Top tips for a productive Christmas break
Christmas is just around the corner, and for many of you we hope that represents a time for you to relax and spend some more quality time with your loved […]
Christmas is just around the corner, and for many of you we hope that represents a time for you to relax and spend some more quality time with your loved ones. Time off from your usual routine is a great way to recharge the batteries, and hopefully reconnect with yourself ready to go again in the new year.
For those that get a little fidgety about taking too much time off from their studies, there are of course some little things you can be doing to keep your brain in check, and to ensure your system isn’t too shocked when you get back to work properly in January. Here’s our advice if that’s you.
Create a study timetable
Breaks are always a good chance to step back and plan ahead – the next month, the next module, even a whole year’s worth of targets! We suggest staying practical, though, and just focus on your next immediate study goal. Find that exam or essay due date and get it in the diary. Then work backwards and plan in dates for you to be starting practice papers, practice questions, revision etc. If you can, allot some hours or days for study each week up until that point, working around any weekend engagements, holidays or other important events you may already have planned.
The great thing about a task like this is that it has a definite start and end so you shouldn’t feel the need to keep coming back to it, and you can feel like you’ve really accomplished something when it’s done.
Stock up on study resources
Yes, we realise you’ve probably just spent more than you wanted to on all sorts of things you don’t particularly need in the run up to the festive season, but this might be a surprisingly good time to invest in you. Search online for a discounted text book or two for your upcoming modules, maybe book yourself in for a series of classes or revision package, just to get yourself organised for your next study goal. And if you’re the sort who loves it – top up on your stationery so you can get your notes and study resources in order as soon as you start working on them.
Preview examining body resources
Most exam boards will release reports, guidance or notes based on the last round of exams for a specific module or paper, which can be very useful for those taking that exam the next time around. While we wouldn’t recommend delving too deeply into the details (especially for a module you haven’t even looked at yet), reading these can be a good way to get a flavour of what to expect from your upcoming study and give you an idea of where to aim for to get your head in the game before going fully into study mode.
From all of us at Reed Business School we hope you have a restful break and we look forward to sharing more resources and tips with you in the New Year.
