It’s that time of the year again. With Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks on the horizon, it’s easy to get distracted from school. Prioritizing studying before, during, and after any school break is key in keeping up with your coursework and not flunking any tests. Here are some strategies to try so you can manage your time as a student and still enjoy the holidays.
How to prioritize studying
It’s tempting to work on your easiest or shortest assignments just to get them done instead of focusing on bigger or more important tasks. It might make you feel more accomplished and convince you to take breaks early and often. But this is a form of procrastination, and it’s likely going to end with you staying up late, trying to finish the longest assignment the day before it is due.
Tracking your due dates is the most important step when it comes to weighing what homework to work on and when. The assignments with the closest due dates are the ones you have the least amount of time to complete, so prioritize those first. Here are some more tips to help you prioritize your assignments and test prep.
Related: How Can I Develop an Effective Study Routine?
Start with complex tasks
In addition to prioritizing tasks with the closest due dates, working on your most complex assignments first is also important. They often take more time than you think, so completing work in chunks and eliminating these assignments from your workload early is key for managing your time effectively and accurately. Additionally, these assignments may require help from teachers or friends to understand them better, which will be difficult to ask for at the last minute.
Work during your free time early on
Although many people advocate for breaking up studying evenly over time, this strategy isn’t ideal during such eventful and busy times of the year like the holidays. Events may come up that you don’t want to regret missing, so working ahead of schedule is key. Getting schoolwork done and putting in some good study time in advance will not only allow you to attend more festive get-togethers but also make you feel more accomplished and prepared for your exams. Instead of leaving studying for the end of your breaks and being forced to cram, start studying earlier for long-term memorization of concepts.
Stay organized
Without constant reminders from teachers, it’s hard to keep track of all your assignments. Staying organized is key to making sure you don’t forget any assignments or an upcoming exam over your breaks. The most effective way to do this is to write down all your assignments in a planner as you get them. Write them down on the due dates to allow you to prioritize assignments and plan out work and study sessions, giving your planner a joint purpose.
Related: Tips for Better Organization and Study Habits in High School
How to prioritize your free time during break
The sad truth about holiday breaks is that you will not be able to take part in every activity you might want to with the limited time you have. This leads to the necessity to also prioritize what you want to do with your leisure time. Here are a couple tips to figure out what’s most important:
- Focus on social activities: One of the best parts of the holidays is the festive events that bring people together. Holiday dinners, parties, fairs, and other gatherings often only happen once a year, so prioritize these interactive activities over more mind-wasting activities such as scrolling on your phone or lounging on the couch, which you can do every other day of the year.
- Invest in yourself: The holidays can be stressful, so doing things that benefit you is also important. Fun or mindful activities can serve a joint purpose in protecting your mental health and facilitating personal growth, providing long-term benefits in the future. If you need some time alone to relax, take it.
Related: How to Make Time for Yourself and Your Hobbies With a Busy School Schedule
As you can see, a variety of tools and strategies are needed in order to maximize your enjoyment of the holiday season and not fall behind on schoolwork or test prep. Prioritizing your studying, homework, and free time is essential whether you’re in high school or college. So track your due dates, don’t procrastinate, and keep yourself organized for success before and after your breaks. Happy holidays!
We have a lot more great advice where this came from! Learn how to give your schoolwork your all with Our Best Advice for Homework, Studying, and Tests.
