Members in the Media
From: The Wall Street Journal

Coffee Break? Walk in the Park? Why Unwinding Is Hard

The Wall Street Journal:

A college student deep into studying for a big exam might do well to give his brain a break.

Just what he does during that break will determine how helpful that pause will be, a growing body of research shows. A stroll in the park could do wonders, for instance, while downing coffee could leave him just as stressed and depleted as before the break. And, sometimes, forcing oneself to simply power through mental fatigue can be more effective than pausing.

Like a muscle, our brains appear to get fatigued after working for sustained periods of time, particularly if we have to concentrate intensely or deal with a repetitive task, says Michael Posner, an emeritus professor at the University of Oregon who studies attention.

Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal

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Comments

Thanks to Dr Honey Langcaster-James for the tip on thsi…

Taking a complete break is something that I need, but simply heading out the door & down the nature trail along the Boise River is, well,… wow. Talk to other people, look for migratory raptors, watch the fly-fishing & the drunks on rafts (LOL) etc. I still think about “work” stuff but changing the context is everything.


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