Rest is not rewarded in our hectic work culture–rather, it’s criticized, whether it be a break from work, school, the gym, or anything at all. “Rest days” are seen as excuses to be lazy, and self-care is seen as a reward after completing tasks. In this cycle, many of us suffer from burnout, constantly looking ahead to the next task rather than taking a moment to breathe. It may seem productive to complete five tasks per day over the course of a week, but it can stress you out in the long run and leave you on edge and exhausted by the weekend.

However, some forms of rest can actually enhance your creativity, productivity, and cognitive function. For example, studies have shown that non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) can help reset and boost dopamine levels, improving focus and learning efficiency. Typical forms of NSDR include meditation and mindfulness. Journaling, too, can bring some of the benefits–reflecting, or even just writing down your thoughts, can help slow your mind down and help you unwind after a long

day–or set a purpose to your day, if you journal in the morning.

Additionally, soft fascination and attention restoration theory (ART) can boost creativity and replenish cognitive resources (which prevent burnout). Activities like nature walks or stargazing, with their exposure to nature, have been shown to improve attention span and mental clarity. 

Furthermore, breaks have long proven to be instrumental to memorization, studying, and the process of completing a task; one common technique is the Pomodoro technique, which incorporates frequent breaks to help you tackle long study sessions. The Ultraradian rhythm suggests that the brain functions best in 90-minute cycles followed by 15-20 minutes of rest; the Pomodoro technique works the same, using large chunks followed by short but frequent breaks. This can prevent cognitive fatigue and ensure you retain the information you’re learning. 

Lastly, sleep is a crucial part of memory consolidation and reset. The hippocampus strengthens neural connections during sleep, enhancing learning and solidifying memorization. A study performed by Harvard Medical School found that people who slept well or had adequate nap times performed better than those who did not on memory-based tasks.

Rest is an integral part of performing well, whether it be in school or anything else. Often, pausing and taking a moment to relax or go for a walk can help you accomplish far more, allowing your brain to reset and boost its function. In our norm of hustle culture, carving out a time to slow down and even idle about can make a huge impact on productivity, especially for students.