For many students, holiday time is study time. Meeting friends and spending time with the family or perhaps enjoying a good party? That hardly ever happens! It does not have to be this way. You cannot avoid studying at all, but there are many ways to reduce stress and pressure. So this time you will be able to relax and enjoy your holiday to the fullest.
How to avoid being stressed during the holidays
There will be some sort of tense time schedule during your holidays. You can’t avoid studying. However, you still can manage to keep it to a necessary minimum. This approach will help you to relax and enjoy the holidays – all while getting stuff done. Our holiday tips are designed to inspire you to take time for yourself, work effectively and enjoy your holidays!
No. 1: Study on a regular basis
Repeating and revising the content of your classes on a regular basis does not sound very appealing. However, it will most likely help you to save time in the long run. Use travel time on the train or the bus to read notes that you have taken in class. Take a look at them while having breakfast. Do some reading while waiting for friends to arrive. Bring your notes in the right order and sort them by priority.
By making these simple things a daily habit, you will remember the facts quickly. By the time you’ve unpacked your clothes, you would have read the notes at least three times. Once during class, once on your way home and the third time while rewriting them. The strategy of learning and repeating on a regular basis is very effective. Between study sessions, your brain has enough time to save and process the information.
Instead of taking on lots of information in a short amount of time, you may just have to go through your notes once more before exam time. If this approach does not work for you, choose an alternative way of studying. It should help you over an extended time and provides you with results.
No. 2: Make a plan – also for your holiday!
Working with a to-do-list is a popular approach. But not everyone gets the desired results. People tend to write too many tasks on their to-do-list and begin to feel unable to complete their list. But does this mean that to-do-lists are a bad idea overall? With the right approach, they might help you organize your thoughts. In fact, writing down your plans and ideas can help you visualize and organize your goals. To make a to-do-list work you should start by writing down your top priorities. Set reachable goals in reasonable time frames. This way you set yourself up for success.
Even without a to-do-list, writing down your tasks, ideas and thoughts will help you get organized. Procrastination sets in when tasks build up in front of us until they seem unmanageable. Writing them down will help you to see the actual amount of work ahead of you. This visualization is a great start to organizing your work schedule.
A to-do-list is not the only approach to this tool. Write with lipstick on your bathroom mirror, design a mood board or write post-its – prioritized and sorted by size or color. Some of these ideas might help you to get rid of cluttered thoughts. A clear mind will improve your focus and you can get work done more efficiently.
What if lists do not work for you? Then look for another tool to sort your study plans. It is important to find a helpful organizing tool to reduce stress levels during the holidays. Be creative and try different ways. You will find a method that matches your study style.
No. 3: Work smarter not harder
Have you ever done a research paper? Then you might know this problem: You spend a lot of time staring at a blank screen, trying to get stuff done. But with little time on your hands to create good content, you should try to use every minute efficiently.
To carry out the task ahead it is crucial to find a work approach that works for you. One way to do so might be a timetable for your study days. Break the day into single tasks. Focus on one task at a time. Take the time to finish each task – even if it takes longer than you anticipated.
If individual tasks are too big to finish in one setting try to use a timer. This approach is very popular among students. Choose a work interval that suits you well. Many are working for 25 to 50 minutes at a time. Within this time period, you only focus on the task at hand. In order to achieve the best results, you might want to eliminate distractions like your smartphone. This will help you to stay focused. After your work session, take a 5 to 10-minute break. Use this time to check your phone, read or take a walk. Then repeat. After your fourth set, you should take a 30-minute break.
Working in intervals might help you to focus and work more efficiently. This way you will get more work done in a shorter period of time. The breaks should help you to stay energized during your work sessions.
It might take a few tries to find the right work routine. So don’t give up if the first setup you choose is not for you. You will find a rhythm that goes perfectly with your workflow.
No. 4: Take a day off
Taking a day or even a weekend off is not always an option. But taking some time off from your studies is important for your physical and psychological health. Between holiday visits, a part-time job, family obligations and studying there is little time to catch a breath. So make it a point to set some time aside to do nothing. Ideally, you can spend one day a week just enjoying your free time – with no study books in sight. This way you will avoid being exhausted and have extra energy for the rest of the week.
No. 5: Be kind to yourself
We can’t be on top of things all the time. Fluctuation in performance and output is absolutely normal. You can’t manage to keep up with your own busy schedule? The workload seems unmanageable? You really need a few days off to rewind? Do not punish yourself for it! You cannot make up for the lost time. The more you try, the more you will fall behind. Don’t blame yourself and simply start over. Be kind to yourself in order to enjoy every day and reach a happy mindset. This way you can perform at your best.
Stress-free studies? That will most likely never happen. And what would college life be without the thrill of writing an essay at 3 o’clock in the morning? But the holidays should give you some time to relax and re-energize. We hope our tips will help you enjoy the time off and make the best of it. Happy holidays!
