Picture this, you’ve just gotten out of class and are saying your goodbyes to all of your friends for the day. You have three hours of after-school classes, an hour of homework, and another hour of miscellaneous things like clubs. For some people, this is not just an imagination, but a reality. So when winter break rolled around, we all celebrated the escape from our boring routines. When I look back on it, those two weeks were so much more enjoyable than the weeks of non-stop work during school. But we shouldn’t have to make our way through the week just waiting for the weekend or holidays; we shouldn't feel like all that work is just siphoning all of our energy. Life isn’t all about studies and academics. Grades aren’t everything! Sometimes, it’s okay to take a break and treat yourself.

 

         Studies show that while we work, our brain is actively resisting distractions so we can focus on what’s in front of us. But after a while, your brain gets tired of working so hard, leading to an increase in stress and a decrease in productivity. Taking a break reduces stress and gives our brains time to recharge, allowing us to once again ignore distractions so we can focus on work. While seemingly counterproductive, taking a break can actually end up making us more productive, leading to more work being done.

 

         However, I know we’ve all had the experience of trying to get on our phones for a while, only to get carried away and scroll for way longer than planned. A good break means doing something that makes you feel refreshed before getting back to work. Activities like scrolling on social media, surfing the internet, or responding to texts tire our brain out and can become addictive. They draw us in with the amount of choices offered, causing a short break to turn into an hour-long session of watching videos. A good break allows us to have freedom over what we are doing and seeing, not just an activity where we can turn our brains off.

 

         So, take a quick break from the mundane textbooks and shower to refresh yourself. Step away from the worksheets just so you can think about other things for a moment. Get out of the house to breathe in some fresh air and allow yourself to admire the beauty of the world around you. Don’t confine yourself to your room for the sake of a single mark on a quiz. School is about learning, not cramming information into your brain just to regurgitate it on a piece of paper. Let yourself relax and prepare for the days ahead, instead of only focusing on the present moment.

 

         In the approaching exam season, we’ll have to work harder than ever before in this semester. But be sure not to neglect your mental health and refresh your brain every now and then. It’s time to take a break, rest and relax for a second.