Short Breaks Concede Strengthening of New Learning Skills

Stop, Pause & then Continue while Learning Something New

Ever wondered why most people go for a coffee or tea break at office very often? Indeed, it might even be their cigarette break but what’s the need for others? Kids are given a small 2-minute break between two classes, seminars too are planned with a couple of breaks in between and people working take some time off to relax. So, besides fulfilling our hunger cues and nature calls these breaks fulfil an even greater intention!
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As students, learning is an everyday routine where we learn new things and load our mind with ample information. Most schools have 7-8 periods in their time table and nowadays it has become a routine to start a new period with some brisk actions, a small joke, a witty one-liner or likewise as its been proved that exercising between class hours improves cognitive skills and focus. As we grow our need to spend more time on studies becomes crucial and we are locked up in our rooms continuously for hours together during holidays. Though it might please our parents it squeezes our spirits as we yearn for some quality break time! Most kids study on their own but their study timings and relaxation timings are often regulated by parents who have an upper hand most times. I had the freedom to take a break every hour for 5 minutes before sitting down for another gruesome study session. This helped me focus more and be efficient. But not all are handed over such a freedom in a golden plate! But now, we have information from authentic source stating that taking a break while learning a new skill, this includes learning new information as well, helps the person master the skill faster and stronger.

A study by researchers at National Institute of Health showed that the brain keeps intact the memories of new skills we practised a few seconds ago by taking short rests in between. ‘Practise makes a man perfect’ but there are a few if’s and but’s to it. Its generally believed that our human brains strengthen memories and our leanings from a new skill by taking a good night’s rest but when this study team had a look at the brain waves of healthy volunteers with respect to learning and memory they were in for a surprise. A good night’s rest is advantageous in multiple other ways too and for details about it please visit www.firsteatright.com. The study involved a group of volunteers who were made to sit on a chair and shown a series of numbers on the computer screen. They were made to type the numbers as many times as possible with their left hand for 10 seconds, take a 10 second break and repeat the same pattern of typing and taking a break for another 35 times. While the participants’ accuracy improved greatly during the first couple of trials it began to level off around the 11th cycle. The researchers found that brain waves showed much change during rest periods than during typing periods.

Short Activity Breaks Trigger Faster Learning Capability

The researchers found that performance improved during short rests and not during typing and the small improvements added up together for overall gains made during the day. This gain was more than the ones seen after the volunteers returned to try again the next day implying that early breaks were critical for better learning as equal to the practicing itself. The brain established strong memories during the rest period. This might be helpful for students and those learning new skills but most importantly, it exists as a potential piece of information for those patients recovering from stroke or other neurological injuries as they are obliged to relearn their lost skills. Taking a break is never a waste of time but in fact, an investment for better learning! So, when you are into some new field learning something new ensure to take small breaks in between to allow your brain to digest the new information before you can feed it plenty more!

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