HOW TO SWITCH FROM LAZY VACATION MODE TO A PRODUCTIVE STUDY YEAR?

by Kees Vrijmoet – Integrand Utrecht

Students! Now that summer is over, with relaxation, no obligations, parties, and lounging around behind you, it’s time to get back to work. A fresh start with lectures, study groups, and other activities. Maybe you’re starting with an internship or traineeship, or you have to write your thesis. In any case, it’s time to get back in gear. But how do you ensure that you get back into rhythm as efficiently as possible? We’ll give you a few tips to shorten or maybe even skip the post-holiday slump.

1. Give yourself a boost to get started. Nobody has to jump straight from vacation mode back into a busy schedule. Give yourself a break while gradually adjusting to the upcoming workload. Start, for example, by checking your email and looking at the schedule for the coming month. This brings us to the next point:
2. Make a Plan. A plan ensures that you have a clear overview of the coming period. What are you going to do? When? Why? With a plan, you can spread out all your obligations over the week more efficiently.
3. The vacation doesn’t have to be the only enjoyable period in your life. Make sure you have fun during the academic year or internship as well. If you liked doing fun things during the vacation, like meeting up with friends, you can still plan these activities around your obligations!Don’t Let the Vacation Completely Slip Away
4. Make Good Resolutions. What do you want to achieve in the coming period? Clear and achievable goals are good to ensure that your motivation remains high. For example, you might want to quit smoking, not only to become mentally stronger but also physically healthier. Good resolutions in terms of grades or completing a certain number of steps daily can help you complete your daily tasks more effectively.
5. Exercise. Just like quitting smoking, exercising helps you feel better overall. A run around the neighborhood or joining a sports group, for example, can clear your mind and sharpen your focus. Exercising in a group especially helps because it also makes it a fun social moment.

With these tips, things should hopefully work out! We wish you all success in the coming period and hope you don’t start counting down to the next vacation just yet! Need tips? Get in touch with one of our board members!

Do you have any idea how you could make your study period more productive? Sign up with Integrand, and our local board members will get in touch with you to help guide you with this.