{"id":18365,"date":"2023-03-20T12:41:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T01:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=18365"},"modified":"2024-08-30T13:36:18","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T03:36:18","slug":"7-signs-its-time-for-a-study-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/7-signs-its-time-for-a-study-break\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Know When to Take a Study Break"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We all know that feeling; you\u2019ve committed to a full day of studying and gone into it with the best intentions. You start off strong. For the first couple of hours, you\u2019re locked in on what you need to learn, but suddenly, your focus begins to dwindle. Your eyes begin to ache from the blue light, and before long, you\u2019re inventing little tasks that allow you to procrastinate. When the end of the day finally hits, you don\u2019t really have much to show for it, despite having sat at your workstation for five-plus hours. It\u2019s not an uncommon occurrence, but most of us don\u2019t understand the real cause: a lack of study breaks. Knowing when your body is telling you to take a study break (or, in essence, to chill out) can be the difference between absorbing the information you\u2019re studying or wasting a whole day staring at paper. Taking a break from work shouldn\u2019t make you feel lazy; rather, it\u2019s the total opposite. Taking regular study breaks actually makes you\u00a0<i>more<\/i>\u00a0productive. However, it can take a little practice to know when your body is asking for one.<\/p>\n<h2>What\u2019s in This Article?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-a-study-break\">What\u00a0<i>is<\/i>\u00a0a Study Break?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#why-are-study-breaks-so-important\">Why are Study Breaks So Important?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#difference-study-break-career-break\">What\u2019s the Difference Between a Study Break and a Career Break?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"five-signs-its-time\">Five Signs That It\u2019s Time for a Study Break<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"study-break-tips-tricks\">Study Break Tips and Tricks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"study-break-faqs\">Study Break FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"what-is-a-study-break\"><\/a>What\u00a0<i>is<\/i>\u00a0a Study Break?<\/h2>\n<p>Before jumping into the nitty-gritty of study breaks, it\u2019s important that you understand what a study break actually is! In short, they\u2019re periods of rest between studying that reduce the risk of burnout or stress. Moreover, you\u2019re much more likely to take in information when you\u2019re not feeling overwhelmed, so it\u2019s super beneficial to include some study breaks in your study plan! If you still feel like pushing through and forgoing your next study break, check out these additional benefits that we (really) hope will inspire you:<\/p>\n<h3>They Leave You Feeling Energised<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to feel run-down, burnt-out and exhausted when you\u2019re working nonstop for hours on end. However, when these long spells aren\u2019t broken up by regular study breaks, they can easily lead to burnout.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.torchonline.com\/features\/2023\/03\/29\/study-break-tips\/#:~:text=Breaks%20from%20studying%20have%20the,be%20reduced%20and%20focus%20increased.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taking a break from work will re-energise you<\/a>\u00a0and get you ready to hit your study goals!<\/p>\n<h3>They Reduce Stress<\/h3>\n<p>Working nonstop can leave you feeling frazzled, rushed, and in general, not very good. By planning regular study breaks into your study schedule,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thewellbeingthesis.org.uk\/foundations-for-success\/importance-of-taking-breaks-and-having-other-interests\/#:~:text=A%20relaxing%20break%20can%20help,and%20reducing%20stress%20%5B5%5D.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">you\u2019ll reduce stress<\/a>\u00a0and feel less guilty about taking some hard-earned time off.<\/p>\n<h3>They Help You Absorb Information<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/study-shows-how-taking-short-breaks-may-help-our-brains-learn-new-skills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to the National Institutes of Health<\/a>, taking regular study breaks helps you retain information much easier, as the resting brain replays what was just learned until it sinks in. So, taking 10 minutes away from your desk is actually a super-productive choice!<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"why-are-study-breaks-so-important\"><\/a>Why are Study Breaks So Important?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/health.cornell.edu\/about\/news\/study-breaks-stress-busters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Research suggests<\/a>\u00a0that taking deliberate, purposeful study breaks can leave you feeling much more refreshed, focused and ready to learn. What\u2019s more, these benefits begin to occur after just five minutes of rest, so you don\u2019t need to take half the day off to get yourself feeling better! However, the benefits don\u2019t end there.