12 Study Break Ideas for Online College Students

When juggling online coursework, a job, and personal responsibilities, it can be easy to feel like you need to power through long study sessions without stopping. However, taking regular, intentional breaks can actually help you learn more effectively, boost productivity, and reduce stress.

This article will explore why study breaks are so essential and offer 12 creative ideas to recharge your mind and body while studying online.

Why Are Study Breaks Important?

Studying online presents a heavy mental workload, with projects, discussion boards, and exams requiring significant cognitive effort. Without proper breaks, this kind of intense mental work can lead to fatigue and chronic stress.

Research shows that mentally demanding work without adequate rest can increase the risk of stress. When you push yourself too hard due to concern about academic performance, you may experience greater levels of mental fatigue, which can negatively impact both your health and academics.

Human beings are a lot like rechargeable batteries and, according to Harvard Business Review, can only operate at high capacity for so long before needing to rest and recharge. Ignoring the signs of depletion can result in exhaustion, poorer performance, reduced productivity, and heightened stress.

Taking study breaks isn’t just about avoiding burnout — it’s a scientifically supported strategy to enhance your academic success. Here are some of the major benefits of taking planned pauses from your studies:

• Improved learning ability: Short breaks can help people learn new skills. During downtime, your brain replays memories of what you’ve just learned, strengthening new skills. People whose brains actively replayed their memories more showed significantly better performance.
• Restored brain power: Study breaks can also restore cognitive functioning. Research comparing groups of students found that those who took short breaks between lessons reported greater focus and concentration afterward compared to individuals who continued to work without stopping.
• Increased productivity: Several studies suggest that breaks help people work more productively. A study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis revealed that 75% of undergraduate participants performed more efficiently when they scheduled regular breaks compared to when they didn’t.

When incorporated thoughtfully, study breaks are one of many strategies that can help you succeed in your online education.

Is There a Best Time to Take a Study Break?

While there are no rules for taking breaks — morning, afternoon, evening, all of the above — taking regular breaks from your studies throughout the day is key. However, there are certain times you should keep working and skip the break, such as when you're in a flow state — a time of increased focus and productivity.

However, when you’re not in the flow, some signs may indicate it’s time to step away from your studies:

• Feeling fatigued or depleted after long periods of video communication
• Spending an excessive amount of time focused on a single task
• Being hungry
• Feeling frustrated or experiencing brain fog
• Having difficulty concentrating

There are multiple ways to spend your momentary reprieve from studying, and each serves its own purpose — from releasing endorphins through movement to nourishing your body with food. Identifying what you need at that given moment to help you reset and feel ready to return to your task can help guide the type of break you choose to take.

Get Inspired: Ideas for Short Breaks From Your Studies

Here are 12 study break ideas to refresh your mind, boost your mood, and sharpen your focus:

1. Take a Walk Outside

Beyond being a good form of exercise to break up the sedentary reality of studying, taking a walk can help you process your thoughts and brainstorm solutions.

2. Listen to Music

Listening to music can improve your overall well-being and reduce anxiety. Strategically picking your study playlist based on binaural beats can enhance your memory retention.

3. Move Your Body

Physical activity is shown to have a short-term positive effect on cognition. According to one study, 10 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity can improve your attention. Even shorter bursts of physical activity, including this 5-minute exercise break, can wake up your body and prepare you to study once more.

4. Try the Pomodoro® Technique

One effective method to balance work and rest is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. After four cycles, you're encouraged to take a longer rest. This method improves focus, accountability, and motivation while reducing distraction and burnout.

5. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation

Mindfulness exercises help you focus on being aware of what you sense and feel. They can include breathing techniques and other strategies to encourage relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety. Meditation can improve attention while reducing burnout.

6. Have a Healthy Snack

Consuming the right foods and drinks can not only help you energize your body but also improve your concentration and memory. Some research has shown that eating breakfast can have a positive effect on academic performance.

7. Chat With Friends or Family

Social interaction with friends or family can increase feelings of vitality and provide emotional support. A short interaction with peers can help students feel like they are part of a group, while allowing them to share thoughts and experiences.

8. Read for Pleasure

Stepping away from academic materials and reading something you enjoy can have a positive impact on various aspects of your learning and personal development.

9. Do a Creative Activity

Whether it’s sketching, crafting, journaling, or even baking, creative activities can give your analytical mind a refreshing break.

10. Take a Power Nap

Short naps — especially in the afternoon — can help improve cognitive performance and alertness, according to research.

11. Do a Crossword Puzzle

Challenging your mind in a different way — such as solving a crossword puzzle — may offer cognitive benefits and a helpful break from your current task.

12. Organize Your Study Space

Create an optimal study environment by arranging your space and materials to reduce distractions. Tidying your desk, sorting your notes, or rearranging your materials can make learning more productive.

Study Break Tips

While breaks are important, not all breaks are equally restorative. Here are a few proven strategies to ensure your study breaks work for you — not against you.

Don’t Look at Your Phone

Cellphone use during breaks doesn’t allow your brain to recharge as effectively as other types of study breaks, and it can lead to slower task completion as well as decreased performance. Instead, opt for activities that truly allow your brain to unplug and recharge.

Time Your Breaks Wisely

When it comes to study breaks, timing is everything. Taking frequent, short breaks in the morning, such as stretching or grabbing a healthy snack, can maintain energy and focus. These micro breaks are more effective in the morning. In the afternoon, when fatigue tends to set in more heavily, longer breaks can be more beneficial.

Choose Your Location Wisely

Where you take your break matters just as much as how you spend it. Stepping into a different environment can help signal to your brain that it’s time to rest.

Maximize Your Studies at Purdue Global

Balancing study with self-care is an essential skill for online college success. By making time for intentional, restorative breaks, you can study smarter — not harder — and achieve your academic and personal goals with less stress.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward earning your degree on your schedule, try one of Purdue Global’s flexible online programs designed for working adults. Request more information and discover how we can help you reach your academic dreams.

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