Kim Connor Streich
Christmas break is always a much-needed rest period from the intensity of your first semester. However, our education system has blessed us with January exams and essays (note the sarcasm)!
It can often be difficult to come home, unwind and enjoy time with your family with deadlines and revision clouding your mind, so we’ve compiled a list of our five top stress-reducing tips for the festive season.
Create a study schedule
Write a list of everything you have to get done, including dates, word counts, texts you will need to pick up from the library etc. Once you have written these all done you will already feel lighter as everything will be on paper and you will not be able to forget it.
Create a plan for each day of the work you set out to complete. Remember to give yourself time off to spend time with your family and friends. Or just to curl up and watch a Christmas film, there’s never a wrong time to watch Love Actually especially since you can now get it on Netflix (eek!).
Take a moment to breath
With apps like Headspace (which is free, by the way) dominating the market in terms of chill-out methods, there is really no excuse not to download it and give meditation a try.
The best part of meditation is that you can do it for any amount of time suitable to you. Just find a quiet space, sit or lie down and breath until the thoughts racing through your mind are clear.
Give yourself some proper time off
Christmas only comes round once a year and whether you celebrate the festive celebration or not, make sure to give yourself a well-deserved break. You will regret it if you don’t enjoy yourself while you have the chance. Make time to see your friends who are also back from uni or still live at home. There is so much to catch up on, and your friends and family will be glad to have you back.
Make the most of having no lectures
Designate a quiet space in your house as a study area. If this is not possible, find a coffee shop or your local library to revise or write your essays in. This will mean you have no excuse not to take some time out from Christmas to work towards your deadlines.
Get your Christmas shopping done preferably before Christmas eve!
Shopping centres and stores are pretty insane at this time of year, with everyone rushing to complete their Christmas shopping before the big day. Skip the stress and order things online to avoid the bustling crowds and queues in your town centre. Most websites have next-day delivery and pretty good deals with postage and packaging.
Make sure to enjoy the couple of weeks off from university. Spend time with your friends and family and try not to stress about your deadlines too much!
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