12 things to do during a study break

Studying for midterms and exams can be overwhelmingly challenging. However, you can do effective studying with the use of periodic study breaks. 

Studying has to be started ahead of time. When nearing midterms or final examinations, try studying for 1-2 hours and then take a 10-15 min break. There are so many things you can do to utilize your study break. 

Grab a snack and relax

Grab a healthy snack like a fruit, granola bar, veggies yogurt, etc. A good diet, exercise, and a good night's sleep will help maintain our energy levels. Picking the right snacks can help you focus, be more productive, and keep your mind functioning at an optimal level. This tip helps me because if I were to make the wrong diet choices, how would I survive the studying season? School can be difficult with choosing healthy options as we are constantly exposed to lots of distractions yet still need to have enough energy to stay productive. 

Grab a glass of water

It is very important to keep yourself hydrated. Why do you see students bring their water bottles to classes? Water plays an important role in the function of our cells, tissues, and organs, including the brain. Studies show that drinking water before an exam could increase your academic performance because your brain is approximately made up of 75% water and when it is running at full capacity, you tend to think more clearly as well as increase your concentration level, and think more critically and creatively [1]. To keep your brain in full function mode, doctors and nutritionists recommend drinking at least half of your body weight in terms of ounces of water per day. If you weigh 160 pounds, then drink 80 ounces of water during the midterm/final exam season to academically perform at your highest peak [1]. I don’t drink water on a consistent basis but when I feel dehydrated from studying, I realize that I should be drinking more water. 

Go for a mini stretch 

This is a good way to stretch out because we as students sit a lot when we have a lot of school work, are going to classes, and sitting for exams. I would recommend just stretching out your arms personally, this is what has helped me stay flexible. The type of stretching you choose to focus on will vary based on your strengths, weaknesses and overall frequency of stretches; so I do recommend practicing to increase flexibility. 

Meditate 

This is a great way to increase your focus and clarity, and it reduces anxiety. I would start with at least 2 minutes a day and then gradually increase from there as this helps me. 

Yoga 

Doing yoga helps with flexibility and concentration. Yoga unites the mind and body in one present moment. Yoga has helped me stay in the present moment and I hope to continue my yoga journey or hope to incorporate it into my routine on a more consistent basis.

Watch some YouTube videos 

Watch something on Youtube! This can be a comedian or any educational video that fits your interests. I personally like watching vloggers, educational content videos, motivational and comedians. Sometimes I watch just for laughs. 

Play an instrument 

Pick up any instrument of your own choice. I picked up on playing the guitar and it really calms me down listening to the tune of the music I’m playing. I highly recommend you all pick up an instrument to play, especially if you’re feeling some sort of anxiety. 

Go for a walk or run 

You can have a walk or jog in your neighbourhood just to wind down a bit if you’re having an exhausting day. This helps me as it gets my body ready to tackle tasks that I have after I complete my workout. 

Reading a book 

Reading helps you better the understanding of author’s perspective as well as gives you a better idea of what the world is like. It has the ability to reduce stress. Based on a study done at the University of Sussex reading for just six minutes can reduce stress by greater than 60 percent [2]. Doing this more often can significantly reduce overall stress levels and it personally helps me. 

Go to the gym 

It is recommended to do 30-60 min of physical activity a day to keep yourself active. So this is a good tip if you are looking to stay fit as well as gain mental clarity. I usually prefer going to the university gym or a local gym nearby since it is a nice way to put yourself out there and workout in a nice, open space.

Play a sport

It can be a sport of your choice. You can play it in the comfort of your own home, go to a local community center, or meet up with your friends to play a sport you like. You can do swimming, play basketball, hockey, soccer, and much more activities. I really enjoy playing sports as it gets all parts of my body engaged. 

Check out the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre to see what physical activities are available as things are reopening up. 

I really hope these tips are as helpful to you as they’ve been to me. 

References

[1] https://www.wel-dun.com/about-us/blogs/37804-can-drinking-water-make-you-smarter.html#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20drinking%20water,experience%20greater%20clarity%20and%20creativity. 

[2]https://www.brockpress.com/reading-is-a-better-study-break-than-tv-and-video-games/#:~:text=Reading%20also%20has%20the%20ability,difference%20in%20your%20stress%20levels.