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucl.ac.uk\/students\/news\/2020\/feb\/5-benefits-taking-breaks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Periods of rest also help<\/a>\u00a0keep your immune system healthy and happy,\u00a0<i>and\u00a0<\/i>returning to work with a clear head allows for heightened creativity (so you can try approaching your task from new angles)! Essentially, there are a tonne of benefits to taking a break from work, so it\u2019s time to start prioritising study breaks!<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"difference-study-break-career-break\"><\/a>What\u2019s the Difference Between a Study Break and a Career Break?<\/h2>\n<p>While study breaks and career breaks sound like similar concepts, they\u2019re actually super different. The former relates to taking between 10-60 minutes away from your workstation to clear your head and get ready for your next study stint, while the latter refers to taking an extended period of time away from work.\u00a0\u00a0 Since we\u2019ve already covered what a study break is, the best way to illustrate the difference between the two is to provide a definition for \u2018career break.\u2019 Essentially, A career break is unpaid leave from work that lasts longer than 2 months. When you take a career break, you also don\u2019t have a job lined up for when you return (unlike a sabbatical).<\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26524\" src=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3-1-768x230.jpg 768w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3-1-1536x461.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3-1-300x90.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><a id=\"five-signs-its-time\"><\/a>Five Signs That It\u2019s Time for a Study Break<\/h2>\n<p>So, you\u2019ve recognised the importance of study breaks, now all you need is to figure out when you\u00a0<i>actually\u00a0<\/i>need to take one. After all, there\u2019s a fine line between taking a well-deserved break and pulling into the procrastination station. If you can\u2019t quite tell which category you fall into, keep your eyes out for these seven signs that it\u2019s time to step away:<\/p>\n<h3>#1 You Keep Finding Reasons to Procrastinate<\/h3>\n<p>You sit down, stare at your screen with every intention to write and then, BAM! You\u2019re hit with an overwhelming urge to do your washing. Once that\u2019s done, you return to your desk only to realise you\u00a0<i>desperately\u00a0<\/i>need to make yourself a tea. Before long, it\u2019s the end of the day and you have absolutely nothing to show for it.\u00a0\u00a0 If this is the case, a decent study break could solve your procrastination problems. It\u2019s better to take a planned break from work than spend your whole day taking unintentional ones!<\/p>\n<h3>#2 Your To-Do List Just. Keeps. Growing!<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes when we forget to take study breaks, it\u2019s not our grades that suffer, but our personal lives. If your laundry and dishes are piling up, you haven\u2019t cooked yourself a meal in days, and the Uber Eats receipts are too scary to look at, it\u2019s likely because you\u2019re not giving yourself enough you-time.\u00a0\u00a0 By taking regular study breaks (and planning ahead), you\u2019ll have more time to look after yourself\u00a0<i>and\u00a0<\/i>do the things you want to do. In short, it\u2019s a win-win!<\/p>\n<h3>#3 The Day is Speeding Past (And Not in a Good Way!)<\/h3>\n<p>You know when you\u2019re being super productive and the day flies by quicker than you ever thought possible? It feels great, but unfortunately, that\u2019s not what we\u2019re talking about here. Rather, when you\u2019re in desperate need of a study break, it can feel like the day is slipping through your fingers (and trust us, it\u2019s super stressful).\u00a0\u00a0 Common procrastination methods like doom-scrolling can cause the day to speed past you like this, but by simply taking a break from work, you\u2019ll feel refreshed and can avoid losing all that time!<\/p>\n<h3>#4 Your Social Life is Taking a Hit<\/h3>\n<p>When you feel like you\u2019re studying 24\/4 but making little to no progress, it\u2019s easy to believe that you don\u2019t have time for a social life (when this definitely isn\u2019t true). Rather, it\u2019s super important to maintain your positive relationships and ensure you\u2019re not missing out on core memories with friends.\u00a0\u00a0 There\u2019s even a way to combine socialising with studying: starting a study group! This way, you can hold each other accountable and ensure that regular study breaks are being taken.<\/p>\n<h3>#5 You\u2019re Experiencing More Headaches Than Usual<\/h3>\n<p>A sure-fire sign of stress (and potentially, burnout) is to experience more headaches than you\u2019re used to. Instead of taking a daily Panadol, it\u2019s important to address the problem at the root cause: a lack of study breaks. \u00a0 By taking a break from work, your nervous system will calm down, and your body will be able to tackle physical issues much easier. Trust us, it\u2019s worth it for your overall wellbeing!