Supporting Student Success

“Making the most of your holiday.”

The winter holiday is coming. I bet everyone is looking forward to it. I know I am. It is the time to unwind from all the hustle and bustle and permit ourselves to slow down the pace.

On the other hand, we can’t just let ourselves go because we still have deadlines and tasks to complete after the holiday.

So how can we enjoy our holiday and still be able to stay on track with our responsibilities?

There are a few ways to do that, especially for those who are in Year 12 and have university application deadlines on the first week of January 2023.

• Work on your pending tasks as much as possible before the holiday. It is not always a good idea to think you will work on it during the holiday. Because when the holiday comes around, you will want to rest and relax and indulge in the chill vibe, and it is very hard to push yourself to work. There is a high chance you will end up procrastinating and regret it later when it’s due. So unless you have a high determination and urgency to complete the task, please don’t take the risk. Approaching your deadlines in this way will save you from anxiety and headaches.

• If you plan to undertake volunteer, intern or community service work, the holiday is a good time. Those activities are beneficial for your personal development and mental growth. You will learn a lot from doing it, plus you will have an experience you can write about in the university application essay.

• If you have to work, take care of yourself first. Taking good care of yourself can help with motivation and task completion. Here are some simple self-care ideas: take a shower, tidy up your room, open the windows to let fresh air in, play with your pets, eat properly, drink water, enjoy nature, have enough sleep or watch funny animal videos on YouTube that make you laugh.

• If you spend your holiday in a place that is in a different time zone, make sure you adjust your sleep schedule at least 2x24 hours before you have to return to school. This will help you to resume school easier; both physically and mentally.

• Indulging in fun activities that also enhance your life skills is like watering two plants with one hose. For example, camping is a great way to exercise your body but is also refreshing, inspiring and exciting. You learn how to protect yourself and cope with a situation outside of your comfort zone. Plus, you get an amazing view of nature, which you may not see daily. Another example is learning to do a watercolour painting from a tutorial video on YouTube. Not only is doing art soothing and relaxing, but it also gives you a new life experience. It also increases your ability to focus and improves your soft motor skills.

So, enjoying a holiday can come in many different formats. Use them wisely. Make sure your holiday doesn’t pass by without you enjoying every minute. Wishing you a wonderful holiday full of happy and memorable times. Stay safe and healthy!