Make no mistake my friends, I've really been enjoying my time at PAMA and all the cool old books I get to look at but sometimes I just need a break. Fortunately, I can ditch my research (for a few minutes) to make a cup of tea, listen to a podcast or lock myself in a nineteenth century jail cell. These are my confessions as a student intern...who just needs a break sometimes.
Stop for a Sip:
Beacuse PAMA is awesome and my on-site supervisor is great, a lot of the work I do for them comes from my own home. I spend most of my time there researching in the archives on site if I need specific sources, but otherwise I have access to a lot of great materials from home. On the days that I work from home, I spend at least six hours researching and compiling notes. By hour 3, my brain starts to get fuzzy. And on hour 4, I definitely need a break. At this point, I stop and make myself a cup of tea--peppermint is my favourite. I walk away from my laptop and enjoy my tea in a separate room so that I can give my brain a few minutes to focus on something else and recharge. Honestly, it really doesn't matter what you're drinkning--tea, coffee, Jack Daniel's (just kidding)--sometimes you just need to give your brain a quick minute to relax and refocus. It helps, give it a try!
Pause for a Podcast:
Other times, if a quick break for tea or a snack isn't helping me refocus as much as I need it to, I'll listen to one of my favourite podcasts for a few minutes. The same sort of principle applies here--it helps to give my brain a few minutes to relax and refresh before I continue working. With podcasts, you're listening to information, absorbing stories and maybe even laughing, which helps to de-stress. You can find podcasts about virtually anything so there's one for everyone. Don't like podcasts? Music helps to de-stress in a similar way, so plug in your headphones or turn up the volume on your speakers.
Lock Yourself in a Nineteenth Century Prison Cell:
I'm joking...but I'm not. When I'm working at PAMA, I can't exactly stop and make some tea or start dancing to Single Ladies in the middle of the archives. So instead, I've taken the opportunity to use my short breaks to investigate the exhibits. I've become particularly interested in PAMA's Behind Bars: The Story of the Peel County Jail. The exhibit features information about prisoner escapes, what life was like behind bars, artifacts--like handcuffs and a doctor's examination table--from the nineteenth century and an open cell that visitors can enter. The cell's original structure has been maintained and features a projection of prisoner testimony.
When I take a few minutes to sit here I'm not only giving myself a break from my work, I'm also becoming better acquainted with the history of my placement. So the next time you need a break from your work come to PAMA and sit in a jail cell!
There are a bunch of different ways that you can de-stress and refocus but I can almost guarantee that sitting in a cell is one of the most effective ways to do so...probably. Okay, maybe not. Whichever way you choose to de-stress, make sure you do indeed give yourself permission to take a break. Just don't forget to get back to work...