We, as humans, experience emotions, feelings, and physical sensations like tiredness, fatigue, stress, and even boredom with repetitive tasks and complex problems. Just like a machine needs maintenance, as living beings, we require breaks. These breaks are essential for our well-being. It’s important to understand that taking breaks is not a waste of time. In fact, incorporating any kind of break and practicing relaxation techniques while studying can have numerous benefits. It helps to boost focus and concentration, enhances creative thinking, and promotes a sense of calm and relaxation for both the body and mind. Therefore, we must know the importance of taking breaks for physical and mental well-being.
Importance of Taking Breaks and Its Benefits for Students
- Enhances Concentration and Efficiency: Continuous studying can lead to mental fatigue, which significantly reduces a student’s ability to concentrate. Short breaks help refresh the mind, allowing students to maintain better concentration and efficiency.
- Reduces Stress and Prevents Burnout: Studying continuously under pressure can increase stress levels and lead to burnout. This can make it difficult to concentrate and feel overwhelmed with theory-based courses. Taking regular breaks helps manage stress levels and promotes mental wellness, keeping the mind clear and more prepared for challenges.
- Improve Memory and Learning: Learning isn’t just about absorbing information; it’s also about consolidating what we learn. Breaks play a crucial role in this process. During rest periods, the brain sorts and stores information, which enhances both retention and understanding.
- Boosts Creativity and Problem-Solving: Sometimes, stepping away from a study problem or topic can provide unexpected insights. Breaks encourage creative thinking and often lead to innovative solutions and ideas for your complex topic or problem.
- Supports Physical Health: Long sitting periods can adversely affect physical health, including risks of musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular issues. Breaks encourage us to move around, which not only helps in reducing health risks but also improves blood circulation, boosting brain function and energy levels.
Also Read: Gratitude and Journaling: Simple Practices for Stress Relief
What Type of Breaks Do Students Need?
Not all breaks are equal. Watching funny videos and playing mobile games during breaks can harm study motivation and increase stress levels. To truly benefit from breaks, students should engage in relaxing techniques that boost creativity and improve study techniques. Here are some effective break ideas:
- Meditation and Conscious Breathing: Doing 10-15 minutes of meditation or practicing conscious breathing techniques (Anulom-Vilom, Bhastrika) can promote mental well-being and provide instant relaxation for the mind and body.
- Walking Around: Take a short walk around your desk or outside to stretch your body, relax your mind, and give your eyes a break. Longer breaks can be spent in nature for a more profound sense of tranquility.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Slowly tighten and relax different muscle groups in your body, starting from your toes and moving up to your head. This technique helps release tension and relieves physical fatigue.
- Engaging in Hobbies: Use break time to do activities you enjoy, such as drawing, painting, dancing, singing, or writing in your diary. Creative activities help you relax, recharge, and prevent burnout.
- Power Nap: Take a short 20-minute nap to boost energy and improve cognitive function. Avoid longer naps to prevent grogginess and disruptions to your sleep schedule.
Other ways to take breaks include taking a shower, chatting briefly with family or friends, cooking a meal, laughing, listening to music, or engaging in any activity that brings you joy and relaxation.
How Much Time of Break is Effective for Students?
The duration of breaks can vary depending on personal habits and routines. Some students may find it easy to concentrate for an hour, while others may struggle to focus even for 20 minutes. However, consistent practice leads to improvement for everyone.
One popular technique is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. After completing four cycles of this, a longer break of 25-30 minutes is taken. This technique can be effective for many students, but it’s important to adapt it to your own needs and preferences.
As a general guideline, consider the following break durations:
- Short Breaks: Take 5–10 minute breaks every hour of study to rest and recharge.
- Longer Breaks: Schedule 15-30 minute breaks every 2-4 hours of continuous study to give yourself more time to relax and rejuvenate.
- Micro-breaks: Take 1-2 minute breaks every 20-30 minutes, especially for quick stretches or eye relaxation exercises.
- One Extra Tip: Stay Hydrated During Every Break.
Finally, In the pursuit of breaks and relaxation, it’s important to avoid spending excessive hours on non-productive activities like continuously watching funny videos or chatting with friends. Engaging in such activities can harm your study routine and make it hard to focus which causes increased stress levels, and forces you to make up for the lost time. Therefore, It’s crucial to balance between taking breaks for relaxation and ensuring that those breaks don’t become distractions or time-wasters. Know the importance of taking breaks and incorporating them into your daily life to bring out your best version.
Jiwan is an accomplished IT Security Engineer and Trainer with 15 years of expertise, focusing on certifications such as CCIE and CEH. Beyond his technical skills, he is a dedicated vlogger, mindfulness guide, and active social worker. Jiwan advocates for life skills, independence, and critical thinking in his teachings, empowering IT professionals, learners, and spiritual seekers alike. His holistic approach integrates technical mastery with personal development, aiming to cultivate balanced lives where both professional success and personal fulfillment thrive.