This sounds like an excuse to be lazy… but science says it actually works 😅
If you’re trying to learn something new — whether it’s playing guitar 🎸, mastering new software 💻, or finally figuring out that complicated gym machine 🏋️ — you might want to start taking more breaks.
And not long ones.
We’re talking tiny 10-second breaks.
⏳ It’s Called “Gap Learning”
A 2021 study found that taking short, 10-second mental breaks every few minutes can actually help information sink in faster. The idea is that your brain needs a quick second to “catch up” and process what you just practiced.
It’s called gap learning — and there’s no strict rule about timing. But generally, stepping away for about 10 seconds every few minutes seems to do the trick.
🎧 Don’t Set a Timer
A neuroscientist recently talked about this on a podcast and said it’s actually better to take the breaks randomly instead of setting a timer.
So don’t overthink it.
Just:
✔️ Pause
✔️ Clear your mind
✔️ Do absolutely nothing for 10 seconds
✔️ Jump back in
That quick mental reset might be enough to help your brain lock in what you just learned.
So the next time someone accuses you of zoning out for a few seconds… just tell them it’s neuroscience 🧠😉