Take a break!
Why and how to take a break.
Ananya wakes up for her early morning class. Sits in front of the screen for 3 hours and attends virtual school diligently. Post which she watches tv and eats lunch. She then completes her homework and reads a book. However, at the end of the day, she feels overwhelmed and irritated.
Why is this happening?
With learning going virtual, children are constantly engaged with the screen. Be it for studying, for leisure, or interaction. Moreover, there is a constant need to be occupied with some activity or the other. Children are not getting the time to get bored or recharge themselves. As a result, at the end of the day, they feel overwhelmed.
What can be done?
Just like a computer needs to shut down for a while to prevent it from getting heated, the brain needs to take a pause too. Brain breaks are short 15-20 minute breaks which help children to take a step back, calm down, and come back feeling energized.
How can we take a brain break?
Listen to music- Music is a great way to cool down. If there is a lot of work to do, play instrumental music or lo-fi music in the background. Simply close your eyes and listen to a 5-minute song. That way you can take a break as well as get your work done.
Move around- Sometimes we keep sitting in one place and start feeling lethargic or restless. Get up from the chair and simply take a walk. Maybe drink a glass of water too. Moving helps the break the monotony for some time and get back to the task feeling fresh. If you want to do more, you can dance around too!
Talk to someone- Looking at the screen all day and listening to lectures all day can be frustrating. There is so much going on in our minds that need to be vocalized. Catch up with a friend and simply talk to them about your day. This helps the mind declutter and feel rejuvenated.
Clap- Yes clap! Your hands have 28 acupuncture points. When you clap you are essentially engaging and waking up all parts of your brain. It’s almost like an alarm telling your brain to wake up and become active again! You can also cheer and applaud yourself while you are at it.
Finger Paint- Take some paints on your fingers and just move them around the paper. Don’t think just create patterns. This helps explore how you are feeling and simply put it on paper.
Draw it out- If the child is not into dancing. Drawing is a great brain break too. Set a timer for 3-5 minutes and let kids silently doodle with pencil and paper or a while soft, calming music plays in the background.
Remember, in the midst of trying to complete our goals, it’s important to pause too. Taking short breaks in a day, allows you to pause, reflect and then start afresh.
Good one..keep inspiring