Whether you're in high school or taking part in a post-grad course, the school breaks are often a time that we all struggle with motivation and the transition back into work, later on. Many people are given time over the winter to complete assignments to be handed in post-Christmas. Some time between the numerous bubble baths we take as soon as we walk in the door, and the sitting on suitcases to return, we have to make time to write 3000 odd words towards our final grades.
Before you leave university, it would be best to figure out what books you're going to need to write that essay or study for your exam. If you have to take a plane or a 7 hour train to get home, it’s probably best that you don't leave everything in your dorm! I always have my laptop and a notebook really easily accessible when I'm on the train, you can use the trip home to plan out what you need to cover. For essays, write the word count for each section, make a checklist of the things you need to include. If you do this early, it saves you from having to go through this process when you've forgotten everything your lecturers said in the past week.
Essay writing
To write an essay you don't need to sit down and do it in one big chunk. I only have 2500 words due after Christmas, but I always write in the same way. Paste any structure that has been provided, essay questions, key points, all of it into one document along with the relevant suggested word count fro the section. Then take any previous work that can be transferred and add that into the right sections of the document, as you do this it is best to copy the references too. Then find any relevant theories and write the name of them with a description to jog your memory. Reference the theories fully, look through power points, hand outs, anything your lecturers have been giving you from day 1, this can give you ideas of other ways of collecting sources ad conducting research. You get the idea; I basically just build it up, bit by bit instead of tackling one section at a time. I find this the best way to reduce repetitively and It means that I don't loose my flow! However it is definitely not everyones cup of tea, so just take this as a suggestion.
Down time
Holidays are to relax. I'm not sure that anyone has this problem, but don't spend your whole time at home focussing on uni, however don't stay in bed all day either. Learn how to touch type, practice the guitar, go for a run, take a ski lesson, redecorate, do everything that you can't do when you return to your timetabled days. Go out, have fun and make the most of the holidays; in 5 years time you wont remember the nights that you went to bed early and had a good nights sleep.
This post is just a few thoughts that I put together over the holidays so far, don't take it too literally.
Have a great christmas!
Ciao, Lauren