Reading week, Spring break, Revision week, Dead week...these are the many names for this week. Per their names, during this time you ought to either read, spring, revise, or dead.
Names aside, for me, this is a time when academic and physical recuperation are top priorities. Recuperation week may sound scarily close to Rehabilitation week. Though, Rehabilitation week is more fitting:
Recuperate “regained”
Rehabilitate “restore to former privileges”
Anyhow, there are two things I have made sure to do every Rehabilitation week since the second grade:
- sleep
- get on track, stay on track, and/or choo-choo ahead
For step 1, the art of sleep is best learned from sleep-deprived physicians:
- try blackout blinds
- cool room temperature
- find complete silence, or use white noise
Step 2 might be harder to swallow: I want you to work during your break.
Surely, you deserve a break, no?
Certainly…but you don’t want to be swamped with a school-work the day classes return.
To get on track: pick a day, make a list of all the readings, quizzes, and problem sets you need to do to, seclude yourself for that day with food and bathroom access, power through your work.
To stay on track: pick a day, make a list of readings, quizzes, and problems sets you should have done to follow along with lectures, labs, and tutorials once you return from the break, seclude yourself for that day with food and bathroom access, power through your work.
To choo-choo ahead:
- Try practice exams. The sooner and more frequently you encounter testable material, the better prepared you will be come the day of your exam.
- Take notes for the reading assigned to the week after your break.
- Organize your study materials.
You can look forward to walking into lectures next week more confident and rested than any of your peers.
You’re welcome.