Creative Ways To Take A Break During CAT Preparation

The CAT exam is not just a test of aptitude — it’s a test of endurance, focus, and emotional resilience, too.
With countless hours spent studying quant formulas, tackling reading comprehension, and attempting challenging mocks, burnout is a real threat. The answer to handling it all? Taking breaks. Yes, breaks. Those fleeting pauses between stressful study sessions.

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Think of it this way: when your brain is processing high volumes of information, it’s like a sponge soaking up water. But sponges, too, need time to dry. Without pauses, your brain stops absorbing and starts leaking — you lose efficiency, clarity, and motivation. That’s where a well-timed, creative break comes in. Most of us know we need breaks, but don’t quite know how to take them. Either we skip them altogether and risk burnout, or we fall into the rabbit hole of social media, only to waste two hours and emerge feeling dazed and guilty — which affects the rest of the day. The key is to find that sweet spot — where breaks are refreshing, intentional, and maybe even a little creative.

Let’s start by redefining what a “break” should be. A good break shifts your mental gear, gives your brain room to breathe, and leaves you feeling lighter. The best breaks are like palate cleansers for the mind — they don’t drown out your focus; they prepare you to dive back in, sharper than before.

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Smaller Breaks: The Quick Resets

Not all breaks need to be long gaps. These micro-breaks — lasting 5 to 15 minutes — act as resets between study sprints. They’re perfect after a Pomodoro session or a particularly intense section of practice.

Here are a few simple ways to bring variety into those moments and shift into a more mindful state:

• Change Your Physical State
  Stand up and stretch for a minute. Loosen your shoulders and let your body release tension. Take a stroll on the balcony or near a window. Focus on slow breathing and grounding yourself after that intense session.
• Move to Music
  Put on one song you love — not for productivity or background noise, but just for joy. Turn your room into a concert and let your body move. Getting your blood flowing helps you feel lighter and more awake. It will shift your focus from the studies for a while, helping you feel less burdened.
• Engage Your Creative Side
  Pick up a notebook and a pen. Draw something — anything. Maybe a diagram explaining a concept, a quick mind map, or even a random sketch. These small actions can break the monotonous schedules and reconnect you with your senses, creativity, and presence.

Longer Breaks: Recharge with Intention

Then there are longer breaks — those 30-minute to 1-hour windows when your brain truly needs to disconnect. These aren’t just about stepping away from your desk; they’re about stepping into something that nurtures a different part of you.

• Get Outside and Move
  Take a walk without your phone. Let your thoughts untangle with each step. Use this time to reconnect with nature, your breath, or simply your surroundings.
• Make Something from Scratch
  Cook a simple meal or snack that smells great and feels comforting. Cooking pulls you into the present and gives your brain a completely different kind of focus.
• Take a Power Nap
  Sometimes, the best way to reset is simply to rest. A 30–40 minute nap can do wonders for restoring energy and focus.
• Journal Your Thoughts
  Use the time to reflect on your journey. What's working? What’s not? What’s making you proud? Perspective and gratitude are powerful antidotes to burnout — and a few minutes of self-reflection can go a long way.

Creative Ways of Taking Breaks

Make your breaks personal and playful — there’s no need to follow a rigid plan. The best breaks are the ones that feel uniquely yours. Bringing in the creativity into these moments makes your prep feel less robotic and far more enjoyable.

Here are some fun and effective ideas:

• Write a 10-Minute Story Using CAT Vocabulary
  Set a timer and challenge yourself to write a short, silly story using as many CAT-related words as you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be fun. This is also great practice for exams like MICA, where creativity matters.
• Doodle Your Notes or Create Memes
  If you’re a visual learner, try drawing flowcharts, silly diagrams, or even memes based on your mock test experiences. It’s a great way to reinforce concepts while bringing humor into your study space.
• Talk to Your Plants
  Studying alone? Teach a topic aloud to your plant or pretend you’re tutoring someone. Speaking out loud helps you process ideas better and makes learning feel interactive.
• Rearrange Your Study Space or Build a Vision Board
  Reorganize your bookshelf, clean your desk, or create a vision board for your B-school goals. Having visual reminders of your “why” can reignite motivation, especially on low-energy days.

The goal isn’t just to take breaks — it’s to take the right kind of breaks. The kind that actually moves you closer to your goal, instead of pulling you into hours of mindless scrolling or guilt-ridden procrastination. A good break should leave you feeling lighter, not lost. Think of creativity during breaks like letting sunlight into a dim room. You may not need it to keep going, but it changes the way everything feels. It lifts the mood, adds warmth, and reminds you that this journey doesn’t have to be all pressure and grind.
It can have lightness too. And sometimes, that’s exactly what helps you go the distance.

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