An excuse to do nothing may seem like a perfect mnemonic technique for the lazy student

[Koji from Japan]

About the passage below, I don’t understand what "An excuse to do nothing may seem like a perfect mnemonic technique for the lazy student” means. Please explain in easy English.

Although it’s already well known that we should space our studies, new research suggests that we should aim for “minimal interference” during these breaks — deliberately avoiding any activity that could disturb the delicate task of memory formation. So no running errands, checking email, or surfing the web on your smartphone. You really need to give your brain the chance for a complete recharge with no distractions.
An excuse to do nothing may seem like a perfect mnemonic technique for the lazy student, but this discovery may also offer some relief for people with amnesia2 and some forms of dementia3, suggesting new ways to release a hidden, previously unrecognized capacity to learn and remember.

 

[emsr2d2]

Welcome to the forum, @Koji from Japan

It is a legal requirement on this forum that you cite the source and author of any text you did not write yourself. Until you do so, we cannot respond.

 

[Koji from Japan]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know.
I found it in an entrance examination at a Japanese university. And now I've found that the original was the following:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180208-an-effortless-way-to-strengthen-your-memory

The author is David Robson.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't know what the literal meaning of it is, but the writer is, I think, saying that resting, taking a break, whatever you want to call it, may seem like an excuse to do nothing, but it helps with memory formation.

 

[Koji from Japan]

Thank you very much, Tarheel.

Based on the context, I think that’s generally what the writer is saying as well. However, I feel that it seems strange because, fundamentally, it follows the structure "An excuse is a technique," which doesn’t make sense semantically.

 

[jutfrank]

fundamentally, it follows the structure "An excuse is a technique," which doesn’t make sense semantically.

Right. So then ignore that and focus on the message. Not every sentence you'll come across is perfectly written. Think about what the writer is saying.

 

[Koji from Japan]

Thank you very much, jutfrank. I’ll do that.