Regardless of whether you worked, went on holiday, or stayed home and relaxed during spring break, that week away from classes serves as a much-needed pause from the academic grind. However, coming back to campus can sometimes feel overwhelming and put students into an academic slump. If reentering your routines and getting your work done feels impossible, consider some of these tips to get you back into the swing of the semester.
Study with a friend
Making a study group or sitting down with a friend is a really easy and fun way to hold yourself accountable and ensure you get the study time you need. By having a designated time with others to focus on your assignments, you’re more likely to follow through on your work and less likely to procrastinate – just make sure study time doesn’t turn into a yap session!
Find your study spot
Finding a comfortable spot outside of your room or work area to study is a great way to avoid distractions and curb the urge to procrastinate. Setting aside your own quiet space dedicated to doing homework creates a more productive environment and conditions your brain to associate that spot with homework and learning.
Fix your sleep schedule
Maybe you decided to finally sleep in and pay off some of your sleep debt. Maybe you had to adjust your bedtime to adapt to your work schedule. Or maybe you’re jetlagged from your spring break excursion. If you found that your sleep schedule changed, or even disappeared, during spring break, coming back to classes and trying to get back into your old routines may suddenly feel exhausting. Focusing on getting consistent and high-quality sleep will help you reestablish your routines and transition easier into academic mode.
Set realistic expectations
It’s important to set aside time to study and organize your workload by priority to rebuild routine and catch back up in your classes. But it’s also important to be realistic about how much you can reasonably accomplish in the time you have. Setting aside one afternoon to get everything done all at once may not be sustainable or effective. Alternatively, only giving yourself thirty minutes or an hour each day to get work done might not be enough time. Coming back from break can feel overwhelming, so honestly evaluating your work and the time you need to dedicate to it is a crucial part of getting it done.