How to stay motivated to study during the holidays

Read our hints and tips to keep on top of your work while still indulging in all the festive season has to offer.

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Cicely Oliver 21 Dec 2023

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Make your own naughty and nice list

Write down all the things you have planned for the Christmas holidays. On the naughty list, you can put things like meeting with friends and family, Christmas shopping, and parties. On the nice list add things like revision and university applications. This way, you’ll get a good idea of how much time you have for each activity.

Create a festive-free workspace

If you have revision to do or assignments to complete, a clutter-free space away from the festivities is just what you need. Wherever you’re spending the holidays, try to find a space where you can focus and find some peace; your bedroom at home, a local library or a quiet local coffee shop are good places to start.

Maintain routine

Having a routine will add structure to your days, ensuring that you stay on top of what you need to get done. This doesn’t have to be a strict study schedule. But do try to find at least a couple of days where you can spend time ticking off those more serious activities from your nice list.

Put time aside to read

While the rest of the family are watching the Kings’s Christmas speech or that Christmas movie that you’ve never really liked, use this time to tackle a bit of your reading for next year. This doesn’t have to be anything too heavy, but it’s just enough to feel productive and keep the study momentum moving in the right direction. You’ll be giving your future self a helping hand for 2024.

Be your very own Santa

Treat yourself every time you tick something off that nice list. Whether it’s by binging on some Quality Street treats or watching Home Alone for the hundredth time; if you’ve managed to do some work during the holidays, you deserve a reward. You can use the idea of reward as motivation to study – it can be what awaits you once you're finished.

Stay connected

You may prefer to pretend school or university don’t exist for a few weeks but stay connected with classmates. It can help to avoid the anxiety of returning to school after the break.

See what they’ve been doing, how they’re finding all the reading and what topics they’re finding difficult. If it’s a topic you know well, help them, and vice versa. Teaching can be the best learning.