The Easiest Ways to Catch Up in Classes Over Thanksgiving Break

If you’ve been skipping out on homework these last few weeks, telling yourself  “I’ll do it over break,” think again. This isn’t Winter Break. It’s Thanksgiving Break. You’ve only got a week off from classes, or maybe even less. Not to mention, the majority of that time will most likely be spent either eating with family, chatting with family, or passing out with family after too much turkey. But even though this holiday seems to go by quicker than an episode of “Gossip Girl”, you can still make the most of the few days you’ll get off. Thanksgiving break can be the perfect time to play a little catch-up before finals.  
 
Rather than being overly ambitious, and planning on doing all of November’s homework in that one week at home, set realistic expectations so you don’t end up giving up on work by Thursday. Here are a few rules for your at-home study sessions: 
 

 
DO: Photocopy a few chapters of your textbook. Before you leave campus to head home, check your class syllabi for assignments you’ve missed or want to brush up on before finals. In between family gatherings and preparing meals, there will be at least a few moments where you have some free time. Take advantage of them by going over these chapters and other assignments, away from Grandma and the turkey. Or, pull out the pages while you wait for that homemade pie to bake.  
 
DON'T: Bring home all four textbooks for your classes and plan to read 100+ pages in each. You’ll not only overwhelm yourself, you’ll never get it all done and will end up leaving home post-break feeling anything but accomplished. Instead, bring home just one textbook, or just photocopied chapters from a few textbooks—enough to keep you busy when the cousins aren’t around, but not so much that you won’t finish your homework to-do list. Decide what assignments are most important to complete ASAP, and what can wait until the week after break. Leave the rest of your work at school.