5 ways to make the most of the holidays

You’re done with exams, you’ve packed your bags and you’re heading home. You can finally take a break after a stressful semester. So… now what?

I don’t know about you but the first few days of holidays after being very busy are a bit disconcerting for me.  For one thing, I’m not quite sure what to do with all my new found freedom. I want to sleep all day and do nothing except lounging in my PJs but instead I end up waking up according to my exams schedule and trying to find work for myself to do. If you’re at home browsing the Internet because you don’t know what to do with yourself, here are my top recommendations of what you should do this vacation:

1. 1. Reflect on what makes you stressed out during the semester : what can you change and eliminate? Do you really need to take five and a half classes next semester or be in so many groups? Can you change things? The best way to deal with stress is to prevent. What better time to reflect than when you aren’t knee-deep in papers?
2. Sleep, sleep, sleep, but more importantly, set your body on a healthy food and sleep schedule for the next semester. At the end of the semester, people tend to forget to be healthy. I have friends who I don’t see during exams because they are awake when I sleep and visa versa. This is the chance to re-adjust your body to normal sleeping habits and making sure you are working out, eating your “five-a-day” and picking up healthy habits before the next time exams role around.
3. See old friends : whilst this may seem obvious, you should really make an effort to see as many old friends as possible so you don’t lose them. This is beyond just simply catching up. After all, how great will the friendship be in the future if all you ever do is catch up each time you see each other? Whilst holidays may be a time you just want to curl up into a blanket and do nothing at all, making an effort for friendships now will reap benefits in the future.
4. Read a book : just one–any book. It doesn’t have to be a 1000 page novel. Just pick one thing that you find interesting. You’ll feel productive, you might learn something new and you won’t be entertained simply by watching endless hours of TV.
5. Make a New Year’s Resolution and stick with it : no one’s life is perfect. Why not think about what bothers you in your life and try to fix it by changing your habits? Maybe you want to increase your productivity or become a better cook. Well, right now you have the time to watch videos online about productivity and find new, fun recipes so you can get a head start before the New Year has even started. Plus, if you start thinking now, you can decide on New Year’s Resolutions that you can actually finish.

Most of all, remember to have fun! Holidays are a time to rest, relax and be yourself, in whatever form you want.