Ah, the holidays! A well-deserved break after another long semester of hard work. Time to forget your studies completely and chill out to the max, right? Right?
Well, sort of. Nobody would deny that university is taxing and that it’s important to take time away from your studies now and then to relax. These days, moreover, many students work during the holidays, which is hardly slacking off.
However, despite this, there are definite advantages to finding a little time for studying during university breaks.
1. Keeping Fresh
Much like sandwiches, if left unattended for any length of time, knowledge can go a bit stale. As such, it’s important to eat your sandwiches while they’re fresh. Equally, going back over what you’ve learnt during the last semester will mean that the information is fresh in your mind when you return to university, while also helping you to maintain your study skills.
2. Be Prepared!
Getting in touch with lecturers about the upcoming semester is a great way of ensuring you have a head start when the holidays are over. Ask if they have a recommended reading list available, as by getting reading done during the break you’ll save time and effort during term time.
3. Time to Review
During the semester you’ll likely be rushing from one class to the next, juggling multiple assignments, attending student society meetings and generally indulging in everything that university life has to offer. This doesn’t leave much time for reflection.
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The holidays, however, are the perfect opportunity to review your achievements. Consider what you did well over the last semester, as well as what could be improved, then use this to inform your future studies.
4. Avoiding Last Minute Rushes!
So you’ve been set an essay to write over the holidays. That’s ages away yet though, isn’t it? You’ll deal with it at some point, sure, but it can wait.
Well, technically, yes, you can wait until the last minute before starting your work. All this will mean, however, is that you’re more likely to rush and won’t get your assignment done to as high a standard as you’d like. It makes much more sense to work on it a little throughout the holidays, saving you the stress of a race against time to meet the deadline.
5. Mixing and Matching
Of course, while you might study a bit, it’s still important to do things you enjoy during the holidays. There’s no reason this can’t be educational too though, especially if you tailor your activities to suit your course.
If you’re studying archaeology, for instance, why not visit a site you’ve always found interesting? Or if you’re studying a foreign language, how about a vacation to somewhere that it’s spoken? Likewise, galleries and museums can inform your studies while also being a pleasant break from the routine (and there’s no reason you can’t go home and watch the rest of the Breaking Bad boxset afterwards).