How To Take Study Breaks Without Feeling Guilty About It

You might be putting more pressure on yourself without realising. 

It’s the middle of exam season and you’re tired, stressed and ready for it all to be over. While cramming for those exams might seem like the most important thing right now, it’s crucial to remember the importance of taking breaks in between those study sessions. 

Understand the importance of breaks. 

According to the American Psychological Assocation, taking breaks can enhance your overall effectiveness. When you allow yourself to rest, you can return to your studies refreshed and focused. This leads to better retention of information and a better mood, meaning you’re less nervous for those final exams. 

Constant studying can lead to burnout and a loss of motivation. If you’re not giving yourself time to recharge, you’ll be too tired to even think about studying… 

which often leads to sitting on your phone scrolling for hours 🙈 

Plan your breaks. 

Treat your breaks as seriously as your study time. You can use techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of study followed by a 5-minute break) or set specific times for longer breaks. You can also break your tasks down into smaller chunks and delegate them into do now, do next and do later.  

Try not to go on social media when taking a break. 

It’s super tempting to grab your phone and hop on social media to give your brain a break. This can actually be more harmful to your study routine as the constant stream of content can overwhelm your brain and make it harder to remember the info you need. Plus, it’s easy to get into a never-ending doomscroll cycle.  

Instead of going on social media try going for a walk, reading a book, drawing, playing your favourite video game, grabbing a snack and drinking some water, or watching some YouTube or an episode of your comfort TV show.  

Shift your mindset. 

Instead of viewing breaks as time wasted, think about them as necessary parts of your study routine. It’s important to remind yourself that effective studying includes time for relaxation and self-care.  

Implement short daily breaks (15-30 minutes) and designate at least one full day each week as a study-free day. Knowing you have scheduled downtime can help reduce anxiety about not studying and you’ll have something to look forward to. 

Create a healthy relationship with your study-life balance and avoid burnout, overloading yourself with stress and worry. This will also be great for improving focus and making sure you ace those end-of-year exams. Good luck!