The three of us learning scientists recently had a conversation about the summer and how much work academics and teachers should do over breaks. Sure, classes stop over the summer (or at least slow down for those of us in a college setting), but there’s always more to do. Teachers and academics often have a long list of things that “should” be done over breaks, and we know many teachers and academics (including ourselves sometimes) feel guilty about taking time during breaks to relax.

Yet science tells us that relaxing and taking a break is important! So today, we have compiled five resources all focused on the idea of taking breaks. Some are about the physical and mental importance of self-care, while others are blogs written by teachers about how important breaks can be. We even threw in a resource about the importance of taking breaks after class and while studying. So, this summer, remember to take some time off, take a deep breath, and relax!