\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26523\" src=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-1-768x230.jpg 768w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-1-1536x461.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-1-300x90.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"study-break-tips-tricks\"><\/a>Study Break Tips<\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019re almost there, team! You\u2019ve learned why study breaks are so important, how to figure out when you need one, and the final step is discovering study break tips to make your rest as productive as possible (and yes, we know that sounds like a contradiction)!\u00a0 The secret to taking productive breaks from work is that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.msmunify.com\/blogs\/things-to-avoid-during-study-breaks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">not all study break activities are created equal<\/a>. That is, there are some strategies that will leave you feeling refreshed and others that will make you feel like you haven\u2019t had a break at all! Some of the not-so-productive activities to do on your study break are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Doom-Scrolling on Social Media<\/li>\n<li>Watching Netflix<\/li>\n<li>Playing a Video Game<\/li>\n<li>Taking a Nap<\/li>\n<li>Eating Junk Food<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We promise we\u2019re not trying to be the \u2018fun police\u2019 by banning these. It\u2019s simply that using media, sleeping for short periods, or eating unhealthy foods will make you more tired and less likely to return to work! Instead, try out some of these healthy activities that are bound to leave you feeling refreshed and re-energised:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Go For a Walk<\/li>\n<li>Cook Something Healthy and Delicious<\/li>\n<li>Make Yourself a Tea<\/li>\n<li>Listen to Music<\/li>\n<li>Call a Friend<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And if you need some extra help with studying, simply head over to our article covering\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/11-vital-study-hacks-to-help-you-stay-on-track-this-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">11 study hacks to keep you focused<\/a>!<\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26527\" src=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/6.jpg\" alt=\"Study Break F.A.Q\" width=\"2000\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/6.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/6-768x230.jpg 768w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/6-1536x461.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/6-300x90.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><a id=\"study-break-faqs\"><\/a>Study Break FAQs<\/h2>\n<p>To conclude our lesson on study breaks, we\u2019re breaking (get it, like study\u00a0<i>break<\/i>?) down all your burning questions and leaving no stone unturned!<\/p>\n<h3>Question: Are Study Breaks Important?<\/h3>\n<p>Answer: Study breaks are super important! They reduce the risk of high-stress levels, burnout, low mood and a lack of focus. They also help you absorb the information you\u2019re studying more effectively.<\/p>\n<h3>Question: How Long Should I Study Before Taking a Break?<\/h3>\n<p>Answer: To avoid burnout, you should take a study break every 45-60 minutes. This way, you won\u2019t be feeling overworked, and it will make it easier to study for longer periods overall.<\/p>\n<h3>Question: What Shouldn\u2019t I Do During Study Breaks?<\/h3>\n<p>Answer: While taking a study break, you should avoid media like social media, video games, and television. These activities will only make you more tired and sap your motivation.<\/p>\n<h3>Question: How to Take a Good Study Break?<\/h3>\n<p>Answer: Maximise the effectiveness of your study break by getting outside, unplugging, and moving your body. That way, you\u2019ll come back to your workstation feeling refreshed.<\/p>\n<h2>On The Hunt for More School Advice?<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you know the secret to maximising your effectiveness when studying, we think you\u2019re ready to tackle any other school-related issue you might have trouble with. Take our top tips and become the best version of you by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/career-advice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">heading over\u00a0to our blog<\/a>\u00a0for plenty more helpful advice!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all know that feeling; you\u2019ve committed to a full day of studying and gone into it with the best [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":18366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[37],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18365"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18365"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26611,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18365\/revisions\/26611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}