The end of the semester can be a chaotic transition for the holiday season. Here’s how you can destress from school and work and mentally and financially prepare for the holidays.
1. Finishing up exams and Assignments
By this time of the semester, most students are feeling drained. A strong effort will help improve your overall grades. Start planning your study dates as soon as you know your exam schedule. The earlier you study, the more time you’ll have to understand the subject.
Spend an equal amount of days studying each subject, but give yourself extra time for your most challenging classes. You could also contact teaching staff and classmates to prepare for the exams. Check your student account or ask your professor if you have any missing or late assignments. Also, check for any missed lectures so you can get notes from your classmates.
With holiday excitement bustling around, it’s easy to get distracted from completing work. Use the holiday break as motivation, a reward for your studying. One of the best ways to stay focused on your tasks is to block out all distractions. Distractions include parties, social media, watching TV, or other events. Surrounding yourself with classmates or study buddies in quiet study spaces, such as a library, is also a great environment to help you focus.
Stay on top of your tasks so you can achieve academic success. You’ll also feel more confident going into the new school year!
2. Smart Spending
The holidays are a huge spending season due to gift purchases and travelling. Here are some tips and advice to help you save money.
- Limit your budget: Only spend money on essentials such as food, gas, and other expenses (i.e. phone bills). This budget could be set for the whole month of December or scaled down to weekly or daily budgets. Take care of important needs before your wants.
- Calculate your spending: After your expenses and essentials have been paid, calculate how much money you have left to spend on gifts or trips.
- Keep a reasonable amount of money to the side for non-essential needs such as buying gifts and treats for the holidays. If you’re working, set financial goals on how much money you need to save per week to be able to buy these things.
- Take local trips and travel by carpool, if possible, to lessen your travel expenses. Try buying gifts from local or second-hand stores. Not only will you spend less, but you’re also supporting your community.
3. Making Time For You
When classes and exams finish, take a well-deserved break. It’s called a break for a reason! Even if you’re working a few shifts during the holidays, manage to use your off time to take care of your mental needs and have fun. This is the time to connect with friends, spend time with family, and engage in your favourite hobbies. Catching up on sleep is very important, especially if you lacked the proper eight hours during the previous semester.
Search online or ask others about holiday-themed events happening in your community, such as museums, cafes, volunteering and more. During the holidays, your focus is on many things. But the best thing for your mental health is to check in with yourself. On a scale of 1-10, how are you feeling physically, mentally, and socially? Spending time with those you love can help improve your health. Invite your friends out for an activity, or plan daily walks.
Finish your semester strong to ensure you can have a relaxed and enjoyable holiday break!