By: Norah, Grade 9
“It’s just five minutes!”
Said the person who doomscrolled for five hours
Guilty? Yes. I struggle with procrastination, and maybe you do, too. We’ve been hearing about how it is good to take study breaks. They’re great, but the “breaks” most of us take leave us feeling drained or bored when we—if we—go back to work.
According to Google, a break is:
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break
/brāk/
2.
a pause in work or during an activity or event.
"I need a break from mental activity"
To take a rest
Pause: To stop a process or activity temporarily.
Rest: To cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
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Huh.
Think about it. You do some math homework for 20 minutes, you go on Youtube, your brain gets all excited, then you go back to math. Seems fun? Your brain doesn’t think so.
The solution? Make your breaks be an actual rest so you come back energized. Or make the breaks boring so you actually want to go back to work.
So: ideas, because we can’t have you spend your break thinking of something to do on break!
Stare at the wall
If you haven’t clicked off yet, there is reason. Break=boring, homework=fun(ner). Mathematical proof. Also, if you sit somewhere cozy, it’s all nice and good and refreshing—didn’t you wish you could do that in class, too?
Make tea
I love spilling tea. But not the tea in my kitchen. That’s for breaks, because tea is relaxing and good for your brain and ✨cognitive function✨, unless others spill tea involving you. Wait, I'm losing track of this metaphor—maybe I can understand those two sentences if i drink some (real) ✨tea✨
Exercise
“I just finished my mile in gym - and you’re telling me to exercise after studying for my bio test? Double torture?” Okay, but it also makes a great break because it reduces stress, makes your memory better, and overall enhances your brain’s performance. Jumproping, stretching, push-ups (or not…)—all that great stuff
Walking
Relating to what we had above, walking also gives you so many benefits for your brain. Also it’s gorgeous outside, nature’s awesome. But honestly, walking around your house for a bit works fine too!
Grovel around on the floor for a bit
Try it. It can be your main character moment. Maybe keep the door closed, though, because rolling around the floor is fun until someone walks in seeing you play the role of a mop.
Read
Love, but a few things before: don’t read something you don’t like on your break, you need to be refreshed. And maybe don’t read anything that takes 50 re-reads to parse—we’re on a break. If you have a really interesting ✨reading item✨ and you need motivation to do work, do work for, say, 17 minutes and read 5 pages or for 3 minutes!
Eat a snack
Sometimes food just lights something up. But don’t forget about the water—stay hydrated!
Journal
Do you have this little thing that keeps popping into your mind—and distracting you from absolutely *everything*? Go get a rage page and scribble out everything, then calmly plop back into your desk, all refreshed
That’s your study break inspiration right there! Next time you sit down with your breaks, be intentional. Make sure you’re actually coming back refreshed, and leave everyone wondering *how* you got all your work done so fast.
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