoming cleaner and more organized, it can provide a psychological boost and motivate you to return to studying with a refreshed mindset and increased productivity.

15. Grocery shopping:

The ultimate way to ‘adult’ like a boss. One minute you’re studying, the next you’re contemplating which cookies are tastier. Additionally, forget the gym; pushing that overloaded shopping cart is the ultimate arm workout. Who needs dumbbells when you can do bicep curls with bags of groceries? Or you could just get out of the house to get overpriced snacks, and call it grocery shopping. But the challenge here is, will you be able to make it back to your books within 20 minutes?

Other:

16. Bake/Cook:

Baking or cooking as a study break activity? Absolutely! Imagine escaping complex equations for a delicious culinary adventure. It’s like turning textbooks into recipes and creating mouthwatering masterpieces. Plus, you get to feast on your creations and satisfy both your hunger and your soul. Just remember, keep it fun, keep it tasty, and return to your books with a satisfied belly and a brain ready to conquer the academic world. Happy cooking, baking, and studying (with occasional tasty distractions)!

17. Listen to music:

With music as your trusty sidekick, you can conquer complex equations while bobbing your head to the rhythm. It’s like having your own personal soundtrack to academic greatness. Move over, Beethoven; we’ve got a new genius in town, and they’re armed with a killer playlist!

18. Podcasts:

You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you might even snort uncontrollably during those unexpected funny moments. Just make sure you don’t burst into spontaneous laughter during a library study session, unless you want to become the comedian of the academic world. But be warned, choose your episodes wisely. You don’t want to fall into the deep, dark abyss of true crime mysteries or get lost in conspiracy theories while your calculus textbook cries for attention. Stay focused on educational podcasts that align with your studies, unless you’re aiming for a PhD in random trivia.

19. Talk to family/friends:

Turn your study break into a social extravaganza with family and friends as your study break companions. You’re not just conquering equations; you’re also becoming the master of small talk and the reigning champion of catching up on the latest gossip. But be careful, you don’t want this to turn into an hour-long therapy session.

20. Power nap:

With just a few minutes of shut-eye, you’ll recharge your brain like a superhero recharging their powers. It’s like a mini escape from the world of textbooks, where you can drift into dreamland and wake up ready to conquer the academic challenges ahead. But make sure to set an alarm while also asking someone to wake you up. If you’re interested in finding out how power naps work and how they can enhance your study breaks, you can find valuable insights in this blog post: The Science of Naps.

21. Watching a show:

Before your brain stages a full-blown rebellion, why not take a study break and indulge in some Netflix? Embrace the risky business of limited show-watching, and you might even earn the title of the “Least dedicated couch surfer.” Just remember, this daring act must be executed on a TV or laptop, for maximum danger and procrastination potential. So, open Netflix, press play, and let the battle between studying and binge-watching commence!

In addition to these engaging study break activities, you can also leverage productivity apps to maximize your time during breaks. Consider using Pomodoro timer apps like ‘Forest‘ or habit-tracking tools such as ‘Habitica‘ to help you stay on track and maintain a productive study routine. By incorporating these apps into your study breaks, you can optimize your productivity and improve your overall learning experience. Not only that, but we have also left lots of productivity tips in our very blog on mastering time management.

Furthermore, It’s crucial to avoid certain pitfalls that might turn your study breaks into chaos. Firstly, do not let social media suck you in and conquer your study goals. Secondly, avoid falling into the time warp trap, where a five-minute break magically transforms into a “Where did the day go?!” situation. Set clear time limits for your breaks and resist the temptation to go down the rabbit hole of infinite procrastination. Lastly, you do not need to solve world problems during study breaks (unless you want to become a UN diplomat one day). Keep your study breaks light, fun, and leave the stress for another day.

In conclusion, incorporating quick study break activities into your routine can have a significant positive impact on your learning journey. Whether it’s engaging in a short burst of physical activity, exploring new knowledge through podcasts or articles, or simply taking a few moments to relax and recharge, these activities provide a valuable mental and physical break from studying. They enhance your focus, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. By strategically incorporating these activities into your study routine, you can optimize your productivity, improve retention, and maintain a healthy balance between work and relaxation. So, embrace the power of the study breaks and discover the benefits of these quick and enjoyable activities on your path to academic success. Happy studying and refreshing breaks!

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Author: Rukia Saleem Laghari
Proofreaders: Maryam Farhan, Isha Balouch, Sukaina Hussain

September 30, 2024

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