Every free period starts the same way, opening up your computer and glancing at the neverending list of assignments. People say to themselves,“I promise I’m going to finish these assignments,” but within minutes, their plan falls apart and work gets pushed aside. Free periods have created a false sense of productivity and rather a waste of time as many students do not use it efficiently or for the right reasons.
Although free periods are intended for focus, most students don’t actually use it in that way. Many students have the initial intent of getting work done and being productive but quickly lose focus once faced with distractions such as social media. According to researchers Christina Koessmeier, and Oliver B Büttner, from National Library of Medicine,“social media cues draw individuals’ attention away from a task that they originally pursued.. by drawing away users’ attention, distractions take up limited cognitive resources.”
Instead of completing assignments, time is often wasted. Students continue to talk with their friends about gossip and drama, or doom scroll on social media. Others leave campus to get food or hangout, while some procrastinate work until later. Free periods rarely serve its purpose.
The environment during free periods also makes it challenging for students to be productive. Students are surrounded by loud chatter, gossip, and friends making it hard for them to concentrate. There is both a lack of structure and no clear expectations on how students should use their time.
Unlike a classroom setting, free periods often don’t feel like a place for work. According to researchers Elise M. Walck-Shannon, Shaina F. Rowell and Regina F Frey from National Institutes Of Health, “Students reported being distracted about 20% of their study time, and distraction while studying negatively predicted exam performance.” This further supports how even if students want to work, distractions make it hard.
Free periods can also encourage student procrastination. Knowing that there is time to build into the school day to complete work can make students have less urgency to start assignments when they receive them.. Students delay their work assuming they will get to it later but it rather leads to unfinished tasks and more work and stress after school.
While free periods are meant to help students stay on top of work, it often fails. Instead of eliminating it entirely, schools could improve free periods by creating more structured environments, such as designated study spaces or more clear guidelines for how time should be used.
