Don’t Burn Out: How To Make A List Of Fun-Filled Study Breaks
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We all know that studying is a drag, and sometimes, try as you might, you just can’t focus. Staring at an open textbook is going to get you nowhere, so once in a while, you deserve to take a break. The key to taking a break is to give it a time limit per say, because we all know that breaks are contagious and once you take one you aren’t going to be eager to get back to the books.
Here are some ideas to put on your study break list, that will give you the break you need without letting the break drag on longer than it should.
Watch A Short Show:
Okay, if you are choosing a show, it can’t be anything with cliffhangers because guess what, you won’t stop after just one. You want to pick a show that is only 20 minutes on Netflix, so that way if you really wanted to watch two, it is the equivalent of one longer show, which makes it feel like you’re getting more out of it.
Three examples that are allotted to be on my list are: “How I Met Your Mother,” “ New Girl” and “Baby Daddy.” While they all follow a plot line, they are the types of shows that don’t usually have cliffhangers, and while you’d want to know more for your own personal interest, you don’t have the urge that you NEED to know more, like with “Lost” or “Breaking Bad.”
Having a short show on your list will give you the guilt-free pleasure of watching a show, and still getting all your work done for school in a timely fashion.
Call Someone:
Since texting while studying is definitely not a good way to study, swear off your phone until you feel like you need a break. Call someone that you want to talk to and allow yourself half an hour or so to catch up on all the things you would have been texting about.
This allows you to not fall completely off the grid, stay focused when it’s time to focus, and bring talking on the phone back into the equation (in this day and age we talk too much over electronics without actually talking).
You know your parents would appreciate a call too, so you can kill two birds with one stone by getting that out of the way and taking a break.
Can Someone Say Buzzfeed?:
Buzzfeed quizzes are hilarious, and the perfect way to get your mind off your hectic school stuff. Search the site for quizzes that appeal to you and allow yourself to take about five long ones or so.You HAVE to set a limit or else you will be on there all day (you know it’s true!).
You can even share your results on Facebook, and then when you are allowed another break, you can see how you and your friends compare on your quiz results!
Read:
I know that when I have Lit homework that’s reading, I always feel incredibly guilty when I start reading “Game of Thrones” instead since I should be reading some boring book that I don’t want to.
In order to get rid of this feeling, I allow myself to indulge in one chapter, and one chapter only, before returning back to the boring reading that I am required to do. If reading is your thing, set aside a page number that you won’t be allowed to pass until you get some more stuff done. This goes for magazines too: only allow yourself a couple of juicy gossip stories before calling it quits.
Or, you know, read some awesome articles on Uloop!
Bake Something:
If you need a break, bake a tasty treat! While it is cooking in the oven, you can look over some of the things you need to study, and when it’s ready, you can reward your hard effort with something yummy. (Note: This one does require clean up time, so you may want to save this for when you really don’t want to study, because it will allow you extra time away from the task at hand).
This activity is definitely more fun if someone is doing it with you, so call over a floor mate and get cracking!
Get Some Exercise:
No wonder you are burnt out, you’ve been stuck in a hot stuffy room, surrounded by the same scenery all day. Go outside and take a walk, go for a quick swim, do some jumping jacks, anything. Exercising is a great way to get that heart pumping and it will feel great to stretch your legs after sitting for so long.
It’s okay to take breaks once in a while; in fact it will help you be more productive. Whatever activity you choose to do, remember to stick to a time limit and base the length on how stressed out you are. Happy break taking!
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