If you had a car but never took it in for service, it would soon lose performance. There will be squeaks and rust. Sooner or later something breaks.
This also applies to us students. We cannot study all the time (and do not want to study all the time), but we need rest and variety to feel good and be able to study effectively.
Studying hard might work for short periods, but if it's long-term it becomes debilitating and you study worse (which ironically can make you have to study even more, it becomes a vicious spiral). Good recovery is the solution.
Fair enough that we need to get some rest from time to time to maintain our normal function, but did you know that proper recovery can also provide several bonus effects?
If you are constantly thinking about one thing, such as a school assignment, you are using your conscious mind. Your unconscious mind, on the other hand, works best when you relax and let your thoughts wander freely (that's why you get so many great ideas in the shower). As already mentioned in other posts, your subconsciousness helps you in many ways for studying, and works it's best while you are resting.
If you are rested and feeling well, you will make better decisions than if you are tired and grumpy. Bad decisions create new problems and force you to work harder. By resting regularly, you can actually get more done.
Good recovery increases your motivation and will make you more efficient while studying. It is better to study two hours with good focus than to study sloppily for a whole day.
Good focus is a necessity for effective learning. A rested mind is better at concentrating.
Your memories are stored and strengthened with good sleep, making sure you remember what you learn. Proper and regular sleeping habits saves you a lot of work.
Recovery makes you feel good and everything is more fun when you are relaxed and look on the bright side of life. It's is much more fun to study while in good spirits.
In short, good recovery increases your learning ability and makes you feel good. Never work until you burn yourself out, it's not worth it! But what is good recovery? Here's the "how to":
Recovery doesn't have to mean being sedentary. On the contrary, doing cardio has proven to be one of the best stress relievers for when you need to clear your head from too many thoughts. Exercise lowers the level of stress hormones in your body, while your brain actually develops and gains more synapses (connections in the brain).
You don't even need to exercise hard for the effect to start working, regular brisk walks will do. And the benefits can last for several days afterwards. Why not start cycling to school to automatically get a daily exercise? It is an easy way to create a new good habit for good recovery in everyday life.
Don't bring work home if you can avoid it, because then you're never really free. Your subconscious associates place with activity, so by letting the home be a sanctuary, you automatically set yourself in rest-and fun mode when you get home. Great!
Sleep is incredibly important for our ability to learn, partly to be able to concentrate, but it is also when we sleep that our memories are stored. In some studies, lack of sleep has been shown to lower learning ability by up to 40%(!) In other words, good sleep can be a winning concept for studying better.
Start by always giving yourself the OPPORTUNITY to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. You can't fall asleep on command, but by being careful to set aside time for sleep (it's sacred) you have a chance of getting enough. A typical indication of lacking sleep is if you find yourself re-reading the same line in a book over and over again, without absorbing the content.
It is not only the amount of sleep that matters, but also the quality. Therefore, it is also good to avoid coffee after 3 pm (caffeine is a long-acting stimulant which, although you may be able to fall asleep anyway, reduces the quality of sleep).
In general, it is good to start unwinding shortly after 8 pm and avoid new impressions (avoid screens, news, etc.).
If you're having trouble falling asleep, you don't have to stay in bed and toss and turn. Then it's better to get up and take a leisurely walk until you are tired, as it's good both for falling asleep and improves sleep quality.
Food plays a bigger role in our studying than we would like to believe. Fatty and heavy food makes you sluggish and lethargic (have you ever had a food coma?). Eat a fiber-rich diet with lots of whole vegetables and you'll feel fresh and energized. It sharpens your mind and you will think more clearly.
Experiences in nature (forests, mountains and around water) are extra beneficial for recovery. Take the opportunity and take a trip without your phone and other distractions - take in the environment with all your senses. Areas like this probably have an evolutionary calming effect.
If you have studied too much and feel really tired, it may be time to do something else. Preferably at a different location, for a change of pace. Meet friends and hang out or just do something fun.