Rosewale: Efficient study breaks

There has to be a balance, always. Ying and Yang. Breathing and breathing out. When you study you also have to make some time for a short break to relax. Your brain doesn’t process information with the same efficiency the whole time. If you can’t afford (study wisely) your brain to relax, at least give your body the chance to do so. I want to introduce you to some easy exercises and methods you can do by yourself at home to make the most of your study breaks. As I catch myself too often doing just random unnecessary things or watching countless YouTube videos (just this one more, then I continue) in my short study break (which ends up being as long as I´ve studied before) I want to give you and myself suggestions how a study break can be the most effective. A study break is not an invitation to turn off your brain, it’s simply a welcome chance to let it breath for several minutes.

- Physical movement

Play your favorite song and just dance!

Imagine you are picking apples from a very high tree. Stretch your arms, you can reach them.

Try to reach your toes, touch your left ear with your right hand (around the top of your head) and bend it to the right while pushing your left hand towards the ground.

While I thought that exercises is energy consuming, the contrary happened. Going for a run or a quick bike trip boosts my energy level enormously. Getting some exercise actually wakes up my body and mind and I am in a much lighter and fitter mood afterwards. Try it out, even if you are just walking your dog or do a quick yoga-session!

-Relaxation

Sit down and close your eyes. Breath deeply into your stomach, it should go in and out. Take about 4-10 deep breaths and feel your hearth pumping slower. With each breath you take you inhale yellow positivity and exhale all the dark thoughts you have been carrying with you.

Cook!

Food is your fuel. You cannot study with an empty stomach, only eating junk-food or snacking the whole time.
Stay low on simple carbohydrates (such as white bread) and sugar.
Eating too much dietary fiber takes up too much energy to digest.
Banana is supposed to be very good due to containing a lot of magnesium and calcium.
Orange will prevent you from getting sick as well as apples.
(Remember: one apple a day keeps …..)

Do a puzzle or brain teaser!

-Positivity

Lie on your bed with you eyes closed, careful don’t fall asleep. Try to think the least possible. You are now imaginary moving to a relaxing place like the beach or any place where you feel welcome and safe. Are you there? This is your own inner safe place. This place is free from hate, negative thoughts or guilt. Focus on what you have accomplished so far. Are you happy with where you are in your life right now? Where were you a year ago, also mentally-wise? Amazing what can be accomplished within one year, and you did it all by yourself! Remember, you can always return to your place whenever you feel the need to flee from anything that bothers you. This is you-time at your inner place. Now, open the window and continue your work freshly.

Avoid losing time to Social Media, Youtube, online TV shows etc.

Here is a list of some of some extensions/apps which help you to stay away from your addictive sites:

StayFocusd for Chrome
This extension allows you to access your favorite websites… but only for a certain period of time. You can customize the extension to block entire websites or specific links and give yourself a time quota for accessing them each day.

Strict Pomodoro for Chrome
We all like breaks, but sometimes they can get out of control. Strict Pomodoro allows you to set a timer to make you work for 25 minutes, then break for 5 minutes. This one is my personal favorite because it is simple, yet effective.

Concentrate for Macs
This highly customizable app gives you options to blacklist certain websites, apps, and has a variety of interesting ways to alert and push you to stick to your work by using notifications.

Leechblock for Firefox
This extension lets you set up to six sites on a blacklist and gives you options to set up time limits as well as periods of the day in order to keep you distraction free.

Anyone who tells you that constant cramming is the most effective way of studying is wrong. You should find time for short breaks that allow your mind and body to regain strength. Not only will this result in the increase of efficiency but also in reducing studying time and boosting your abilities.