There’s no easy way to say this: finals week is hard. With exams fast approaching and our screen times rising, I’m sure we’re all feeling the finals week exhaustion. I know I am. Getting out of bed with the knowledge that I’ll be spending the day behind my computer screen taking practice exams is always a battle. Especially with the recent warm weather on campus, I’ve been itching to spend my days sunbathing in a hammock on the lakefill. The solution? Finding a balance.
As easy as it is to hunker down all week with textbooks and problem sets, study breaks are an absolute essential to productive work. And I’m not talking about the lying-in-bed-scrolling-through-TikTok type of study break. When done correctly, study breaks can increase energy levels not only during work but in the long term. The stress-relief associated with quality study breaks can also do wonders for your health, decreasing fatigue and fighting sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease. So, the next time you’re feeling drowsy at your desk, check out this list of fun, effective study breaks!
- Grab a friend or family member and go for a walk
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The best cure to a cloudy mind, fresh air always manages to get me back on track when I’m feeling distracted at my desk. With the recent beautiful weather in Evanston, a short walk around campus is the perfect opportunity to get yourself focused and moving. Studies point to social time and exercise as two of the most effective breaks. Whenever my roommate and I finish a finals study-session, we reward ourselves with a quick walk. Laughing with my friends in the crisp, lakeside air makes me feel present and at-ease, leaving me with the perfect mindset to get back to work.
- Cook yourself a meal
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One of my favorite ways to de-stress is by rolling my sleeves up and heading to the kitchen. Not only is this study break effective in getting you moving and away from your screen, but you’ll also end up with a home-cooked meal to fuel your night of studying. Though it can be hard to cook a meal from a dorm, there are plenty of easy, dorm-friendly recipes to choose from. Recently, my friends and I attempted the Tik Tok famous feta pasta in the Elder Hall kitchen. It was simple, delicious, and took us less than an hour to make.
- Try a YouTube workout
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Keeping with the trend of getting yourself up and moving, try a YouTube workout if your energy levels start to dwindle during a study session. Most videos are between 15 and 30 minutes and are dorm-friendly, so no equipment needed! Throughout the quarter, I’ve balanced my stressful days with MadFit’s 20 min Full Body Stretch/Yoga. Regardless of which video you decide to try, exercising will ensure a revitalized return to studying.
- Have a dance party
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The perfect catharsis, there’s no mood-booster quite like blasting your favorite music and screaming along to the lyrics. My roommate witnessed many late-night Fearless era Taylor Swift dance parties this quarter. Dance parties are especially effective as a study break because they get you moving and they’re customizable- you can create a playlist perfect for the mood and length of your break. Be careful with this one, though. Your neighbors might be studying too and it’s important to be respectful of dorm quiet hours during finals week. Try a silent dance party with headphones if you’re worried about noise.
- Try Meditation
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Before an exam, you can always find me listening to the Calm App’s meditation playlists. If you’re looking for a calm and quiet study break, try meditation. My personal favorite, the Calm App’s mindfulness and anxiety relief podcasts always set my mind at ease.
If you catch me experimenting in a dorm kitchen or wandering around the lakefill in the next week, know that I have a pile of work waiting for me back at my desk. I love using all of these study breaks during finals week, and I hope you will too. Whether you decide to try one of these breathers or put your head down and work all week, I wish you the best of luck on finals. Happy studying!
Source: The Well Being Thesis