With finals week breathing down our necks, studying is about to become a big part of our daily routines.Â
My major now requires more writing and editing than studying. When I was taking my general ed classes, I’d always feel weird and unproductive if I was taking a break from studying for those classes and not really doing anything… so here are a couple things you can do on a study break to keep yourself feeling productive.
1. Clean off your desk Â
Even if you’re going to sit right back down at your desk and keep working, it’s still nice to come back to a fresh space. Take everything off, wipe down the surface with your favorite cleaner, and then rearrange your study materials in a new way when you put them back on the desk.Â
2. Do a quick manicure
I can’t focus on what I’m supposed to be doing if I look down at my hands and my nails don’t look nice. Take off your chipped polish, trim your nails, file them, and then put on a nice hand cream. Not only will you feel better after, but putting lotion on is a good excuse to give yourself a hand massage—an especially nice treat if you’ve been writing or typing for a long time.Â
3. Make a new playlist
I always listen to Spotify’s “Jazz Vibes” or “Lush Vibes” while I study, but I’ve created a few playlists that combine my favorite beats from the two. Whether you’re in the mood for Adele or 21 Savage, make a new playlist. When you’re done with your break, you have fresh sounds to accompany you into your study journey.Â
4. Refill your drink and make a snack
I’m a writer. Sometimes I need coffee, and sometimes I need a little bit of Bailey’s mixed into a cup of hot chocolate. It’s all relative. No matter your drink of choice, freshen it up, and make a little snack while you’re in the kitchen.Â
5. Lay on the floor
This doesn’t sound productive, but it totally is— laying on your back on a firm surface can help alleviate spinal and shoulder tension caused by sitting at a desk. Set an alarm (just in case), lay down, and take some deep breaths. I usually get a really nice release in my lower back when I do this, especially if I’ve been hunched over at my laptop all day. Getting rid of your tight shoulders is productive, right? I know this girl is laying on a couch or something. Surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of stock photos of people just casually laying on the floor–they’re all doing something weird. So this is what we’ve got.
6. Do a chore
I used to get so desperate to stop studying that I’d literally do anything to take a break:
“I can’t study cultural anthropology when the dishwasher needs to be unloaded!”
“How am I supposed to focus on Intro to Logic when the trash is overflowing?”Â
“I know I need to write a paper..but the floor is dirty.”Â
Whatever the chore is, do it on a study break. You’ll be getting a little bit of housework done and taking your mind off your school work for a few minutes. Do you have a favorite way to take a study break? Let us know on Twitter!
[All photos courtesy of Pexels.com]