Many students find it helpful—even essential—to build regular 5 minute breaks into long study sessions.  For every 25 minutes or so studying, 5 minutes away from studying can make an enormous difference in our ability to concentrate and absorb new material.  But some students complain that (while breaks are great in theory) they get into trouble when they take a study break and, whoosh, don’t get back to work.  Where does the time go?

A suggestion: Think about that time between study blocks as a breather or a bridge rather than a break.  What kinds of things can you do for 5 minutes that leave you refreshed and ready to get back to work?

M.F.