Breaks in college are good for the mind, but many students don’t have the time to take them. Continuously working on schoolwork—and commonly more than that—can cause consistent breakdowns, physical and mental conditions and burnout. Having some tips for coordinating your breaks—coming from a constant work plate overloader—is ideal and needed while in college. 

One of the main struggles with students is being able to attach and detach away from their school work. The constant stress of impending due dates and never-ending exams makes it difficult to focus on anything but school. Being able to understand a healthy life medium between both work and relaxation time is important. This is not only due to your physical and mental well-being but also because semesters are in the middle of fall-winter and winter-spring. This winter transition means that many students are prone to seasonal depression. 

One consistent way to get breaks is by adding them to your schedule. By including blocked-out areas in your schedule to relax or spend time doing something else, it actually helps you refocus on the subject or work at hand. 

For example, during a long study session, it is recommended to take ten to fifteen-minute breaks between every hour—allowing your brain to reset and start fresh without any distractions. Some things you can do during these breaks include: taking a short walk, reading a book or focusing on a creative hobby. It is generally not recommended to use your phone on your break, since it can be difficult to detach and go back to your work afterwards.

Staying active in your schoolwork is difficult if you don’t allow yourself time to relax. Slipping in those ten- to fifteen-minute breaks will likely have more benefits than not giving yourself breaks at all.