Break Time and Its Impact on College Students

One of the things that most college students anticipate while they are attending a class, is the break time that follows it. Well, yes! obviously, we are getting some time to relax our minds and finish the assignment at the last moment right before entering another lecture class, but this recess time means way more than just a break. If a more in-depth and closer look is taken one can clearly notice the benefits of taking this little gap between one rigorous study session and the next.

Many studies have indicated that taking a brief break to relax and refresh is critical for achieving productivity, achievement, and an optimistic attitude on the future. This is especially true for students who spend long periods of time huddled in front of a computer, like right now in the midst of a pandemic where we are literally spending our days sitting in front of laptops, attending online classes.

The first benefit of having break time in between classes is that it helps keep the student motivated on long term goals. In his article “Research Reveals How to Take a Better Break” Nir Eyal says “When we work, our prefrontal cortex makes every effort to help us execute our goals. But for a challenging task that requires our sustained attention, research shows briefly taking our minds off the goal can renew and strengthen motivation later on.” This applies to college students when studying a complicated topic or doing a task that requires concentration. The next and possibly the most important benefit that breaks have is that they help in keeping the student productive and creative. It can also play an important role in preventing information overload. With back to back classes, all the words and information would get messed up in our heads if we don’t take a break in between. Unlike a computer, our brain would mix the information up if burdened too much, as there are no files we can store the study material in.

For example, when students study for exams, how many of them study continuously without any breaks in between? While many people believe that cram sessions and all-night study groups will eventually help them earn their college degree, the truth is that failing to take regular breaks can lead to a significant decrease in academic performance and, in some cases, serious health issues such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression. This speaks volumes to how important it is to take a breather between any form of academic learning.

In an article in Scientific American, Ferris Jabr has emphasized why taking breaks and downtime is so important. He says that “Downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life.”