Your brain is an amazing machine. It holds a gigantic database of the information gathered by your senses, interprets meaning from this information, and then constructs complex neural networks from this meaning. It is the most valuable piece of hardware in our body, but in order for it to fire on all cylinders, it needs to be constantly supplied with large amounts of oxygen and nutrients.
The burden of this crucial refueling task resides upon your circulatory system (your nutrient enriching, blood pumping system). You need this system to stay running at its peek performance level if you want to process information at your optimal rate. Maintaining a high blood flow rate is key to keeping the brain in ample supply of everything it needs. This is the primary reason you should take breaks while reading.
Here's how you are going to break:
- When the timer beeps on you, finish the thought you were digesting and stand up.
- Drink water, it is crucial for too many bodily operations to be neglected.
- Do some sort of exercise to get your blood flowing. You could stretch, walk around, tense your entire body, do push ups, you get the picture.
- After the alloted break time has expired, remember to clear your mind and to consciously refocus on your purpose.
You should experiment with times, but start with 30 minute reading sessions split by 5 minute breaks.
Another benefit of scheduling breaks is that they provide a powerful cue for your brain to switch between productive mode to recovery mode. When the 30 minute timer starts, your brain will know that it needs to be in 100% productive mode for 30 minutes, then it can switch to 100% recovery mode for 5.
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