caesarstudies:

how to stay productive over the holidays: for college students

the first thing i love about college is that each semester is brand new (at least where i live). i most likely won’t be getting the same teacher again, and the material i’m learning is also different. therefore, i don’t exactly have homework over the winter break, and most college students sit back and relax (or party). while i do love to relax, here are some tips to save you from despair on the first few weeks of school:

1. figure out some of your classes for next semester. this is probably one of the best ways you can get a head start, or have an idea on what you will be doing. most colleges/uni give you a general idea on the courses you’ll be taking (mine tells me straight up). 

2. if you know your classes, do some research! it doesn’t have to be intensive, but its good to go into a class with a solid base to work from, and you won’t feel so lost in the first lecture or two. i recommend documentaries, or heading off to barnes&noble/chapters/a bookstore to see if there are any books about the subject. taking notes is a bonus. again, you are on holidays, so don’t overload yourself! take your time, grab some tea or coffee, grab a novel while your at it. 

3. go to bed early (or a reasonable time) and wake up early. your days will be so much longer, and you can do a lot more from 8am to 10pm rather than 1pm to 4am. but, lets face it: sometimes the club or bar is a good stress relief too, in moderation. just be careful!

4. plan out your days! give yourself some time to relax, some time to dabble in research, hang out with friends. leave some days completely open to be spontaneous, or to sit and watch netflix in bed. having an idea of what you want to do during the holidays not only relieves stress, but it also makes it more enjoyable. but don’t beat yourself up if some things don’t work out. i recommend keeping an agenda, or a bullet journal. or just a journal. 

5. read. reading helps improve your writing and language skills, so this is without a doubt a must do. here is a reading list, featuring some important pieces of literature in western culture. 

6. get your shopping done early. you don’t want to be rushing for supplies the day before the semester begins. if you can, get a list of the textbooks you need and get them! i can’t get the list early, so i just put some money aside and buy them all within the first week of school. 

7. take care of your body. we all get lazy, but try to maintain a healthy diet! smoothies, yogurt, fruit and veggies. so good! in canada we’re flooding in with snow, but i always have a set of dumbbells in my room, and i use the nike fitness app to do some simple, yet effective workouts in the space of my tiny room, or in the basement. if you have a gym nearby, a gym membership isn’t a bad idea! going to the gym takes my mind off the stress, and going during college is also a great way to refresh yourself. 

just remember that the holidays are meant to be enjoyable. take things with grace, stay humble. spend some time with friends and catch up on conversations you missed out on! giving yourself time is so important for college. this is just a little way to jump back into the new semester with a little less stress on your shoulders.