Vacation time is here! A great time to rest your mind, make room for creative leisure, completely forget about those complicated subjects, leave work stress behind, and not even think about studying, right? Actually, it's not quite like that. Although it's a propitious and highly recommended time for relaxation, it's necessary to dedicate time to learning as well.
Motivation to study might be out of your control, but it's crucial to understand the importance of not becoming stagnant during these times. This is because such behavior leaves you behind and makes returning to classes an even more difficult task. So, don't get discouraged!
Come with us! We'll teach you some tricks to keep your study energy up even during the holidays, without letting that dedication interfere with your rest.
Seek an efficient transition.
During class time, students are usually working at full speed, right? If this happens to you, the best strategy is to slow down a bit before resuming your studies. Take two or three days to really not think about problems or difficulties with the material.
After this reward for all your dedication, gradually return to your studies. If, for example, you previously studied 9 hours a day, start by setting aside 3 hours for reading and more relaxed activities upon your return. In the following days, increase this workload slightly until you reach a satisfactory study period that doesn't tire your mind too much.
In any case, try not to give in to the agitation and stress that are common during periods when studies are in full swing.
Find a comfortable place to study.
Do you know what helps give you that extra motivation to study during the holidays? A comfortable place with good lighting and ventilation – preferably with all your materials nearby, so as not to distract you too much. You know that kind of organized environment that reflects your personality and makes you want to stay there for a long time? That's the idea!
Think about what brings you calm and a sense of belonging to personalize your study space. You can even include some motivational quotes, photos of family and close friends, a cheerful decorative piece, and so on. Push away as much as possible the idea that these will be moments of obligation that need to end quickly—the environment will serve to prove exactly the opposite.
Have a study schedule.
A student's life is not solely reliant on study techniques. After all, they aren't very effective if you don't know what to focus on next, right? That's where a schedule comes in as your best ally. Basically, the idea is to list all the content you want to learn and the times you have available for that activity.
Then, simply connect those two points, but with a few things to consider:
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Understand when you are most productive and schedule your complex and dense subjects for those times. This way, you achieve efficiency.
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Reserve time for leisure and rest as well, to encourage your brain to organize itself and keep to schedules;
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Set aside some time for exercise too – we'll explain why later;
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If possible, create this schedule on a piece of poster board and display it prominently in your study area to serve as good motivation for studying.
It's worth remembering that there are several study apps that can help at this time. So, use technology to your advantage to diversify these periods, avoid monotony, and gain more motivation.
Set realistic goals.
It sounds interesting to study and reread all your books and notes, doesn't it? But that might not be a very realistic goal: if you set that goal and then realize later that your dedication won't be enough, you could get frustrated. So, it's good to analyze the situation beforehand.
See how much time you have and think about how many hours you need for each topic. You can focus on reviews, to ensure a better understanding of the subjects, and even on exercises, to reinforce what you've learned.
Take advantage of the time you're putting together your schedule to include some room for unexpected events – after all, since you're on vacation, an interesting activity to do with friends or family might very well come up.
Study different subjects.
Remember those times of the year when you dedicated yourself intensely to a difficult subject to better absorb the content? Forget that strategy during the holidays. Since the ideal is to complement your dedication, diversify the subjects you study throughout the weeks—and even plan this when creating your schedule.
Plan to study a little of everything, diversifying your techniques. See if it's possible to learn from films, series, and other audiovisual materials. Do exercises and short tests, assess your knowledge, and invest in making summaries.
Create rewards for achieving goals.
Here's another golden tip: self-motivation (for studying or anything else) is one of the most valued professional characteristics in the market. So why not work on it during your vacation, through your studies? To reinforce this practice, acknowledge your progress and efforts whenever possible, with small rewards.
Do you know the goals you set? Think about the benefits for each of those achievements – for example, an ice cream if you manage to understand that difficult subject after 10 practice exercises.
Physical and mental health.
Did you know that physical exercise is also a technique to increase concentration? This is because you oxygenate the brain and move the body, which quickly translates into mental clarity and, therefore, motivation to study. These are moments of self-care that enhance your productivity in many other areas.
It's also important not to neglect mental well-being – therefore, rest should be prioritized. Furthermore, it's important to seek ways to strengthen your emotional well-being, whether by being close to loved ones or even practicing meditation. In these moments, set aside your difficulties and focus on your achievements.
By following the tips in this post, you'll see your motivation to study during the holidays grow. Above all, keep in mind that maintaining this routine is a beneficial practice for your continuous learning. In the near future, you'll see positive results: from achieving good grades to landing a job in your field, thanks to your unique skills.
