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Wellness at ASU Library

Sharing wellness resources and activities for students to do in times of stress, especially around Finals Week!

Why Take a Break?

Whenever there's a looming deadline, a difficult research question, or a frustrating assignment, it may seem counter-intuitive to step away from it and take a break. However, taking a break can actually help you in the long run! Taking breaks lets you refocus on what you need to do, reduces your stress levels and improves your recall of information. Breaks can also boost your mood and energy levels.

A break is not the same as procrastination. Procrastination occurs purposefully since tasks are avoided for longer time periods, leading to stressful outcomes. Breaks can align with your study sessions (between 5 to 60 minutes depending on need and activity). Instead of only scrolling through social media posts or videos on your phone or laptop, find activities that allow you to zone out, express creativity, move around and show mindfulness on what you need. Some activities include socializing with others, having snacks or small meals, stretching, doing something creative or playing games.

In addition to these activities, click on the tabs to discover more resources and ideas for brain breaks, and see where you can take a break at ASU Library.

Works consulted
Learning Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (n.d.). Taking breaks. Retrieved from https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-breaks/

Mishra, G. (2020, May 9). Benefits of taking breaks during studying: How rest can improve your focus and retention. [Post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-taking-breaks-during-studying-how-rest-can-improve-cover?trk=portfolio_article-card_title

The Wellbeing Thesis. (n.d.). The importance of taking breaks. Retrieved from https://thewellbeingthesis.org.uk/foundations-for-success/importance-of-taking-breaks-and-having-other-interests/

Take A Break With...

A yellow spray bottle next to a blue sponge, red sponge, and yellow sponge stacked in front of a black wall.

"Cleaning products," rawpixel.com, CC0 License.

 ​​​​​Digital artwork of a bowl of ramen, by hyamei, posted on DeviantArt. On the bowl to the left, chopsticks rest on top while ramen noodles, egg, scallions and pork belly are steaming hot. The right bowl top is empty.

Artwork by hyamei, on DeviantArt, used with CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DEED license.

Take A Break at ASU Library

Interfaith and Ablution Rooms

  • An interfaith reflection room is located on the concourse level of Hayden Library. This room provides the ASU community a quiet space for contemplation, meditation, reflection or prayer. Within this larger room are three private reflection rooms, and each private room fits one person. We ask that users of this space limit their use of electronics.

  • An ablution room is on the concourse level of Hayden Library, across from the wellness and lactation rooms. Please stop by the Information Desk on the concourse level for the room key.

Wellness and Lactation Rooms

  • There are two wellness and lactation rooms on the concourse level of Hayden Library. Each room can be reserved online and can fit up to one person.

Wellness Nook

  • Near the library's South entrance (across from the Memorial Union) is the "Wellness Nook." This corner of the library contains natural lighting and some seats, as well as a table set up with colored pencils and a puzzle. This nook sometimes hosts outreach events such as therapy dogs and crafts.

The ASU Library acknowledges the twenty-three Native Nations that have inhabited this land for centuries. Arizona State University's four campuses are located in the Salt River Valley on ancestral territories of Indigenous peoples, including the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) Indian Communities, whose care and keeping of these lands allows us to be here today. ASU Library acknowledges the sovereignty of these nations and seeks to foster an environment of success and possibility for Native American students and patrons. We are advocates for the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge systems and research methodologies within contemporary library practice. ASU Library welcomes members of the Akimel O’odham and Pee Posh, and all Native nations to the Library.