Learning and productivity require rest
Posted by Hlengiwe Zwane on 06 December 2022, 11:30 SAST
It is that time of the year when we all feel burnt out, and our daily tasks make us weary. The need to take a break and just hit that reset button is becoming more and more imperative. If we are being honest, most of us are anxious and have developed some insomnia. A great majority of us find ourselves having to juggle our responsibilities.
Teaching is demanding work. It requires time, attention, planning, and various labour. It is difficult to do it well when you’re exhausted, and finding time for rest becomes challenging, but it is essential for our health. Rest is an essential part of working well. It makes us more alert and helps us focus. Below are some tips on how to get the most out of your holidays.
Firstly, do absolutely nothing. Take about 10-30 mins and sit in silence. This will help to quiet your thoughts and mind. This might seem uncomfortable for you at first. However, to relax your mind, you must separate yourself from the noise and distractions you are constantly surrounded by.
Secondly, an excellent way to relax is to keep a journal. Most people don’t like writing, but it can be very therapeutic to get your thoughts out of my system.
Next, take a walk or get some exercise. Often a change in environment can help you to destress. Fourthly, get yourself a good book, movie, or hobby of interest. Ge lost in it. Just this once allows you some time to be consumed by something other than work, your students or college. Take time to develop some interest in something purely for your fulfilment.
It's important to remember that sleep helps you to cope and is also essential to learning. Research conducted at Harvard states that “the quality of sleep impact learning and memory. It also suggests that sleep helps learning and memory in two ways.” The first is that when a person is deprived of sleep, they can not learn effectively. The other is that sleep plays a significant role in memory consolidation. So take this time to rest and get enough sleep throughout these holidays.
Lastly, leave all your worries at school. These holidays, try not to take work with you. You have done all you can for yourself and your students for the year. Take a break!
What are you looking forward to these holidays? Let us know in the comment section below: