What to Do When You Can't Study Anymore...
After four long hours of studying, I’m sure everyone has thought “Ugh, do I really have to keep studying right now?” The answer is, no you don’t! It’s time to take a break. Time to recharge and come back to it fully focused and ready to kill it.
But after your break, are you more frustrated? Are you more reluctant to come back to studying? What should you do during your break to ensure that you feel rested and ready to work after?
Some general rules about a break:
Make sure to leave your study space. This will tell your brain you are in a different environment and will allow you to relax more easily.
Determine whether this will be a short 5-minute break or a long 30-minute break. If you’ve been studying for less than 2 hours and need a quick break, take 5-10 minutes. If you’ve been studying several hours, take a long break for about 30-45 minutes to refresh your mind.
If you were studying on an electronic device, no electronics on your break! It makes you feel as if you’re still studying if you continue to look at a screen.
5 ideas for a short break:
Coffee or Tea Break
Anyone who has been through graduate school or professional school knows that Coffee is Life. And if you don’t know, get with it! Caffeine is a real addiction. It is a mood-boosting, feel better about everything treat! It can give you the energy or encouragement you need to get through the next few hours of studying. If you just absolutely cannot do coffee, try tea or any beverage that makes you feel good in the moment.
Read
Start a new book about something other than what you’re currently studying. But since it’s a short break, only read a few pages. For instance, right now I’m interested in learning more about how to better manage my money and budget as a full-time student. So I’ve begun a book discussing everything about money and how to manage it for 20-something year olds (“Personal Finance in Your 20s for Dummies”).
Dance
Time for a dance break!!! Turn on your favorite song, and even if you have no rhythm, dance it out for five minutes! It helps by relieving stress and releasing endorphins. By the time you stop, you will have completed a mini-workout session and you will feel soooooo good!
Walk or Run
The same way dancing would help you relieve stress and release endorphins, so will walking or running! One of my good friends said that on her short study breaks she would take a lap around our school or on the floor that she’s studying. But caution: you may run into friends and begin to talk, or you may be convinced to run to the car and go home. Stay focused, we’ve got to get some things done today!
Call Family or a Friend
We always say that we don’t have much time to spend with others because we need to study. Why not catch up with family and friends on a small break? I called my grandmother who lives almost an hour away from me, and she was so happy to hear from me that I make an appoint to call her every day during one of my breaks. You never know how much people cherish those 5 minutes. It feels good to know that someone is thinking about you.
6 ideas for a long break:
Watch YouTube
Search something you’re interested in or a show you like. Search a skill you want to learn. Search a field within medicine you want to learn more about. There are so many different videos on YouTube (or the internet period). Often, I will search a specialty I’m interested in, and a video will come up showing a procedure or interview about it. Sometimes I will watch videos of “how to” tutorials; for example, how to study effectively, how to do a perfect twist out, how to contour on a budget, etc.
Listen to Podcasts
Podcasts are a gold mine for free information! I absolutely love to listen to podcasts when I can. It gives me the chance to learn something or listen to dialogue from experts. It has helped to improve my conversations, especially when it comes to controversial topics. Like YouTube, there is a vast variety of podcast shows (or episodes) that you could search for based on what you want to learn that day. This could be the news, politics, money, daily inspiration, comedy, sports, or anything you could possibly name. You can listen and subscribe to podcasts via the podcast app on Apple products or on other apps offered through your app store.
Get some chores done around the house
If you're like me, you have dishes to clean, laundry to do, clean clothes to fold, and a bed to make up! I'm not kidding, I'm looking at my sink full of dishes right now and cringing at the sight. Use your longer break to get some of those things done. The act of cleaning up and seeing the instant result after (a clear environment) has a euphoric effect, and does wonders for your focus. Instead of waiting for this magical free day to come (it won't), do it little by little everyday. Your living and study space will be clean in no time, and that's one more thing off your "to-do someday" list.
Cook a meal
When was the last time you had a good home-cooked meal? As busy full-time students, we get caught up in the quick and convenient. Sometimes we put our health and diet on the "back-burner". But since you're already not studying for this 30 minutes and trying to figure out what to do, you may as well pull out the pots & pans, and get to work! If you don't know how to cook, you can learn how, or go to Whole Foods (or any grocery store) for a wholesome meal. Time to throw down in the kitchen!
Learn or try something new
If you’re as curious as I am, you may have decided to pick up a new hobby or you may want to learn something new every chance you get. On your long break, you could commit some time to learning that new language you said you would learn. Try yoga or pilates! Begin to write that business plan you were planning to write. Write a paragraph or a few pages of that book you want to publish. Look up Ding Dong, Texas (yes, it's a real place). Learn to cook a new recipe. Read a little more of that book you usually read on your short break. Anything you decide to do will help you to maximize your time. Using your breaks to tackle something that you’re passionate about (but have been putting off due to "lack of time") will help you to become more balanced in your routine and in your life. School should not be the only thing you focus on!
Have an inspiration ONLY social media page
No matter how much you love or support others, seeing nothing but the highlights of other people’s lives can discourage you sometimes. We tend to compare others' mountains to our valleys. That’s normal! But this page could serve as an alternative to the typical social media timeline. I have an Instagram page that is completely dedicated to quote, inspirational, studying, fashion, and celebrity pages (or whatever I’m interested in seeing). I have no followers and I do not follow anyone I know. I use this page solely to be myself and to find inspiration outside of my personal world. I used Instagram but Tumblr is also great for this! Try it on one of your favorite social media platforms.
What do you do on your study breaks? I am always seeking more ways to do anything more efficiently. Hit me up in the contact section with your tips for study breaks. When I find new and beneficial ways to take a break, I will share them with you and update this post.
