Miranda Khairunnisa | Biomedical Engineering
One might think that studying for 24 hours continuously every day is what it takes to get a perfect GPA. However, that is NOT the case. Forcing yourself to do so is actually exhausting and may take a toll on your body. There’s even a higher chance of you not doing as well as expected in the exam. Overstudying can be just as harmful as, or maybe even more than, not understudying. Did you know that someone actually died from overstudying? This was the case with William T. Parker Jr, who was found to have an abscess on his brain after studying endlessly day and night trying to get through his law school. Terrifying, isn’t it?
Studying itself doesn’t sound fatal, but when you sit for too long, don’t get enough sleep and are overstressing, there may be consequences. According to most research, the best time to study is for only 30 to 90 minutes at a time. After which, you need to take a 10 to 20 minutes break to let your mind rest. During this break, go get a snack, take a walk, stretch, meditate or grab a quick shower, try something that involves you get your body moving. However, do not get yourself involved in something that will last more than 10 minutes like taking a nap or watch Netflix as this might be a distraction.
Yes, there may be too much to do and too little time especially during the last few weeks of the semester before finals. This is where your time management skill is crucial. It is easy to convince yourself that you do not have time to take breaks, when in truth, taking breaks should be a priority. Studies have shown that breaks can reduce or prevent stress, help maintain one’s performance and concentration, and increase vigor and energy levels over time. It would also help you focus more and improves the brain’s ability to ingrain what it has learned.
In short, physical and mental consequences of mental exhaustion have been an issue since the 19th century and in many cases, there have been detrimental effects. Remember to take breaks, manage your time wisely, do one thing at a time, and don’t forget to reward yourself at the end. Most importantly, recognize when things become overwhelming or too difficult. Do not let finals week take more out of you than necessary.
I, once, treated myself to a movie marathon in the cinema by myself during what is supposed to be the busiest week of the semester. Was it worth it? Of course! Was it a waste of money? Maybe, I guess I could’ve done things at home. But did I regret it? No way! I deserved that after a whole day of studying the day before. When was the last time you treat yourself?
References:
The importance of Taking Breaks at Work. SpriggHR. Retrieved from https://sprigghr.com/blog/performance-culture/the-importance-of-taking-breaks-at-work/
Weir, K. (2019). Give me a break. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/break
The Importance of Taking Breaks. The Wellbeing Thesis. Retrieved from https://thewellbeingthesis.org.uk/foundations-for-success/importance-of-taking-breaks-and-having-other-interests/
Killed by Overstudy. (1900). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1900/06/08/archives/william-t-parker-dead-became-suddenly-insane-at-the-harvard-law.html
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