11 Activity 1: When Do You Chew?

Estimated time: 25 minutes

Objectives:

Students will be able to

• Recognizing the importance of “chew time” in the learning process
• Plan their schedule to allow down time

Materials

1.   Student schedule from Unit 2

Activity

Part 1: Why Your Brain Needs Down Time

Read one of the articles (instructor: your choice may depend on your students’ reading level or the time allotted to the activity. A jigsaw activity may be appropriate for the Scientific American article.)

• “Mental Down Time Affects Learning” from Psychology Today
• “Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime” from Scientific American

Work with a partner to write a brief summary of the article you chose. Share your summary with the class.

As you learned in the reading, your brain needs time to digest information, just as it digests food. You can’t just pour nutrients into your body without chewing and digesting them. In the same way, you need to “chew” information so that your brain can absorb it.

Part 2: How Do You Chew?

Your brain needs time to rest when you’re learning. Rest is not just a bonus; it’s critical to keeping your brain alert and ready to receive information. Some ways people make “chew time” include:

• Scheduling regular breaks
• Going for a walk or run
• Meeting a friend for coffee
• Getting enough rest at night

Don’t confuse multitasking with resting! As we saw in Unit 4, what we call multitasking is actually switchtasking, and it makes your brain switch back and forth between tasks quickly. By switching from studying to texting to listening to music and back to studying, you’re not giving yourself “chew time”—you’re working harder.

Part 3: Finding Chew Time

Finding chew time is a challenge. If your schedule already balances work, school, family, and other obligations, you may feel that you can’t find chew time. Here are some suggestions to help you find a few minutes to chew:

• Stop switchtasking. If you can focus on studying without distractions, do it. You may even finish your work earlier and have a little bit more free time.
• Ask the people you live with for help. Your family or roommates may be the ones interrupting you. Explain the importance of uninterrupted study time and plan to spend time with them later. Let them know what your schedule is and that you’re not neglecting housework or other commitments. They may be able to help you find more time if you work together.
• Focus on your senses. It’s easy to be preoccupied by events and responsibilities from the past and future. If you’re walking to class, focus on the sensation of walking.
  • How does the ground feel under your feet?
  • Is it warm or cold outside? How does the air feel?
  • If you’re outside, can you appreciate nature? If you’re indoors, is there art or decoration you can notice?

Even mundane tasks (washing the dishes, playing with younger siblings or children, cooking) can be more relaxing if you stay in the present moment. This will give your brain a rest and help you sneak in some chew time.

• Look at your schedule. It may be packed with responsibilities! Is there a way you can find time to chew? What do you need to do to make that happen?
  • Review your schedule on your own
  • Take a few minutes to share your findings with the class. If you’re struggling to find any chew time, let the class know. They may be able to help you.