All I want for Christmas is a break: Should you be working over Christmas?

As we enter the Christmas break, how much studying should we actually be doing, and what other types of work might we have to juggle with?

Elizabeth Meade
14th December 2021
Image Credits: Pixabay, Sibusky
Every year, I tell myself I will revise for all of my exams over Christmas and fail to do so. In reality, I just don't have the time and energy for serious revision during Christmas. Furthermore, I think it misses the point of the holiday break.

While I can't suggest not looking at uni work at all over the Christmas holidays, it's important to be realistic. It's more realistic to expect the opportunity to get started on revision than to complete all of it. If I manage to look at a couple of textbook sections and reinforce my knowledge of one or two topics, I consider that a success.

Try not to get too burned out over Christmas - it's not very festive! (Photo Credits: Pexels, Cottonbro)

There's also the matter of work for things other than uni. I don't plan to write articles over the holiday season or work on many other uni-related endeavours. I do enough of that during the school year and since it's not strictly required of me, it can wait.

For working on Christmas preparations, that's a different matter entirely. I typically don't put work into them unless other people are willing to help me, due to the amount of time and energy necessary. I also don't put effort into things I know I'm not expected to do. If I think people will appreciate the final product, though, I typically go ahead and make the crafts or cook the soup.

Socialising with other people can be exhausting at the best of times - remember to keep your own well-being in mind.

For many of us, spending time with family can be work as well. I'm fortunate to have a good relationship with my family, but that is not always the case. Some people have to care for family members as well, which can take a lot of energy. I recommend taking some 'alone time' to recharge, regardless of your situation. Socialising with other people can be exhausting at the best of times - remember to keep your own well-being in mind.

Ultimately, the question of how much work you should be doing over Christmas depends on your course, your family situation and how you celebrate. While everyone will approach this challenge differently, remember to make time to relax before returning to uni!

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AUTHOR: Elizabeth Meade
(she/her) 4th year Chem student. Former Head of Current Affairs and Former Science Sub-Editor. Avid reader. Chaos theorist. Amateur batrachologist and historian. Rock fan. Likes cybersecurity and cooking. Wrote the first article for Puzzles. Probably the first Courier writer to have work featured in one of Justin Whang's videos.

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