Finals are over and the fall semester is coming to an end. Everyone is tired, so the Winter Break is the perfect opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to rest, recharge, and relax. Think about it – there are no impending exams or unfinished projects. The old semester is over and the new one hasn’t started yet. It’s the perfect time to focus on other important parts of your life.
Whatever plans you have for the Winter Break, make sure they include time for rest, friends, family, and activities that feed your mind, body, and spirit. Make sure you spend time with the people you may have neglected during the semester. Your family and friends can be your strongest support when your course work feels overwhelming. Make sure they know how much you appreciate them. And have fun!
Take the time to do things you enjoy. Read a book, play board or video games, draw, paint, sing, cook, or craft. These things can feel frivolous when you are to study, but they feed the creative side of your brain, and are important to your contentment. You’ve spent the semester thinking logically and analytically. Do something that requires you to be intuitive, subjective, random, and creative. Rest the left side of your brain and enjoy engaging the right side.
Finally, get some sleep! Hectic exam schedules tend to leave everyone feeling sleep-deprived, so take advantage of the opportunity to just enjoy sleeping. Do things that will help you get good sleep. Eat well, and don’t overdo the holiday goodies. Good food is important for rest. Take your time while you eat and keep your digestion happy. Make sure you are getting physical exercise too. Right now, your mind is probably exhausted, so getting enough physical exercise will help your sleep be more restful.
Make this Winter Break a real break. Rest. Relax. Enjoy.